THE NRL is going backwards as there is a massive gap between the top four or five teams and the others.
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What good really is the salary cap on payments? Loyalty is what is needed. Four million dollar contracts, then injuries, then early releases from contracts, both for players and coaches. If a club was silly enough to pay a single player something in the vicinity of $5-10 million dollars, well good luck to them. Does it guarantee a premiership win, and does it guarantee loyalty?
Every now and then we hear of a player in an opposing team who was a local by birth, however, had been "let go" by the Knights. Why? If the Knights were to lose 38-4, as they did last weekend, and the team was made up 100 per cent by players born and bred in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley regions, then, OK, they were outplayed, but their hearts would be in the right place. Let's stick to locals, no imports, and maybe we will get results as we did back in 1997 when our "stars" were locals.
Further, the proposal to redevelop the Broadmeadow sporting precinct seems lopsided in the favour of yet more "football" proposals. McDonald Jones Stadium is used for just a few games of rugby league and soccer each year, and both teams have adequate training facilities elsewhere, but what about sports like tennis which put Australia on the world scene in the 1950s and 1960s?
The Newcastle Tennis Association has been waiting for decades for government help to upgrade its facilities. I see this as a more relevant proposal for the area for a game that is played all year round, is not subject to salary caps, is both a healthy and safe sport, and has more relevance to reality than what seems to be proposed for the Broadmeadow area.
Newcastle sport, its participants, its administrators, and its fans are rudderless. We need to insist on being parochial. We need our own "hometown heroes".
Richard Devon, Fishing Point
Second opinion may be needed
I REFER to an article "Panic over pandemic" by Alan Jones. Of course we should be assisting Australians in coming home including from India.
However, it is a bit rich for those now criticising the federal government over its handling of this matter. Where were they when Victoria was previously virtually under martial law?
The Prime Minister was accused of racism. These days the word racism is being tossed around by the neo Marxists who are devoid of an intellectual argument.
MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
- Time to renovate thinking about real estate
- See what the sea can offer in emissions fight
- Plenty of hang-ups hinder NRL conference calls
- Like him or not, the PM should be respected
- Fixing Stockton playground should be child's play
- Elite cricket's rules on IPL stumped before virus hit
- India virus flight ban simply doesn't add up
- Making election promises is easier than delivering
The actions of certain premiers in Australia made us look as if we are no longer a federation but have reverted back to being a bunch of colonies.
Alan pointed out that medical advice on March 16, 2020, stated that "up to 150,000 Australians could die from the coronavirus", when actually there were 910 deaths.
Patients with medical problems are often advised to get a second opinion. Do governments ever think about getting a second opinion or do they blindly go along with what they are advised?
Moreover I have not seen figures that state, "deaths from the coronavirus" as distinct from "deaths with coronavirus."
John Rumble, Albion Park
No one is above the law
IT is obvious the Christian upbringing of Jarryd Hayne and some of his supporters missed out on a couple of teachings.
It seems some high-profile sports people believe they are above the law and deserve special exemptions for their actions.
Duh, just because you get paid exorbitant amounts of money shouldn't blur your respect for those who are less fortunate.
You are still an intelligent human being, not a Neanderthal. Well, now you pay for your primitive urges. I just hope and pray that your inmates were exposed to the teachings that you obviously missed.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
Smarter use of money required
LESSON 1.01 in the fictional book, "How to Invest Wisely" is: Invest in projects requiring the most urgent attention, projects which can be completed speedily while providing a guaranteed return on capital over time.
Several scenarios come readily to mind in that regard, for our government's use of Australian tax dollars, such as, the value for dollar spent on noisy, obsolete before construction begins, submarines versus purpose-built emergency accommodation with the necessary infrastructure required to meet the needs during pandemic, bushfire, flood or other contingencies.
Fighter bombers which often either fail to get off the ground or fall from the skies versus purchasing world best equipment and training of personnel to prevent and or combat the emergencies noted above.
Dedicating sufficient expenditure on TAFE and the like to ensure we have people trained to construct, operate and service facilities required for national emergency or pandemic situations is what is needed .
Stop expenditure of our tax dollars on election rorting or obscene tax breaks to the rich. No additional lurks for retiring politicians. As mythical as the fictional book on "How to Invest Wisely" may be, I believe it offers more sensible options than exist in current LNP policies.
Barry Swan, Balgownie
SHORT TAKES
DENNIS Crampton ("We can't be trusted to be selfless", Letters, 5/5), please tone it down. "No travel in, no travel out" doesn't just sound extreme, it is extreme. My wife flew out this morning to PNG to spend time with, and care for, her elderly and sick mother. Your broad sweeping brush would deny her permission to do so. You label travellers as selfish with no care for others, many of those travelling at this time are in similar circumstances to my wife. Think about it for a minute, they are leaving their Australian families, careers, and comfortable life behind them and knowingly risking their own lives to care for family members, and, know there is no guarantee they will be allowed to return to Australia.
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
THE Knights naysayers are out in force again (Letters and Short Takes, 5/5). One contributor who obviously cares about the team, at least, made suggestions to try and remedy the recent form slump. The remainder however, mainly resorted to puerile attempts at humour. I am surprised that the ball boys didn't cop a serve from these armchair critics.
Robert Tacon, Adamstown Heights
WOULDN'T it be awesome if the players at the Newcastle Knights were even as half committed to the jersey and what it means to this town as their supporters are?
Lisa Davies, Mayfield West
PETER Devey, ("Power has not entirely shifted yet", Letters, 5/5), conveniently neglected to mention that so far this financial year the spot wholesale price for electricity in South Australia was the lowest in the country. Also electricity prices for all states have fallen and this is attributed partly to lower demand due to COVID, but also to the higher contribution from renewables. Renewables plus storage are now a cheaper option than fossil fuels for new power generation and over time the margin will only get greater. If there is to be any subsidy it should be for storage. At present the main two options are battery and pumped hydro.
Lloyd Davies, Stockton
YESTERDAY, I had my first COVID-19 vaccination at the clinic run at Newcastle University. Congratulations to the staff there for the pleasant, efficient way they dealt with a lot of people. I remarked to the doctor that there had been no regular vaccinations when I was born. I remembered getting my first against diphtheria when I was six years old and how I welcomed each new one when it became available. I just wish that the anti-vaxxers could time travel back and see the children and adults who died of diphtheria, measles, polio, tetanus and influenza. Not to mention the ones left blind or deaf, and the adult men left sterile because of mumps; and the older folk now dealing with post-polio which can be fatal. I, and so many others, have so much to be grateful for.