- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Roar Rookie
Joined January 2022
0
Views
0
Published
12
Comments
NostraSportus: Big Predictions in the World of Rugby League and Cricket.
Published
Comments
Are you a Yank?
Forceful contact: How many weeks would Will Smith get at the NRL judiciary?
Gotta stop using the term “Hectic Cheese” for Smiddy. It has a filthy meaning. Cheese is okay because he was called that by the 8th immortal (I think) because he looks like a block of cheese when he runs. But HC has a vastly different meaning that is about hygiene and only applies to men.
NRL NEWS: Burgess won't be stood down, Farah fuming, Smith says 'sorry', new Dally M leader
A half can only do so much behind a beaten forward pack.
'I think they’ll be top four': Sharks send statement by sinking Dragons in wet Wollongong
I have them missing the 8… just. I think they’ll be battling it out with Canberra in particular for that final spot. I see Canberra as a more consistent side, but not as dynamic or exciting as the Titans and I think that’s where they will fall down. With such a young spine you can’t expect them to be up for the entire season. Plus they need to start putting games to bed once the get a lead. We saw it again in the trial. Sure it’s just a trial, but they get leads and then give them away.
Nerd’s Eye View: History weighing against Titans’ inexperienced spine
Latrell needs better people around him to tell him to stop saying silly things. He does do a lot of good work away from league and that’s commendable, but you have to stay on the field to make sure you can keep doing those things. He was lucky to get away with the elbow to Nofo earlier last season. And because he got away with it, he continued to play the same way. There is playing with aggression and playing dirty, Latrell is veering towards the latter.
'I don't need to change, the game needs to change': Latrell's astonishing call as NRL cuts ban short
1 Brisbane Spine: Pretty bad. Arey is 4th best in position, but after that the rest of the spine ranks 13th to 16th. You can’t make the 8 with such a bad spine.
2 Parramatta’s chances of breaking the premiership drought: Ain’t happening. Parra fans better keep dreaming because 2022 isn’t your year… unless Storm, Roosters, Panthers all get ravaged by injuries. I will say if they can work into the season instead of starting at the speed of light, they’ll have a better chance come end of season, but it still won’t be enough.
3 Anthony Griffin’s job security: He is using a moneyball approach and has assembled a solid team. The spine isn’t great but it’s solid and Sloan is a real talent. If their young players can stand up, Hook will escape the axe.
4 Kalyn Ponga’s long-term commitment to Newcastle: I don’t get it. He’s deluded if he thinks Newy can win a premiership in the next 5 years. He’s got just as much chance of winning one with the Dolphins.
5 The Panthers making it back to the grand final: Possible and depends on how bloated the egos of the young players are. Can Papa Cleary keep them focussed for another entire season. That premiership wasn’t a one year ordeal. That was a two year premiership. Do the players have it in them to get up for a 3rd year? Mavrik Geyer looks a talent.
6 The Warriors entrusting Nathan Brown to rebuild their roster: Agree. It does look like a solid roster with plenty of potential, but I’m not sure Brownie is the man that can take them to the next step.
7 North Queensland’s prospects of winning a single game: I think they won’t be as bad as everybody is expecting, but still not very good. They have an easy draw to open the season so if they can get some confidence they may win a few more than expected. Lolo, Holmes, Chaddie and The Hammer are the 4 keys to their season. If all 4 fire, they will do okay.
8 Ricky Stuart’s plan for the Raiders: Ricky just has to pick and stick. I think Foggers was a great pick up for Canberra and just what they needed. Wighton should be able to play his natural game again and their forward pack is extremely strong. The backs will be a little depleted to start the season, with suspensions and the injury to Harley Smith Shields, but they have some good young players and I think Cotric back will make a big difference. I think it will be a top 8 finish for the Raiders. Their competition will be NZ, Broncos and Titans for that 8th spot. Beat those 3 teams and they should be assured of 8th.
High anxiety: 8 things making me nervous ahead of NRL 2022
No. No more nines. The reason the week one trials were a ratings successful is because it’s actual 13 v 13 RL. Not some Michael Mouse game that nobody cares about. Plus people have been starved of League. Oh, and don’t forget how poor the cricket was this summer. Sure Aussies enjoyed watching the Brits get thrashed, but the BBL was horrendous. The competition reached a new low in every single way.
Success of NRL preseason trials should put Nines back on the agenda
NRL is the biggest and best comp in the world. Yes, international RL needs to be better, but part of the reason it has been diminished in the past 30 years is because the British comp is so average. So maybe the Brits need to look at themselves first before pointing fingers. In saying that, a lot more could be done for IRL in Australia and I think the penny is finally dropping.
Fox League have dropped the ball with refusal to acknowledge RLWC is happening this year
This is a pretty crazy rant. It’s preseason in February!
Not sure the writer understands the nuances of what is going on in the NRL and eligibility. It’s all a bit of a mess at the moment.
The writer wants to label the players. Can’t they just be players in a competition for now? The obsession with everything being labelled in modern times is ridiculous. When the World Cup gets closer I’m sure there will be plenty of coverage of the World Cup in Australia.
Fox League have dropped the ball with refusal to acknowledge RLWC is happening this year
Unless the writer is privy to insider info, I can’t see Cobbo starting at fullback. I personally think Herbie is the man to play fullback, but Nui seemed to be finding his feet at the end of the season and may be given the nod to start the year. Cobbo is barely ready for first grade at this point. He has defensive issues that need addressing and once he fixes those he’ll be a star. For now I’d play him on the wing. Brenko Lee could be an inclusion due to his size and ability to create points. Staggs and Lee in the centres with Cobbo and the St.G winger whose name escapes me along with Herbie at that back. 5/8, is Mam ready? If so, give him a shot, if not I’d go Kelly if he’s not injured. He’s a far more skilful player than Gamble.
'An exciting year for supporters': Here's how the Broncos' line-up could look in 2022
I personally think the biggest issue with Newcastle beyond the halfback is the coach. Windscreens O’brien isn’t a head coach. He comes across very peculiar in interviews and I think it says a lot when your hire another oddball, Anthony Seibold, as an assistant.
NostraSportus Predicts: O’Brien won’t be coach of Newcastle in 2023.
The Knights are on the rise again
Stuart, you might want to check what you say regarding the charge against BF. What you’ve written and the wording of the actual guilty charge I believe are different and I think what you wrote means something different to what he was found guilty of.
When you give young men a lot of money, there will always be some type of trouble involved. That is never going to change.
Personally I think Lodge should never have been given a 2nd chance in league. I’m sure Roosters supporters will disagree though as I think he may be helping them to another GF. My team at the moment has trouble with postcodes. I’d like to see those players kicked out of the club. Not because they didn’t want to wear a jersey, I fully support them on that, but this is gang like behaviour and it simply can’t be allowed to fester in the NRL.
Love-hate relationship: Sometimes it makes me sick and ashamed to be a rugby league fan