Cam Smith, the most extraordinary ordinary player of them all
When I was a young lad in the oh-so-nineteen eighties and nineties, I was a passionately diehard Balmain Tigers supporter.
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Ben Pobjie is a writer and comedian whose promising rugby career was tragically cut short the day he stopped playing rugby and had a pizza instead. The most he has ever cried was the day Balmain lost the 1989 grand final. Today he enjoys the frolics of Wallabies, Swans, baggy greens, and Storm.
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When I was a young lad in the oh-so-nineteen eighties and nineties, I was a passionately diehard Balmain Tigers supporter.
Rule changes are all the rage in sport these days, which I think is all to the good.
The Roar welcomes guest columnist Phil Gould to bring his unique take on the grand final.
The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City were quite an event, even by Olympic standards.
Nothing frustrates me more than ignorance, especially when it comes to sporting matters. So it pains me when I see commentators, pundits and fans shooting their mouths off about topics on which they have failed to properly inform themselves.
Sport in 2020 has been, not to put too fine a point on it, weird.
‘Tis the season, it seems, for naming all-time greatest themed cricket teams, which makes it a perfect time to finally settle the question of what is best: a beanpole or a bean sprout?
I got a familiar sensation when I was reading the article by esteemed colleague Gazbo titled “The Broncos’ decline is no laughing matter”.
Ah, the Mankad. Has any single sporting action ever caused so much furious debate?
After Stacey Livingstone declared that if you stop Tayla Harris in the air, she’s “useless”, the AFL media set to work immediately on answering the pressing question: is she?
I have always been a big fan of George Bailey, and always thought he could add a lot to the field of selection.
I knew a girl in high school who was a serious Christian, from a serious Christian family.
I don’t know who the new Wallabies coach will be, and I don’t know who it should be. Maybe it will be this guy Dave Rennie. Maybe it will be this other guy Eddie Jones.
We have to talk about referees. By which I don’t mean that I want to talk about referees, or that we haven’t already talked too much about referees, or even that talking about referees is likely to prove of any particular use.
There’s no use pussyfooting around: rugby league has become soft.
The celebrations had barely even begun at Old Trafford when a sobering note was struck.
As I watched Steve Smith hit his third century of the current Ashes series, I was struck by the similarities between this brilliant modern batsman and another true legend who plied his trade in an earlier era.
Alex, the situation was basically: you have two players – for example, Johns and Kimmorley – who are both outstanding, and the team will be better with both of them, but they play the same position. At the same time, there is no particular standout hooker who demands a spot. Johns is better than Kimmorley, but also more versatile – he can play more than one position and Kimmorley can’t. The team is better with both in than it would be with just one plus whoever is the least worst option at hooker. So you pick both and you put the more versatile player out of normal position.
Another situation, as another commenter described, was when Johns and Toovey were picked at hooker and half, but for most of the game Johns played half and Toovey hooker, despite their jumper numbers.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
Hayne should’ve been better than Inglis. He could’ve been better than Inglis, had he not decided to tilt at windmills at his peak.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
Rob, interesting your pal brought up that last ball to Viv. Great moment of course, but I’m sure Dennis himself can think of more impressive balls he bowled than the wide half volley that got a wicket purely through the batsman’s recklessness.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
The reason Johns got picked out of position was never that there was a better half than him, it was that he could play hooker better than the second best half, and the team was better with both of them in. When he played hooker he just went wherever he liked anyway.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
Rob I go for Lillee pretty much just because of how he’s rated by the guys who played with and against him. But it’s a hair’s breadth between him and McGrath. However, if you took Thomson in 74-75 or Johnson in 13-14 you could safely say not even Lillee or McGrath ever made batsmen hate facing them more. The difference is batsmen ALWAYS hated facing Lillee and McGrath.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
Mushi, good observation about Meninga. If one watches particularly footage of the first half of his career, he would turn defences inside out with speed and swerve as much as using his size. Of course he could always monster you if he had to.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement
Yes, cheers, corrected now
Cam Smith, the most extraordinary ordinary player of them all
Yes, thanks for the pick up!
Cam Smith, the most extraordinary ordinary player of them all
Oh I can’t deny I am hopelessly biased in favour of Elias. He was the best hooker I saw pre-Smith, but I only saw him through adoring eyes. Elias definitely a better kick than Turtle or Boxhead though!
Cam Smith, the most extraordinary ordinary player of them all
India must be relieved the pitch eased out.
Who’d have thunk it? A few takes from the first Test
If it doesn’t matter, why not bring Trevor Chappell out of retirement?
Who cares who opens the batting for Australia in the first Test?
You could’ve at least mentioned what people who DID see him bat said. Completely ignoring what eyewitnesses thought of Pollock is very convenient. And for someone who doesn’t think stats are everything, you’ve written an article judging Pollock on nothing but.
Was Graeme Pollock a great batsman?
I thought Yeo was great *considering* he was out of position and lacking in a centre’s speed. But he was good “for a lock playing centre”. And Gutho was good too. A genuine backline replacement would still have been preferable. Even so, losing Tedesco will always be a huge blow no matter who replaces him. Just bad luck and you can have contingencies but you can’t eliminate luck from your game plan.
Six talking points from State of Origin Game 3
I think Cleary was very good, Cook was fine although vastly outshone by Grant, Walker went missing and the whole forward pack was a huge letdown. But if Tedesco stays on the field I still think NSW wins. His injury turned the game on its head – the effect hugely magnified by NSW carrying four forwards on the bench, which I think is always a bad move.
Six talking points from State of Origin Game 3
1999 it must’ve been: NSW won 3-0 in 2000.
Six talking points from State of Origin Game 3
Reckon you’ve given Allan five times as many points as he earned
State of Origin 3 player ratings: Queensland Maroons
If Cordner is the GOAT, the club ain’t that strong in that position.
The Sydney Roosters' greatest NRL team
That’s how good a judge Duncan was – he knew that Dave Brown would end up proving himself.
The Sydney Roosters' greatest NRL team
I’d take Beetson over JWH every day of the week. I’d take Beetson over almost any other prop who ever took the field.
The Sydney Roosters' greatest NRL team
I guess also complicating things was that there were a few years when Kimmorley was VERY good. And though it’s a long time ago now, no, I reckon that between Elias and Buderus for NSW – or Walters and Buderus/Smith for Australia – there weren’t a lot of really brilliant hookers demanding selection. Maybe my memory is faulty. Toovey might’ve been the best hooker of that period, once he made the switch.
Cameron Smith finally announces retirement