Swimming With The Sharks By Chris Golding Seasonal Rugby's new dawn is drawing in. It's approaching only it's third season, but this has been dubbed the "breakout" season for many reasons. With a new sim, new sides, and new players, interest in the tournament is expected to be hot, not to say that it wasn't before with controversies such as admin failures resulting in non-registered players and docked points, Presidents forclosing on their teams without even a whisper of what was to come and a lack of fixtures because the League hadn't received details of who was playing, where and when. The list goes on, but with Season 3 there is a new team on the horizon (in water terms obviously!). The Sharks RUFC come into the tournament with controversy surrounding half of the presidency. Co-President CCG folded his team, The Giants, without letting the players know, something he's repeatedly apologised for but we know it doesn't change things. "Yeah, I was a bit of a kent doing that but stuff moved too fast for me to get it out there. It's something I'll always regret and I would definately go back and change it if I had the chance." However, regardless of this his Giants team have still made it through to the Semi-Finals of Season 2, even though they've been deducted points, and he hopes they'll end on a high before he begins a new stage of his career, as a player and coach and president. The Boardroom of the Sharks has recently been finished at the new Marine Central Headquarters that they've based themselves out of. With two full sized training pitches, a youth academy, physio centre, swimming pools, changing rooms, sauna and bar, it's certainly going to attract the crowds. Whilst wondering around you can see players wondering off the training field; Eddie Morris, the injury and card prone Hooker, has done a good job in recruiting a decent set of players who, based around a core nucleus of big game players, hope to challenge for the title. "There's experience in people like Golding and McDougal and Myself, not to mention Verigotta and Slogga, and then there's the newer players like Welker and Devonshire who have benefitted a lot from some of the knowledge passed down to them. I think they're definately a good bunch of lads too." When asked about lineup plans for the forthcoming season, Morris seemed slightly less upfront. "Well, there's been a few setbacks in recruiting at times, losing Farny to the Spartans and possibly the lack of activity of Jordan Logan, who has the potential to be a top player this season if he returns I think. Farny went the day before we signed our deal with Maximuscle...it's been rumoured that, had he known we were signing it, he may have stayed, but I guess that's something that'll be left unknown for the time being at least. The Centre partnership in Golding and Graham looks pretty awesome, two very capable players, and Eds has tipped CCG to have a big season too. Scoble and Bakkum will need to show they know what they can do at Halfbacks as well if we're to score some tries and win games. But it's wait and see time I guess. As the door clanged shut behind me and I stepped foot into the massive gym of the Sharks, I saw Sam Verigotta pumping the iron. The guy is impressive, a terrific player, although he's been eclipsed by Doug at the Cheetahs, he's been named Co-Captain alongside Jordan Logan for the forthcoming season, and he expects a lot of himself. "The past two seasons have been awesome, playing alongside Doog, but I want to breakout of his shadow. I think some underestimate me as a player, but CCG has made it clear to me that he expects me to perform consistently and I've made it an aim to try and win player of the season with solid performances. I do a lot more defensive and on the floor work than many see, but this season we've obviously been promised that there'll be more recognition for that sorta stuff so all will be well I hope!" As I leave the gym, I notice Verigotta chuck another 20kg on the barbell he's lifting...that takes the total to 130kg. He has been officially inducted to the beefcake family since. The swimming pool...Olympic sized, pretty awesome in fact. James McDougal is swimming lengths as I wander to poolside, and he grunts something about working off the pies and ale he's had recently and sets off again. I think, as he takes a breath to the side, he shouts "**** off Chris" or something similar. Regardless of this, he's swimming some decent times, and obviously putting in the hard graft for the season ahead, not wanting to come off second best. As he nears the far end, I leave this impressive structure and head back out to the training field, where Matt Scoble is practising his goal kicking, something which has blown hot and cold this season, and young 9s Sam Bakkum and James Hughes practise boxing it to each other. The future definately looks bright for some of these exciting backs, that's for sure. But let's not forget the forwards. Welker, Morris and Dafter are practising their scrummage technique now, whilst the backrow trio of Laing, Morgan and Yates do power training, but not quite so conventionally: they are, as normal, hooked up to some big weights behind them, however they have Playboy magazines being dangled in front of them and they are running after them (well they think they are at least!) like dogs, tongues out of their mouths at the side as they strive to get what they want the most. All three have obviously taken a few blows to the head and not come off the field for treatment - take note IRB! I turn and head towards the carpark to leave the complex, which isn't quite yet finished, wondering how Eddie managed to recruit three numpty backrowers when I see the cheerleaders lining up to practise. At this stage Golding Jnr., also known as General Winky, pops up quite embarrassingly. I soon adjust the furniture and carry on watching these busty girls go through their routines; note that I was lucky to show one of them mine later that day, although I will not disclose her name or details as it's obviously a bit of an embarrassment to her, although I remember that night of passion with a sort of pride and honour...woops straying off topic here. The girls finish a few routines, I clap, smile and think about what a treat the fans and teams coming to the Sharks, yet to be named stadium, are in for. At this stage I think I should finish my first Sharks article and spend a while in the sauna. Until next time, goodbye.
