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Joined August 2010
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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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NRL season 2018 is finished and all the major media awards and club championships have been handed out. But that doesn’t mean there are no important prizes left to scoop – I proudly present the inaugural celebration of the NRL Crises awards!
From the editors: On Sunday night, we asked AJ Mithen to prepare two columns – one for if the Sydney Roosters won the grand final, and one for the Melbourne Storm.
At halftime last night, I was racking my brain trying to remember when I saw this Melbourne Storm side take such a beating on the scoreboard and around the ground.
After five years of potential and heart break the Sydney Roosters finally have their hands on the Provan-Summons trophy.
In the spirit of NRL season 2018, there’s been a lot of whingeing this week about the fact we’ve got a Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Grand Final.
What a classic NRL experience: 100 per cent outrage, split 50-50.
Once again, the NRL hauls itself from a week of both real and confected dreck into an incredible weekend’s football.
We’re just days away from one of the most even NRL finals series in recent memory and the historic first weekend of the NRLW too. But here we are again, copping another front page of an alleged rugby league crisis.
Conventional wisdom says you need to be a top four team to win a premiership, but there’s one team out there no one wants to be playing come finals time.
It’s been a long and gruelling season, this 2018 edition of the National Rugby League. And this time we’re actually talking about happenings on the field, not the amateur dramatics in the backrooms that occupy so much of our time.
So all the ‘Penrith in crisis’ rumours were true, and Phil Gould is happily mounting another stuffed NRL coach in his trophy display cabinet.
There’s been an awful lot of angst in the rugby league world over the past few weeks.
I’ll admit it, I’m conflicted. I hate clickbait. I hate the constant ‘NRL in crisis’ narrative.
With the State of Origin series in their pocket and a sunny outlook on life, the Blues head to Queensland saying all the right things about achieving their first 3-0 whitewash since the turn of the century.
Just when Kevin Walters thought he was settled on a team for game three, Greg Inglis breaks his thumb and all hell breaks loose.
“An elite-level scorer, who could have got more out of his career, but was relatively content with points and dollar bills.”
Perfect summary of Melo for mine. Is that what constitutes a Hall of Fame career these days?
The not-so-complicated legacy of Carmelo Anthony
Hi anonymous commenter,
Maybe check your figures.
Streaming may be the A-League's future, but is it enough to pay the bills?
That would work… I hope they’re leaning that way!
Streaming may be the A-League's future, but is it enough to pay the bills?
If they’re serious about getting people on board it can’t go above the $15-20 mark, I agree. But look at the cost of Foxtel now compared to the other streaming providers…
Streaming may be the A-League's future, but is it enough to pay the bills?
$50 a month, that should say.
Streaming may be the A-League's future, but is it enough to pay the bills?
If Foxtel launch this sports streaming service with a price of $50 or more on it then they’ll find themselves in huge trouble. I don’t hold out much hope that they’ll have a price platform that encourages high takeup.
Streaming may be the A-League's future, but is it enough to pay the bills?
Good get Scott. Nice read.
Cadel Evans talks to The Roar: Great Ocean Road Race, Tour de France and more
Jason Demetriou is also probably wondering what the hell just happened…
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
Sure Paul, expectations shouldn’t be high – but what’s the reality going to be?
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
Good points Emcie and BA. Wayne would surely want one last crack with this Broncos squad and Siebold has to fancy his Bunnies for a shot at the title too – but will the players buy in to a guy who’s wandering out the door in a year?
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
You’re happy with this then Steve?
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
I don’t mind that BA. But giving it a standalone game on a public holiday is a pretty good solution for mine (but odd that it’s not a channel 9 game). There’s enough length between the GF replay and the Monday. Remember to expect stacks of ‘new stadium in crisis’ coverage because people had to queue for the toilet and a beer.
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
I’m with Baz here. The only contract you can’t negotiate an early release from is a non-parole jail term… Everything else is up for grabs.
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
BA I’d argue that Bennett is one of the better coaches of the older ‘past their best’ players out there. Could be just what a team needs for a last hurrah before they rebuild.
The NRL draw? Meh. Let’s talk coaching winners and losers
If Dawson didn’t stuff his knee in 2013 Geelong would have won the flag. He was on fire that year.
The real MVP: Dawson Simpson
Thanks Paul – the consistency is key. How good would it be if head office supported the refs rather than hanging them (more than once) when things get too hot.
My 2019 NRL wishlist
To clarify Con – I’ve got no issue with the sleeves, it’s the putrid blue side striping I’ll die in this ditch over!
The NRL’s ‘stats’ just kill me. It’s trash and throws up different numbers to fox sports and other places which makes it almost impossible to research and compare.
It’s a sad day when the game’s stats are hoarded for things like supercoach. A supposedly professional, billion dollar organisation should be offering much better options for supporters to enjoy its product.
My 2019 NRL wishlist
Scott Drinkwater – he’s going to be very, very good isn’t he Randy
Churning the next cream of the crop
Nice one Nat! Brimson is a jet. But the Titans need to look after him properly. 20-year-olds have no business playing busted like he was. There’s plenty of other teams who would be more than happy to look after him and treat him right…
Churning the next cream of the crop
Let a man retire in peace Ray! Billy has more than enough awards. That’s why he was ‘only’ an honourable mention this year.
DISCLAIMER: I love Billy Slater. Love him.
Presenting the 2018 Crises awards
Love it Emcie. ‘Re-illusioned’ is the word of the year.
Experts expose the heartbreaking reason why the NRL is doomed