NRL scheduling madness

What a fantastic start to the premiership, arguably the best in the game's history.

It
had everything: two golden point games, another decided in the last 19
seconds and the rest (barring Cowboys-Gold Coast) producing tight
contests.

All involved deserve massive pats on the back,
especially the teams that went around in either heat and humidity or
driving rain.

But after every great party comes a hangover and I
fear we may experience a whopper this coming weekend due to the insane
scheduling that goes on in rugby league.

Manly played themselves
to a standstill over in Auckland to get the cash against the Warriors,
racking up countless hours in buses, on planes, at airports and in
hotels in the process.

Wests Tigers players could hardly walk off
Leichhardt Oval unassisted after going for 83 minutes in energy-sapping
conditions against the gallant and luckless Sharks.

So how do we reward Manly and the Tigers?

By making them back up five days later in Gosford!

The
Sharks receive a day extra before taking on a Newcastle side that will
have played its last game 10 days ago by the time they arrive at Toyota
Stadium on Sunday.

The Dragons enjoy a nine-day turnaround while the Warriors, Storm and Panthers all get eight-day rests.

John Grant? Are you listening in there at League Central?

When are we going to stop this lunacy and take back control of our game so it's an even playing field for all?

Letting
television executives decide who plays when is akin to leaving an
alcoholic in a brewery and telling him not to touch the tap that says
'free beer'.

The TV bosses are all about ratings, which is fair
enough because that's their job and the current rules allow them to
choose games to suit without question.

Unfortunately player welfare comes a distant second.

It's
wrong and it's a scandal and I think you will see some very flat
footballers running around this weekend as a result of being asked to do
too much in a short period of time.

So just be careful when you are placing your tips this weekend.

I like the Sea Eagles, Broncos, Titans, Dragons, Sharks, Roosters, Storm and the Warriors.