THE Knights must make sure they hang on to the local Cessnock flyer Fletcher Sharpe. He scored four tries in great fashion on Sunday against the Tigers - all class. Congratulations, Fletcher, looking forward to seeing you having a superb future with our mighty Knights.
Alan Harrison, Glendale
Rugby league too big for its boots
WOW, listen to the commentators for women's and men's league and they're all superstars. They are playing in a club competition. Can someone please tell them it is a game played on the east coast and that is it? And can someone tell me why my taxes are going to Papua New Guinea, the only country in the world where the game is their number one sport. A Test match between England and France was a curtain raiser to a Super League game.
Bruce Cook, Adamstown
Footy broadcast coming up short
THERE is so much motion blur watching the NRL through NBN Television Newcastle, it is almost unwatchable. It's definitely not HD quality in my opinion. There's no blurring with the AFL on 7. None with the soccer on 10. None on Kayo Sports. It seemingly only occurs when watching through NBN Television Newcastle.
Michael Donnelly, Charlestown
Gold rush sells silver and bronze medals short
In my opinion the way success is calculated is misleading and wrong.
It seems that gold medal wins determine where a nation stands on the ladder, but we act as though the silver and bronze medals are of little value. I believe there should be a points system where gold is valued at three points, silver two and bronze one. Such a scoring system would better reflect how well a nation is performing.
On Sunday Australia was listed at number three on the ladder but if the fairer points system was applied, we would be fifth, with France third and Great Britain fourth. Our friends across the ditch have done extremely well and are positioned 12th.
How do you think an athlete who had won silver or bronze would feel, knowing that their efforts had done very little to contribute to their country's standing on the ladder under the existing system? I admire the athletes and congratulate all but I do believe the method of calculating standings needs to be reviewed.
Stan Kiefer, Arakoon
Games were welcome distraction
What a fantastic Olympics we've had this time around with some amazing achievements from our sportsmen and women. It's good to get away from all the crap that's going on in the rest of the world.
While the dentists seemed concerned about the Aussies biting down on their gold medals, I had to laugh when an Australian bronze medalist didn't want to miss out and decided to bite down on their medal.
Neil Meyers, Warners Bay
We're punching above our weight
WHAT an amazing medal tally when you consider Australia's size. Statistically our Olympic athletes are doing so much better than those of other countries. Sure, China has twice the number of medals, but they do have 50 times our population.
Could it be our lower population, our untouched spaces, our sunshine and our cleaner southern hemisphere air? I certainly hope we can hold onto those things, but I fear we would win more medals in international competition if per-capita emissions and fossil fuel exports were also in the running. Our leaders are perhaps only inspired by the opportunity for more gold.
Tom Hunt, Oak Flats
Drive at safe arrivals, not speed
I AM saddened but not surprised to hear about the road toll. I am a driver and the craziness I see on the roads daily confounds me. It's a wonder there aren't more accidents.
I thought that COVID would show us compassion and understanding, that people would look out for others. Instead I am finding people are in a hurry to get from place to place without thinking.
Road rules are being blatantly ignored. Patience is a thing of the past.
I believe people are in survival mode. With the rising cost of living, people are not concentrating. They aren't seeing beyond their own problems. Getting on the road in this mindset is a disaster waiting to happen.
Before you get in a vehicle say to yourself, expect the unexpected. Assume that everyone on the road will not obey the rules, so you should drive defensively, slow down and keep a safe distance from the idiots.
Concentrate on staying alive.
Gina Horn, Cardiff South
Praise for aged care staff welcome
Good to read Kerry Harrison's letter ("Not all nursing homes are troubled", Letters, 2/8), acknowledging the kindness and care of the staff at Tingira Hills facility at Mount Hutton given to his wife and other patients.
My sister-in-law works there and she loves her job and the people she cares for. Nice to have a positive report on the aged care business and people who work in them.
Terry Lewis, Argenton
Slow going on high-speed rail
OH gee whizz! Another $500 million for another high-speed rail planning study. This time the money will go overseas on the fast rail project. What is wrong with the previous studies undertaken at great expense? When are we finally going to get some physical product as opposed to paper and hot air?
Ian Reynolds, Forster
Recalibration is no revitalisation
Jamieson Murphy refers to "a revitalisation of the city's CBD" over the past 10 years ("A decade on from the port privatisation", Herald, 6/8). What revitalisation? Change does not necessarily equate with revitalisation. But what would I know? I only live here.
Keith Parsons, Newcastle
Skate bowl sniping isn't needed
JO Mackenzie ("Eager wait for skate bowl to weather storm", Letters, 9/8), it sounds like the Newcastle disease of whinge, complain and knock everything that's progressive is alive and well. The new skate bowl sounds what is needed for the people who will need it. The city is changing. Evolving. Growing. Please readers of this page, start looking at the positives. Stop selling our city short. I may live in Cardiff Heights, but like most of us in the Lower Hunter, I consider myself a Novocastrian.
