Todd Carney a Shark? While Cronulla don't have a choice... Todd's lucky he does.

Does Cronulla need Todd Carney more than he needs the Sharks?
By W D Nicolson, October 17, 2011

When news filtered through today (Monday October 17) that the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks were poised to secure the services of the incredibly talented (yet equally inconsistent off the field) Todd Carney for at least the 2012 NRL season and possibly longer, one quote stood out from club management that left little doubt they were ready to roll the dice with Carney.

"We would handle Todd (Carney) exactly the same as the rest of our roster. We have a good, genuine roster," Cronulla's Chairman Daniel Irvine told the Daily Telegraph.

Ostensibly that was the clearest sign yet that the Sharks don't just want Todd Carney for 2012, they REALLY want him and are prepared to back the 'genuineness' of their current roster to handle the apparent baggage that Carney has carried throughout his rugby league career to date.

Update: Tuesday October 25 - Daily Telegraph reports that a 2 year deal for Carney at the Sharks is done.

Carney had his services thrust on to the open market by his most recent former club, the Sydney Roosters, as the 2011 NRL season wound down and it appeared that the odds of Carney getting a gig in the NRL once again, were slim.

After all, the 25 year old had found his way out of his junior club the Canberra Raiders, with an inordinate number of off-field indiscretions by the end of 2008, only for the Roosters to pounce on his signature at the first available opportunity.

The Roosters endured a year long NRL imposed ban on Carney in 2009 but were rewarded when he then led the Roosters to a Grand Final appearance in 2010, when he said he was off the drink with a Dally M and Player of the Year Award winning season.

But then a relapse in the off-season was followed by a few more during 2011 and the straw that broke the Roosters' back was a late season drinking session shortly after the team agreed to a booze ban in an attempt to end their woeful year on a high note.

While no one has ever doubted his ability (after all he has played for Australia and had he not relapsed, was the firm favourite for a NSW Blues jersey in 2011) - it is that ability alone that has ensured he has received more chances than the average individual.

Further evidence that the Todd Carney story is just another dose of the reality of professional sport - the more valuable the player to the club/team/franchise, the more chances they get to stay with the club/team/franchise. In his autobiography, footballing great Andrew Johns admitted that he himself had received that very same treatment in Newcastle, all because of the ability he had on the field.

And now the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, who have played in just one Finals Series since 2006 (they finished 3rd and reached the Preliminary Finals in 2008), are so desperate to make another appearance in the games that matter in September, they are doing what the Raiders and then the Roosters believed was the right thing by their club - adding talent despite the risks.

The thing is, Cronulla have no choice in the matter.

As it stands the Sharks are a developing team under second (and a half) year head coach Shane Flanagan, that still looks a quality player or two short of pushing for a playoff spot next season. Despite their current roster featuring a number of talented halves (Wade Graham, Chad Townsend, Jeff Robson and Albert Kelly are currently contracted), none have the truly game-breaking skill of a Todd Carney and there are suggestions (good and bad) that Cronulla's long term future may well be linked to the on-field success of the team. So the pressure is certainly on the team to win.

The facts are: Todd Carney makes the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks a playoff calibre team. Bet it at halfback, five-eighth or fullback - Todd Carney offers the Sharks the points the team and the fans crave.

But the other fact in play is that Todd Carney may not need the Sharks as much as they need him.

The reason once again is the 'talent factor'. Carney has boatloads of it on the field, but a chequered past off it makes most clubs wary of latching their club's fortunes to him. 

But if the NRL decides not to sanction Carney again (it is not unreasonable to suggest his off-field indiscretions in 2011 fail to match those he had with the Raiders -  which led to his first NRL imposed sanction in 2009), then Carney once again gets to choose (within reason) where he plays in 2012. 

And although the Gold Coast Titans had offered a drastically undervalued contract earlier this month to Carney, and the Daily Telegraph also linked him with South Sydney and North Queensland, the boy from Goulburn might actually have even more options than everyone thinks he does. Particularly if he can bottle the success of 2010, by bottling his love of the bottle.

Purely because he is extremely talented on the rugby league field.

Like it or not, that is the reality of Rugby League in Australia. The better you are, the more risks your club takes on you. Anyone who thinks this isn't the case is deluded.

Now it seems the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are the latest club keen to see if they can harness this kind of talent and ride Todd Carney's brilliance to a season that delivers success... regardless of the risks.

And good luck to the Sharks and Todd Carney. 

IF he chooses to play for them...

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Setsational...ish. Joy of Sets hits its stride in Episode 4 - TV Show Review

TV Review: The Joy of Sets is better in person... but isn't everything?
By W D Nicolson, October 11, 2011

It has been almost four whole years since 'the best show on radio*' was axed by the forward thinking management at Triple M in Melbourne, and through no clever serendipitous planning at all, tonight the fourth episode of Tony Martin's post-Get This commercial endeavour 'The Joy of Sets' goes to air in need of a spike in the ratings to ensure it doesn't get a 'sexy new time' of 11pm Sundays on Channel Nine's third string digital channel GEM.

The Joy of Sets débuted on Tuesday September 20, sandwiched between Channel Nine's Two and a Half Men series opener and the Charlie Sheen Roast (attracting what were suggested in some circles as 'pretty impressive' ratings (quoting the actual figures makes zero sense, as who in their right mind actually understands how the system really works?) and has since followed with unspectacular numbers for episodes two and three - despite being sandwiched again around one of the only two shows on Channel Nine - Two and a Half Men (the other being the Big Bang Theory).

But don't you dare give up on the show just yet.

Because tonight's Joy of Sets delivers.

Well at least it did when www.wdnicolson.com attended the filming of the 'Family' themed episode in early September.

It was the third episode filmed (but is being shown as the fourth on the TV schedule) and hosts Tony Martin and Ed Kavalee were in fine form from the get-go - almost making it through the entire first segment without stuffing up their lines (Martin and Kavalee hold back 'the gold' before filming so their reactions are natural). But that's not why it was good.

Simply put - they are funny.

The comedic interaction between the pair has always been excellent (and as a trio with the late Richard Marsland - their chemistry was pure genius on Get This) and this episode was no exception, something the audience were banking on, as the vast majority made no effort to hide the fact they belonged to the 'Get This fanclub' during the interaction Ed and Tony offered to the audience throughout the taping of the show.

And that may well be the key to the Joy of Sets experience.

The Joy of Sets... set.

As a taping process - this was Get This in the flesh - even with the minutes clicking by through the shoot (which may have stretched well into the second hour), the audience were transfixed on the duo's repartee, despite both being forced to endure numerous 'pick-ups' to close out the show.

Guest host for the evening was Glenn Robbins - who needs no introduction and is by far the best guest the show has had so far - and the effortless way they all interacted is just one reason this episode will leave the previous three well behind in the race for 'best ep of the series*'. But again Robbins may have been funnier 'off-camera/pre-cutting' than he will be in the final show and that seems to be the biggest obstacle the program faces. There is a moment right at the end of the show when Robbins farewells the audience in a way that was born out of pure brilliance and tied into a previous moment in the show - but odds are it won't get off the cutting room floor.

Combine those moments with some astutely edited pieces from the wide world of television and The Joy of Sets is hilarious as a package of live-to-tape entertainment but when it gets cut down to 22 minutes... the first three episodes screened so far suggest that maybe, just maybe, it is not quite the same quality of show that you see in the flesh.

And this is where the show faces a tough sell with those uninitiated in the comedic stylings of Get This, The Late Show, Martin/Molloy etc. There is a subtle genius to this kind of comedy, yet the shows that seemingly dominate the ratings for Channel Nine are generally manufactured laugh track comedy, that in turn falls flat with the aforementioned 'initiated' audience.

See Tonight Tab: Is there anything else is on Channel Nine these days?

So as crazy as it may sound, putting The Joy of Sets right in the middle of a 'Big Bang Theory/Two and a Half Men' quadruple shot may not be the best thing for the ratings... no wait, that's crazy, as if the show was on any other time the 'ratings' system would chew this kind of TV up and spit it out onto the tarmac of rejected pilots quicker than Warwick Capper's management asking for 'the cabbage' when you inquire about their star client's services.

The show IS funny, the only downside is if you didn't get to a taping during the first order of eight shows - it might not be quite as funny as your Get Thissian-friends might be telling you it is.

But reality has a funny way of making anything you were at; seem better than if you weren't actually at it.

Deep.

Apart from tonight's show that is (providing the edit isn't unkind) - because believe us, we was there and watching Packed to the Rafters get cut to ribbons in a superbly clever and clean way is unmissable.

The Joy of Sets screens at 9pm Tuesday's on Channel Nine - who incidentally haven't exactly hit the right mark in marketing the show... but that's a topic for another day.

Yahoo! Sports NHL.com Fantasy Hockey Draft Review - My 2011/2012 Sydney Kangaroos

NHL.com Fantasy Hockey

Sydney Kangaroos Draft Review 2011/2012

By W D Nicolson, October 6, 2011

Last year the Sydney Kangaroos joined the 'Puckeyes' Fantasy Hockey League, looking to upstage a bunch of North Americans  at their own game... and finished runner's up.

Not a bad effort for our first season in a league that had been around since 2007 but still disappointing to get so close to a win in our debut season and failing to achieve it.

The draft was kind to us last year and this year we might have an even better squad... well if it isn't 2011 that is. Because one look at the roster suggests the draft might have taken place a decade ago, rather than on Tuesday.

Draft Recap:
The Pittsburgh-bias kicked in early with Evgeni Malkin coming on board with the 4th overall pick, and then - concussion or no concussion - grabbing Sidney Crosby with the 21st overall pick was a no brainer (unless he doesn't play again) and the Penguin trifecta kicked in with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury becoming a Roo with pick 28.

So right off the bat, you know that it'll be a case of so goes the Penguins - so go the Roos.

Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard was plucked perhaps a little high in the 4th round at pick 45, but Columbus winger Rick Nash is a potential steal at 52nd overall, followed by the legendary Martin Brodeur at pick 69 to complete a outstanding goaltending trio. Last year Jonathan Quick, Marty Turco and Fleury were the Roos' starting three - and even though Quick and Fleury were great, Turco's meltdown to Chicago backup means that having three bonafide starters entering 2011/2012 makes the Roos even better than last year.

The defence was addressed next with new Philadelphia captain Chris Pronger getting a chance to prove he can still play at pick 76 and then Florida bound Brian Campbell being given a green light to go nuts offensively with pick 93. Boston playmaker David Krejci was next at pick 100, with veteran wingers Teemu Selanne (117th overall) and Jaromir Jagr (124th overall) forming a duo that could have gone 1st-2nd overall 10 or 12 years ago.

Buffalo centre Derek Roy is a gamble at 141st overall after missing most of last year with injury, while Chris Kunitz (148th overall) will play with Malkin or Crosby - which means points, and another veteran winger Daniel Alfredsson (165th overall) is being banked on to be solid if not spectacular for a horrible Ottawa team.

The final four picks addressed depth on defence and a wing spot. Matt Carle (172nd overall) generally plays with Pronger on the Philly defence - so his addition makes sense, Patrik Elias might be aging but getting last year's top scorer on the Devils with pick 189 is just good business. With the pickings slim for the final two spots on the roster - defencemen Stephane Robidas (196th overall) and Dan Girardi (213th overall) were taken due to the fact they'll see plenty of ice time with the Stars and Rangers respectively.

Here's a look at the roster in full. Here is the link to the League.

FANTASY HOCKEY ROSTER BREAKDOWN

Strengths: 

Well it is fair to say the Sydney Kangaroos are not lacking in star power - old or new. 

Malkin is the smart pick for all the major awards. In other words he could end up with the Art Ross (Top Scorer), The Hart (League MVP), Rocket Richard (Most Goals) and the Ted Lindsay Award (Players' MVP) - and he's capable of being that good. And that's not to say Sidney Crosby isn't capable of taking out all those awards either - but his health issues mean Malkin is likely to carry the torch early.

Veterans Selanne, Alfredsson, Pronger, Elias and Jagr have all been superstars at some point in their Fantasy Hockey careers - and if half of them squeeze out those sort of seasons - the Roos will be a force offensively.

The goaltending is just about as good as you could hope for - providing both Howard and Brodeur keep their jobs as undisputed starters. Broduer might be now in the elderly category but he's still a star and Howard should get his share of victories on a Detroit team that still looks pretty good.

Rick Nash is the wildcard up front - he could score 50 goals and if Crosby and Malkin both crack 100 points - matching the scoring out put on the Roos is going to be tough as across the league.

Weaknesses:

The Defence. Pronger is old and coming off a season ending injury, Campbell might have an horrendous plus/minus in Florida even if he scores 50 points, Carle can't be trusted to get 39 assists again and both Robidas and Girardi aren't guys you bank on 40 points from every season. Plus/Minus will be the key for this group - if they don't hurt the team too much in that category - the Roos will be happy.

Age. Look at the roster - it's ancient! Enough said.

Crosby's head. Will he even play?

Plus the likes of Kunitz, Roy and Krejci are rolls of the dice - could be very good, could be mediocre.

Bottom Line:

Drafting a team like this means the Sydney Kangaroos have just one goal in mind - a championship. And Crosby's health seems destined to be tied directly to the chances of that happening.

STANLEY CUP PREDICTIONS?
Click here for the 2011/2012 NHL Season Preview

Enjoy your NHL this season... go the!