Long time no blogging

Sorry for not blogging. As you know I recently moved to Brisbane to undertake a traineeship, well i got fired last week and have moved back home. So I'd like to welcome myself back and hope to get right back into blogging. Blogs will talk about the storm scandal(because i haven't had a chance to put my 2 cents in yet), Kurt Gidley is a cunt(how can you be captain of a team when you're not even on the run on side????) and also the decision on Jarryd Hayne.

My NRL Dream Team

My NRL dream team: 1.Jarryd hayne 2.Greg Inglis 3.Kevin Gordon 4.Beau Ryan 5.David Mead 6.Scott Prince 7.Johnathan Thurston 8.Jason Cayless 9.Nathan Friend 10.Sam Burgess 11.Garreth Ellis 12.Ashley Harrison 13.Ben Creagh 14.Isaac Luke 15.Benji Marshall 16.Anthony Watmough 17.Preston Campbell, what an awesome team!

My reply to Artie Beetson

Dear Mr. Beetson,

Before continuing with this message may I just say I respect you very much as an Aboriginal and QLD player. I just have to say as a young indigenous player nothing would give me greater pride and pleasure then to play for my people. Our people haven't had a lot, so pulling on an indigenous jersey and running onto the field would give me more excitement and pride then a QLD or AUS jersey would. I would happily sacrifice both for 1 chance to play for my people. Aboriginal players should strive to play for AUS but I think if given the choice they should stand up and play for their people. The All Stars game filled me with more pride then I have ever known. In 2013 nothing would make me prouder then have all indigenous side in the world cup. No matter how we do in the tournament nothing will ever take the pride i feel.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew McCarthy

What really cooks my goose!

Why? Was the first thing I asked myself when I read that the AUS v NZ test match was being moved to Melbourne. The only stupider idea I could come up with was having it Tasmania(you know that vagina looking state we have that no one cares about, seriously we care more about NZ then Tasmania). I have only been to one rugby league game and that was the All Stars game but with my move to Brisbane I was looking forward and even getting excited about going to a test match. Thank you ARL you have made this grown man cry. Now I will not be sitting there feeling the intensity of the haka, the brotherhood of the Kangaroos standing as one in a wall of comradery, the cheers for the Kangaroos, the cheers for the Kiwis(I will cheer for the Kiwis). You have taken our games showpiece right out from underneath us, right from the heart of Australian Rugby League, the heart I am talking about is QLD!!! Yet you decide to move the match to a state where the majority don't care about rugby league or even know what it is. ARL here's a big fuck you!

Round 1 Tipping

Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys.

I'm going to tip broncos in the 2010 season opener. The Broncos had a dreadful season last year and have taken a beating in the media. So they will be looking to perform to prove the media wrong. Stand out players will be: Willie Mason(COW) and Darren Lockyer(BRO)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Newcastle Knights.

Bulldogs will be wanting to prove that last year wasn't a fluke. That is why my tip is for the Bulldogs. The Knights may be impressive under new coach Rick Stone but at the end of the day Newcastle are softcocks. Stand out players will be: Ben Roberts(BULL) and Junior Sau(KNI)

Parramatta Eels v St George-Illawarra Dragons.

I couldn't pick between the two. Both have their pros and cons. Dragons are great in attack ad defence but no longer have the big dell's momentum. Eels ran flat out non stop to the '09 grand final. My tip is it will be a good game. Stand out players will be: Jeff Robson(EEL) and Jaime Soward(DRA)

Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders.

Does Michael Jennings ever not have a good running game? If he does the Raiders will be praying that he has a bad one in round 1. With receiving both State of Origin and Aus jerseys last year Jennings will be looking to cement his place in the NRL this year. Also Petro Civoniceva should have a big game after being absent last year. My tip is with the Panthers. Stand out players will be: Michael Jennings(PAN) and Terry Campese(RAI)

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters.

Asotasi, Burgess and Taylor nuff said. Tip is for the rabbits. Stand out players will be: Sam Burgess(RAB) and Todd Carney(ROO)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Melbourne Storm.

2009 Premiers against the near wooden spooners, do i really need to say more? Stand out players will be: Greg Inglis(STO) and Scott Porter(SHA)

Gold Coast Titans v New Zealand Warriors.

Now both teams have made big buys in their halves. Titans with Greg Bird and Warriors with Brett Seymour. Warriors will do well this season but not in their first match of the season because it might take a while to get the halves combining well. So i'm tipping the Titans to start their great home record all over again this year. Stand out players will be: Scott Prince(GCT) and Brett Seymour(WAR)

Wests Tigers v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Tigers are still facing a number 7 dilemma. Manly have lost a number of big players since '09 and I don't think they can recover in time for round 1. I'm tipping the Tigers to win not by much because it will be a close game. Stand out players will be: Beau Ryan(WST) and Anthony Watmough(SEA)

2013 World Cup

I just read that 20 nations will be making a bid for the 2013 world cup in England but only 14 will make it with two of those nation qualifying through tournaments in the northern and southern hemisphere.

Big off season buys.

Rabbitohs and Titans have made some pretty big off season buys. The Titans with controversial former NSW and AUS representative Greg Bird. I am hoping that Bird can put his past behind him and resurrect his NRL career on the Gold Coast. He may also be able to win back his blues jersey espically with NSW look at a 5th successive State of Origin series loss.

Now on to the team that could. The Rabbits lost their coach Jason Taylor in a highly publicised incident involving outgoing rabbit David Fa'logo. He has been replaced with experienced coach John Lang. Lang formerly coached Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers winning a premiership with the latter. The rabbits have a forward pack to be feared with Roy Asotasi, English sensation Sam Burgess, centre in a props body Dave Taylor, Enforcer Michael Crocker, Eddy Pettybourne and also Ben Ross. They have the forward pack to go all the way but I think their backs might be the let down for them. Chris Sandow failed to impress in '09 after winning rookie of the year in '08 but he was having family difficulties in '09 so lets hope he has a good one this year. John Sutton was also victim to indifferent form.

Sam Burgess has only played 10 minutes in a trial match against Manly and yet Lang had enough confidence in him to allow him to play for the NRL All Stars. Being a bit skeptical of all the hype he really impressed me in that match. You wouldn't of thought he has only had 10mins experience in the NRL and that being in a trial match. Burgess brings with him youth a good offload and bone rattling D.

Dave Taylor left us in shock and awe at the back end of last season. While the Broncos were in a slump and Broncos fans everywhere were down, Dave Taylor should us looks can be deceiving. Who would of thought such a big man can be as fleet footed and agile as a cat. I referred to him as a centre in a props body earlier, I know think of him as a 5/8 in a props body. He has everything a modern prop should have, good footwork close to the line, a strong offload ability, a great passing game and even a little speed to boot.

I am hoping that Souths can make it to the top 8 this year. If they don't, I don't think there is much more they can do.