I had to laugh when I read ARU Chairman John O’Neill’s Sate of the Union address.

Before I go on, I will point out the guy is hugely successful at whatever he does and my opinion probably counts for nothing, but I still get to have one.

For a start the whole address, even its title, reeks of the old boys’ club taking themselves too seriously, which doesn’t surprise me.

The part that really surprised me was that through all the waffle he pointed out that the game is acutely aware of the danger of AFL and possibly soccer but no mention of league.

Now before rugby supporters dust off their tweed jackets ready to give me a good thrashing I realise he was probably talking about soccer world-wide and AFL nationally but surely league deserved a mention with the success of their domestic competition.

Maybe the memory of what union spent on their effort last year with the Australian club championships has mentally scarred the old guard.

I guess my question is will they be brave enough to have another go, as it is clear that they need to do something particularly with new “Kwallabies” coach Deans stating he wants to toughen up the side.

Maybe they could enter a side in the NRL, that would toughen them up playing every week.

• Well done to Anthony Mundine and Ben Cousins for their efforts this week promoting drug awareness.

Of course it was also a chance to promote Anthony’s next fight and announce that Cousins was going to fight an exhibition match on the under card.

Maybe he could match up against Andrew Johns and call it Fighting Drugs.

I am joking but it is not such a bad idea and would do wonders for the message to young people.

• The NRL Snipe is back from his sabbatical full of excitement for 2008.

Being an ex-FOG and Bronco he has been very interested in the Bennett-Gate saga at the Broncos and sent me this.

“I noticed with the entire goings on with Wayne that Wally Lewis through clenched teeth said that Bennett was in the top three coaches he ever had.

There has been much speculation that the other two are and I wonder would the market go like this. Mal Clift, Wally’s coach at the Gold Coast Chargers debacle would be 100-1, Graham Lowe, his Origin coach, 6-1, Artie Beetson, 4-1 and Des Morris 4-1 but the even money favourite as Wally’s number one pick is Ross Strudwick his original coach at Valleys.”

• I heard a good story involving my old mates Noddy and Big Ears.
Most of the adventures are usually confined to Big Ears but I heard on the grapevine that Noddy had a mishap recently.

Now Noddy is a well known local businessman with his fingers in more than one pie and he seems quite successful at anything he turns his hand to, but going by what happened New Years Eve there is one field he should avoid.

Accompanied by his wife he decided to join friends at the Treasury Casino to bring in the New Year.

On arrival they were greeted at the desk with a “Sorry Sir, there is no booking under that name and sadly we are full.”

He curtly responded, “I know there is a booking as I did it myself!”

On further investigation it was discovered that he had rung Jupiter’s on the Gold Coast – where they spent New Years Eve, by themselves.

The Maroochy RSL who are great sponsors of local sport bid farewell to one of their best assets last week when their affable doorman Leon Thomson retired.

I have said it before and stand by it that businesses can spend all the money in the world on improvements, innovations etc but if you haven’t got the right bloke on the front door it is a waste of money.

Well Leon could have been at the front door of a tin shed and people still would have been happy because of the job he did, well done old mate.