Roar Guru
Joined October 2013
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When you put on a jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back.
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Many articles floated recently have called for drastic changes to the structure of rugby in Australia. It's been great to see a diverse range…
Same hit in the NRL or Rugby and he’d be looking at triple that. Different world.
Pickett, Franklin learn fates for high bumps as MRO verdict arrives
Headgear doesn’t do much to prevent concussion. It provides some protection against abrasions and skull fractures. Concussions are caused by a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the brain inside the skull. You could put players in motorcycle helmets (like the NFL) but it won’t prevent the brains rattling inside their head when they run into a brick wall at top speed.
The only realistic way the AFL has a chance at reducing concussion rates is to stamp out behaviour and scenarios where players heads are exposed to high impact collisions that send the brain on a field trip. I’m sorry to say, but this means the bump has to go. I’m probably on my own, but it’s never made sense – dropping the shoulder into a largely unsuspecting opponent who’s not in possession of the ball. Dare I say it, cowardly.
Is the AFL serious about concussion?
“Wanting to win”. Not “any other result than NSW winning”.
Origin 3 match report: Fists fly in brutal decider as Maroons upset Blues - 'as good as it gets', says Slater
Sure. Both teams have players engaging in foul play. The clearest examples last night were those I highlighted. Not really the point I was making though.
REACTION: Joey's salty tears over all the Maroons 'bulls--t' after brutal, crazy 'throwback to the 80s'
Full credit to QLD last night, far more composed the NSW in the second half. I don’t think you can expect to win dropping so much ball and turning over possession in your own half so much, no matter what team you select.
Tend to disagree with some of the perceptions on foul play though. Rugby has gone too far I agree, but numerous instances last night did nothing to improve the quality of football.
Tino targeted the head of NSW players all night. Swinging arms, elbows to the face and headlock/choke on Burton. Not sure how Gagai only sat in the naughty corner for 10 after throwing closed fists to another blokes head.
We love the intensity but not sure if some of those actions shouldn’t be stamped out of the game.
REACTION: Joey's salty tears over all the Maroons 'bulls--t' after brutal, crazy 'throwback to the 80s'
They were fresh because they got a breather every 2 phases. That second half took 68mins by my watch. Disgraceful.
The Wrap: Quade Cooper finds the sweet spot to bring the Wallabies home
There was a good line in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, originally from the Telegraph in the UK.
“Australia and New Zealand were probably more plugged in to the world when you needed a sailing ship to get there, then they are right now”
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
Forked taps?? Is that a plumbing reference?
Didn’t they get the exemption based on the fact they were already in quarantine in Aus? Happy to be corrected, but it hardly matters, does it?
I don’t even understand the finger-pointing at McGowan, given how hard his government is working to host the AFL Grand Final at the exact same venue.
Sounds like a lot of deflection from the NZR apologists.
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne were in lockdown when the WBs went over for game 1?
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
I’m glad your boys got the home games in, the ticket revenue and the economic boost…
Not sure how the situation is different from game 1. Wallabies flew from an environment with small COVID numbers, quarantined in NZ and played. Your boys are flying from an environment with small COVID numbers, expected to quarantine in Perth and play.
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
Well the game is scheduled for Perth, the most isolated major city in the world.. with zero COVID cases. But NZR has no qualms about games in the UK?
'Bloody angry', 'incredibly disappointing': Rennie furious, Marinos makes staggering claim about NZR CEO
Just remind me again what PJ Cummins captaincy resume is again? Any experience calling the toss at state or even grade level?
The guy is our best player and most likeable bloke but that doesn’t make him our next best tactical skipper.
For those calling for Smith.. do you recall him being particularly astute with field placings and bowling changes? He spent every test frowning, grumpy and double tea-potting at 2nd slip.
Tim Paine's time as captain is done as Australia crumble to humiliation against India
Been Queensland’s 18th man for a decade.
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
My point being that it’s inevitable players will make rep teams outside their regular position – just that this year we ended up using 2 guys who were probably a 3rd or 4th choice centre pairing. Would’ve been nice to have one of Turbo or Mitchell go to fullback when Tedesco went down!
Personally I think Freddie got it wrong because they ended up getting in the way of each other. Regardless, the effort by the forwards was what lost them the series.
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
No idea. But I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Origin appears to mean more to Queenlanders – the players, fans, even the Premier – than it does to NSW. I don’t mean it as an arrogant thing, I just feel like the broader population, particularly in Sydney, moves on from a big win/loss of any local or state team pretty quickly – or didn’t even care in the first place.
Lot of NSW players from either terrible or jaded club teams this year. Maybe they had their heads in the off-season.
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
Next year they will play Mitchell and Tom Turbo in the centres – so we can have 3 fullbacks on the park..
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
It’s a good point regarding on-field leadership. The Blues lost 2 captains in Cordner and Tedesco, but still there was a dearth of genuine leaders.
I noticed a lot of times that players didn’t seem to be on the same page and it looked very unstructured. Cook darting out of dummy-half on last and throwing a floater to Cleary who then has no time to kick. Too often the ball finding Jake Turbo rather than the halves. Offloading game non-existent – hardly anyone running a support line. Wighton and Gutherson clearly out of position.
Perhaps the biggest issue was no one firing up the young forwards. Only one forward besides Crichton ran over 100m, that’s shocking. No leaders in that pack at all.
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
His article explains a few aggressive plays by QLD and the passive NSW response to them. Representative of the Blues lack of comraderie. I think that’s a pretty clear indictment on the team and an acknowledgement that they weren’t playing with the same intensity as the maroons.
NSW relapses: We don't understand Origin again
If there is one thing more predictable than biased commentary from Gus, it’s that NSW will blame their halfback for any and every loss.
Spare me.
Six talking points from State of Origin Game 3
I think we’d feel better about the game if –
Olam just got the ball down and scored a clear try. Crichton took the other shoulder and Mansour is awarded the try. Koroisau collects Smiths wrist not the ball and prevents a try. To’o try is disallowed.
26-20 would’ve been a good score line, but the way we got there was a bit.. yucky. Too many technical rulings (albeit correct by the rulebook) that detract from the game overall.
Four talking points from the NRL grand final
Some of the attempted tackles on Clarke and Barrett for their couple of metre-eating runs were laughable. Two defenders coming from different directions having head clashes and dropping off. I think Banks falls off his tackle because Koribete drops a shoulder into Clarke rather than wrapping him up, just propels him into Banks forcing him to mistimes his attempt.
Looks a damaging player Clarke, but Wallabies were idiotic in giving him so much space and time to wind up. Let’s dial down the Lomu comparisons though, as solid as he is, Clarke is 3 inches shorter and playing at 10-15 kgs lighter than Jonah did. I’d still be opting for an ankle-tap were possible though 😉
All Blacks produce second-half blitz to claim dominant Bledisloe 2 win
That’s not comparable to a run of the mill “high contact”. I think the aspect that looks really poor is that he held onto Jones by the chin and rolled him over his own body. It’s not like he caught him high and then attempted to lower the contact and wrap up the ball.
That action is what puts guys in wheelchairs. Flagrant disregard for another players safety. Don’t care what team he plays for, the AFL should crack down heavily on tackles and contact that compress or stretch the neck.
Is Tom Lynch in strife for kneeing Saints opponent?
I reckon a few teams are going to throw a game in Rd.11
Can’t see the Saints going all out with their best 22 against Geelong 4 days after a good game with the Suns. Same could be said for Geelong coming back from Perth on a 5 day break.
Later season games could really come down to injuries and who manages their squad best.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Rounds 10 and 11
Where are they proclaiming an “ideal way of raising children”? And subsequently, where are they forcing it on everyone? I think that’s a little far-fetched.
To be clear, I’m simply looking at the mission statement you’ve quoted above. I’m not playing judge, jury and executioner for every incident of activism that BLM are involved in.
Folau courts more controversy
I really like what Wood brings to the game, but he’s 34 in January.
UK View: 'The moral victory is real' - Poms revel in Pat's 'failure', downfall of 'dastardly' and 'scared' Aussies