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Joined November 2021
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Paul has been in sports journalism for a quarter of a century, the past four years as editor-in-chief at NRL.com after stints as Sun-Herald sports editor, Sydney Morning Herald deputy sports editor & basketball columnist, Daily Telegraph sports chief of staff and as a reporter at the Illawarra Mercury.
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England will enter the Ashes with one of the most brittle batting line-ups brought to these shores up against the combined might of a bowling attack with 1030 Test wickets.
We’re underway in the new NBL season, and it’s time to take a look back at some of the weird and wonderful moments over the first 40-plus seasons of the competition.
Joe Root has denied playing mind games in the lead-up to the first Test at the Gabba by refusing to name his side before game day as England look to break a 35-year hoodoo in Brisbane.
When it comes to sustained success among Australian men’s professional sports franchises, Perth Wildcats are the champion of champions.
There have been so many NBL players who nearly made the NBA but due to injury, circumstances or downright bad luck, didn’t get a start.
LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey are unique individuals in many ways but the NBL is hoping their success in using the Australian league as a stepping stone to the NBA can become more and more common.
The BBL fireworks are about to light up the summer sky on and off the field.
Shane Warne knows he upsets people with his commentary, he’s well aware of his armada of critics but in trademark fashion, he doesn’t care.
Patty Mills could be Australian of the Year every year.
Brett Lee is certain Patrick Cummins will make a great fist of captaincy as a fast bowler and also believes David Warner should be allowed to return to a leadership position like Steve Smith.
As is the case these days amid a global pandemic there have been a few bumps along the way and a delayed start to the schedule but the NBL is officially back for the 2021-22 season.
Shane Warne says he would love to be able to say Mitchell Starc is ready to spearhead Australia’s Ashes attack but in the cold hard light of day he doesn’t think his form is up to scratch.
The NBL over the past decade has enjoyed something which has not been common during its inception in 1979 – stability.
Cameron Green is unfazed by the return of England all-rounder Ben Stokes as he heads into his second Test series with much more confidence after a nervous start last summer against India.
The Eels are under fire for supposedly lowballing their off-contract stars but their problem is not offering too little, it’s the fact they’re targeting the wrong players to re-sign.
South East Melbourne Phoenix look set to continue their rapid rise to become champions in just their third season in the NBL heading into the new season.
Melbourne have called Brandon Smith’s bluff by not sacking him a year out from the end of his contract. That would have been playing into the hands of the Kiwi forward and his agent.
While they’re not the be-all and end-all like they used to be in the NBL, imports still have the ability to make or break a team’s season.
From where they were just a couple of years ago, the Knicks’ turnaround has been a stunning success.
It’s a turkey of a day for NBA fans in Australia, with no games scheduled due to Thanksgiving Day.
Definitely not a Roosters fan but definitely respect the way they’ve managed to enjoy sustained success when pretty much every other recent premiership-winning team apart from Melbourne has dropped into the inevitable lull that follows
NRL 2022 Radar: Roosters rebuild on the run for another title shot
Liu is a big loss but they need to start regenerating their pack – Taukeiaho will probably be the next to be moved on and then JWH the following year
NRL 2022 Radar: Roosters rebuild on the run for another title shot
Radley gives the Roosters an extra ball-playing option so they don’t really need a playmaker at hooker, just a tough tackler in the Friend mould
NRL 2022 Radar: Roosters rebuild on the run for another title shot
Very salient points about Radley’s need to control his aggression and Crichton’s lavish locks
NRL 2022 Radar: Roosters rebuild on the run for another title shot
Not saying it’s gonna happen to Brisbane but after going so close in 2001 most people would’ve thought Parra would’ve won one by now. Clubs can’t keep trading on golden eras forever
NRL 2022 Radar: Broncos drought won't end any time soon
That’s what you’d expect anyone in his position to say but also sets the table for a potential coaching change if they fail to make finals
NRL 2022 Radar: Broncos drought won't end any time soon
Best-case scenario they are contenders for seventh or eighth, not the title. Not next year anyway. Their roster has not improved at all compared to last season, other clubs who missed the playoffs have made significant gains. Whether Griffin remains coach for the entire season or not, the Dragons will need to make a call for 2023 by midway through the season and with the way things are looking with the draw and the roster, the team could be in the 3-8 ballpark by then.
NRL 2022 Radar: Dragons must fire early or it'll be time to Hook Griffin
Everyone is frequently wrong, especially the people who don’t think they’re wrong
NRL 2022 Radar: Dragons must fire early or it'll be time to Hook Griffin
He will either end up like Dean Pay at the Dogs and get punted if they don’t show signs of life or if he can ride out the next season or two, he could be there long term
NRL 2022 Radar: Dragons must fire early or it'll be time to Hook Griffin
If you’re not going to challenge for the title, you might as well invest in youth – every team needs experience but you can’t have veterans like McGuire, Woods, G Burgess getting in the way of the development of the likes of Kerr, Ford, Lawrie
NRL 2022 Radar: Dragons must fire early or it'll be time to Hook Griffin
Bird is the closest thing they’ve got to replacing McInnes in the role he was supposed to fill in 2021 at lock. The other option if to play him in the second row and switch Sims into the middle rotation with Kerr, de Belin, Molo, etc
NRL 2022 Radar: Dragons must fire early or it'll be time to Hook Griffin
First series at Test level against the best team in the world. He did much better than a lot of specialist batters who’ve been thrown into the deep end in recent years. And he’s 22
Green confident he can nail all-rounder role but not Stoked with comparison