2013 NRL - The Greatest Game Of All

[the crow]

No ......... and thank f**k for that fact.

[bazza]

Why did they play that fixture on a Thursday? It's one of the biggest drawcards of the season

With the Waratahs playing in Sydney on Friday night and the Big Blue in Sydney on Saturday night did the NRL not want to compete?

I think that Thursday night matches are scheduled during the first few weeks of the season due to daylight savings not being in effect in Queensland

Last year matches in NSW were kicking off at 8:30 for the first few weeks to be live in QLD

[gyfox]

Disgusting behaviour by some Manly fans.

CANTERBURY'S superstar fullback Ben Barba was spat on and abused by Manly fans as he left the field after last night’s extra time victory over the Sea Eagles.

The Bulldogs have lodged an official complaint with the NRL after it was revealed his team mate Dene Halatau was also spat on.

Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg last night confirmed the players had been spat at.

“The behaviour of the fans was disgraceful,” Greenberg said. “We’ve complained to the NRL and they will be looking at Channel Nine footage to try to identify the fans.”

Greenberg, who joins the NRL next month, was critical of the lack of security as the players left the field.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6664165473

[Nines]

The NRL CEO says.
.
TV ratings and crowds are dropping. Those who continue watching are becoming increasingly confused and frustrated.
The multitude of rule changes has created an overwhelming sense of disconnect.
Confusion over stadium strategy gets more confusing.
Whilst the absense of new talent gets concerning
Gone is the shoulder charge. Gone is the Origin biffo.
Gone is Israel Folau but the salary cap red tape debacle remains.
So remains the urinating , the defecating, the female assaults, the malicious damage, the high range drink driving, the drug taking and junior deaths.




Here's what the fans have been heard to say.

01 .SL stuffed us up completely and we haven't recovered .
. The mergers put people off , merged teams don't represent their region , merged teams are too powerful .
. Dropping South Sydney put people off and put more off by coming back and will lose the rest by relocating or dying.
. Dropping the expansion teams kill any chance of becoming national .
. Dropping the other teams didn't matter because they weren't that popular anyway .

02 .We play to our "heartlands" .............. our heartlands are in the bush,
. These people don't get the chance to go to many games as Ch9 chop and change times and generally play god.
. Ch 9 and Foxtel shedule NRL games on short notice unlike the AFL that lock their shedule of games in October.
. Our heartlands seem to be getting smaller all the time .
. We're stuck in suburban times .

03 . It's a television game -
. And the game was on Fox or FTA so the fans were at home .
. Ratings are much more important than viewers .
. You have to count the regional and city figures even though they overlap .
. You have to count New Zealand figures even though it's not officially a state of Australia yet .
. The ratings were down so I guess a lot of people went out to clubs and pubs to watch it .
. There was a lot of sport on TV. ........golf , tennis , lawn bowls , motorsports , bowling , darts , WWWWE
. There were good shows on TV ... Bloke's World, Iron Chef, Bert's big brother idol lost on celebrity dancing MKR survivor.
. Couch potatoes count as real interested viewers .
. The report is not valid because it only shows interest not real support like ratings where the person gets off his butt and
. ............ sorry where the person changes the channel on the remote .

04.The game is popular but the team isn't
. Either that popular crowd drawing team is down OR that unpopular drawing team is dominating .
. It was an away game for that popular crowd drawing team so they couldn't use their memberships .

05 .It's the Sydney transport system
. Public transport is unpopular or it's too crowded because it's popular .
. I had to change trains twice to get to the ground.
. You cannot expect people to go to the SFS just because people go to see the Swans at the SCG nextdoor.
. You cannot expect people to drive to suburban grounds because of the roads, the traffic, the lack of parking and expensive parking. .

06. It's the weather
. Too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy or perfect for doing something else .
. You cannot expect people to go in weather like that even though there's room in the stadia because nobody goes .

07 It's the Timing .
. It was unsuitable to have a game on the afternoon, at midday, at twilight, at night time or anytime really .
. It was unsuitable to have a game on Monday ,Friday , Saturday, Sunday or mid week .

08. It's the media
. Too little media, the unfair media, the negative RL media, too much AFL media
. Our supporters can't read the media (nice pictures though)
. according to the Telegraph, It's war. an invasion of Sydney, even though football was here before RL .
. according to the SMH, AFL is taking over RL icon Birchdale Oval, even though football was there before RL.

09. It''s the economics.
. Sydney people are doing it tough and just can't afford to go - it's the G.F.C, recession and depression.
. Higher mortage prices , fuel prices , public transport prices , battery prices for their remote control .
. $30 general entry, I was drinking UDL's at $9 per can


10. It's the people.
. We don't feel validated by going to the football.
.. .The SFS is a 20 minute walk from central and not really verty central at all.
. The supporters have left Bondi for the CC.
. Manly supporters wont travel across the bridge.
. The supporters wont travel more than two suburbs.

11. It's the players
. NRL players wanting to play AFL.
. NRL players acting badly. .
, More people wanting to play AFL in NSW than RL in the last 5 years .

12. It's the clubs
. Financially stricken rl clubs (all bar one) are awaiting handouts.
. Financially stricken rl clubs are unable to pay their CEO.
. Financially stricken rl clubs are unable to attract sponsors .
. Financially stricken rl clubs are losing sponsors due to misbehaviour.
. Financially stricken leagues clubs are unable to support financially stricken NRL clubs ,
. And a new pokie tax is gonna kill off the financially stricken leagues clubs .


12. It's the lack of development by the NRL ,ARL , NSWRL and BRL.... and
. We're facing development from AFL , FFA and Netball .
. NZRL is sponging off Australia and Australia is raping the NZRL
. S14 RU is stealing all our players
. AFL is stealing our players
. FFA will be stealing our players as soon as they expand .

13. It's the lack of blockbusters .
. Sheduled against us was an another big game of .....RU , AFL, AL , NBL , ANL , WNBL.......
. We sheduled a game against another big game of .....RU , AFL, AL , NBL , ANL , WNBL......

14. It's the competition from world sporting events.
. The upcoming Olympics (summer or winter) is grabbing everybody's attention
. .......... and we had to go to bed early not to miss the openning ceremony.
. The recent WC (FIFA, RU, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Cricket, Gridiron) is grabbing everybody's attention
. The recent RL WC is not grabbing everybody's attention - blame the AFL for one Australia Vs Ireland IR test
. Even the AFL International Cup is grabbing attention.


15. It's the government
. They won't finance new stadiums , but when they do the crowds will be enormous.
. As long as all people are able sit close to the sidelines
. As long as the ends aren't too far from the action
. What we need is the perfect venue with a roof.

16 It's our stadia.
. They are too suburban.
. When they gonna build new stadiums the fans will flock back..
. The new stadiums are too big and empty deterring people from coming.
. Docklands - state of the art boutique stadium not used as too costly (low crowds)
. Melbourne Rectangular Stadium - Now RL crowds are behind RU as well as AL and AFL.
. Gosford - new stadium , new savior for Sydney clubs except Manly who made a premiership year loss.
. Perth, Canberra , Lang park, Cronulla, Brookvale, Kogarah, Paramatta, Campbelltown, Penrith, Wollongong upgrades for no effect.
. Newcastle upgrade on the way when the club is looking at downsizing .
. Olympic Stadium wasn't built for our game.
. Homebush & SFS - small crowds are a visual embarrassment
Unfortunately most RL crowds are a visual embarrassment


17. When they gonna have double headers , triple headers ...we can then claim the one crowd for each game !

18 . We don't have -
. A centrally located "home of football" like the AFL because we wasted money at the SFS next to the Swans..
. A centre of sporting excellence like the GWS willl have at Blacktown.
. The AFL's draft , management , development , clout , and aggressive approach to expansion ..
. The AFL's $1.2 billion in TV rights.
. A decent game , (but that's the least of our worries)

19. We do have
.. An Olympic Stadium built in the middle of nowhere.
. A geographically centred stadium at Homebush suited to AFL blockbusters and the GWS .
. A new stadium built at Blacktown for AFL , because the NRL wasn't interested .
. A new stadium built at Homebush for AFL , because the NRL wasn't interested .
. Too many Sydney clubs.


20. When looking at NRL crowd averages
. You cannot look at Sydney in isolation - because they are pathetically low .
. You cannot look at Melbourne because they have no history there and because they are pathetically low .
. You cannot look at this point in time because historically crowds dip this time of year .
. You cannot look at crowds at the ground because the crowd looked and felt a lot bigger than the official low figure .
. You cannot look at the crowd on TV because the crowd looked and felt a lot smaller than the official low figure .
. You can look at past pathetically low crowd figures because that shows the present in a good light .
. You overlook that 25% of all rounds affected by SOO with the best 34 players either unavailable or backing up after SOO.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because the focus is on SOO .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they are inflated because "they all do it" (just ask the Storm)
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because clubs are paid $100k to play to empty stadiums .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies from passport holding Pacific Islanders.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies from Moms , nans , nurses and carers .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies for Warriors gear, doing a haka or singing an anthem.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they include players, officials, coaching, medical, fitness, trainers, boot studders, waterboys, catering, security, sales staff, turnstile staff, magazine sellers, cheergirls and people wandering into the ground lost .(you know most of the crowd )..
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because more people turned up to see Russel Crowe than South Sydney .

21. You cannot look at SOO crowds
. Because they contain a lot of freebies .
. Tickets still are expensive...spending $100 in Sydney to watch footie is way too much
. Spending $50 for the nose bleed section is way too much
. It is a big week in sport for Sydney so going to the game isn't part of it.
. The game is just too good to watch on TV
, Because the same same two teams play each other, then each other, then each other, every year after year after year.

22 . You cannot look at specific crowd attendances because "8588 is a really inmpressive figure".

23. You cannot look at Canberra crowds because Canberra is under performing
. Because now it supports two clubs .
. Because both those clubs cannot find a sponsor.
. Because the sponsors have all gone to the new AFL club GWS.
. Because nearby Wagga Council s doing stuff for AFL and not RL (because we didn't ask)
. It's all a bluff because Canberra are renegotiating their stadium deal.

24 . It's a bluff because "the AFL want some publicity".
. (Yes, Canberra, GWS and GC have been just been been one big bluff)
. (Yes, the WAR, the invasion, the code hoppers, Wagga Council, Birchdale Oval and more have all been good publicity)

25. It's basically because rl is dying - but that is another list !!!

[yob]

It never occurred to me to try a filibuster on the forum.

Well played.

[Simmo79]

lol

[Spirit of Santos]

Wow

[IanRitchie]

that's magnificent

[Egan]

It never occurred to me to try a filibuster on the forum.

Well played.

What's the bet that went over his head...

[Nines]

The NRL CEO says.
.
TV ratings and crowds are dropping. Those who continue watching are becoming increasingly confused and frustrated.
The multitude of rule changes has created an overwhelming sense of disconnect.
Confusion over stadium strategy gets more confusing.
Whilst the absense of new talent gets concerning
Gone is the shoulder charge. Gone is the Origin biffo.
Gone is Israel Folau but the salary cap red tape debacle remains.
So remains the spitting, the urinating , the defecating, the female assaults, the malicious damage, the high range drink driving, the drug taking and junior deaths.




Here's what the fans have been heard to say.

01 .SL stuffed us up completely and we haven't recovered .
. The mergers put people off , merged teams don't represent their region , merged teams are too powerful .
. Dropping South Sydney put people off and put more off by coming back and will lose the rest by relocating or dying.
. Dropping the expansion teams kill any chance of becoming national .
. Dropping the other teams didn't matter because they weren't that popular anyway .

02 .We play to our "heartlands" .............. our heartlands are in the bush,
. These people don't get the chance to go to many games as Ch9 chop and change times and generally play god.
. Ch 9 and Foxtel shedule NRL games on short notice unlike the AFL that lock their shedule of games in October.
. Our heartlands seem to be getting smaller all the time .
. We're stuck in suburban times .

03 . It's a television game -
. And the game was on Fox or FTA so the fans were at home .
. Ratings are much more important than viewers .
. You have to count the regional and city figures even though they overlap .
. You have to count New Zealand figures even though it's not officially a state of Australia yet .
. The ratings were down so I guess a lot of people went out to clubs and pubs to watch it .
. There was a lot of sport on TV. ........golf , tennis , lawn bowls , motorsports , bowling , darts , WWWWE
. There were good shows on TV ... Bloke's World, Iron Chef, Bert's big brother idol lost on celebrity dancing MKR survivor.
. Couch potatoes count as real interested viewers .
. The report is not valid because it only shows interest not real support like ratings where the person gets off his butt and
. ............ sorry where the person changes the channel on the remote .

04.The game is popular but the team isn't
. Either that popular crowd drawing team is down OR that unpopular drawing team is dominating .
. It was an away game for that popular crowd drawing team so they couldn't use their memberships .

05 .It's the Sydney transport system
. Public transport is unpopular or it's too crowded because it's popular .
. I had to change trains twice to get to the ground.
. You cannot expect people to go to the SFS just because people go to see the Swans at the SCG nextdoor.
. You cannot expect people to drive to suburban grounds because of the roads, the traffic, the lack of parking and expensive parking. .

06. It's the weather
. Too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy or perfect for doing something else .
. You cannot expect people to go in weather like that even though there's room in the stadia because nobody goes .

07 It's the Timing .
. It was unsuitable to have a game on the afternoon, at midday, at twilight, at night time or anytime really .
. It was unsuitable to have a game on Monday ,Friday , Saturday, Sunday or mid week .

08. It's the media
. Too little media, the unfair media, the negative RL media, too much AFL media
. Our supporters can't read the media (nice pictures though)
. according to the Telegraph, It's war. an invasion of Sydney, even though football was here before RL .
. according to the SMH, AFL is taking over RL icon Birchdale Oval, even though football was there before RL.

09. It''s the economics.
. Sydney people are doing it tough and just can't afford to go - it's the G.F.C, recession and depression.
. Higher mortage prices , fuel prices , public transport prices , battery prices for their remote control .
. $30 general entry, I was drinking UDL's at $9 per can


10. It's the people.
. We don't feel validated by going to the football.
.. .The SFS is a 20 minute walk from central and not really verty central at all.
. The supporters have left Bondi for the CC.
. Manly supporters wont travel across the bridge.
. The supporters wont travel more than two suburbs.

11. It's the players
. NRL players wanting to play AFL.
. NRL players acting badly. .
, More people wanting to play AFL in NSW than RL in the last 5 years .

12. It's the clubs
. Financially stricken rl clubs (all bar one) are awaiting handouts.
. Financially stricken rl clubs are unable to pay their CEO.
. Financially stricken rl clubs are unable to attract sponsors .
. Financially stricken rl clubs are losing sponsors due to misbehaviour.
. Financially stricken leagues clubs are unable to support financially stricken NRL clubs ,
. And a new pokie tax is gonna kill off the financially stricken leagues clubs .


12. It's the lack of development by the NRL ,ARL , NSWRL and BRL.... and
. We're facing development from AFL , FFA and Netball .
. NZRL is sponging off Australia and Australia is raping the NZRL
. S14 RU is stealing all our players
. AFL is stealing our players
. FFA will be stealing our players as soon as they expand .

13. It's the lack of blockbusters .
. Sheduled against us was an another big game of .....RU , AFL, AL , NBL , ANL , WNBL.......
. We sheduled a game against another big game of .....RU , AFL, AL , NBL , ANL , WNBL......

14. It's the competition from world sporting events.
. The upcoming Olympics (summer or winter) is grabbing everybody's attention
. .......... and we had to go to bed early not to miss the openning ceremony.
. The recent WC (FIFA, RU, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Cricket, Gridiron) is grabbing everybody's attention
. The recent RL WC is not grabbing everybody's attention - blame the AFL for one Australia Vs Ireland IR test
. Even the AFL International Cup is grabbing attention.


15. It's the government
. They won't finance new stadiums , but when they do the crowds will be enormous.
. As long as all people are able sit close to the sidelines
. As long as the ends aren't too far from the action
. What we need is the perfect venue with a roof.

16 It's our stadia.
. They are too suburban.
. When they gonna build new stadiums the fans will flock back..
. The new stadiums are too big and empty deterring people from coming.
. Docklands - state of the art boutique stadium not used as too costly (low crowds)
. Melbourne Rectangular Stadium - Now RL crowds are behind RU as well as AL and AFL.
. Gosford - new stadium , new savior for Sydney clubs except Manly who made a premiership year loss.
. Perth, Canberra , Lang park, Cronulla, Brookvale, Kogarah, Paramatta, Campbelltown, Penrith, Wollongong upgrades for no effect.
. Newcastle upgrade on the way when the club is looking at downsizing .
. Olympic Stadium wasn't built for our game.
. Homebush & SFS - small crowds are a visual embarrassment
Unfortunately most RL crowds are a visual embarrassment


17. When they gonna have double headers , triple headers ...we can then claim the one crowd for each game !

18 . We don't have -
. A centrally located "home of football" like the AFL because we wasted money at the SFS next to the Swans..
. A centre of sporting excellence like the GWS willl have at Blacktown.
. The AFL's draft , management , development , clout , and aggressive approach to expansion ..
. The AFL's $1.2 billion in TV rights.
. A decent game , (but that's the least of our worries)

19. We do have
.. An Olympic Stadium built in the middle of nowhere.
. A geographically centred stadium at Homebush suited to AFL blockbusters and the GWS .
. A new stadium built at Blacktown for AFL , because the NRL wasn't interested .
. A new stadium built at Homebush for AFL , because the NRL wasn't interested .
. Too many Sydney clubs.


20. When looking at NRL crowd averages
. You cannot look at Sydney in isolation - because they are pathetically low .
. You cannot look at Melbourne because they have no history there and because they are pathetically low .
. You cannot look at this point in time because historically crowds dip this time of year .
. You cannot look at crowds at the ground because the crowd looked and felt a lot bigger than the official low figure .
. You cannot look at the crowd on TV because the crowd looked and felt a lot smaller than the official low figure .
. You can look at past pathetically low crowd figures because that shows the present in a good light .
. You overlook that 25% of all rounds affected by SOO with the best 34 players either unavailable or backing up after SOO.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because the focus is on SOO .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they are inflated because "they all do it" (just ask the Storm)
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because clubs are paid $100k to play to empty stadiums .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies from passport holding Pacific Islanders.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies from Moms , nans , nurses and carers .
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they contain freebies for Warriors gear, doing a haka or singing an anthem.
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because they include players, officials, coaching, medical, fitness, trainers, boot studders, waterboys, catering, security, sales staff, turnstile staff, magazine sellers, cheergirls and people wandering into the ground lost .(you know most of the crowd )..
. You cannot look at NRL crowds because more people turned up to see Russel Crowe than South Sydney .

21. You cannot look at SOO crowds
. Because they contain a lot of freebies .
. Tickets still are expensive...spending $100 in Sydney to watch footie is way too much
. Spending $50 for the nose bleed section is way too much
. It is a big week in sport for Sydney so going to the game isn't part of it.
. The game is just too good to watch on TV
, Because the same same two teams play each other, then each other, then each other, every year after year after year.

22 . You cannot look at specific crowd attendances because "8588 is a really inmpressive figure".

23. You cannot look at Canberra crowds because Canberra is under performing
. Because now it supports two clubs .
. Because both those clubs cannot find a sponsor.
. Because the sponsors have all gone to the new AFL club GWS.
. Because nearby Wagga Council s doing stuff for AFL and not RL (because we didn't ask)
. It's all a bluff because Canberra are renegotiating their stadium deal.

24 . It's a bluff because "the AFL want some publicity".
. (Yes, Canberra, GWS and GC have been just been been one big bluff)
. (Yes, the WAR, the invasion, the code hoppers, Wagga Council, Birchdale Oval and more have all been good publicity)

25. It's basically because rl is dying - but that is another list !!!

[yob]

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

[IanRitchie]

25. It's basically because rl is dying - but that is another list !!!

next week?

[the crow]

The real question is why can't I see nines posts anymore?

The real real question is why am I worried about my first question.

[bazza]

you had me at Birchdale Oval

.

[gyfox]

Ken Edwards and the Eels Board have mutually agreed that Edwards should leave due to difference of opinion on the strategic direction the club should take.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/parr ... 2q229.html