Quote: Serge A. Storms "Good job they don't have cameras at most Queens U18 games - this kind of behaviour is the norm not the exception at those games Maybe we need to clean our own act before we proffer such sanctimonious comments'" Action has been taken against Queens: news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_l ... 258924.stm But I think you're right in pointing out that a blind eye has been turned too often in many cases, and the RFL simply had to do something after the incident referred to in the link above.

Quote: Serge A. Storms "Good job they don't have cameras at most Queens U18 games - this kind of behaviour is the norm not the exception at those games Maybe we need to clean our own act before we proffer such sanctimonious comments'" Action has been taken against Queens: news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_l ... 258924.stm But I think you're right in pointing out that a blind eye has been turned too often in many cases, and the RFL simply had to do something after the incident referred to in the link above.

I thought you were refering to your blog...

I'm going to say this REALLY slowly, for all of you idiots.


I don't live in Penrith. I don't live in Blacktown. I have never lived in either of these places.

I live close to Blacktown, but I don't live in Blacktown.

Now, with that out of the way.....



Having grown up in western Sydney and spent time in the Blue Mountains I can tell you two things.

People that live in the Blue Mountains are very laid back. They are a bit weird, you kinda want to shake them awake....like a baby or a small animal.

They are nice enough people.


Then there is Blacktown. Now as I said, grew up here, played all my footy in the area, actually had a cousin that played for this club in the news.

I won't lie, you have to be a tough b*stard to play the game out in this area. Biggest junior base in the world, a mix of pretty much every culture you can think of so you get lots of Aboriginals, Samoans, Tongas, Fijians and the like in teams which I have to say was awesome!

Thing is, there footy is at such a high level and a fierce level that no prisoners are taken. If you start something, you have to be willing to finish it.


Now I have heard much worse than what was seen in that footage. The difference is, that fight was on tape.


I personally think the following years age group for those players should have been banned from playing next year. Their coach and trainers should all have copped 1 year suspensions for not going out and stopping what happened....and that is not even taking into account the players themselves.

It was a disgrace!

The poor Blue Mountains kids never stood a chance. Different culture, once that fight started it was like the Queen of England walking into a cage fight.

I'm glad the players were banned and I hope this at the very least gets the local leagues to put measures in place to stop this sort of thing happening again.

Decent insight freaky.
Sounds a top area to play your league, especially if you like it tough

I like it rough and dirty. Also love a tough game of footy too!


I used to love it because the Samoans were big, but most of them wouldn't hurt a fly. You had to try and make them angry to use their size properly, and that was your own team mates!

I always felt the Tongans were the most natural players. My problem was they were usually good and wingers, big and fast, not so good for a small winger to have to handle!

I didn't play alongside too many Aboriginal players or Fijians myself, only a few of them here and there but they were always good players.

It is great though because you get to play against every type of player and its just the norm. I don't know anything other than that type of League environment so when people started getting worried about Islander players taking up so many of the rep sides in recent years I never understood the concern and still dont.

What we are starting to get now is a lot of African kids taking up the sport. I've said that within 15 years we'll have our first Test player from an African background.

It really is fantastic though and its why this junior base out here is just a gold mine for the NRL.


Its just a shame it has been dragged through the mud by a bunch of idiots.

What I find funniest is when the Samoans and Fijians try to drink.
Me mates in the military and his huge muscular Fijian mate was drunk on two beers. It was pretty funny to see him stumbling around after a couple of beers and from what I told they're all lovely natured n all. Good players but jesus, they cant drink

That tends to be a bit of a problem at some pubs on a weekend!

Yeah look, I've not met any Islanders that were real b*stards. I know they are out there but any that I've mixed with have always been quick to have a laugh and just enjoy life.

And I have to say, one of my most memorable experiences of my life was attending the Tonga vs Samoa World Cup match out at Penrith.

A big crowd, both sides singing and chanting all game.....and I have to say I must have been the only person drinking beer, it was amazing to see so many people and so little booze.

It was fantastic and really, it is the reason why I felt the World Cup should have been in Australia again because all of these people got a chance to celebrate the game, its part of their culture, and they can't do that when its in England.

Touche.
I personallt think the WC being in England was a good decision to try and ride on the back of this decade of sport malarky.
Hopefully we'll be better by then, that or we pay the SAS to knock off australias first choice 17 and it gets some decent publicity.
RL is growing in the UK but the recessions hit clubs hard, we could do with the boost over the next few years.

When did that happen?

I'm more surprised by him claiming to have actually played the game in any organised manner.

The summer of 1997......she was a big woman, and yes, I had 20 bucks.

Prop forward i believe. This was him during his fit spell

This sorta stuff happens every week in South American soccer. How's the game doing over there?