Roar Rookie
Joined August 2021
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An avid sports lover, with NRL No 1. 45+ years Dragons fan
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This Penrith side would have beaten Queensland. You cannot imagine the hunger in a team that has been the best in the competition for…
Many scripts, including this one, have been rewritten in the lead-up to next week’s grand final. The dream storyline that had the two master…
What a contrast that was! The Roosters-Sea Eagles game was your typical 2021 blowout, while the Panthers-Eels match was a good old-fashioned 1980s slugfest.…
For a westie who grew up following the Dragons, this finals weekend is completely arse-about. I mean, how would Roy Masters go about motivating…
It will be the same rugby league conversation right up the east coast this week. What appeared to be a two- or three-way battle…
Every now and then, a decision is made that is so momentously bad, it leaves you outraged. For example, allowing a new coal mine…
Take what excels, is decent, respectable, and typical of the true essence of rugby league. Then double it. For 15 years we’ve been privileged…
When you follow a team, your sporting highs and lows ride on their success. But despite this, what really captivates and entertains you are…
The Roosters forwards are still star quality despite all the injuries. It might be closer than a lot of people think. Manly in a tight one.
'The younger guys were overawed': Manly's pack must aim up against Roosters' 'X-factor of skill and strength'
It’s an interesting concept, Tim. And you highlight his strengths as a coach very well. The coaches box rants are an interesting one. I’m surprised he hasn’t toned them down over the years. Maybe that’s part of the greatness. But seriously, how much wear and tear is this bloke putting on his ticker?
The inevitable 2021 Storm premiership proves Craig Bellamy should be NRL's next CEO
Hi Hamish. Very well written. I hope for Madge’s sake they can find a way to keep him on, and maybe they should look at some of your suggestions. Personally though, in the world of NRL results-driven coaching, I think he’s been dead in the water for longer than just this season. He may be a good coach, but those of us outside the inner circles (meaning me) will never know whether coaches like, for example, Maguire at Souths or Paul Green at the Cowboys got there because of good coaching, or had teams that could have coached themselves. And I don’t follow the super league closely, but my outside impression is that it is very different from coaching NRL. Ask Nathan Brown so far. And hasn’t Wigan always been one of the clubs to attract the best players? As for Cleary, I reckon anyone who can get the Warriors to a Grand Final has proven their ability. It’s a tough business, and I think even Madge himself will be surprised if he survives.
Madge deserves to stay at the Tigers
How about Benny Elias – 360?
The good, the bad and the Blocker: who are the best and worst of NRL's TV callers?
Not sure what they were thinking challenging it.
Roosters gamble backfires as Verrills appeal sees his suspension doubled
Poor old Aitken. I wonder how he’d go these days when it seems Bellamy can get any player to be a star. But maybe these days he wouldn’t get a run
NRL finals sliding door moments: Bennett-Gordie feud, Wok's Blocker shocker, Bellamy's rookie error
Thanks for sharing Pete. I went to all the Saints Grand Finals in the 70’s. We won 77 & 79 but I still remember 75 more clearly. Saw the great man Changa up close after the loss and I can still remember the devastation. Gotta try to start reliving the good memories like the ones you brought up.
NRL semi-finals: When fibros play fibros who’s left to hate?
All facts that I have no trouble at all in glossing over
NRL semi-finals: When fibros play fibros who’s left to hate?
I reckon they showed some promise. And seemed to have a better idea of who their best 17 were toward the end of the year. Holbrook is still new to it. They’ll be enough poor/underachievers for them to make the 8 next year
'They've underachieved and haven’t progressed': Does the Titans' season deserve a pass mark?
Well done Dave. I changed my mind about giving up watching because of you!
The good, the bad and the Blocker: who are the best and worst of NRL's TV callers?
That’s genius! The ‘BCNRL’ manual Vol 1. Section 1.1.1.0. Hang on. I’m forgetting it’s not rugby union.
NRL defends Sydney Roosters' wall tactic
I wonder how it would have gone if the shoe was on the other foot. If that was standard blocking I’ll have to pay more attention to games from now on because I haven’t seen one as good as that. And as jimmmy pointed out one and possibly both players were offside. Maybe Annesley anticipates bigger stinks to come in the finals so figures he’d better defend them when he can. On the Rein comment, sounds like a lot of us thought immediately he was recommending taking dives. He might regret that remark
NRL defends Sydney Roosters' wall tactic
Excellent article. Tough calls, but someone has to do it. I don’t agree with every one, but I got a laugh out of the Flanagan job application. I reckon he particularly favours a stint in the tropics. His call on a cowboys game several weeks ago was more about what he’d be doing to fix things. Rabs! What a legend. And he does it without ever putting dirt on anyone. And Vossey! I can’t get enough. If he doesn’t have the best facts of the game stored in his head, combined with the fastest wit, you’d love to hear the person who does. Oh, and I forgive Brandy his passion. I reckon he goes good.
The good, the bad and the Blocker: who are the best and worst of NRL's TV callers?
Very good. I love the scenario on the try line. You had me won over from that!
Stopping the Storm is going to take more than a brain-fart refereeing conspiracy
You know this is no secret. We hate them because they’re so damn good! And the dominance is getting a bit tiresome. I reckon they get away with some questionable stuff and that’s because they’re so damn clever as well. But because they develop their talent and take players other clubs reject, it’s hate with a great deal of respect. Bellamy took the mantle of best coach quite a while ago.
A Storm-Souths decider will provide the ultimate drama
Nice call on Herbert AJ. Can’t disagree with the rest of it either.
Vintage Wayne and the benefits of rest: Talking points from NRL finals Week 1
Love your style, Tony. I particularly had a chuckle at “Who would have thought that so many professional athletes could all be that stupid at the same time?” Then I remembered that was my team.
What a loss RTS is to the game. Thankfully he’s a Kiwi and heading to a class team. If he was an Aussie league would have won hands down.
Typo alert. Did you forget to add a question mark after the second “surely” about the Dogs? 😊
The good, the bad and the ugly for 2021: The bottom eight (Part 1)
If they’re consistent it’s a sin bin. And if the Proctor tap on the cheek of a rapidly falling Butcher is a penalty, on the severity scale Verrell should get 4 weeks.
High-contact charge puts Roosters gun's finals series in jeopardy
That’s an excellent summary. It definitely was a crucial last 5 minutes of the first half. And there were a couple of Moses and Gutherson plays in the last 20 that also made the difference.
Good point about Frizell. The rule is that when you are concussed you can play no further part in the game. I’m not sure of the exact wording for the definition of when a player is concussed, but I’m pretty sure being slow to your feet after contact with the head then staggering around are up there near the top of the list.
Did the 'Billy Slater rule' save Parra? Talking points from the Eels' controversial win over the Knights
I have no problem with Penrith’s approach. But the Cleary’s are flattering themselves. They not only got a big wake-up call, but they have also dug a real hole for themselves. Until yesterday the ‘were’ the only team who could beat the Storm. Very disappointing.
Panthers face a hard road back to the grand final
You’re spot on about Teddy. You get the same out of him every week, and because he’s the best player and the most consistent he should be the highest-paid. It was an absorbing game. But the Roosters struggled to beat a team lucky to be in the 8, so it’s hard to imagine they’ll go much further.
A heart-stopping conclusion deserving of finals status: Talking points from the Roosters' last-gasp win over Titans
The last line spoiled it but otherwise well written. And from the heart too. I reckon Cronk could coach QL, work for Fox Sports and study for a PhD all at the same time.
Should Cooper Cronk be the next Maroons coach?
That sums it up very well
'They're in the business of taking souls': Talking points from the Storm’s crushing win over Manly
Looking forward to reading Two Tribes because that super league thing is something that has always confused me. You still hear people say they don’t watch league anymore because of super league. I often feel like asking them to explain to see if they know if they actually know anything about it. Kerry Packer’s breakaway revolutionized cricket, but to many 97 damaged league. I’ve never understood politics and this is no different. I’m looking forward to being enlightened.
Back to Brisbane after 24 years, and the grand final that still causes arguments to rage