It's been a particularly hard week, what with having to deal firmly with a recalcitrant RumourMonger, defend Forceguy, and make excuses for Hansie, but I've meandered my way through it, and I'm refreshed enough after a weekend of shovelling landscape mix (with added chicken shit) to have another look at the local comp's progress.
Now I personally am not privy to much (nobody trusts me, and who can blame them) but a few snippets have come to my attention.
University are in deep doo doos coach wise. I mean, who would be advertising on the RugbyWA website for them otherwise, at this stage of the season? "We're farqued, and about to lose our second grade 'cause there's nobody in our club who knows jack squat about rugby to lead them. Won't you please. please take pity on us?". Player wise, Uni are ok. Half of the Republic of Ireland have made Uni their home (the other half are at Palmyra) and the overall numbers are good.
Which leads me to Perth Bayswater. Crawling with coaches they are. A heaving, seething worm farm of first grade coaching talent. But no players. Their third grade from three years ago are being bombarded with pleas to return to the fold with the promise of a first grade Jersey. Sadly, even WaterBoy is ignoring the call.
Why don't Uni and Perth Merge? Each has what the other has not. Think about it boys. The University of Perth Leprechauns has a certain ring to it.
Associates are doing the unthinkable. Nobody is supposed to know about it but... Soaks have recruited a number of non Caucasian players this season. Yes, unbelievable isn't it? The speculation however that this has necessitated their building a whole new shower block is entirely unfounded.
Kalamunda have gone feral. Six new ex NPC players arrived pre Christmas and three more due this week. Junior AllBlack recruiters eat your hearts out. Kala has staked everything on one roll of the dice.They are the Death or Glory Club and mess with them at your peril. Mind you Moley, Ratty, Badger and Toad did sort out the last Death or Glory Brigade of weasels and ferrets at Toad Hall back in the day....
Rockingham ... well, what can you say that the exceedingly unattractive RumourMonger has not already revealed? They are facing a year or two of rebuilding, and one can only hope they succeed.
The RooDogs have been beavering away under the radar also. Apart from snaring the support of ForceGuy, and recruiting a truckload of Kiwis of good and mediocre talent, they have delivered a coup de grace to Nedlands, snaring, I am reliably informed, the services of Neddies long time stalwart and former first grade coach Mr McKnight (yeah, yeah, I've forgotten his first name, I think it's Peter, but you know who I mean).
Other than that, and that Palmyra had about 33 players at training tonight, 30 of them Irish, that's all I can report.
Early days, though.
