Tag Archives: NRL

Shumpty’s Punt: Horseracing and Sports Multi

September 20, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks, Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

It is the social club race day at my firm on the weekend and whilst I am not going (I prefer to punt alone) I have run my eye over the form for each race at Eagle Farm. I also have a sports multi that I am feeling very confident about.

Horse Racing (all Eagle Farm this weekend):

Race 1 Number 3 Playitstraight (e/w) (fixed price seems a bit short at the moment so go with the tote)

Race 2 Number 3 Write Cheek (win) ($4.00 fixed)

Race 3 Number 4 Borehole (e/w) ($7.00 / $2.40 fixed)

Race 4 Number 2 Essington (e/w) ($7.00 / $2.30 fixed)

Race 5 Number 8 Shazzle Pazzle (win) ($3.80 fixed)

Race 6 Number 3 Theft (win) ($5.00 fixed)

Race 7 Number 4 Prussian Heart (e/w) ($6.50 / $2.40 fixed)

Race 8 Number 7 Just A Perla (e/w) ($12.00 / $3.70 fixed)

Sports Multi:

Leg 1: Otago to cover the line (-7.5 points) against Manawatu in the ITM Cup ($1.90)

Leg 2: Melbourne Storm to cover the line (-8.0 points) against the Newcastle Knights in the NRL ($1.94)

Leg 3: In the Freemantle Dockers v Sydney Swans AFL semi final the total match score to be less than 157.5 points ($1.88)

Leg 4: San Francisco 49ers to cover the line (-10.0 points) against against the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL ($2.01)

This multi will pay $13.92 and I am investing $40.

As always:

· All care and no responsibility is taken with these tips.

· Please gamble responsibly.

· Prices are current as at 7am this morning via sportsbet.com.au

Have a great weekend!

Canberra Raiders: An Open Letter to Ricky Stuart

September 17, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Dear Ricky,

Congratulations on your new job with the Canberra Raiders. I am a long time fan of the club, having first having an interest in the Raiders in 1985. Based in Brisbane, it has oft been difficult to travel to Canberra Stadium but, until this year, I have never had any trouble giving my full throated support to the club that I love. I have to say though that this year has pushed me to the limits of my endurance.

I will concede I am not a supporter of your appointment to the head coaching role of the team but now you are here I pledge to you that I will give you my full support. That support though comes with some demands, because I do not think I, or many other Canberra fans, will survive another season like that which was 2013.

I do not require the team to make the finals for it to be considered to be a successful year in 2014 but, Ricky, if you could undertake to do the following I, and my fellow Canberra Raiders fans I am sure, will be happy:

Coach the team to play every game hard and for 80 minutes and drop any player who does not do so.

If a player breaches team rules or is ill disciplined sack him. This includes any infractions related to alcohol. Another “Dugan / Ferguson” fiasco must not be countenanced.

If a player does not wish to play for our club and notes in the media that he wants to move elsewhere sack him. Another situation like that which Anthony Milford has placed the team in must not be countenanced.

Keep the young talent in the under 20s team in Canberra and sign them for the long term.

Still be the coach in 2015.

I don’t think the foregoing is too much to ask Ricky; I am not asking for a premiership or even a winning season, what I am asking for is you to return my sense of pride in following this team that I have supported for 28 years.

If you can not do these things then it is going to be another season of lament for those of us Canberra Raiders fans who are left which can not be a good thing for the club.

Thank you in anticipation.

Stephen

Football Finals Month … Frankly I could not care less!

September 13, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

I have been asked a lot this week who I am following in the finals of the NRL and AFL and whether I was enjoying the finals so far. I will answer here as I have answered each enquiry:

The AFL season finished 3 weeks ago when the Bombers were punished by the AFL and the NRL season finished 2 weeks ago when the Raiders were knocked out so I really don’t care who wins the finals!

It has be claimed to me that that is a narrow minded view. Why is that so? Do people think that having supported a club all season (and in the case of both the Raiders and Bombers over 20 years) that all of sudden it is expected that I will pick another team to follow for the next 4 weeks?

I can not think of a more ridiculous suggestion frankly. To me it is simple: I support a team, it is not in the finals therefore I have no interest in the finals.

To everyone with teams in the finals: good luck to your respective teams and rest assured that I will not be jumping on your team’s bandwagon because to do so would be disrespectful, even if I was interested which I am not.

It is going to be a quiet September for me: a bit of rugby to watch and much expectation for the cricket season to come because the other football seasons are over. Here’s hoping that this time next year I have something to cheer about!

Canberra Raiders: Why Stuart? What is the argument for him being coach?

September 12, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , 1 Comment

The Canberra Raiders have released a statement today confirming that they are presently negotiating with Ricky Stuart to be the club’s coach for the 2014 season and beyond.

As a long time Canberra Raiders fan I have a simple question: why?

Why is the Canberra Raiders chasing a coach who:

· Presided over a team that only won 5 games in NRL season 2013.

· Has had numerous conduct issues over his time as a coach.

· At the last two clubs he led presided over an exodus of players and then left before seeing out the job he started.

I understand Stuart’s keenness to move and I understand that he is a legend of the club. Is being a legend of the club enough though? Better put: if Stuart was not a legend of the club would he be in the running for this coaching role? Given his coaching record of recent times I would hazard a guess that he would not be.

In a season where player behaviour, management ill-discipline and poor on field results have been the stories of the Raiders season they needed to get the decision on the new coach correct and that coach had to be a strong manager of men who has a record of winning or, of at least, creating a disciplined and winning culture. I see no evidence to suggest that Stuart fits that category.

I see no argument for Stuart’s ascension to the role of coach of the Raiders but for the fact that he is a legend of the club. In a field that includes Neil Henry and Kevin Walters among others he is not the strongest candidate.

All of the foregoing said, as it seems certain he will be the next coach of the Raiders I am left with the hope that Stuart can coach the Raiders to victory next season. If he does not then it is going to be another long season for those who follow the “Green Machine”.

Bye Bye Blake! Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out!

September 6, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Thank goodness that is over! The saga of Blake Ferguson’s tenure as a Canberra Raider player is now over and ended with these words from Don Furner:

“The board were left with little choice but to terminate Blake Ferguson’s contract, after several breaches of club policy”.

Despite all of the support shown for Ferguson by the Raiders, he did not have the fortitude to attend a board meeting summonsed to discuss his recent conduct and that, according to the Raiders statement was the last straw.

The season that was for Ferguson included being the other part of the infamous roof top photo with Josh Dugan, a sexual assault charge whilst in camp with the NSW State of Origin team, the sacking of the coach who supported him after the players could not take that support any more, a disappearing act in recent weeks and playing mute in a bizarre press conference. It is fair to say that his sacking has been a long time coming.

In a season where:

· Josh Dugan was sacked by the club but not de-registered only to find himself playing for another club;

· Sandor Earl has been stood down earlier for conduct that pre-dated his time with the club; and

· Anthony Milford has decided he does not want to stay with the club that gave him a chance in the top flight,

The NRL MUST deregister Ferguson and await the outcome of his current court case as well as the obvious counselling he requires if only to ensure that the Raiders are not punished AGAIN for doing the right thing but also give Ferguson a chance to get his life in order.

It has been a difficult season to be a Canberra Raiders fan this season. Hopefully drawing a line under this sorry saga can assist fans, like me, get some closure and move forward looking towards the 2014 season. It will be all the more difficult to do that if one of the first things that Raiders fans see is Ferguson rewarded with another contract next season.

Here’s hoping he gets the help he obviously needs and the Raiders can move forward with a squad of players who want to play in the green jersey of this proud club. In the meantime: bye bye Blake … I can’t say it has been fun or even rewarding.

Shumpty’s Punt: The Weekend Multi

September 6, 2013 By in Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Don’t really fancy anything going around at the races this weekend enough to tip anything. That said, here is a 5 leg multi that I am very keen on:

Leg 1: South Sydney Rabbitohs to cover the line (-6.0 points) against the Sydney Roosters in the NRL ($1.92)

Leg 2: Baltimore Orioles to cover the line (-1.5 runs) against the Chicago White Sox in the MLB

Leg 3: New Zealand to cover the line (-26.5 points) in the Rugby Championship against Argentina ($1.92)

Leg 4: Total points scored in the Australia v South Africa Rugby Championship test match to be less than 44.5 points ($1.87)

Leg 5: Pittsburgh Steelers to cover the line (-7.5 points) against the Tennessee Titans in the NFL ($1.92)

This multi will pay $29.64 (on Sportsbet) for every dollar invested.

Good luck and good punting all!