Bunker bias, new rules, concussions, Latrell, pride jerseys, commentators: What we've learnt from NRL in 2022
Rugby league has taught us so much in 2022, perhaps.
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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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Rugby league has taught us so much in 2022, perhaps.
I had planned to write an article that comprehensively answered, one by one, the arguments put forward by those who claim the 'mankad' -…
Two things happened in the past week to cause me to think long and hard about the issue of concussion in rugby league. One…
James Tamou didn't deserve a downgrade for being a "good bloke" but he did deserve one.
Following the Wallabies nowadays sometimes feels more like following a machine that is constantly in need of repair or new parts, rather than following…
Ricky Stuart needs to fully explain himself over his rant against Jaeman Salmon.
When a footballer inflicts serious injury on another footballer it's often said that it's totally unintended. "Nobody goes out there wanting to cause injury"…
On the 8th April, 1990, the Brisbane Broncos and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles played out a tough, close game at Lang Park. The Broncos were…
It was January, 1992. For more than a decade, the cricketing world had been ruled by pace, and in particular the relentless barrage of…
In the words of Tony Crafter when Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad floated the idea of lowering a cage onto the WACA and starting…
The question of how long Australia can kick sand in the face of England before it becomes tiresome even for fans of the victors…
The Ashes! Say it loud and there's music playing! Say it soft and it's almost like praying. The world turns, we grow old and…
The years 1992 to 2007, which span the Test career of Shane Warne, were wonderful ones for Australian cricket fans for a variety of…
Australian cricket faces a tough choice. The resignation of Tim Paine, clean bowled by his own middle stump, has left us without a Test…
To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi, you were the chosen one! And yet it seems that Tim Paine, far from being the one who would bring…
I liked Quinton de Kock's statement regarding his decision to not take the knee prior to South Africa's game against the West Indies. I…
Like everyone else, I was of course furious when the story broke that Melbourne Storm players had been caught on video with "white powder"…
One of the great joys of being a cricket fan is coming up with fantasy XIs – the all-time greatest Australian XI, the all-time…
Ah, so you think you know sadness? You think you know misery? You think you know PAIN? I tell you that, unless you know…
I well remember the 1980s, when great kickers like Wally Lewis and Peter Sterling mastered the art of the boot, sending the ball downfield…
Always remembering those giants of the past played in an era when Des Hasler and David Trewhella were big enough to play lock.
This current Broncos forward pack is a long way from being the best they’ve ever had - is it the biggest?
I mean, fair enough.
'Don't interview me': Chris Fagan in tense exchange with journo after defending Cameron's contentious Tribunal escape
No, he’s far too old.
'Both were really clear': Roosters in a rage over ref's contentious calls as Storm win on the back of two dubious tries
It will be very exciting to see Lazarus rise.
'Both were really clear': Roosters in a rage over ref's contentious calls as Storm win on the back of two dubious tries
I think the reason for the minimum spend is so that a cash-strapped club can’t simply fill its roster with suburban players on minimum wage and get destroyed every week so as to save money.
The Fish that broke the Panthers’ back: Dynasty in danger with JFH the biggest blow in long list of star departures
Yes. Did you? Because what you wrote seems to be in agreement with Mary, yet you claim to fundamentally disagree.
The Kyrgios case of Latrell and Lomax: Star duo need to put what's best for the team ahead of individual interests
I still don’t see where your disagreement with Mary lies. As you say, “ It’s up to the coach and front office to question if the divergence between that and what the team wants is acceptable”. What in the article contradicts that?
The Kyrgios case of Latrell and Lomax: Star duo need to put what's best for the team ahead of individual interests
With Moses out, they should probably let him.
The Kyrgios case of Latrell and Lomax: Star duo need to put what's best for the team ahead of individual interests
I don’t understand. Where did Mary say players shouldn’t be allowed to change careers?
The Kyrgios case of Latrell and Lomax: Star duo need to put what's best for the team ahead of individual interests
Penrith annexed Fiji last year
The Fish that broke the Panthers’ back: Dynasty in danger with JFH the biggest blow in long list of star departures
But Next Man Up, right? I’ve been assured it doesn’t actually matter who plays for Penrith because of The System.
The Fish that broke the Panthers’ back: Dynasty in danger with JFH the biggest blow in long list of star departures
I confess I know nothing about Geoff Parling apart from the fact he’s obviously terrible and will destroy rugby in Australia for good.
CONFIRMED: Wallabies land final piece of coaching puzzle as ex-Lion signs on ahead of showpiece event
One coach for jumping, one for lifting, one for catching, one for throwing, one for calling, one for each member of the pack and one for general morale.
CONFIRMED: Wallabies land final piece of coaching puzzle as ex-Lion signs on ahead of showpiece event
And had the Wallabies won the RWC, 2023 would be seen as a triumph and Eddie Jones lauded as messiah. As it happens, they didn’t, and South Africa did. Maybe it had something to do with the players they had available to them, though I’m no expert, so I don’t know whether success in rugby has any correlation to who is on the team.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
What a disaster it would be if Australia had a 65% winning record.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
Life is peaceful there
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
Yeah, how horrible it would be to see the Wallabies winning a World Cup final by only one point. We’d have really hit rock bottom if that happened.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
“the world’s best player to skip the Panthers’ trip to Bathurst to face the Wests Tigers”
Why would Luke Brooks have been going on the Panthers’ trip to Bathurst anyway?
NRL Round 7 Team Lists Late Mail: Des forced into spine reshuffle, Panthers and Dragons announce debutants
Amen.
Give coaches a choice: NRL post-match press conferences are mandatory, but only to say what the bosses want you to say
History shows that you must always pick on form except when you shouldn’t, stick with tried and true performers except when that’s the wrong thing to do, and prioritise speed, strength, workrate, youth, experience, toughness, flair and aggression in all circumstances apart from those in which you should do something else.
Wild idea but Blues should actually pick Origin team on form this time around - and that means Tedesco’s time is up
To be fair he’s a bit dodgy kicking in general as well.
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
Fact is when scores are tied, either in GP or the dying seconds of normal time, every single team will be offside when the opposition takes a field goal shot. It is standard practice and won’t stop until referees show some intestinal fortitude.
'F--- you': Insults fly after Des confronts Ricky as Annesley admits yet another blunder robbed Titans of victory
I don’t expect a huge number of wins in the next few weeks, but a real contest in the majority of matches will, I believe, be proof of genuine improvement in Australia.
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
Posting a video of a speeding car is the vilest thing I’ve ever heard. Lifetime ban for May, hopefully, and a lengthy prison sentence too.
NRL News: Dragon says he was 's--thouse' and should've been dropped, Panther in social media strife
I saw an old game recently where little Paul Taylor played second row!
This current Broncos forward pack is a long way from being the best they’ve ever had - is it the biggest?