Phil Rothfield: Tongan World Cup side teach NRL coaches a lesson
THE spectacular Tonga-New Zealand World Cup game on Saturday was the best advertisement for rugby league ever seen.
Phil Rothfield
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THE spectacular Tonga-New Zealand World Cup game on Saturday was the best advertisement I’ve ever seen for rugby league.
It should be put on a website, heavily promoted and showcased to the world.
And then, most importantly, distributed to the 16 NRL coaches.
On Saturday afternoon, it was one of those rare and breathtaking sporting moments when everyone in the office stops to stand around the TV.
Like a Melbourne Cup, a Socceroos World Cup qualifier, an Aussie at the Olympics, a gripping AFL grand final or a State of Origin blockbuster.
The difference is that there was no Australian team involved.
It was stunning and beautiful rugby league.
MORE BUZZ: Highlights, lowlights, spotted, shoosh
MORE BUZZ: Referee blows whistle on rift
Wonderful sideline-to-sideline ball movement, most of it ad lib and with very little structure.
Ironically, neither of the coaches has an NRL job. So nothing was predictable.
No four hit-ups, maybe a spread, then a kick for field position like we see nearly every set and every game of the regular season.
It was a lesson for the stereotypical coaching and negativity in the NRL, where teams are so programmed and no one takes a risk.
Where everything is safety first and we rave on about error counts.
And where games are overly policed to justify two referees.
Only last week, I watched a highlights package on YouTube of the great Sydney Roosters teams from the mid-70s.
The team that beat St George 38-0 in the 1975 grand final.
Sweeping backline movements that allowed Russell Fairfax, Mark Harris, Bill Mullins, John Brass and Ian Schubert to run the football at the old Sydney Sports Ground.
Their halfback Johnny Mayes was more a running halfback than a playmaker. Like Shaun Johnson.
Arthur Beetson in the forwards. Ronny Coote and ‘Stumpy’ Stevens. Glorious rugby league.
Saturday’s World Cup game brought those memories flashing back.
The shackles were released. No one cared about the completion rates. No one was counting the errors or missed tackles.
This was about passion and emotion and the most amazing atmosphere.
Big Jason Taumalolo going to the privacy of the bathroom before the game to practise his war dance when normally the coach is delivering his final instructions and game plan.
MATCH: Taumalolo leads Tonga to epic upset
MAD MONDAY: Taumalolo ‘too drunk’ for Kidwell’s call
The NRL administration and coaches could learn a lot from this game.
Sadly, anything radical or even mildly creative is thrown straight out of rules discussions and competition committee meetings these days.
Don’t worry about the declining crowds and television ratings.
Five-point tries. Dumb idea. Scrap scrums. Stupid suggestion. One referee. No way.
This is a game that used to be unlimited tackles. It changed to four and then six tackles.
It used to be a 5m defence then changed to 10m.
All to improve the game as a spectacle.
It’s time to re-address the way the NRL is played.
Fans want more of Tonga and New Zealand.