Crash Tackle: Sydney can keep its NRL grand final ... and Brisbane will keep its Magic Round

Sydney can have the NRL grand final for as long as it wants – so long as Magic Round never leaves Brisbane. ROBERT CRADDOCK reveals the benefits for both states.

Sydney can have the NRL grand final for as long as it wants – so long as Magic Round never leaves Brisbane.

Sydney can have the NRL grand final for as long as it wants – so long as Magic Round never leaves Brisbane.

Deal? It should be. Actually it’s more than a deal. It’s common sense.

This wonderful weekend is anchored in for another three years but if it ever leaves Brisbane, it will be one of the silliest decisions the code has made. Believe it or not, those pushing the “Magic Round must never leave Brisbane’’ line hardest are not Queenslanders.

It’s every New South Welshman you talked to over the weekend who said how good they felt escaping the cold of Sydney (down to 8C on Sunday) and soaking up the winter sun in Brisbane.

Strange but true. Sydneysiders enjoy Magic Round even more than Brisbanites.

Each time the Magic Round contract is up for renewal, there are rumours that it could be shifted to shivering Melbourne, faraway Perth or awkward Auckland, where the amount of Australian visitors would be a fraction of what they are in Brisbane.

None of it makes any sense.

This was one of the greatest rounds of rugby league the code has ever seen with game after game of tight scores, lead changes and dramatic tries.

League cops a lot of criticism for its brutality and wacky controversies. But it is a fabulous product.

Sydney can keep its grand final ... and Brisbane can keep Magic Round.

WAYNE’S A MYSTERY

Did he or didn’t he? As in did Wayne Bennett read the outstanding recent book about him, The Wolf You Feed, written by Andrew Webster.

Bennett asked Webster to send him a copy but the author has not heard back.

So even he is unsure of whether the supercoach had a quiet peep at what was a forensic, but fair, interpretation of the coach’s colourful journey. Even if Bennett did not read it, plenty did.

We hear recent sales figures topped 25,000.

PAYTEN’S PLACE

If you don’t think first grade coaching is a brutal profession, take five minutes to look at Todd Payten’s five-minute press conference after the Cowboys ended a five-match losing streak on Saturday night, against South Sydney.

The disarmingly honest Payten took us into his pressure-cooker world.

Puncturing his chat with the occasionally deep breath, he spoke about how he had been consumed by the job over the last two weeks more than he ever had before (“make of that what you will’’), how he had questioned himself and his methods, systems, connections within the team and even tried to shorten his grieving period after a loss from, at times, 48 hours so his mood does not drag down his side.

COOPER’S HAIL

Cooper Cronk was his own man as a player and there is a similar vibe about his work as a commentator on Fox League.

Half the rugby league world, including a fired-up Des Hasler, were screaming blue murder about the Titans being again denied a fair try in the dying minutes of the match when Brian Kelly slid over.

But straight after the game, when Fox crossed to the studio, Cronk cut through the hysteria to say the referee made the right call – which he did.

PUPPY LOVE

Kevin Walters appears to be winning over the Broncos faithful. The Broncos Leagues Club recently donated a puppy to the Smart Pups charity, which places assistance dogs with families of children with disabilities, and which holds one of Brisbane’s most popular fundraising lunches. The Leagues Club asked members via social media to choose a name and ‘Kevvie’ won the day.

Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters with the Smartpup (Kevvie).

MADDEN’S LABOUR DAY

Jock Madden earned sweet reward for his anonymous, after-dark toil and won praise from a legend after the career breakthrough he was craving against Manly.

Halfback Madden is so determined to snatch the first-grade opportunity that has presented itself in the wake of the three-month absence of Adam Reynolds, that he trains under lights on his days off.

The field goal he managed in the dying minutes of the Broncos’ Magic Round victory over Manly was a career first, but had been slotted countless times under lights in the early evening when no one was watching.

“I do that throughout the week, so that when the game comes around I am ready to go,’’ Madden said.

“It (the field goal) was special. Obviously the forwards got us in that position. They do that all game.’’

Broncos great Darren Lockyer believes the confidence gained from the field goal will be a significant long-term boost for Madden.

“Just the boost in his confidence will be awesome for him,’’ Lockyer said.

“It’s one thing executing a drop goal, but you have to set up in the right position and Jock did both of those really well. You have to stay calm in those situations and Jock executed it to perfection.

At age 24, in his fourth year of first-grade, former Australian schoolboy captain Madden can secure his future if he shines while Reynolds is out.

“To play consistent NRL week-in week-out and build the connections is going to help my game,” Madden said.

Madden worked well with fellow half Ezra Mam after the two of them had a midweek heart-to-heart. “Ezra and I talked and with Walshy (Reece Walsh) about our connection, combination and communication had to be strong.’’