Roar Pro
Joined September 2014
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A Canberra boy and former junior Rugby League referee. Raiders and NSW fan. Also lifelong lover of Test cricket. Used to bowl kind of like a right-arm Paul Adams.
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In what should surprise absolutely nobody, the NRL's referees are in the spotlight following some controversial decisions in the first week of the finals.…
We've been through two thoroughly entertaining weeks of the Four Nations, and at this stage, absolutely nobody's position in the final is safe. Neither…
It's an argument as old as finals footy - is the week off in the finals a help or hindrance? Some will cite the…
The only thing more fun than kicking the shit out of the Poms is watching the British media get stuck into them afterwards. Or during the game.
Do we really want to see England in despair and humiliated? The answer might surprise you
Because Jamal Fogarty was only just released by the Titans?
As normal through the Raiders’ history, we will look to rebuild from within. Big name players aren’t interested in moving to Canberra.
NRL season review and crystal ball Part 2: Warriors, Dragons, Raiders and Sharks
Roosters got the scrum because it happened in the Raiders’ half.
I think the rule was changed after that so it’s a penalty against the trainer’s team.
The grand final moments that could be repeated at Suncorp Stadium
Brett Grogan?
Of mousetraps, the Man and David Manson: St George’s unlikely run to the 1996 grand final
One other point: Less teams in the finals means more meaningless games, which means more games open to corruption. The infamous John Elias didn’t try to fix a game where there was a chance of finals spots on the line. He tried to fix one where neither team could qualify.
A six-team NRL finals system? Sure, but just one question: Who hurt you?
Have you watched the Raiders lately??
Manly may not win by 80, but I would not be surprised if the margin is closer to that than to 8.
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 17
Did you forget the zero on the end?
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 17
I don’t know if this supports or rebuts your point, but this year the Raiders have won every game when conceding less than 20, and lost every time they’ve conceded more than that.
The loss of CNK has been huge, so often he was saving those points in defence. Without him, it’s like a sieve.
Croker is, unfortunately, no longer up to it. I love the guy, and how much he’s given this club, but age, injury and the pace of the game has left him behind. Scott has had some good moments but his hot-headed nature of the field makes him a liability. Time to give the younger guys like Savage, Timoko and Smith-Shields a crack.
Outside of Papa, our middle forwards are embarrassing themselves, regularly being smashed. Stuart still thinking Paul Gallen is there and the lock is another prop doesn’t help. I’d like to see Starling start with Hodgson in 13, but I don’t think Ricky will see it like that.
'Dumb' Dogs and 'scary' Storm: Eight talking points from NRL Round 16
Unless Freddy and co are taking pity on Qld, I can’t understand the Wighton/Moses option. Jack is flat out being picked for reserve grade at most clubs right now. Moses has an unfortunate tendency to bomb the big moments.
The Souths combination is the obvious choice.
Blues' halves crisis continues with Luai set to miss
Maybe I’ve been burned before, but I feel an ambush coming. Almost tempted to put money on Coates to score first…
State of Origin Game 2 preview, prediction: Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues
Luai just looked at home. Zero nerves, 100% confidence. Even early in the game he was taking the risk, getting long balls to Turbo because he saw opportunities, rather than trying to ease his way in.
Six talking points from State of Origin Game 1
Great article.
But a few points on the rules that are worth making:
There is no reason that two players can’t both be punished for separate incidents. Both Brown and Niukore could and should have been sin binned.
There also nothing in the rules that I know of to prevent the officials from both awarding a penalty try and sin binning the offending player, it’s just the interpretation they use. Apparently both 10 minutes and 4 points is seen as too great a punishment.
I do like the idea of extending the potential 8 point try to any foul play in the lead-up, though.
The rule quirks that see foul play not penalised
Forget the Raiders making the 8. This weekend is about whether we’re just a bottom 4 team like the Tigers or genuine wooden spoon favourites ahead of the Bulldogs.
From where I’m sitting, the issue is a simple lack of fitness compared to even middle of the pack teams like the Knights. They look cooked by 65 minutes every week.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 9
Storm because the Rabbits are busted
Panthers because nobody is beating then unless something goes wrong
Eels because the Roosters are busted
Knights because the Raiders stop playing after half time
Titans because the Tigers are still crap
Cowboys because they’re at home, the toughest pick of the round
Manly because Turbo is still there
Dragons because the Dogs are awful.
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 9
Very good! I’m sure you could have found a reason to blame Darius though.
Broncos crisis: Keep calm and blame one individual entirely
Put down the crack pipe Scott!
Rabbits by at least 20. The Raiders will be flat out scoring 20 points, and I don’t see them keeping Souths under 30
Storm by heaps
Titans by heaps
Penrith by heaps, unfortunately Turbo is now overdue to break down
Parra by heaps
Roosters by heaps, they’ll continue rolling pretenders but will fall short against the top teams. Newcastle are not one of those top teams
Warriors in a tight one.
Dragons by heaps.
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 8
The make up and use of the bench has been abysmal. Giving Havilii 8 minutes and Young 19, when others are clearly gassed, is just stupid.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 7
Raiders look more likely to finish bottom 4 than top 8. Hell, on the efforts they displayed against the Sharks, the Dogs are more than a fair chance of beating us in Magic Round.
There’s a big issue with second halves. Fitness, motivation, age. I don’t know what it is but I’m resigned to a bottom 4 finish.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 7
Leaving aside the fact that Cronulla and St George fans hate each other’s guts…
And that a Tigers/Roosters joint venture would essentially be a Roosters’ takeover…
And that Tasmania has little to no knowledge of the fact that League exists…
Seriously, this article must be trolling. Given that your previous articles have not been focussed on League, I’m far from convinced that this was written in good faith.
A simple plan for NRL expansion
Simple, with a whole load of, frankly, bizarre changes in Sydney, in the service of adding teams in Adelaide and freaking Tasmania.
No. Just no.
A simple plan for NRL expansion
Wighton is sorely out of form, Papenhuyzen should get the 14 spot. I can see him doing some major damage off the bench. As I recall that’s how Bellamy and the Storm brought him into first grade, and his performances earned him the starting spot and sent Brody Croft to Brisbane.
Honestly, what is the obsession with not picking specialist centres? Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax could feel very hard done by with that team.
I’m setting my expectations for a Qld 3-0 this time.
Is it too early to start talking about Origin? Part 1: NSW
Havilii has also been stuck having to play on an edge because of Stuart’s refusal to have any backline or edge back row cover on the bench. With CHN on the bench, Havilii can go back to his preferred role in the middle or at hooker.
I have to think that Croker and Scott are safe because of injuries in the backs, with CNK, Valemai, Smith-Shields and Simonsson all out.
NRL Round 7 teams: Sharks regain Johnson, Storm lose Papenhuyzen and Stuart swings axe on Raiders
Time to forget fines and start docking points.
The NRL should have avoided this HIA Storm
Stuart will get fined by the NRL, and that’s it.
There’s as much chance of him getting sacked as there is of a Tigers v Titans GF this year, especially given that they just extended his contract.
What he said was beyond the pale. The only comparison I can think of was Nathan Brown saying that Wayne Bennett had been thinking with his little head at the Knights.
Is Ricky Stuart a weak, gutted coach or an old dog unable to learn any new tricks?