Roar Guru
Joined November 2015
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Despite claiming a brilliant sporting career cut short by numerous injuries, the truth is best summed up by my cricket record: batted 11, never bowled...
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Every club has them. Champion blokes who embody everything that’s good through their character on and off the field. The jolly good chaps who…
I went to pick my young fellow up from after-school sport the other week. One of the other dads was there wearing a Canberra…
NSW threw game 1 away: leading and playing against 12 men with a dozen minutes to go, only to go down to a busted…
While it’s impossible to watch NRL these days without a barrage of gambling ads, it’s not just the mug punters who are taking a…
Round 9 of the NRL prompted much discussion about the handling of foul play. The Eels-Roosters clash on Friday night led to suspensions for…
Okay. Grab a seat everyone. Look, you know why you’re here. You’ve been nominated the most frustrating player for each of your respective clubs.…
The utility. Every club has them. The guy who will play anywhere. The bloke who will go on for an injury cover and play…
Every few years it comes up. Growing the game. Expanding into new markets. And hand-in-hand with the concept of expansion comes relocation. But we’re…
Yesterday we looked at the State of Origin player ratings for Queensland. Now it's the Blues turn. Again, the player ratings from the NRL.com…
State of Origin is over for another year and the usual post-mortems have begun. For Queensland the future looks bright – now having won…
It's halfway through the NRL season and that's a good time to look back at the big player movements for the 2017 season. Everyone…
Origin team speculation is almost a sport in its own right. Should incumbency be rewarded? When is it time to bring in new blood?…
It's that time of year. All around the country (well, the bits that play rugby league) NRL coaches, boards and support staff are sitting…
My young fellow played his first game of cricket on Saturday. A handful of parents were there to watch their kids play in the…
Many won't remember Willis Meehan, the promising forward the Roosters sacked in July 2015 after he was found guilty for a second time of…
You are waiting for the bus. It is late. Looking for something to occupy your time, you notice a book on the seat beside…
Over the years we have seen a number of positions evolve as the game of rugby league has changed. Centres, second rowers and halves…
For Roosters fans, accustomed to finishing at the top, the wrong end of the table is a sad and unfamiliar place. When your team…
I'll be frank. I'm not a Shaun Marsh fan. Over the last few years his selection has been a puzzle to me and I…
The NRL Rookie wrapped up last week, with 24-year-old Lou Goodwin winning a contract with the Canberra Raiders. While it was good to see…
Love your analysis as always. A couple of points:
– while Young holds his width in attack he does give the impression of avoiding contact, especially running it out of defence. Fix that and he’ll be the complete package.
– overlooked in the turnaround of the Chooks attack is Robbo getting Keary out of the 7 and back in the 6. That to me was more instrumental than anything last year.
– We are three games in, one of which the Chooks completely failed to fire in a display of completely inept handling. Against the Bunnies it was a reversal of fortune with every bounce going their way. I loved it, but I’ll hold my enthusiasm in check until we see a bit more of the good stuff.
How Dom Young and Justin Holbrook have turned the Roosters inside out - and helped Tedesco get back to his best
Great read as always Tony
That’s one heck of a team.
Just looking at the other names I’m wondering if JWH is heading to a commentary position?
The NRL's 300-game club is hard to get into, but those who have made it definitely deserve the accolades
I assume Sailor will wear the 1 next few weeks.
'If the NRL are serious about concussions, where does this sit?' Kevvie fires up after May escapes ban for Walsh's fracture
Fair call
'Duty to bend' debate over Walsh hit overshadows 'absolute genius' Cleary torturing Broncos in statement Panthers win
So TB if the ref had used the term “duty of care” instead would you have been ok with it? Just wondering if it’s a wording issue rather than a decision issue?
'Duty to bend' debate over Walsh hit overshadows 'absolute genius' Cleary torturing Broncos in statement Panthers win
It’s what the fans want!
'Duty to bend' debate over Walsh hit overshadows 'absolute genius' Cleary torturing Broncos in statement Panthers win
I’d throw Darren and Jason Smith into the mix. Nearly 40 Origins and 30 national caps between them.
Turbo-charging their way to the top: Are the Trbojevic brothers the greatest ever set of rugby league siblings?
Pssst. Shane. You didn’t watch, remember?
'Duty to bend' debate over Walsh hit overshadows 'absolute genius' Cleary torturing Broncos in statement Panthers win
I’m with Freddie on this one. Duty of care is on the tackler to avoid head contact.
'Duty to bend' debate over Walsh hit overshadows 'absolute genius' Cleary torturing Broncos in statement Panthers win
Demetriou: I’m not going to explain my reasoning
Josh Mansour: see! He’s doing it again!
Ps Latrell’s interview is now x rated??? Geez. M at best.
'I won’t explain my reasoning': Demetriou curt on Ilias and Latrell questions as Cook demotion looms
A few years back i wrote a piece bemoaning the death of the ball playing lock. Then Isaiah Yeo comes along and makes me look a twit.
Things are cyclical. We’ve had ball playing fullbacks and metre eaters with no pass. We’ve had nimble props and brick walls. No doubt the trend for 9s to be a creative force will come round again.
The evolution of the hooker in rugby league taking a backward step - creativity drops as workload increases
I did a little digging – most of the stats are from 2022 and about 52% of captain’s challenges were successful. This doesn’t factor in the “let’s challenge so we can get a breather and reset our line” that happens late in the game.
Here’s one from last year that does have stats per referee – is this the kind of data you were after?
https://www.maroonobserver.com/p/stats-drop-round-11-2023
NRL Round 2 Talking Points: Robberies in the north and south, high shots are back and some good losers
While the spine are copping a lot of flak, the forward pack were basically invisible on the weekend with the exception of Havili and to a lesser extent Murray. What happened to Tatola? He was really good but this year is offering nothing. Koloamatangi is meant to be one of their leaders. Where was he? Has Burgess got on a plane back to the UK already?
Spine are underperforming but they are far from alone.
Too much to Bear: Danger signs emerge as Rabbitohs start to unravel after years of near-misses
I wonder if population size is part of it. Each of those Queensland cities is 2-4 times the size of Lismore.
Exclusive: 'We want $1 billion'- V'landy's bullish vision of expansion, new Cup comp and staggering wealth
Here’s hoping for an upturn TB. I think you’re spot on about finding a game plan to match the players you do have. Barrett tried to turn them into Panthers Lite and that failed. Hard to see what Ciraldo is trying to do.
Not sure you can claim SBW as part of the Roosters raid though. What was it – 5 years after he left the Dogs that the Roosters picked him up?
Bought not bred: Stray Bulldogs have lost their way by losing sight of what made their club great
Olam still injured. Knee I think.
NRL Round 2 Team Lists: Foxx OUT for Dogs, Sharks call up debutant for sick prop, Benji rolls dice, Wayne wields axe
Arrow is a big out, Mig. Heard it might even be the season.
NRL Round 2 Team Lists: Foxx OUT for Dogs, Sharks call up debutant for sick prop, Benji rolls dice, Wayne wields axe
I’ll be honest. I actually had the Roosters membership page open on my computer when the story broke. Still haven’t paid up for this year.
'I am really sorry': Leniu cops HUGE ban as NRL judiciary hands down verdict for ‘monkey’ racial abuse at Mam
I was thinking based on who I wouldn’t want to play. Penrith and Broncos are both quality sides and will have a point to prove. Storm shut out the premiers – only side to hold their opponents scoreless. So yeah, maybe swapping Boncos and Panthers makes sense.
Probably in hindsight could swap Raiders and Eels given the quality of who they beat.
It’s an imprecise science for sure!
NRL Power Rankings: Round 1 - Small sample size but major concerns at a few clubs, Flanno back in style at Dragons
Absolutely disingenuous from Leniu. And the club pays for some suit to plead that “I didn’t know” tripe with a straight face.
I reckon Leniu should be grateful he got 8 weeks and the club should be disappointed at the character of the player they chose to recruit.
'I am really sorry': Leniu cops HUGE ban as NRL judiciary hands down verdict for ‘monkey’ racial abuse at Mam
So it begins and good luck Paul. If I think power rankings I think “based on current form who would I NOT want to play”. That gives me :
1. Storm
2. Roosters
3. Manly
4. Penrith
5. Broncos
6. Eels
7. Sharks
8. Cowboys
9. Dragons
10. Raiders
11. Warriors
12. Souths
13. Knights
14. Titans
15. Tigers
16. Dolphins
17. Bulldogs
NRL Power Rankings: Round 1 - Small sample size but major concerns at a few clubs, Flanno back in style at Dragons
Back in my playing days if someone was going the verbal I took it as them being beaten already. If the opposition couldn’t cut it physically they’d start running their mouth instead. I wouldn’t miss it if it wasn’t part of the game.
It's time for the NRL to put a line in the sand to deal with players' on-field sledging
“And the Raiders have scored 3 Dids to 2, but due to poor goal kicking scores are tied 12 all…”
Rugby league needs a new name but what can you call it to stand out in football’s confusingly crowded landscape of codes?
I think Adam Gee deserves acknowledgement for how he handled it on the field. Does anyone know what action referees would/could take under the rules if they heard a racial slur on the paddock?
‘Fun and games, banter’: Leniu response to racial allegation beggars belief as ‘heat of the battle’ mentality harms NRL yet again
Fair enough. Just looking at when he made the break down the wing and passed back inside to Walker, he had basically stopped at the fullback. If I’m a video analyst I’m telling the fullback to go for the intercept every time because he was never going to run into contact there. And with those tackle busts how many were when he pushed off while going sideways across the paddock? I’m a tough marker – i suspect because of too many years watching Tupou.
How Dom Young and Justin Holbrook have turned the Roosters inside out - and helped Tedesco get back to his best