If your city was flooded for a week, you’d probably go a little bat shit crazy too.
Thats the only way I can rationalize what has been happening in the Brisbane Rugby League scene recently with all sorts of things happening that make no sense at all.
The randomness, the bitter feuds, the weird stories, they just kept piling up like boats at the mouth of the Brisbane river.
So I thought its about time we have a quick look back of a few of the things that have been happening in Brisvegas.
Shall we…
Suncorp Stadium Is Flooded and On Fire
The sight of the Suncorp Stadium pitch under meters of water was unbelievable. I’d only been there a few months earlier watching the Four Nations Final which I’m pretty sure Australia won.
Then came reports that the stadium was on fire. What had actually happened was a generator has caught fire and it was quickly put out.
The best story though was the fact that, the last great Brisbane floods in the 1970’s had left the stadium with a stinking, damp, moldy smell right up until l it was basically rebuilt about 10 years ago. Now…well, its gonna be a while before they rebuild Suncorp Stadium again I’d suggest!
Another Bid For A Second Brisbane Team
The Ipswich Jets had decided to make a bid to become Brisbane second team. Based in the western suburbs of the city, the club has a history in the Queensland Cup, it has a lot of local backing, it was a natural progression basically.
Then along came another bid for a second Brisbane team that was headed by a former Brisbane Broncos backer, and all hell broke lose!
I don’t know why the Brisbane establishment didn’t like this second bid, but they all went off their heads! Wayne Bennett said he wanted nothing to do with it. The Ipswich Jets said this second bid would be a disaster for the game.
A Hit List Of Players For A Club That Doesn’t Exist
So the new Brisbane bid team went to the papers, they had a hit list of players they would target headed by Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper.
Wait a second…
A team that doesn’t exist targeting players two play for them that don’t even play Rugby League? Hey, that seems good enough to go to print with!
Apparently this list become a running joke among Broncos players. Rightfully so.
The Push By A Betting Agency To Become A Part Owner In A Second Brisbane Team
With the second bid for a second Brisbane team coming to light, a betting agency, who I won’t name because I don’t do free adverts, decided to say they wanted to become a part owner of this new team and be its major sponsor.
The idea that a betting agency owns a team in a competition it takes bets on its just so far beyond ridiculous, it shouldn’t have got to print. However it did, an advertorial.
It reminded me of a number of years ago when a mobile phone company said they wanted to buy the Manly Sea Eagles. They got so much free publicity out of it, and it took a week before anyone in the media realized these people had never even contacted Manly!
I think this was the case here.
PNG Bid Team Sponsors The Richest Rugby League Team In The World
PNG will not be getting an NRL in the next round of bidding. It is a third world country that loves Rugby League, but simply does not have the infrastructure to support an NRL club.
That hasn’t stopped the PNG bid team, which is backed by the PNG Government, from taking out a shorts sponsorship with the Brisbane Broncos.
I don’t know about you, but the idea of the Broncos receiving money from a poor country through sponsorship…it just doesn’t sit right with me at all.
Where Are You Going Benny?
He may coach the Dragons, but Wayne Bennett and his family are still Brisbanites! Bennett will leave the Dragons at seasons end and there has been all sorts of speculation about where he will end up.
South Sydney look like they will break the bank to get him, and I’d suggest they will get him in the end. However there is talk he might look to coach the North Queensland Cowboys, and while Broncos fans probably want him back, I just can’t see him retracing his steps.
See ladies and gentleman, this is what happens when you don’t boil the water…
