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Cigar Field Sobers

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Joined October 2018

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I watched the early post-covid round and saw the Tigers sizzling with Brooks, Benji, Harry Grant and Billy Walters all ripping into it and thought Madge had had an epiphany, to my surprise they’ve never played together since. Brooks has reverted to his normal mediocre defence, as has happened many times before. I was also intrigued to note how much more threatening and unpredictable the Gold Coast were last weekend once Taylor had left the field and Fogarty started marshalling the troops. Looks promising.

NRL Round 10 teams: Munster back for Storm, new halves for Tigers

Hey, Tom. Good on you, mate. Like you, I’m just gibbering that League is back. But jeez I’m stuck in Perth, and have no team, haven’t had for a while. Nevertheless, I’ve sent off a few pics to three clubs to be one of the many Fans-In-The-Stands. Sure, it’s a bit silly. But in our own way, we’re there. Must say, the new one-ref, and six-again rules make it a great product, great fun. Anyway, good article Tom, have a look at the cutouts and get stuck in. At $22, what the hey. Regards, CFS. Note, this is NOT an NRL plug, but just a good shot at getting in for a giggle when we can’t actually be at the game. Mods please remove if unsuitable nrl.com/news/2020/05/29/cant-get-to-game-fan-in-stand-the-next-best-thing/

An open letter to Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand: Thank you

Regrettable as the virus scenario has been, hopefully this will be an opportunity to bring the cost of the broadcast rights and consequently players’ wages down to a more acceptable and realistic level. The current model is out of control with all manner of ludicrous salaries for very nominal returns, and people still grumbling that all games should be FTA, as though it’s an affront to their entitlement to not do so. Where do they imagine the money for all the overpaid, over-rated players’ salaries comes from ? And the old “We can’t afford pay tv” line doesn’t stack up either : Kayo is $25 a month, around 80 cents a day….less than the cost of one cigarette, or one stubby. When things fire up again I would urge folk to hook up and get the coffers rolling again if there’s to be any chance of ongoing returns from the broadcasters. Otherwise the game will have to go down a gear : no bad thing if there is to be any control of the financial figures involved.

NRL reportedly finalises broadcast deal with Fox and Nine

Whack ! A well-deserved clip Walter. Just as has happened here in Perth since forever, we had the added bonus of Origin and Friday night games broadcast on delay for years as well. Right with you there, buddy. 👍

NRL reportedly finalises broadcast deal with Fox and Nine

No jab, no play. Cartwright coming up short again, just like his efforts on the field. Fellow defenders breathe a sigh of relief, and the game goes on…

Cartwright can say no to his flu shot, but the NRL should say no to him

Wow Scott, look what you’ve done ! Started a discussion about the possibilities for the NRL, forging into the future. A crucial component for which they themselves have been absolutely stuck in neutral for years. And while the responses and viewpoints on here differ, at least we’re talking. Good stuff.

Expansion should future-proof rugby league, so let’s not rush it

…”foow credit to the boys”…. 😁

What should we expect from Fox League?

FitzSimons’ books also reflect his lack of impact upon the real world. All of his chosen subjects have been covered before, and researched assiduously by his predecessors. He lost me years ago, when he played rep rugby at an international level, yet freely admitted he didn’t know the rules of the game.

No hope in North Sydney, but the Bears could blossom in Brisbane

Yep, agree re the mental game. It’s where I think he may come up short, at least it seemed that way last time he was selected in spite of undramatic form. Kind of vague, and seems to be a bit short on self-belief, causing questionable shot selection. Easy for me to say, and I wish him all the best, but pressure on the next step up is pretty intense.

Maddinson is a Test option but not in the top order

Sad but true. My cousin here in Perth is a big Warriors fan, can’t recall how many times I have sat and watched his afternoon crumble as the NZWs go off the boil when the game is there to be won. To me they have always appeared to start dragging their bottom lip when a score is building against them, and I have no stats to back me up here but I would be very surprised to learn their percentage of games won when significantly in arrears at half-time was at all significant. I’m sure there hasn’t been enough noise made in the rooms when the long-established mediocrity sets in once again. Yes, they are from Auckland but really they are representing the whole of NZ in a way, and they have been coming up short for their entire involvement in the comp which has seemed at times to be the embodiment of a type of inferiority complex : not unlike what the cricket team displayed in the test series over here. These are mere observations, and they are tempered by the fact that at times the Warriors are razzle-dazzle, impromptu wizards, who constantly prove they can play jawdropping footy and are capable of winning games against anybody. It’s just that the chasm between their best and their worst performance has always been way too big.

Why your team will do better in 2020: Warriors

No imports ? Understood, but if they are eligible it would be hard for me to overlook the formidable
Jacques Kallis.

Hodge and Faulkner in my all-time BBL XI

The stark impact of the reign of Teflon Sutherland continues…

Where has Australian cricket gone?

Yep, as tours go that was pretty dire. Fortuitously, we were entertained by the great Jeremy Coney and Brian Waddle on the ABC radio commentary, both of whom have seen it all before and who lessened the disappointment with cheerful, pleasant chat throughout the series. Still both great value behind the mic.

I'd like to say sorry for the Black Caps' abysmal tour

But it’s not the ACB, is it. The ACB appeared to operate under a charter to do the best they possibly could for player development, and the public interest in, and future of the game. But Cricket Australia, on the other hand, seem to care little about maintaining the public’s love for their players. or the future of the sport at domestic level. They are slick, corporate and anonymous. I’m sure at the moment their coffers are swollen, but I get the feeling the public have had enough of being treated with disdain by them. We shall see…

The Big Bash has big problems

At the risk of repeating, clearly they learnt nothing from the previous tour, where they arrived over-confident and massively under-prepared. The last time they were on show at the MCG, the game was over with the 5th ball, this time they lost it at the toss. Yes, they had some bad luck with injuries and some baffling selections, but one day they may finally figure out it takes a mighty concerted effort to beat Australia in Australia. There were a few occasions where the bowlers really dug in and gave of their best, but you couldn’t say the same for the batsmen. Or “batters”, as they are now called…. 😡 At least during the tour we were able to enjoy the delights of listening to the wit and wisdom of Jeremy Coney during the ABC radio broadcast. Now there’s a man with a balanced point of view about cricket.

The Black Caps' batting was outclassed and overawed

Don’t forget Junior’s beauty about Brendon McCullum’s fortuitous touch as a punter… 😂 all good stuff, gotta love live tv. My Kayo is off at the mo, I’ve been lucky enough to get the wit and wisdom of Brayshaw and Fleming on the ch 7 cover….at times, together….whew…. 😱

Mark Waugh gets roasted for unfortunate commentary blunder

Wow, that is rare ! 😱 Still, he’s helped them win plenty of games so we don’t hold that one-off ooopsy against him. Great competitor ! 👍 🏏

Dan Christian mortified after dropping an absolute sitter

Yep, fair call. I recall the days when he was first picked, he was pretty quick in those days. Even later, when he was picked against opinion, and he had slowed a few mph, he always busted everything to get the job done and actually, with some catches taken off his bowling could have had a much happier Ashes this year. Mighty performer, well played.

Retiring Peter Siddle receives the highest of praise from Ricky Ponting

Um, Micko/Carlin : Trent Boult…

New Zealand batsmen have embarrassed themselves

And a confirmation of the much-mentioned inferiority complex. Bowling first surely indicated a trepidation about the batsmen’s chances against Starc, Patto and co. The last time NZ earned a game at the MCG was the World Cup final of 2015. NZ won the toss and batted, and the game was over when `McCullum was bowled with the 5th ball of the match.

Positions vacant: Opening batsman and fast bowler

You’re right there Micko, which makes it all the more inexplicable that they have made such a hash of prep for this tour. If they get reamed again they have no case to demand further consideration as a Boxing Day test candidate, and with Raval, to say the squad is selected for the England and Australia series and that’s that, is utter lunacy : you have the capacity to draft in other players at any stage to suit your situation. Nope, after waiting all those years, they’ve blown it, and that’s a shame.

Raval liability exposes Black Caps on the biggest stage

Fair call, Bobbo, but that happened the last time NZ were here. They turned up for the Gabba with no prep, it was bloody hot, they got pumped by good bowling and never recovered in terms of the series, although showed good grit in the Perth test, again in furnace-like conditions. Seems to me international teams never have any taper-in time in their schedules nowadays as they are all flat-out playing meaningless 50-over series as often as humanly possible. While ever that’s the case, I don’t see it changing, and I guess that’s why most countries nowadays are great at home, but ordinary on the road.

Lyon gives Australia a massive edge over New Zealand

With you there on Brayshaw, Peter. Couldn’t put my finger on exactly why, but a mate rang up last night and was complaining that Brayshaw carries on like a child. Hard to argue with…
My Kayo is currently disconnected (house move) so I’m stuck with FTA, which in spite of Captain Ponting’s rapid-fire insights, also offers me the rare opportunity to cop Brayshaw AND Fleming together. Now I understand why it’s called TEST cricket !
One other thing : could we please arrange a moratorium between journalists of all media : tv, press and radio, to once and for all abolish that teeth-grinding term, Long Levers. We get it, it’s been flogged to death with no sign of mercy, please, please give it away.

Ease up on Tim Paine: My thoughts from the first Test

Indeed, but at $25 a month for Kayo, LED would be saving around $700 a year.

Foxtel versus rugby: The next battle

Bang on, Jeff. Have you even been to the stadium, Alex ? Plenty of shade apart from the lower areas of the south-east side. And even when hot, there is always something of a breeze off the river. I’m done giving my money to the WACA with their price gouging at every turn, but I’ll be getting along for some pink ball action in the weekend.

Why the ground selections against New Zealand are horribly unlucky: Perth edition

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