Roar Pro
Joined November 2013
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A watcher, player and writer of all kinds of sport.
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International rugby league has slowly been over shadowed by State of Origin and fallen into the darkness of irrelevancy. Last Saturday night we saw…
Every week that an NRL match ends in golden point, complaints of injustice are heard from everywhere. Well, usually from the losing team, but…
Yesterday I talked about the highs of the wrestling spectacle, WrestleMania 32. The show is always a fantastic occasion and much look forward to…
On Sunday night in America (Monday here in Australia), the ATandT Stadium in Dallas, Texas hosted the WWE wrestling extravaganza that is WrestleMania. Totalling…
There have been many questions and debates raised over whether or not the A-League should have finals series or not. Really there's only one…
Due to my extreme passion for rugby league and the NRL, I can't help but feel frustration with the way that the league is…
The NRL has just kicked off and many a fan would be relieved that footy is back on our TV screens. The above statement…
The new extended version of the World Club Challenge is about to take place in England. With three of the best teams from the…
As many have stated before in previous articles, Phil Rothfield proposed a plan to change the NRL to a conference system to boost ratings…
The scores were 26-18 favouring the Brisbane Broncos with just six minutes remaining. I felt it was 'game-over'. However, their opponents, the Sydney Roosters,…
Much has been made in recent years of the NRL's mid-season lull when a State of Origin comes around. Many of the top clubs…
As we come to the end of the torturous yet anticipation-inducing ordeal that is the NRL pre-season, there have been many discussions about what…
With the 2014 NRL season fast approaching, I have read many articles and alike mainly predicting what was going to happen in the 2014…
As we head into the 17th season of the National Rugby League, it came to my attention that we actually have less teams than…
Receiving various criticism and scrutiny, the Rugby League World Cup captures the attention of viewers around the world, whether that be in a positive…
Shorter State of Origin periods; the expansion of the NRL into more cities around Australia; the return of the shoulder charge; the reinstatement of…
A player who has been on the tip of every rugby league fan's tongue of late is Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans. When Cherry-Evans started…
Yeah I feel the same about Roman Reigns. He has potential but hes being booked too much like John Cena, which is ultimately turning fans away from him. A shock in the main event could have swayed people over to him.
Thanks for your feedback Squidward! I’ll definitely be doing more of these in the future.
Highs and lows of WWE WrestleMania 32 (Part 2)
You’re right Squidward. Last year was definitely hard to compete with, especially after all the injures they’ve had. They still unfortunately had some low points that could have easily been avoided.
And yeah I’m real glad that they changed it! The ‘Divas division’ was a shallow and demeaning way of describing the women. Especially considered how good they’ve become!
Highs and lows of WWE WrestleMania 32 (Part 1)
So you’re basically saying that Rugby League is worse now because players have become too good? I love the history of league no less than the next guy, but the things players can do and have done in recent times, is just incredible. Rugby League has numerous ways it can expand and has many opportunities sitting at the front door, it’s not going to be dead anytime soon.
Rugby league is fast approaching its use-by date
I like that people are trying to think of ideas for a test cricket World Cup. But this idea is bad, very bad. This just would not work.
A better idea would be to just take the Top 4 ranked teams and let them have a round robin sort of tournament in a designated country.
How’s this for a Test World Cup idea? (Part 1)
Unfortunately, an NRL team in PNG is not feasible, at least not for a long time anyway. what the NRL are trying to do is to grow the game in other places around the world and create a pathway for these players to the NRL. The PNG Hunters are not joining the NRL anytime soon, but they’ve me strategically placed in the QLD Cup so that the best players can be noticed by NRL.
The best thing would be for the best of PNG to come to the NRL, and not the NRL putting a team in PNG.
Is there a future for the NRL in PNG?
I don’t think this is exactly feasible, and runs the risk of just being AUS v NZL v RSA like its an international tournament. I think what would be better is just including an Auckland and Wellington side in there. The time zones aren’t too different and let’s be honest, it does create a big of good rivalry. I think adding 2 NZL sides just increasing revenue and popularity around the world. I mean a T20 tournament involving 2 nations will always sound better than a tournament with just one.
Expand the BBL to South Africa and New Zealand
You don’t but? You’ve made one reference to the fact that his try-scoring numbers have decreased and then for the rest of the article you’ve stated what he’s good at. It’s a rather weak argument to be honest.
Roosters better off without Michael Jennings
I didn’t mean “one run” as he only makes one run in the game. I mean by just making one run, he adds so much fear and uncertainty to the defence line.
Roosters better off without Michael Jennings
I don’t think anymore teams in Australia would work, however how good would it be to have 2 or so NZL teams playing to expand it to 10 teams?!
Expanding the Big Bash League slowly
Jennings is the Roosters’ spark.
There were many occasions in 2015 where the Roosters seemed depleted and were struggling, until he made something out of nothing. Same goes for NSW. He has the ability to create havoc for the defence when they think their safe. And he does this almost every game. Just because he doesn’t score tries, doesn’t mean he still isn’t contributing to them. He makes one run that scares the defence and, for the rest of the game, defenders will be nervous when he has the ball, which then allows other players to score and hurt the defence.
This article is just filled with shallow reasoning to try and prove he is replaceable, but the fact is, he really isn’t. He’s a fantastic player.
Roosters better off without Michael Jennings
I think there should be a captains challenge introduced for the video ref. captains only get 1 or 2 wrong reviews a half.
Also just to clarify, a ‘stiff arm’ is just American for ‘fend’ or ‘palm’.
Five things the NRL need to fix this summer
Some very good but bold suggestions here. Good article though.
In terms of your arguments, Im not sure I agree with them all(particularly shortening the season). I have always thought however, that the FFA Cup Final would draw in a lot more attention if it were played on Australia Day every year. Would make it a strong tradition over time and I think crowd numbers and interest would boom.
Ten ways to re-invigorate the A-League
Very Ambitious…
To be honest I don’t think the AFL will ever even consider it but it has some merit. The Australia knockout Cup has been brought up before and it sounds like a a fun time for viewers and players. Ibarras of playing the whole comp in 5 weeks though id stretch it over the course of the season to create points in the season for byes. That way we could still keep the same 23 rounds.
Say if you had each round after every 5 regular season rounds creating a byes for teams as well as a chance for players carrying a niggle some time to recover and prepare for the rest of the season.
2022: Time for an 18-round AFL fixture and national cup
Agreed. Money definitely talks nowadays.
But spruce moose;
With a conference model I wouldn’t have it like the Americans do and have the winners of each play in the GF, but rather the way Ryan discussed it in the article(top 2 of each and then the next best 2 teams) by the way, the wildcard spot could work really well here.
But yes conferences are probably going to have to be introduced if the AFL wants to expand to a 20-24 team comp in the future.
Is there anything wrong with the AFL fixture?
I don’t think adding a 3rd team would dilute the anticiption and excitement for darbies. Darbies develop on their own, whose to say that Southern Sydney will even hate FC or WSW?
If the Phoenix were to leave, I’d strongly suggest Wollongong Wolves as they already have a solid club and structure there as well as lots of support. Either that or return to North QLD which would probably create a QLD Darby. The Northern Fury have been biding their time in the NPL QLD and should probably be considered to come back depending on if they can get a strong financial backing.
Another Brisbane or Sydney team would obviously be a safer bet but not necessarily the best option for ‘expanding’ the game.
PRICHARD: Wellington Phoenix have two choices - and neither is enticing
You’ve explored some interesting options here. Great article Ryan. I look forward to your proposal tomorrow(please don’t tell me it’s the 17-5 conference system though)
Alas, my two cents worth;
I actually think that a 6-team finals system would be better as it forces teams to play their stars as they can’t afford not with the amount of playoff teams so limited. I know it decreases finals matches and would upset broadcasters, but I mean you can’t deny the standard of games would increase from it.
In terms of structuring the schedule, I think conferences may be the way to go. Whether that be constant revolving/dynamic conferences, or the same/static conferences I’m not sure. But they do work extremely well in America and its something that I Think the AFL could really pull off.
Is there anything wrong with the AFL fixture?
Todd Greemburg should be given the nod. And To be honest, he should have been the one named CEO when David Gallop stepped down. The man knows how to run the game.
Who will replace Dave Smith?
Definitely agree. Although I would prefer at least 10 mins of just normal extra time, I wouldn’t mind golden try either. I hate the golden point idea. I don’t think it’s fair at all. Especially not for regular season games. If 2 teams can’t be decided after 80 mins in regular time, call it a draw and share the points.
What's the point of it all? Extra-time needed for this debate
Why would they host the replay at a different venue?
Time to scrap the AFL grand final replay
Exactly. Imagine an all WA GF and making them come back a week later.
It’s lunacy.
Time to scrap the AFL grand final replay
How is this a ‘non discussion’?
This was a major talking point in 2010, and not for the right reasons. If that game had gone to 10 mins of extra time, it would be considered one of the greatest grand finals of all time. It’s time the game evolved.
Extra time needs to be introduced. No one wants to come back a week later and do it all again. The point of a Grand Final is who is the best on the day, not over 2 days.
Time to scrap the AFL grand final replay
My thoughts exactly. Not sure why they ever felt the need to change it.
In my opinion, normal extra time is just as exciting as golden point, if not more.
Minor tweaks to make golden point more golden
I think Golden Point should only be played after 10 minutes of extra time if scores are still level.
Also during the season, the result should be of that after 80 minutes. It isn’t fair that a team tha gets trounced by 40 and give up half way through the game be awarded the same as a team that just loses in extra time. The way it used to be is fine.
Minor tweaks to make golden point more golden
I haven’t kept up with the NBL in the off-season unfortunately, so I’m a little unaware of the changes. which teams are still around?
Also I saw an article a while back discussing a new Champions League basketball competition which is basically the basketball’s version of the BBL. Is this not taking the place of the NBL?
This is the season to start following the NBL
Thanks for your feedback Stucco!
Although I can agree it showed Bray is one of the best on the mic and I will admit it was nice to see them attack The League of Nations the next night on RAW. However, if they were going to go down that road, that could have had the Wyatt’s enter and win the Battle Royal also to legitimatise them as a dominant faction. They could have at least let them have some shots in on The Rock or Cena. It seems the WWE just doesn’t know how to fully utilise them.
As for the Women’s Title, people are bored of Charlotte as champion. Her and Ric do make a good manager/superstar combo, but WrestleMania was definitely the moment for someone like Sasha to win and have her moment.
In regards to Roman turning heel as though, I do agree he was showing ‘heel characteristics’ but if they’re planning on a heel turn for him, it doesn’t make sense why they would not have done it at WrestleMania or in a bigger way the night after (the same way Rollins did). However, I am hoping he does turn heel in the near future, as if the WWE think that Roman is going to get over by beating AJ Styles, they’re going to be severely disappointed.
Highs and lows of WWE WrestleMania 32 (Part 2)