My name is Curtis Woodward and I am an addict. The thirst for the sweet taste of rugby league is unbearable. I have to have it. I need it. So why do you take it away from me in this thing you call summer?
Saturdays are not so super anymore, Phil Gould can’t love his Sunday footy and nobody is going to lead from the front on Monday night football. Actually Warren Smith will probably still walk around his house screaming that one to be honest.
How can they do this to us?
You can see them taking down the goalposts. Daylight savings are already with us and you can hear Mark Nicholas’ smug British voice in the distance. It all means cricket is here and footy is almost done for 2012.
But do we really have to have a break?
Cant these blokes just keep playing all year round?
The Australian Kangaroos face New Zealand in Townsville on Saturday night in the last 80 minutes of football for the year. I’m already getting the shakes.
Both teams are building toward the 2013 World Cup.
“We’ve got to look ahead to the World Cup and there is not a lot of time to blood new players before it” Kiwi assistant coach Tony Iro said.
“This is a chance to give a few boys their debuts, but it is also a reward for their good form this season and in the finals.”
Australian fullback Billy Slater has the Cup on his mind too.
“All international teams, whether its the English, the Kiwis, us, they’ll all be focusing on the World Cup” Slater said.
“This game is a great preparation leading into this tournament so we are looking forward to performing well on Saturday night and then taking that form with us into the Anzac Test next year.”
But what do we do after Saturday night?
Footballs will be replaced by cricket bats, Ray Warren’s dulcet tones replaced by Victorian Bill Lawry’s continuous jabs at Sydney and an endless summer of nothingness on sport reports right across Australian television.
At least the Sydney Kings might get a run on the TV now.
Every man and his dog are going to be at the beach, having picnics and sweating over barbeques. Cooking (and some overcooking) meat for people they don’t really like in the first place.
Give me a chilly night at ANZ Stadium any day of the week.
There is a bright side though. Thankfully there is only 120 sleeps until the All Stars clash at Suncorp Stadium.