Roar Guru
Joined June 2012
39.2k
Views
23
Published
494
Comments
My life pretty much revolves around sport, Seinfeld and long walks on the golf course. I am currently in my third and final year of a Bachelor of Sports Media at the University of Canberra. As a part of this, I have been doing match reports for the Cronulla Sharks Holden Cup and NSW Cup sides (which appears on the clubs website as well as the weekly Rugby League News program), match previews for St George Illawarra, as well as recently starting to write a weekly player feature on a different Illawarra Cutters player. I also just picked up a media internship with the NRL, covering the NSW Cup and the upcoming GIO Schoolboys Cup.
Published
Comments
The phrase 'front row forward' and 'university graduate' generally aren't two phrases synonymous with each other. But then again, current Illawarra Cutters squad member…
Despite being one of the most successful coaches in English Super League history, current Illawarra Cutters head coach Ian Millward is glad he was…
Some people say that modern day footballers have gone soft. Try telling that to Illawarra Cutters winger Geoff Daniela, who played almost the entire…
Growing up watching rugby league on TV back in his native Fiji, Illawarra Cutters second rower Peni Botiki always knew he wanted to play…
While injury may have put a hold on his first grade career in the past, Illawarra Cutters second-rower Junior Tia-Kilifi isn't ready to close…
The New Zealand Warriors will look to show the form that saw them win seven of eight earlier on this season, as they play…
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will look to separate themselves from the pack with a win tonight as they head to Kogarah to take on a…
The Newcastle Knights will be looking to revive their 2013 campaign with a win at Hunter Stadium, but will have to do so against…
The Gold Coast Titans will look to win their first Monday night game in almost three years, when they take on a Melbourne Storm…
The injury ravaged West Tigers will look to chalk up only their second victory away from home Monday night, when they take on a…
The Brisbane Broncos will be desperate to turn around their form of late, when they take on a Canberra Raiders side that is undefeated…
The Newcastle Knights head across the ditch to kick off Sunday afternoon football, when they take on an out of form New Zealand Warriors…
The possible acquisition of troubled NRL fullback Josh Dugan could be a key pickup for the St George Illawarra Dragons, a team that has…
In arguably the worst week in the 107-year history of rugby league in Australia, the NRL added to the pain of fans with the…
With the Super League season kicking off this weekend, here is a detailed club-by-club preview to keep you up-to-date, including schedules, key personnel changes…
No matter how hard I try, I just can't look past the fact that the English Premier League still refuses to introduce postseason play.…
No matter whether you're a diehard sports fan or can't stand it and would rather spend your Saturday nights watching reruns of the Gilmore…
In response to my last article The biggest NRL disappointments of 2012, I have gone back to the drawing board and formulated my team…
Season 2012 certainly has had its fair share of players who have far exceeded expectations. On the other side of the coin, however, here…
I think the time has come for the NRL to launch a new, combined NSW and Queensland Cup competition that takes over as the…
Thanks Up in the North.
One of the nicest blokes I have ever met. Great to see him get a start in the second row for Fiji on Saturday night. Can’t wait to see how he goes. Hopefully he will impress a few NRL clubs.
Peni Botiki: a man who loves his country
Cheers, BA.
They certainly are a talented rugby league family. I believe that was Vaipuna’s first game back from injury in a couple of weeks. Hopefully Junior gets a crack with the Dragons over the Origin period. Definitely has had a horror run with injuries.
NSW Cup player feature: Junior Tia-Kilifi
Thanks Sledgeross. Glad you enjoyed it. I really enjoyed putting the piece together.
Maybe I was being naive, but I never really thought about the struggles that these fringe first graders have to go through. They work ridiculous hours during the week just so they can feed their families, while still training three times a week as well as play on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I guess I had never really sat down and thought about it, but it’s amazing what these blokes are able to put their bodies through, and then still perform week in, week out.
This is a weekly thing I will be doing with a different Cutters player. This week (I’ll upload later tonight) is on a Fijian player, Peni Botiki, who has been picked to play in the Test match on Saturday night. His story is incredible. This Wednesday I’ve lined up an interview with Geoff Daniella, which will appear on the clubs website Wednesday week.
Football players often get a bad wrap from the media, but I can honestly say, I have never met two nicer blokes. Both who were willing to give up what little time they have to spend with their family, to do an interview with me.
NSW Cup player feature: Junior Tia-Kilifi
80′ – After a set full of one out runs, players going down with cramps and an all important appearance by Ronnie Palmer, Penrith have managed to hold on and come away with the two points.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
80′ – Hurrell flicks the ball to Laumape out on the right hand edge but he is bundled into touch by 4 or 5 Penrith defenders. Penrith with a scrum 10m out from their own line.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
78′ – Penrith try and run the ball on the last but lose the ball. The Warriors almost run away with it but a last ditch tackle puts an end to it. Warriors penalty with 1:30 to go. Massive set.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
77′ – Mateo tries to offload the ball on the first tackle. Vatuvei tries to take the ball but is ruled to have knocked it on into the Penrith player. Penrith scrum 35m out from the NZ line.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
75′ – Great defensive set from Penrith. Johnson tries to run the ball on the last but is wrapped up only a couple of metres out from the Penrith line. The Panthers will look to just kick the ball into touch down field.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
74′ – The Warriors are going side to side. Looking like a game of touch football at the moment. Johnson puts the bomb up. Coote takes it but a penalty is blown to the Warriors 10m out right in front.
New Zealand – 24
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
71′ – TRY NEW ZEALAND – Game on. A loverly ball from Johnson who half busts a tackle gets it off to Locke who passes it to Hurrel who gives over in the corner. Exciting last 8 minutes coming up.
72′ – CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL – Johnson slots the kick from the sideline.
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
71′ – McKendry tries to offload the ball on the 4th tackle mid-field. Not sure why. His side is up by 10 points. They should be trying to protect the lead not give the ball up. The lost ball is compacted by a penalty.
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 22
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
69′ – Walshs grubber kick finds touch 10m out from the Warriors line. New Zealand doesn’t seem to be in to much of a rush to pack the scrum. They need to score 2 tries in 10 minutes.
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 28
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
67′ – PENRITH TRY – What a passage of play. Isaac John burns his old team with a burst of speed up the middle. He finds Mansour who offloads it to Lewis. The ball is then spread across field before some loverly footwork from Sika Manu earns his side the 4 pointer. His 5th try of the year.
68′ – CONVERSION SUCCESSUL.
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 28
Are Warriors fans confident?
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
66′ – Walsh grubber kick goes dead. Johnson picks up 30m from the optional restart. Great thinking.
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 22
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
64′ – Penrith earn a scrum feed 30m out from the Warriors line. NZ pop a ball back which hits the ref and a scrum is ordered. An unfortunante ruling for the Warriors.
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 22
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
62′ – NEW ZEALAND TRY – Matagi crosses for his first try of his career. With only Coote to beat after a wonderful ball from Johnson, he was never going to be stopped. Warriors are back.
63′ – CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL
New Zealand – 18
Penrith – 22
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
61′ – Jeremy Latimore loses the ball during the play to ball. New Zealand with a scum feed 45m out from the Penrith line.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 20
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
58′ – TRY PENRITH – A Coote grubber kick turns Laumape around and Mansour scores yet another extraordinary try. Every one of the Penrith tries has been a spectacular try from a winner. Walsh will be wishing he can get an easier kick then from the sideline.
59′ – CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL – Walsh has no issues with the kick. Penrith up by 8 points.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 20
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
57′ – Hurrel give away yet another penalty for the home side. Once again late in the tackle count giving Penrith excellent field position.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
56′ – Vatuvei looks to be away down the sideline but the play is called back for a Kevin Locke knock on. Tough call against the Warriors.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
54′ – Both Rapira and Simpkins are down after the play. After play is restarted Johnson puts a nothing kick into Coote. They need better last play options if they have plans of retaking the lead.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
51′ – Walshs kick goes out on the full giving the Warriors a set 60m away from their own line. They are starting to make more metres up the middle now.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
50′ – Walsh reefs a kick down field as he looks for a 40/20. Johnson somehow regathers the ball before it goes into touch. He passes it Locke who is dragged into his own in goal. Held was already called and the penalty is blown.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
47′ – Well weighted kick from Leuluai find Coote in the in goal who passes it to Simmons before he is tackled in his own in goal. Crowd to their feet. First time the Warriors supporters have been able to cheer in some time.
New Zealand – 12
Penrith – 16
New Zealand Warrioirs vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog
I understand what you are both saying, but I didn’t say that there has never been a front rower that has graduated from University. I said the terms ‘front row forward’ and ‘university graduate’ aren’t synonymous, meaning that they aren’t closely linked. I know David Shillington is in the process of getting a Bachelor of Business, as are a number of other players.
Unless he graduated in the last couple of weeks, Robbie Rochow is still at university, and therefore isn’t a “University graduate”. Jason King is still going with his Law Degree. Ian Roberts did graduate from NIDA, but I don’t think it’s actually classed as a Univeristy, and Ryan Hoffman isn’t a front rower (again, I think he is still currently in the process of completing the degree)
As I said, there are a number of front row forwards currently undertaking a tertiary education, but it is still obviously a very rare feat for a prop to have graduated University, let alone at the age of 20. As the National Youth Competition’s welfare and education program continues to grow, these numbers will grow significantly.
Jacob Hind: Breaking the front row mould