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Joined October 2012
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Geoff is a Melbourne based sports fanatic and writer, who started contributing to The Roar in 2012, originally under the pen name Allanthus. His first book, A World in Conflict; the Global Battle For Rugby Supremacy was released in Dec 2017 to critical acclaim. For details on the book visit www.geoffparkes.com Meanwhile, his twin goals of achieving a single figure golf handicap and owning a fast racehorse remain tantalisingly out of reach.
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The 2022 AFLW season launched this weekend to a blaze of positive publicity. With club membership up by more than fifteen percent, four new teams slated to make their competition debut in December, and community leagues itching to make up time lost to COVID, there is a lot for fans to be excited about.
It’s that time of year again; sorting through highlights and lowlights, talking points and head-scratchers, in what was a typically busy rugby year.
Arriving at a suburban hotel last week, taking a seat at a quiet table opposite Mr Orange, I wondered if the meeting was a reprise of the Tarantino classic, Reservoir Dogs? Was I supposed to have my own code name? Would Steve Buscemi let me borrow Mr Pink, perhaps? Thankfully, he was happy to call […]
World Rugby’s recently launched global campaign called ‘The Brain Health Initiative’, is aimed at educating people within rugby on the importance of brain health.
Leading into the week, there was a sense that this autumn international series hadn’t quite hit its straps. Unless you happened to be Irish, mismatches and inconsistent, muddling rugby, had fans struggling to determine exactly where their teams lay.
Finally, the festering boil attached to the backside of World Rugby has been lanced and salved.
Nobody can claim that England’s 32-15 win over Australia and Ireland’s rousing 29-20 triumph over New Zealand, this weekend, came out of the blue.
It’s been a feature of Dave Rennie’s time in charge of the Wallabies so far; a desire for players to express their physicality, to be nobody’s easy-beat, particularly in and around the breakdown.
The 2020 book The Triumph of Doubt, written by ex-Barack Obama and Bill Clinton Assistant Secretary, David Michaels, is an eye-opening account of how corporate cynicism and greed repeatedly triumphs over the safety of workers and consumers.
Events in Australian rugby last week reminded me of that old chestnut where a horse walks into a bar and, looking for a pick-me-up, orders a beer. “Sure,” says the barman, “but why the long face?”
That wonderful but fading institution – Saturday afternoon rugby – made a much welcome return over the weekend, with the Wallabies taking on Japan, in the southern city of Oita.
Depending on your viewpoint, the transition of Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos to the hot seat was incredibly poorly timed or is the mother of all career opportunities.
On Saturday, All Black captain Sam Cane made his debut appearance for King Country, in the lower depths of New Zealand Rugby’s Heartland Championship, playing 57 minutes in their 13-48 loss to Whanganui.
It was a near run thing, but we got there in the end. Defying delta, trans-Tasman spats, a captain’s photoshoot missing 25 per cent of the captains, a team tagged as the most boring in the history of rugby, pommy referees and an ill-advised sojourn to a Byron Bay day spa, the 2021 Rugby Championship […]
Last year’s international season had a huge, South African-sized asterisk attached to it. This year, despite another bunch of Covid generated asterisks, the four SANZAAR nations, against overwhelming odds, somehow managed to cobble together a meaningful tournament, with a great conclusion.
Saturday’s long awaited centenary Test between rugby’s two world heavyweights may have been full of imperfections, but such is the joy of rugby. It was also a match full of gripping tension, borne of character and a classic contrast of styles.
It all began on the 13th August 1921. New Zealand versus South Africa may not be rugby’s oldest rivalry, but incorporating the two nations who take rugby more seriously than anyone else, it is indisputably the game’s greatest.
Older readers will recall the 1960s science fiction series Lost in Space, in which the Robinson family, at the hand of the evil Dr Zachary Smith, found themselves careering off course into the depths of space.
In the way that television broadcasters like to construct a narrative, anyone watching the lead-up to Stan Sport’s coverage of last night’s Rugby Championship Test between the Wallabies and Springboks would have been excused for thinking that this match was all about Quade Cooper.
For all of the All Blacks’ nineteen-year long dominance over Australia, it is worth pointing out that a clean sweep of matches has only been achieved three times in the last decade.
Capitulation is something you might expect towards the end of a tough series, not on the first day – so yeah, I imagine you felt a bit robbed!
Let’s hope their tactic of saving Broad and Anderson for the pink ball, plus Hazlewood being out, gets us a more competitive match. I won’t be there Boxing Day but hopefully will give days 2 & 3 a crack.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
A little bit of both, Jez.
Not privy to the recording or a transcript but told a bit about it by someone who should know.
That’s obviously a very strong defence by Nestor so perhaps there is more to the story than how it was reported. In which case it would be an unsavoury business on multiple fronts.
All the best for Xmas and the new year.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
All the best, Wal.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
I thought about that a bit after the series ozinsa, and I think (hope?) that it was just a one-off.
The reason I say that is that I never got that same weighty sense at the last World Cup, and also, even though the last Lions tour to NZ ended in controversy, and the referee and TMO crumpled under pressure, I don’t think the two sides were as intense about it as what those two outfits were this year.
Hopefully, just a coming together of a few things, as you suggest, and not a sign of things to come.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Thanks for being part of it, AJ.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Cheers Allan. I didn’t leave a comment on your piece this week, but keep ’em coming, it’s valuable work.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Thanks Carlin. Have a great Xmas and best wishes to you and your family.
What a talent Neil Finn is. I still remember when he got roped into Split Enz all those years ago. And he’s still the business now, always trying something new, never just relying on rehashing the old stuff (as good as it is).
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Hopefully just resting up for a few weeks, Mo.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
You too, ozinsa. Cheers.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
I heard those two props who dropped Thor on his head are big fans.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Check this out. Talk about having an eye for goal…
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Cheers Nick, although as you well know, there are times when it is harder work than other times, and there is plenty of angst! 😊
Keep your stuff coming, it feels like there’s a bottomless appetite for it. I particularly enjoyed your recent look at how some coaches have got around the ruck/maul laws with respect to binding. It’s a fine line between being innovative and shameless!
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
I’m sure you’ve said in the past, but I can’t remember who you follow?
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
January is a great time of year, Billy Boy.
Guys are smashing personal bests on the beep test, the young guys are training the house down, the team culture is humming, a title seems a formality…
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
I followed Spurs pretty closely in my school days. They went through a low period in the 70’s and then had a golden era with Hoddle, Ardiles and Villa, which was magic. Hoddle was my favourite player – just magic.
I don’t watch nearly as much EPL now – there’s too much rugby to keep up with, plus it’s not on Foxtel any more and I don’t need any more new subscriptions.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Thanks Don, and all of that reciprocated.
Always enjoy and appreciate your astute observations on rugby and league.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
The tour did have that “tuition” feel about it Ken. Let’s hope the lessons have been absorbed and those games are turned into wins next year.
Best to yours as well.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Great sentiments mz, and many thanks for your considerable input to this and other columns.
That’s what’s so great about this site – genuine people like yourself sharing experiences and knowledge on rugby and life. Best wishes to you and your family for Xmas and beyond.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Cheers NV, and thanks always for your support. It was a strange year, with the Lions series knocking the game off kilter for so many of us, but even so, the good thing about the game we love is that we are never short of something interesting to write about and discuss.
Just did a quick refresh on Mick Hucknall. Over 50 million albums sold, which is a pretty fair effort! He’s a staunch Man U fan, but I suppose we can forgive him for that…
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
She’s a good reminder Crow that, no matter how bad things might sometimes get at home, they could always be a whole lot worse…
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Thanks for the post and all your contributions, JN. Good observation about how the respect between the players is at a different level than much (not all) of the fan base.
Glad to hear you’ve got through Omicron and hopefully everything returns to normal asap.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
It goes without saying that the Australian SR franchises really need to step it up a level next year.
I’m liking what I’m hearing from all of the franchises, but of course it’s easy to be optimistic at this time of the year. However well the squads are coming together, it’s well past time for more regular wins against NZ opposition.
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Yes, there’ll be a lot of letters going out, Muzzo… 😂
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5767159/James+McMurtry/Choctaw+Bingo
Pure poetry…
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021
Leeds were popular here for a while because of Kewell and Viduka.
I had a pommy mate who lived in Pontefract, just outside of Leeds, who was/is a totally mad Leeds United supporter. We went through there and caught up during the 1999 World Cup and I was telling him how we’d been in Ireland for a week and were on our way to Scotland.
He – in his mid 30’s – asked me what it was like in Ireland. Turned out he’d never been!
The Wrap: Life in the times of Quade and Covid - rugby’s sublime and ridiculous moments of 2021