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The Roar

The Roar

Geoff Parkes

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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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Thanks JN, always appreciate your balanced and well rounded contributions.

I’m with you re the Boks, I’d have liked to see them make more of an effort, like Argentina did. And the 500 hour excuse was a bit of an embarrassment, but I do understand why they were reluctant.

And as Harry has suggested, by the time the Lions series comes around, the fact that they missed this competition and another couple of lots of quarantining etc might prove to be a blessing.

The Wrap: All of 2020’s rugby memorables and unmentionables

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Dec

What’s driving it is a genuinely held belief that PI rugby has been ignored/used and abused/taken for granted over a long period of time.

And an acknowledgment from NZ Rugby that they need to do more than what they’ve done.

Whether this is the right way to do that is another question altogether. The fact that there are a lot of great rugby people behind this only makes it a more complex and difficult issue to deal with.

As you’d expect, it’s a complex issue on a number of levels. I plan to examine it in depth in the new year.

The Wrap: All of 2020’s rugby memorables and unmentionables

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Dec

Thanks for that Iain. Very interesting.

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Dec

To be fair, it’s understandable, up to a point.
But it’s been obvious for a while now that this doesn’t reconcile with them complaining about the increasing toll on their bodies and having their careers curtailed.

I believe that the players have a lot more power than what they credit themselves for, to drive change in this area. But I’m not confident that they have the leadership worldwide to drive this.

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Dec

It’s a valid question Micko, one that has mostly been skirted around so far. At some point it’s going to have to be honestly addressed.

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Dec

Pretty bleak global forecast there, woodart, but very hard to argue with.
We’re a long, long way from resuming ‘business as usual’ like it was before COVID – if that’s even possible any more.

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Dec

I saw that report. What a bonus pick-up that would be.
Great opportunity for both parties there, I reckon.

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Dec

I don’t know about “another” great Roar man, cs. He’s THE Roar man.
None of us would be here now without Spiro.

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Dec

Good call on Tupou, Matt. And the scary thing is that I don’t believe we’ve seen the best of him yet.

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Dec

I couldn’t help but notice Peter V’Landys stating last week Nicko, in announcing some rule changes in the NRL, that the biggest issue in the game was the wrestle.

If rugby league’s administrators don’t honestly believe that concussion is the biggest issue hanging over their sport (and all contact sports) and don’t wake up to doing something about it, they are in for a very rude shock at some point soon.

Have a great xmas and new year!

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Dec

Cheers Tooly, a lot in there!

I actually thought the public wrangling with NZ was a watershed moment for Australian rugby. It’s been battered and downtrodden for a long time now, mostly for good reason, but standing up to NZ like that achieved two important things;

1. it seemed to galvanise rugby followers in Australia, bringing them together, when so many things have been divisive
2. it showed a clear understanding of how best to take professional rugby forward, ie a balance of looking after Australia’s best interests while working within a regional partnership, not in a master/servant relationship.

It’s now up to the players and the franchises to honour this.

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Dec

Have a great xmas and new year, Tony!

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Dec

Probably even a year or two before that, Phil! And seeing as how I mentioned George Gregan’s mangled quote in the article, George deserves a rap for owning up to FFD as one of his favourite musical acts!

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Dec

“Bored of the patronising lip service and excuses.”

A sentiment that I’m sure is widely shared, Perthstayer.

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Dec

“How NZR ever thought they could dictate terms I have no idea and their so called “superior comp” comprising of the Kiwi teams, the Force and some Asian teams that do not even exist was laughable.”

It was a low point scrum, but the important thing is that Mark Robinson managed to put it behind him and we’re all now in a better place. The challenge of course is for the Aus franchises to turn some of those green shots into more wins.

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Dec

All the best to you too, cs. Catch you in the new year.

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Dec

I think where Twiggy differs from us mere mortals RT, is that there is so much money he has to have other people count it for him.

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Dec

Cheers Rob, and all the best to you and your family too.

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Dec

Best wishes for a great Xmas Carlos, and a 2021 free of wildfires, red hair and viruses.

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Dec

Cheers EFF, and here’s hoping things kick on for the Force next year.
Some good signings and definitely better for having this season under their belt.

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Dec

Very funny DA.
But I side with Tony H!

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Dec

Just seen today’s press release from the Tahs, TH, and it’s good to see them making an effort around flexible membership packages at reduced prices.

But the release also states, “Regular season matches will be played in the Sydney Metro area pending ground availability”, so that shows the extent of the challenge.

I’m sure many potential members will be reluctant to commit until they know exactly where the matches are going to be played. Newcastle, Wollongong, Parramatta, Leichardt, SCG???

That’s a huge geographic spread, and for different reasons, all of those venues are problematic.

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Dec

😂

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Dec

Good call on ‘The Sound’, Hugh. Not sure about the time-slot, but I guess that doesn’t matter so much these days.

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Dec

All the best for the Xmas season, cookie.

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Dec
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