Nathan BLACKLOCK [
Player Stats]
+ Submit additional information or a correction to this player 
Wed June 16, 2010
by Steve Mascord
AS a kid, there was one aspect of the New Testament I didn't get.
I sort of understood resurrection, I got the apostles and even loaves, bread and fish. I liked the idea of a Last Supper. But I couldn't understand Jesus Christ dying for our sins.
I mean, if he gets nailed up on a cross, what does that do for us? How are my sins expunged by him being mutilated on the way to an agonising death? It was easier to believe in the Red Sea being parted.
But you know what? I get it now. And I have the Johns brothers to thank. You see, I've tried illegal substances. I've used derogatory terms about minorities. I've engaged in behaviour that probably qualifies as group sex.
But did I get punished for doing any of that? No. The Johns brothers, on the other hand, got crucified and I get to learn the error of my ways from their crucifixion!
And now I can write pious columns about anti-social behaviour without having to endure their pain, which was inflicted on them for doing exactly as I did!
That, my friends, is the definition of a miracle. Praise the lord.
----------
ON a serious note, it is a curious thing about our society that those we elevate through their good deeds must be incinerated by their foibles. But that is the way it is and its not going to change and - as I have written elsewhere - I admire Timana Tahu for his stand.
However, sometimes people get away with saying outrageous things during a crisis.
To suggest the NSW selectors, including Laurie Daley who is aboriginal, are racist is not only libellous but pretty silly. I do think NSW have an obsession with "body shape" that Queensland doesn't and it has robbed them of some pretty decent players like Preston Campbell and Nathan Blacklock.
Allan Langer would probably never have played for the Blues. Jamie Soward probably never will. It might be an idea to rethink this thought that Origin is only for blokes built like brick shithouses.
----------
I AM trying to keep an open mind about renewed calls for players to be allowed to play Origin and then serve a suspension in a club game.
Really, I am.
But haven't we been there before? And weren't all the flaws in the system all exposed? So you can spear tackle someone and play in a State of Origin game two days later? But not a Test match? Not grand final or a finals series match?
Could we see someone execute a high tackle that prevents his rival playing in a State of Origin but he plays? If grand finals and Tests are included, someone could clock someone in a preliminary final and then play on for two months before serving their suspension the next year in the trials!
It's a slippery slope when you try to put different values on games because the true value changes according to the player and the situation.
But I am trying to keep an open mind about it. Really.
----------
IT'S hard to believe we played a Test between England and France at the weekend just two hours before England's first World Cup soccer match, isn't it?
Who makes these decisions?
On the other hand, congratulations to those who have done a great job for rugby league this week in the face of saturation round-ball coverage in Australia, those being, in order: 1. Andrew Johns, 2. Timana Tahu and 3. Germany.
----------
FEEDBACK time. Lots of comments about the judiciary but they mostly speak for themselves and there is little I can add.
Jimmy S, now I understand your point. But I think if there was more infrastructure, it would be harder to sweep things under the carpet the way you described.
Grant, your idea is great for lovers of international football but won't make money for rugby league. Rugby league needs to give broadcasters as much club football as possible because that's what rates. Fifteen rounds does not provide enough club football for league to get a good deal out of telecasters. But a weekend off for Origin is considered doable. Nine say weekend Origins don't rate was well as mid-week but the partnership/commission can just give Origin to someone else if that's Nine's attitude. Mid-season Tests were moved earlier in the season to protect our international rivals from being flogged by Origin-hardened Aussies. Everytime an official or reader comes up with something we have already done, maybe this column needs to record it. **shortmemory** might be the alert we use. What do you think?
Warriorman, that's why I am suggesting we draw a line under the big three and allow players who miss selection for them each year to play for developing nations. Ben Te'o, having been 18th man for Queensland, could not play for New Zealand in October but let him play for Samoa with no repercussions.
Wed July 8, 2009
by Steve Mascord
EXACTLY what is a salary cap rort and what isn't?.
As a private citizen who is in the Thoroughbreds but not a Brisbane sponsor, can Ken Talbot just hand cash to a player? Perhaps!
As someone who is a supporter but not a sponsor of Parramatta at the time, can Roy Spagnolo tell a couple of players that no matter what happens in a property deal he introduces them to, they will not lose money. That may sound like going to the casino and being told your losses will be reimbursed but in any case the answer seems to be: yes.
A manager was quoted the other day as saying his client has been offered a job when he retires during negotiations for a new contract. Again, apparently that's OK too.
All in all, it seems pretty hard to commit a genuine salary cap rort. The Dogs showed great ingenuity indeed!
Clearly, clubs would be well advised to have "phantom'' sponsors. Let them come into the rooms, let them hang out with the players, go to functions, have a few freebie tickets and take them to the odd out-of-town game.
And let them set up property deals, hand over cash and give bogus jobs to players ? because unless they have a binding agreement with the club there is nothing the NRL can do.
I hope I am proven wrong.
Clearly, we still have a culture of haves and have-nots in the NRL and the league is nowhere near the level playing field they have led us to believe.
----------
ARE we going to see referees try to outdo each other - while in control of the same match at the same time - during the run home to the finals as they jostle for appointments?
That was certainly a fear expressed by some following two of the games I covered at the weekend, Melbourne v Newcastle and Canberra v Gold Coast.
For the first time in our game's 114-year history, two referees who are competing for a decreasing number of games will be on the field at the same time in matches over the next two months.
Knights captain Kurt Gidley was fuming the other night when I grabbed him at fulltime for the ABC. He said Newcastle should have received a penalty at a crucial late stage when the game hung in the balance.
"Matt Cecchin's called a penalty ... I thought that pocket ref is supposed to be that other bloke's eyes but obviously his opinion doesn't count,'' Gidley said.
"Shayne Hayne awarded a scrum. Matt Cecchin was calling a penalty ... what's the point of him being there if he's not going to listen to him?"
Melbourne and NSW coach Craig Bellamy was concerned with Hayne's failure to consult video referee Paul Simpkins when he awarded a dropout against the Storm in the first half - leading directly to a try - and when Ryan Hoffman claimed a touchdown in the second.
"You don't like to complain about those things if you lose. It's a good time now,'' Bellamy said.
"At the end of the day, they were costly rulings. We'll have a look at it and hopefully, rather than complain too much, we'll put our point forward to the referees and they'll make the decisions in the future.''
Canberra coach David Furner and five-eighth Terry Campese did not dispute that youngster Chris James was harsher than the more experienced Gavin Badger. They believed their forward, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs who was booked on James' report for lifting his forearm while taking up the ball, didn't even deserve to be penalised.
"The only thing that worries me a little bit - and I have pretty good feedback from Finchy and the refs and that ? is when they ask what the penalty counts are,'' he said.
"We've given none away in the first half ... I thought Tommy's and another when we were caught laying on the man ... Have a look at the game, both teams were doing it.''
Discord chased Robert Finch about the issue and he told us from now on he would be experimenting with referees teams which could stay together for the finals.
Asked if the whistlers could end up working against each other, he said: "That won't happen.
"Sure, they are competitive people but they are charged with officiating a match. The senior referee is the one in charge. In Origin that is Tony Archer - I think you'll see that continue.''
----------
WELL we got the policy statement from NSW selectors that we called for last week: Coach Craig Bellamy went on the ABC at the weekend and said that, since he may not be there next year, he was playing for the here-and-now at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.
Perhaps the Blues could adopt a revolutionary new tactic from now on when selecting teams - pick them purely on form.
Instead of pre-judging the likes of Preston Campbell, Jamie Soward and Nathan Blacklock as "not Origin-type players", give them a chance to prove they are if they are the best in their position at a given time.
If they stuff up, drop them.
Plenty of "Origin-type players" have failed for NSW this year.
----------
A COUPLE of weeks ago, I recounted how I found myself in a similar situation to Brad Fittler when he knocked on the wrong door it the Sugar Shaker In Townsville.
Well, believe it or not I have also found myself in a very similar position to Nate Myles on occasion.
Nate has the rare distinction of committing the first atrocity in rugby league history in which the explanation is more stomach-churning than the allegation.
With that in mind, I won't detail my own misadventure, except to say that I avoided the final disaster that befell Nate.
My incident involved jetlag, alcohol, and a shared bathroom in a San Francisco guesthouse.
----------
At
Rugby League Week we do a thing called the Dream Team. No-one wants to publish a journo's Dream Team - except Rleague.com of course. Remember, these are my favourite players - not the best I've seen. You understand that concept, right? *
1. Steve Hampson
2. Ellery Hanley
3. John Dorahy
4. Brian Hetherington
5. Jacob Steemag
6. Terry Campese
7. Andrew Johns
13. Wally Lewis
12. Bob Brehl
11. Rod Reddy
10. Greg Cook
9. Dean Schifilliti
8. Robert Stone
(*I reserve the right to make changes when I look through some old autograph books).
======================================================================================================
 2006 engage English Super League
Hull Football Club
21 games; 13 tries, 52 points.
[View] Round 1 [10 Feb 06] W 42-18 v Castleford (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [19 Feb 06] W 40-14 v Wakefield (H). [WG]
[View] Round 3 [25 Feb 06] L 24-46 v Warrington (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [24 Mar 06] L 0-46 v St Helens (H). [WG]
[View] Round 9 [14 Apr 06] W 26-18 v Huddersfield (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 10 [17 Apr 06] W 36-24 v Wakefield (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 11 [22 Apr 06] W 34-28 v Les Catalans (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 12 [30 Apr 06] W 54-12 v Wigan (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 13 [05 May 06] W 28-12 v Bradford (H). [WG]
[View] Round 14 [12 May 06] W 44-28 v Leeds (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [28 May 06] W 19-6 v Huddersfield (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [08 Jun 06] W 27-26 v St Helens (A). [WG]
[View] Round 17 [16 Jun 06] W 30-16 v Harlequins (H). [WG]
[View] Round 18 [23 Jun 06] W 28-10 v Castleford (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 19 [01 Jul 06] W 24-16 v Les Catalans (A). [WG]
[View] Round 20 [08 Jul 06] W 24-20 v Salford City (A). [WG]
[View] Round 21 [15 Jul 06] W 36-24 v Warrington (H). [WG]
[View] Round 22 [22 Jul 06] L 16-18 v Harlequins (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 23 [04 Aug 06] W 23-16 v Leeds (H). [WG]
[View] Round 24 [13 Aug 06] W 26-12 v Huddersfield (A). [WG]
[View] Round 25 [20 Aug 06] W 11-10 v Salford City (H). [WG]
======================================================================================================
2005 English Super League
Hull Football Club
26 games; 20 tries, 80 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Feb 05] L 12-16 v Leeds (H). [WG]
[View] Round 2 [20 Feb 05] W 36-28 v Huddersfield (A). [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 3 [27 Feb 05] W 32-10 v Warrington (H). [WG]
[View] Round 4 [05 Mar 05] W 22-12 v Salford (A). [WG]
[View] Round 5 [13 Mar 05] W 36-33 v Wildcats (H). [WG]
[View] Round 6 [18 Mar 05] L 22-32 v Bulls (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 8 [28 Mar 05] L 15-21 v Wigan (H). [WG]
[View] Round 9 [10 Apr 05] W 32-28 v Widnes (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [17 Apr 05] D 22-22 v Leigh (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [24 Apr 05] L 34-36 v Warrington (A). [WG]
[View] Round 12 [01 May 05] W 20-6 v Salford (H). [WG]
[View] Round 13 [13 May 05] W 44-6 v St Helens (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 14 [22 May 05] W 35-28 v Wildcats (A). [WG]
[View] Round 15 [28 May 05] L 24-42 v Bulls (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [03 Jun 05] L 14-34 v Rhinos (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [10 Jun 05] W 28-24 v Wigan (A). [WG]
[View] Round 18 [17 Jun 05] W 30-16 v Leigh (H). [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 19 [02 Jul 05] D 24-24 v London Broncos (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [08 Jul 05] L 10-18 v St Helens (A). [WG]
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 05] W 76-20 v Leigh (H). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [21 Aug 05] L 24-28 v Wigan (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 05] L 6-49 v Bulls (A). [FB]
[View] Round 27 [11 Sep 05] W 32-30 v Wildcats (A). [WG]
[View] Round 28 [16 Sep 05] L 16-30 v Warrington (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Elimination Play Offs [24 Sep 05] W 40-6 v Warrington (A). [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Elimination Semi-Final [01 Oct 05] L 0-71 v Bulls (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
2 games; [View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] L 12-21 v Raiders (H). [WG]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 04] W 16-10 v Warriors (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================
|
Blacklock, Nathan
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed