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AJ watches far too much sport. When he's not watching it, he's reading about it. When he's not reading about it, he's writing about it and when he's not writing about it, he's talking about it on the podcast ‘A Sporting Discussion’. Rugby league has AJ's heart, but he loves to give space to the sports that the mainstream forgets - he’ll never rest until Australian baseball gets the coverage it deserves! He’s always game for a debate in the comments section or on twitter @AJMithen - but you’d best come prepared!
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We’re getting to the business end of the NRL season as the contenders fight for top two, and the pretenders fight to be the best of the rest. Here are your talking points for NRL Round 19.
The NRL’s second Queensland-based round for the year saw a few predictable results, but there were some interesting moments that caught the eye too.
With the NRL moving to Queensland, a lot of our presumptions about how the season would play out might well be challenged.
State of Origin is in the bank for season 2021 and New South Wales retain the shield, though they dropped a tight game three on the Gold Coast. Brad Fittler’s team were faster, fitter and more committed when it mattered, and the future looks bright for the men in blue. Here are your talking points […]
It’s official. The escalating COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney means the NRL is shipping up to Queensland.
Only four games in the second split round for 2021, but there’s still plenty to talk about. Here’s your talking points for NRL Round 17 ahead of Wednesday’s Origin finale.
A group of players get together at a teammate’s house, sink some beers, have a barbie and some laughs, eventually making enough noise as the night rolls on to get neighbours to call the police, who come along and send everyone on their way.
Round 16 saw blowouts, bludgers, a Broncos win and perhaps some big decisions in the offing. Here’s the talking points from the weekend as Origin 3 looms.
As I write this, New South Wales are just ploughing an insipid Queensland attack into the Suncorp Stadium turf to wrap up the State of Origin series with one game in hand.
“Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?”
“The most important thing is the players have adjusted and the thuggery to the head is gone.”
Gutted up the middle, beaten out wide, having a half-century run up on them, no time, no spark, no energy. Paul Green’s Origin coaching debut could not have gone much worse.
The first NRL split round for the year was a complete bludger. Four borderline unwatchable games, with three blowouts and one ‘close’ one decided by a converted try but of terrible quality overall.
Eight months ago it was the same old, same old for New South Wales. Stacked with talent, coached by a genius in Brad Fittler and unbackable favourites against the hapless Maroons – before losing another ‘unlosable series.
As COVID-19 played havoc with sport across the globe in 2020, things looked especially bleak for the NRL.
Rugby league has a great track record for overreaction and hysteria, but it’ll be tough to top what we saw over the weekend for Magic Round.
It must be that time of the year – NRL conference talk is back!
It’s taken years, but it finally looks like there’s a sliver of hope for those of us who want the NRL to enforce stronger on-field punishment for high contact.
The Storm may have dusted their fierce rivals the Roosters on Friday night, but yet again it’s not their talent with ball in hand that’s going to resonate across the week.
rrrriiiiiiight.
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
Be cool, Joey. Settle down. It’s just some tongue in cheek phrasing.
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
I’m banking these for a big one Baz, life’s too short to rant about this every week
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
Ah – thanks Joe.
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
He’s off contract at the end of the season kk…
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
It couldn’t be any worse Jimmmy
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points
Loved this Baz. Storm all the way for me. Although I’m not above Souths or Manly for the Wayne/Des chaos that would ensue… 🙂
The fine art of bandwagon jumping
That’s another column for another time and it’s in the pipeline Andrew. As for the ads, they’re targeted, aren’t they? 😛
My NRL 2021 wish list revisited
Cameroon 2 Spain 2 at Sydney 2000 in the gold medal football, Cameroon winning 3-5 on penalties after trailing 0-2 in front of 104,000.
Eto’o, Mboma, Xavi, Carlos Puyol… Glorious.
Ten unforgettable, emotional moments in Olympic Games history
Don’t worry Bunney, we are all flawed in one way or another 😛
My NRL 2021 wish list revisited
😂
Half-time tackles, offensive wristbands and speedy fullbacks: NRL Round 18 talking points
No code warz on my stuff please Max, people can love sports of all sorts.
Except golf. To hell with golf.
Cat, With my beautiful Raiders out of the picture I hope you get the double. And you’re able to head to Kardinia park for a party…
My NRL 2021 wish list revisited
I’m 2 out of the last 3 Adam! Then V’landys brings in these new rules…. Anything to hobble a champion
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 18
How DARE you Big Daddy! I’m exactly where I need to be
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 18
Fair point MCPC, I should probably have phrased that better. I was trying to refer to Origin as a battle of attrition rather than games being blown wide open.
Origin is hard, a sweep is harder: seven talking points for State of Origin 2021
In ya boot then, Phil! 😛
'Video game smarts in the NRL': Six talking points from Round 17
Thanks Rayner. This is the LAST time I look at ladders before they’ve been properly updated!!
'Video game smarts in the NRL': Six talking points from Round 17
Bo Peep, I hardly ‘attempt to appear as a neutral’ when it comes to V’landys. And I have no axes to grind, I call it how I see it. If you’ve read my recent stuff you’d see I’m saying for all his faults, I hope V’landys is able to keep the show on the road, it’s a massive task the game faces.
As for the second part of your comment, the Tele’s writers are miles more successful than me. Calling us rivals is incorrect. But toadies is exactly what they are. And that’s ok, because they’ve got mouths to feed and people to keep happy.
NRL 2021 may end very differently to how it started
Walter is correct, thanks mate – when I wrote this they were both on 28 because Penrith’s bye points hadn’t been allocated. Gah.
'Video game smarts in the NRL': Six talking points from Round 17
Folks, I take back my high hopes for this Saturday’s Storm/Panthers do…
The Panthers are missing:
Nathan Cleary
Brian To’o
Isaah Yeo
James Fisher-Harris
Tyrone May
Storm by a thousand
Big boppers, two wrongs and a one-eyed play: NRL Round 19 talking points