Roar Guru
Joined January 2015
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After two rounds of the 2015 NRL season, rugby league is clearly in trouble. With a terrible on-field product, the NRL's finances in a…
Last week I wrote that I thought the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks would make the top eight. Well, if the Sharkies continue to play like they…
Following on from my article yesterday about the Rabbitohs' chances of going back to back this year, I thought it would be interesting to…
No team has won consecutive premierships since the NRL competition began in 1998 following the Super League war. Are the South Sydney Rabbitohs about…
After a horror season that ended with them 'winning' the dreaded wooden spoon, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks will be looking to turn it around in…
What are the various requirements for each position in rugby league - the ideal skills and attributes a coach looks for in his players…
Okay, okay, we've had this topic before on The Roar. And it was recently done for the cricket. But with the Auckland Nines whetting…
Agree Simon, plus 2 internationals is enough anyway, keeps the domestic feel to it. I like how BBL gives a platform for unknowns to carve out a name for themselves.
Five ways to improve the Big Bash
Yeah Howie might not be the greatest, but I wholeheartedly hope 9 do not get the new rights! Having different channel’s broadcasting different formats keeps it refreshing, and I’d take Punter, Junior, Gilly, and Flemo over the 9 lot (apart from Warnie) any day.
Five ways to improve the Big Bash
As per below, it’s a one year deal. So until they sign Barba for 2018, it shouldn’t really have an impact.
Barba's return set to have Valentine looking for new Holmes
Barba’s deal is only one year. I think they will be telling Val the fullback position is his in 2018, but pending Barba’s fitness he may have to slot back onto the wing for the second half of the season for the good of the team. That still gives him half a season to bump up his asking price for next year, and if the Sharks don’t want to pay it then others certainly will.
Personally, for the chance of going back to back I hope this is how it plays out and Holmes is happy to suck it up for one more year. Barba offers proven ball playing from the back (18 try assists in 2016, Moylan the only fullback with more), a skill which Holmes may have but we haven’t seen yet.
Barba's return set to have Valentine looking for new Holmes
With Barby back (mid-year) and Seggy sounding like a done deal, it’s all starting to look quite possible!
Cronulla Sharks re-sign Ben Barba to one-year deal
He went to the Sharks from the Tigers. And there he gave just as good, tireless, and unheralded, service to the team.
Who are the most underrated players in the NRL?
Totally agree. Surely in last night’s game Finch went over time with all the considerations necessary in the last few overs, but it all added to the drama. Obviously we don’t want to see captain’s mulling over field placing’s for too long, but I’d rather see a bit more leeway.
Suspending Brendon McCullum for slow over rates is over the top
Last night’s game was amazing. The majority of the run chase was on a knife’s edge and the momentum was shifting back and forth at times with each ball bowled – Hurricanes are favourites, now Renegades, now Hurricanes, now Renegades, all in the space of single overs. That innings from McDermott was truly special, and I still reckon he got a dud call!
BBL06: Who wants boring finishes?
Sounds reasonable for the grass bank, at the SCG on any other day you’d be lucky to get much change from $100 for a decent seat.
International cricket is killing the Big Bash
Yeah that would be ideal, crazy to have only one or two rounds of shield games as a form guide for home test selection. Unfortunately I think the BCCI stranglehold means ODI’s won’t be going away any time soon.
International cricket is killing the Big Bash
Yeah for me tests are still the best, then T20. But I just can’t understand why they don’t slash ticket prices for tests to get bigger crowds in.
International cricket is killing the Big Bash
I really can’t see the Sharks missing the 8. Ennis and Barby are big losses, but there is too much experience and class for that to happen. They’ll be pushing for top 4 again.
I can see the Raiders having a type of second season syndrome – eg. BJ and Rapana had amazing seasons, can they replicate it?
Cowboys have lost some grunt up front in Tamou and Hannant, Thurston’s a year older, top 4 but not minor premiers for mine.
Broncos at 6th is about right.
Predicting the 2017 NRL season
Was amusing hearing the 9 commentators talking up how test cricket is in great shape because 100K fans turned out over the 5 days at the SCG (apparently a record for Aus v Pak, at the SCG, in an El Nino season or something!), when 50K are turning up for a few hours of Big Bash. Will be very interesting to see the crowd numbers for the ODIs.
International cricket is killing the Big Bash
If Bailey continues with that ridiculous stance he surely has to go haha.
Smith's brilliance can't hide Aaron Finch's lacklustre form
If he has a solid off season does he slot straight in for Naiqama or Simona? I thought they were both good this year, so maybe bench impact for Idris?
Jamal Idris is back and I am excited
Does anyone have any stats on how many current players are actually playing at a club where they were local juniors? At the Sharks I’m pretty sure it’s just Chad Townsend in the top 17. Penrith obviously have a few, Brisbane drawing from a whole city would likely have a number of them, but I’m just wondering if this whole local junior thing is now a bit of a myth anyway?
Would a draft work in the NRL?
Ease up fellas, I’m not sure anyone is suggesting they’re losing sleep over it and it’s going to stop them enjoying it! I just find it interesting discussing the thoughts of different fans.
As per my last comment above though, anyone who thinks the media doesn’t have an influence, maybe not over you, but over plenty of people out there are kidding themselves.
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
Not all of it, but surely some of it. Come on Baz, we both know there are plenty of fans out there (plenty on this site) easily swayed by the pen of the likes of Rothfield and Kent! If I had a dollar for the amount of times I’ve heard some numbskull try to pass off a DT opinion as their own I’d be sitting in the corporate box at GF!
Many aren’t as rational as you. Maybe it’s just because as a Sharks supporter I cop more vitriol at work etc. hence notice more of it out there.
But yes, the “I’m not even interested” line is ridiculous from any true RL fan.
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
Cheers for the comments guys. As a Sharks supporter I got behind the Cowboys, Bunnies, even the Dogs against the Storm, and there’s plenty of players in all of those teams I don’t like! So I guess I find it hard to believe fans would really be against us without some of the media commentary. Maybe our players really are the most despised haha. But I would’ve thought against the Storm, and face of QLD, there would at least be plenty of support from NSW teams. Oh well, looks like plenty of the stadium will be black white and blue regardless, and that’s all that matters.
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
Fair call Ryan, hadn’t seen that one. My first comment stands though, I suspect people are following the media’s lead with how they should feel about the Sharks. Not sure why that doesn’t make sense, the same can still apply for the Storm. Perhaps why we are seeing articles with titles like this one!
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
Hi Ryan, really? Please point me to the articles a la Paul Kents because I haven’t seen any.
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
Was funny how they were commenting how odd it was the Smith incident was missed – hello, you guys are the media, why didn’t you guys pick it up straight away and splash it all over everything on Sunday! Like would have been the case if it was Ennis!
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
OB, this is what I thought would have been the general reaction for the neutrals. ie. “gee they’ve got some players I don’t like, but the fans deserve it”. It seems the sheep are reacting exactly how the media are telling them they should.
The NRL grand final that no one wanted
It’s a funny one hey. Don’t recall this happening in previous years, despite every team having negatives and players that are disliked.
Not a great grand final for the neutrals
What about 1 point each if tied at 80 mins, then whoever wins in GP gets an extra point. So 1 point for GP loser, 2 points for winner as is currently in place and no radical change of the points scoring system.
There's no golden point to a glorified game of two-up