BigBlog

Please be advised that i’m no longer blogging here but you can find my new, improved and “very exciting” blog at http://nathanhindmarsh.beinvolved.com.au/ Hope to see you there soon...!!

Fancy  training with me? Singing with country star Adam Harvey? Getting swimming tips from Brooke Hanson or a ‘Hot Lap’ in a V8 Supercar?

You can bid on these and two other unique, exciting experiences in the Kochie’s Business Builders Telstra Charity Auctions running in conjunction with Kochie's Business Builders. By special arrangement, Telstra will donate the proceeds to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. To bid for your once-in-a-lifetime experience visit http://tradingpost.com.au/charityauctions

It’s official, Brett Finch has gone to Melbourne and it’s hard to know what to say, except I hope it works out for Finchy down there.

It’s the nature of the business we are in that players come and go as they search for the best deal available or a place where they are wanted and as far as I know what Brett has said about not being in Daniel Anderson’s plans fits the bill.

Brett left on reasonably good terms and the club should be proud it has done the right thing by Finchy by allowing him to join another NRL club.

There is no doubt Finchy had become a part of the woodwork at the club in his time here and I’m sad to see my mate go, but I’ll be making sure I always get his horseracing tips and stay in touch.

Finchy I hope you’re reading this mate, because I will be running at you when we take on the Storm!

Backtracking to horse racing and I’m hoping plenty of fans check the Herald, because I was celebrity tipster last week and picked Roman Emperor to win the AJC Derby, which continued on from my hot form of tipping Vision and Power to win The George Ryder.

With the Doncaster on this weekend I am looking at Black Piranha early, though I haven’t had much of chance to do the form yet.

After last weekend’s loss to the Dragons I’m beginning to get frustrated at our inability to score points. We’re defending well enough, but just can’t get it done with the ball. We need to rectify that now.

Someone said to me it was an improved performance last week, but that doesn’t get you two points and it doesn’t make the loss any better, it’s still a loss.

This week there have been changes galore to the side as we go looking for a solution. Jarryd Hayne is back to the centres, Joel Reddy returns, Feleti Mateo is at five eighth, Ben Smith’s into the pack again and I’m at lock.

I reckon it’s a gee up from Ando. He knows I have specially made white boots ready to go with number 11 on them, he just doesn’t want me to shine. I also asked him if being lock allows me to become more of a ball player and was met with a resounding ‘no’!

It’s probably a good thing as I’m currently struggling with a wrist injury.

I think switching Feleti back into the number 6 could be a good move. But I also think Feleti is feeling the pressure which is dumped on him to create something as evidenced by last Friday night, when he was trying to conjure up passes in very greasy conditions.

Things should be better with dry conditions this Sunday for his style of play and I hope it works out against the Bulldogs.

The Dogs are playing very well at the moment and are a very different side to the one who snatched the spoon from the Cowboys last year. They have a great mix of players and are playing very well.

My personal try-scoring battle with Andrew ‘Bobcat’ Ryan is on again, as we go head to head. Unfortunately for me Bobcat is off to a flyer with a three – nil lead. Shows what you can do when you don’t spend the entire game defending.

If he does score, look for me to slap him around Issac Luke style and get a reaction, which will then provoke Michael Ennis to get involved.

Speaking of Mick Ennis it seems he has been dubbed a “pest” by some commentators of the game. I wouldn’t disagree with that. He’s a good footballer but he’s even better when it comes to getting under your skin, he just yaps away and niggles all game. He and my former teammate PJ Marsh are champions at it. You must have to be a hooker to be good at the caper.

Looking at the Bulldogs side, one man who has impressed me all year is David Stagg. He was always very good at the Broncos but with a leadership role at the Bulldogs he looks even better. I think he is revelling in his current role.

Back on the home front there is good news with Rowdy out of hospital. The little fella is feeling better and his brothers Archie and Buster loved Easter, especially Buster who has got a pimple from his chocolate intake.

I’ll be taking the kids to the Easter Show this week and straight to the farmyard animals. They love them all, especially the cows and I get a kick out of some of the city slickers wondering what animal is what.

I’m feeling confident about this weekend.

Hindy

I’d like to point out for all our fans that our new strategy for 2009 is to make things interesting and win the game at the death in spectacular fashion.

Well not really, but it would help explain the way we went about getting the two points over the Raiders last weekend. Pulling the rabbit out of the hat probably isn’t the ideal way to go every week when it comes to getting the two points, but two points are two points and we will take them.

Whilst it was a great win and showed character you had to feel a bit sorry for Terry Campese throwing the pass which gave Jarryd Hayne a 95m intercept try. It even conjured up memories of Matt Bowen’s memorable Origin intercept off Brett Kimmorley and, even though I’ve long since forgiven Noddy, I doubt he will ever live that one down.

Two things about last week disappointed me. The first is our attack still looks scratchy despite the fact we are defending well. It’s now round four and the excuse that the combinations need time is running out of legs.

The second was the crowd at the game. All I can put it down to is Canberra are an out of town side. We only got 11,000 there which was a bit disappointing as I don’t think we have been playing badly. Hopefully when we play some other Sydney teams like the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers or Panthers the crowd numbers will improve.

Having said that it was good to see so many Canberra fans making the trip down the highway to be at the game. They are really getting behind their side, despite the three losses to start the season.

We’ll be taking on the Roosters tomorrow night and it’s time to aim up for Friday Night Footy. We need to click and keep our focus, which has been a problem in the past. I don’t think we’re far off our best and could show it this Friday night. It’s a showcase game so it could be time to make a statement.

I think I’ll be expecting Luke Burt to bag some tries and Dream Team points as he has scored 14 tries in 10 matches against the Roosters.

As for the Roosters there is no doubt the fact that Willie Mason and Nate Myles have been stood down from the team for drinking on a day when they weren’t allowed to should make them an easier proposition for us, but it could also mean the rest of their players fire up.

I’ll be trying to fire Craig Fitzgibbon up while I’m out there. I might have to sledge the big fella about his hair or lack of it or something, because I know he’ll be pulling at mine, always does.

As for the bans well the Roosters have their own policies, but I tend to think they are quite strict and I reckon I’d be sneaking in a few beers occasionally. Nowhere near to the point of excess but all these policies are starting to get a bit ridiculous.

I had four beers at Nathan Cayless’ birthday dinner the other night and hardly think that is a crime, yet perhaps at the Roosters it would be cause for suspension, if it was here at Parramatta and I was suspended I would be absolutely filthy!

While I’ll be looking forward to Friday night I am also looking forward to the Golden Slipper on Saturday. Originally I was planning to head to the track, but I’m not too sure I will. My tips are Indian Ocean and Manhattan Rain and I’ve been given a tip for Viewed in The BMW.
 
Just a quick response to your comments and thanks to Chris, Gerry and Catherine for the kind words and Matt for the Dream Team advice, I may have to take it.

Hindy

There’s a sense of relief in the camp at the moment. We’ve got our first win on the board and it feels good. No one wants to be 0-2 after two rounds of the comp and our win over South Sydney had a lot of merit.

We did the hard work and got the result. Did anyone see my cover tackle? I just proved I still have pace and our centres better watch themselves!

Speaking of the outside backs I thought one of ours was far more deserving of the man of the match award. While I’m happy to take it as the $1000 comes in handy I would have thought Joel Reddy was a deserving candidate.

While I’m talking about guys who have impressed at the club this year I think Joe Galuvao has really begun to show us all why he was such a success at Penrith a few years ago. We all know how damaging Joe can be it’s just a matter of getting it out of him.

Fuifui Moimoi and Eric Grothe have also impressed me, although Guru’s constant high shorts at training are getting to be a little disconcerting. Those white legs hurt the eyes.

After knocking off South Sydney we take on a Raiders side with their backs against the wall this week. That’s when they get dangerous and despite the fact they are 0-2 after a tough loss to the Tigers and a belting at the hands of the Roosters we are very wary of them and will not be talking ourselves up heading into the game.

The aim as a team this year is to keep level heads no matter how many wins we string together. Last year we didn’t do that and ended up looking like idiots.

We have to watch Terry Campese in particular. The youngster never actually looks like he is doing anything and then finds a way to stroll through a gap created out of nothing. He is classy and we can’t give him a chance.

Having said all that I’m happy we are playing Canberra at Parramatta Stadium. I don’t usually say this about teams but the Raiders are a side you want to play at your home ground. They always lift when they are in Canberra compared to how they play when they are away.

I notice forwards are dominating the Dally M count at the moment with Adam Blair and Steve Price on top and myself one point off them. Hopefully this is the year of the prop or back rower, for the first time since David Fairleigh won it while at North Sydney in 1994.

While I’m not really concerned about the Dally M what I do want is a rep jumper. I’ve made no secret I’d like to wear the sky blue again and will really be thinking about that in a few weeks time.

There’s been a lot written about the future of footy clubs this week and if someone had of asked me about the future of Parramatta five years ago I probably wouldn’t have worried as much, but the fact is these days in the current economic climate I am concerned.

Poker machine taxes have hurt the clubs and the longer I am here the more I want to see the club stand on it’s own two feet and never have to face a merger possibility. I don’t know the secret to financial success for the club but I do urge fans to get out and support us as often as you can and we’ll try and repay you with wins.

Growing up the Illawarra Steelers were my local team and I hated it when they had to merge with St George. I didn’t want them to merge, especially with the dreaded Dragons. A mate of mine Keith Gardiner, who will detest me for writing this, is that big a Dragons fan he cried when they lost a semi final game and after the odd win as well. There’s your moment of fame buddy!

It’s good to see that we are getting some good press at the moment, I didn’t take Archie and Buster to recovery for a stunt though, they have been a bit sick lately so they wanted to get out of the house.

Apparently Jarryd Hayne was quite well behaved at the races as well, sipping on wine and being a good lad, nice work Haynesy.

For all the horse racing fans out there I’m going with Roman Emperor at Rosehill as my tip of the week. He was climbing all over them two weeks ago but couldn’t ‘get out’.

If anyone can give me some help in Dream Team I need it. I’ve been scoring in the 500 point range but can’t seem to get the extra 100 points the leaders have.

So far my team has the likes of  Petero Civoniceva, Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Heighington and Glenn Stewart leading the way up front with the likes of Luke Burt, Hazem el Masri and Luke Covell getting me some points in the backline.

Hindy