Roar Guru
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I am a passionate rugby league fan and aspiring podcaster. Check out @thecraftyfootballer on Facebook & Instagram. UOW Commerce Graduate currently working in Media.
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Thank you mate I appreciate it 😊
Good point on Smith. I think the reason he also sits above all hookers is related to what you mention about Farah. Smith very very rarely forces his hand – and I think that is due in large part to the Storm system as a whole. They are experts at sticking to the flow of the game and not panicking. Smith trusts this and knows how to influence the game over many plays, not a few flashes.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon
Good insight mate – I 100% agree. It is about timing, skill and game awareness. Hodgson is usually good at all of the above, but an off game from him will have a clear affect on the Raiders attack which it did this past round.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon
At the Bulldogs we have had a running theme – if they aren’t working well elsewhere, chuck them in dummy. Reynolds, Mbye, Holland, JMK – it hasn’t worked once. Hooker is a specialist position that takes a lot of skill to be effective at.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon
I am a long suffering Bulldogs fan and I think that is what has let us down – we haven’t had consistent and reliable delivery from dummy since Ennis! It makes all the difference, a half has a split second to make the right kick or play and a ball delivered to his feet or behind his head never helps.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon
Thanks mate!
Not familiar with the All Black but it sounds like he would do well if he could make the 50+ tackles that is needed. Too true on your last point, a few ordinary passes out of dummy half can make it impossible for a team to get out of their own territory.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon
I would take out Roberts because the flog can’t even run on for the Broncos. Replace him with BJ who I think will be good enough defensively and brings a lot in attack.
Finucane to play on the bench for mclean, the boy IS BUILT FOR ORIGIN.
The NSW Blues contenders
Appreciate the effort of you writing this article mate, but it is not very well informed or thoughtful. The game is not dying. It is a billion dollar sport and has cultural significance for millions upon millions of people across the world. It is only fear mongers who are writing the obituaries.
Is the game dying or already dead?
Hey Barry,
It wasn’t your comment I was referring to, it was on a Facebook post.
I do understand your point completely, well put! I personally think that having the two indigenous cultures against each other creates a passion and excitement that lacks when one team is phoning it in (NRL All Stars) and I would love to see a ferocious clash because that is one of my favourite things about footy. I do get that it takes some of the spotlight away from the Aboriginal culture on display.
Race vs race is definitely different to country vs country – I really interpreted the comment I mentioned in the context of a general lack of understanding I have observed from people who are not connected to any strong sense of culture not understanding why culture and race matters. What you are saying is a valid argument.
I can’t wait for the game! If only for the opposing war cries which will no doubt give me goosebumps. Enjoy mate.
All Stars clash: Playing footy for your family's blood
Thanks everyone who joined me! Hope you enjoyed the fight. What a crazy cap off to a bunch of awesome and entertaining fight. A memorable event.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
OFFICIAL DECISION.
ANDDDDDDDD NEWWWWWWW. UFC WOMENS BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION.
‘THE PREACHERS DAUGHTER’
HOLLLYYYYY HOLMMMMM.
Unbelievable.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
I am sitting in disbelief, that was incredible. What a finish. What a way to crown a new champion. What a win. Holly Holm has just sent shock waves around the world. INCREDIBLE.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 2
The second round starts well again for Holm, what a brilliant display. Huge moment as she ducks under Rouseys punch and sends her stumbling past. WOW, HUGE HEAD KICK KO FROM HOLM. She knocks her completely out. STUNNING. She had her hurt, and then finished with a brilliant kick.
Holly Holm def. Ronda Rousey via head kick knockout Round 2.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 1
No touch of the gloves from Rousey, no surprise there. They start quite active, Holm lands a nice left straight from her southpaw position. It’s gone for ages now! (By Rousey standards). They engage in the clinch, exactly where Rousey wants it. But she can’t finish the takedown!! Much more even than most expected. Holm steps in beautifully with an elbow. Rousey gets Holm down but she escapes! Wow massive moment for the challenger. Beautiful movement from Holm, very sleek footwork. Great straight left again from the challenger. Another MASSIVE left straight, and again! Wow, Holm is lighting the champion up in the first round. Holm takes down Ronda, then gets right back up, doesn’t want to play around there. End of the first round and wow.
MY SCORE:
10-9 Holly Holm
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
Rousey walking out now, her glare would take down an army of three thousand steroid boosted silverback gorillas.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
Can’t imagine how many eyes are on this fight across the world right now, Rousey is easily the biggest star in the UFC and one of the biggest in sport. But no title fight is an easy fight, especially against high quality opposition.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
The colossal main event is next! The ultra polarising Ronda Rousey- watched, feared and admired across the world will face multiple time boxing champion Holly Holm in a potential 5 round Bantamweight clash.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
Much closer fight than I and many others expected. Valerie provided a great contest and performed brilliantly, unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Joanna is an excellent fighter, her stand-up is picture perfect and I’ll be re-watching that fight for my own technique! Both fighters put on a technical and exciting display.
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 5
They come out blazing, tucking their chins and swinging with tight technical flurries. Great body kick from Valerie again, solid thud. Joanna has landed a lot of leg kicks across the fight, often at the end of her combinations. Valerie needs to knock Joanna out in the next two minutes to take the belt home. Beautiful short elbows in close from Joanna. Valerie face is beaten, massive swelling under her right eye. Joanna contributes to it with a great lead hook. Momentary pause for an eye poke. 40 seconds left, they aren’t slowing down either, what a fight! Joanna is relentless until the end, lands a great left hook. The fight is over and in the books, what a brilliant title fight.
MY SCORE:
10-9 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
END RESULT:
49-46 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
OFFICIAL RESULT:
Joanna Jędrzejczyk def. Valérie Létourneau via Unaninimous decision (50-45,49-46,49-46)
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 4
Joanna starts the 4th much like she did the last, looks confident and lands well with a straight right coming forward. The way Joanna mixes up her attack is amazing, textbook may thai striking and combinations. Valerie coming back well with some attack of her own, she needs to get in Joanna’s face instead of standing right in front of her. The crowd is deafening, even through the TV, they are getting treated to a great display of stand up MMA. It’s back and forth at the moment, but undoubtedly Joanna is the more effective, for now. Valerie has landed some nice left body kicks, her most effective strike so far. Joanna lands a beautiful flurry of straight hard punches. The horn sounds, the champ is running away with this fight now, but it’s still close enough for a potential upset.
MY SCORE:
10-9 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
FIGHT SO FAR:
39-36 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 3
Valerie comes forward and engages the clinch early in the round. Strongly competed in this position from both fighters, a very even contest so far in all aspects. Some strong kicks from Joanna landing on the legs of her opponent now, brings another kick right up the middle to Valerie’s face. Joanna starting to get the better of her challenger on the feet, her striking really is beautiful. Valerie appears to be fading as Joanna opens up and consistently lands. The first clear round of the fight to score.
MY SCORE:
10-9 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
FIGHT SO FAR:
29-28 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 2.
Really beautiful striking here from both fighters, very technically sound and all with terrible intentions. Nice exchange, Joanna lands a strong right body kick. Valerie catches a kick and forces Joanna against the cage. Nasty short elbows from the champ in close. The exit sees nice blows land from both. Valerie consistently catching the leg of Joanna on kicks. Strong straight right from Valerie over the top. Great right hand lands from Joanna as she starts to loosen up with some combinations. Another extremely close round, making it difficult for the judges.
MY SCORE:
10-9 Joanna Jędrzejczyk
FIGHT SO FAR:
19-19 Tied
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
ROUND 1
Joanna Jędrzejczyk vs Valérie Létourneau
They don’t touch hands in the middle and begin the first of five potential rounds. Valerie throws a nice combo but misses. Valerie takes Jo down off one of her kicks, Jo using a half guard escape, making it difficult for Valerie. Joanna gets to her feet, but impressive showing from Val to get her down. Valerie has Joanna against the cage, some dirty boxing and good control. Joanna escapes and they face off again in the middle. Devastating front kick to the face from Joanna! Some more clinching exchanges against the fence and wild exchange when they break. Valerie is not afraid to trade here with the champ. Valerie lands a nice glancing head kick. Very close opening round.
MY SCORE:
Valérie Létourneau 10-9
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
The two Strawweights make their entrance to Etihad Stadium. Joanna Jędrzejczyk has some of the most devastating striking I’ve seen across any combat competition, she is strong, quick, technically perfect, relentless and merciless. Good luck to her opponent Valérie Létourneau, it is MMA though and as they say way too often, anything can happen!
Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm highlights: Holm the new champion
I might be way off here but the ball is different, union balls are lighter and shaped more like an oval. That’s why it’s easier for them to kick conversions from anywhere past halfway. Just a guess.
Delivery from dummy-half is rugby league’s most under-appreciated weapon