The two men played in different 'positions,' lived considerably different lifestyles and had quite differing regional accents, but as well as passing so closely together the two share the distinction of being men very much 'of their time': They take a lot of political incorrectness with them.

As I noted here I caught up with Tommy just a few weeks back. He wasn't exactly a picture of health but he said he felt alright. You certainly wouldn't have expected him to keel over so shortly afterwards.

The tributes have been flowing since, and deservedly so. The man was the ultimate competitor and, as I've said many times, he'd be among the very first players picked in any side I'd be a selector for.

Raudonikus dying and the flood of stories being retold about him really has shone a spotlight, though, on rugby league and how much it has changed. It is more than just 'end of an era' stuff, although it is that too.

RELATED CONTENT

The thing is, so much of what Raudonikus is being lovingly remembered for simply wouldn't fly today. We share the stories and have a laugh, but the uncomfortable truth is that most of what people love about Tommy Raudonikus has been stamped out of rugby league. Much of it, perhaps, deservedly so.

The troubling aspect is, what do we have left?

Peter V'landys, in a speech paying tribute, quite accurately summed up the predicament, albeit unintentionally I'd assume.

"Tommy was everything that makes rugby league the greatest game of all," he said, followed by, "There will never be another Tommy Raudonikus."

You see the problem?

One of the things exemplified by Raudonikus and players of that ilk was the 'tribal' aspect of rugby league: Players and fans both knew who they'd be playing for and who they'd be supporting (and what colour the jumpers would be) for season upon season.

But that's gone well and truly out the window these days and the constant shuffling of the coaches has reached farcical proportions with the first casualty this year having been given his marching orders just a couple of days ago.

John Morris took on the Sharks' coaching job in 2019 and, despite operating among difficult circumstances on a number of fronts, took the side to the finals in consecutive years, which begs the question: What have you got to do?

His replacement, Craig Fitzgibbon, will continue with the Roosters through to the end of the season before switching. How do these obvious conflicts of interest work I wonder?

We again, this week, saw a whole bunch of points scored. One of the losing sides still managed 30!

The formula is to get within range, kick it high, and hope to score from the resultant lucky dip. I think six of the tries scored in the Tigers-Cowboys game I watched came from kicks. No breaking a line; no out-skilling/out-smarting - just straight up lottery.

It's all just too predictable. A bit like the old John Peard 'bomb' days at Parramatta revisited.

The constant rule changes are annoying hell out of me, but if you want one that I reckon would be worthwhile? Halve the points awarded to a try scored from a kick.

And again there's been more talk of starting up another Brisbane side. I'm not sure how this line of thinking sits beside what is generally acknowledged to be a player shortage.

There's no more country rugby league, no 'nursery,' no footy played anymore in schools; the concussion problem isn't going anywhere.

I wonder, does anybody have a future plan for who, down the line, is going to be actually playing this 'greatest game of all?' Because I don't see one.

'Queenslander Liam Kirkwood Wins the ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition' screamed the headline in The Land.

Hang on, I thought. Liam Kirkwood's from Maitland. He's one of the Kirkwoods from 'Kirkwoods Produce,' a business that began in Church St in the 1920s and continues in Rutherford to this day.

He may live in Townsville, which is admittedly more than just dabbling with a bit of Coolangatta, but, hey, you've got to go where the work is, and does this mere residing actually make somebody a Queenslander?

What's the criteria, I wondered, before deciding that if he supports the Toads then they can have him.

A quick phone call cleared it up. I shouldn't have doubted.

He's a Blues supporter, through and through. (Of course he is, his brother plays for Cessnock).

The story went on to imply that with a Queenslander winning 'once again' that they are somehow superior in the art of auctioneering.

It made me wonder where some of the previous winners they were claiming might have actually come from and whether we need to set up some sort 'Auctioneer of Origin' type competition to sort this thing out.

It's a tremendous achievement regardless.

Liam got into it through going to the cattle sales with his grandfather. He'd come home and 'practise out the back.'

The competition has been running since 1989, with auctioneers judged on their 'diction, values, voice and manner.'

It's a highly competitive prestigious trophy to be holding onto.

So, our congratulations to Liam Kirkwood, a true blue New South Welshman!