Wendell Sailor: Why NRL fans are disillusioned

RUGBY league is going through a vicious, repetitious cycle at the moment and it’s little wonder the fans are becoming disillusioned by it all.

South Sydney fans celebrate a try during NRL Grand Final between South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium. pic. Phil Hillyard

ISSAC Luke should not have been dropped to the bench in the wake of him signing with the Warriors for next season.

The bottom line is if you’re picking your best 13 at South Sydney, Luke is in it every day of the week.

If it was because he needed a kick up the backside, that’s fine. But he doesn’t need that. I watched him in the Test match a few weeks ago and he’s one of the reasons New Zealand is No. 1 in rugby league at the moment.

He’d be in my top 10 players in the NRL.

I’ve got no doubt his replacement Cameron McInnes, he’s got some talent, but there’s standards you meet in a team and because there’s such a high standard at the Bunnies the hooker needs to be Luke.

It’s a very repetitious scenario we’re going through with players signing with other NRL teams with the majority of the season still to play. It’s not fair on the fans, the players and the club.

It’s round 10 and this system is taking over what we should be talking about: the great double header tonight with the Cowboys and the Broncos and Bulldogs vs Roosters; what a wonderful concept women in league is; and how New Zealand is now the No. 1 country in rugby league.

We ask fans to support their teams and then we treat them like this. It’s no wonder the fans are disillusioned.

Issac Luke needs to be in Souths’ starting 13.

There is no doubt Luke will play his best every week for South Sydney, even though he’s heading off next season. I’ve been taking a close look at the feedback he’s been receiving this week and 90 per cent of it has been really complimentary: “Mate, best of luck, you gave everything for the club,” – that sort of thing.

He was also a cornerstone of the premiership-winning side. It wouldn’t have been an easy decision for him to make to leave, but I know family reasons were a factor.

There’s two things that will happen now: Michael Maguire can keep playing him off the bench and continue blooding McInness for next year. Or he can do the best thing for the team and start Luke.

I’d be starting Luke every day of the week. Even when he’s not playing well he still gives that South Sydney team so much confidence. I know most people think Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis are the key to Souths’ success but Luke, with his aggression, the way he takes it to the opposition and how he’s so dynamic, I just can’t not start him.

WHAT I’M LOOKING AT THIS WEEK

Mitchell Pearce is tipped to partner Trent Hodkinson in the NSW halves.

Everybody talks about the Blues halves for Origin.

It’s an interesting one. Laurie Daley could go with Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, who haven’t done a job for NSW.

Or he could go with Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, even though Reynolds has been very erratic. The worst thing about Reynolds is he plays so aggressively that he’s always pushing the boundaries. He has a tendency to cross the line and go haywire. That could cost him his position at the moment.

The mail I’m getting is the Blues are going to go with Pearce and Hodkinson, so it’ll be interesting to see how they all go this weekend.

The other thing I’m looking at is the backrowers and I’ll be watching Tyson Frizell closely. He’s tailor made for Origin and I believe he is a must for the Blues.