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Joined February 2011
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"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words, it is war minus the shooting." - George Orwell
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After four heart-breaking fourth-place finishes in previous Olympic Games, the Australian Boomers finally won that elusive medal on Saturday night, when they defeated Luka Doncic and Slovenia in the bronze medal game.
If you’re sniffing around for evidence that players can miss out on winning the NBA’s MVP award for the most dubious of reasons, look no further than the fact that Milwaukee Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo is far from the favourite to win the MVP trophy this season.
It’s amusing and bemusing that all it takes is 80 minutes of watching one team – or every team – for pundits to make sweeping generalisations for how the rest of the NRL season is going to pan out.
The trashy tabloid journalists are frothing at the mouth, Peter V’landys is talking about unnecessary rule changes, and all fans are full of optimism and hope.
Given the hysterics this summer, if you were none the wiser, you could be mistaken for thinking Australia was anchored to the bottom of the world rankings, getting beaten by an innings every match, embarrassing the country with their on-field performances.
After the Melbourne Storm’s victory over the Penrith Panthers in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday night, it was unfortunate that a significant chunk of the chatter was dedicated to the commentary of the game – specifically Gus Gould’s – rather than the game itself.
After a couple of seasons of blistering-hot form with my annual fearless predictions, I think I’ll come falling back to earth with an almighty thud this year.
On Saturday night, Joey Leilua gave away a crucial penalty that led to a field goal by Penrith’s Nathan Cleary.
2020 will go down in history as a very strange and unique year.
With 5 rounds of the 2020 NRL Premiership now played, there’s one blatantly obvious question that needs asking: where exactly did all the talent go?
Can you smell it? It’s in the air. No, not the false optimism emanating from every team’s fan-base. That’s a given at this time of year, before dreams are inevitably and brutally squashed.
On Saturday, notorious motor-mouth Draymond Green was it again. Never shy of giving an opinion or trash-talking someone, this time it was NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley in his sights.
At 6:30am this morning, my (nearly) four-month old baby stirred in his cot. I got up to check on him, and though he immediately went back to sleep, I knew he’d probably be waking up soon.
As we’re now at the halfway point of the 2019-20 NBA season, it’s a good time to take a breath, step back from the frenetic offensive pace that’s being set, and objectively look at a few things happening around the league.
You would assume that when an Australian team returns from an away Ashes series with the urn in tow for the first time in 18 years, said team would be settled, stable and with close to eleven automatic selections.
Another NRL season is now over, and as the realisation dawns on many fans that they won’t get a chance to whinge about the refs for another six months, the only comfort I can offer is that it also means it’s time revisit my fearless predictions.
The NRL season is sadly over, with the Sydney Roosters claiming the premiership on Sunday night, unfortunately under controversial circumstances.
As the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm played out a brutal, tough and entertaining preliminary final on Saturday night, much of the Harbour City breathed a large sigh of relief when the final siren eventually sounded, due to the realisation that a grand final between two interstate teams was an impossibility.
Last week I did something embarrassing and out of character. Unfortunately, after years of ripping into people that rip into referees, I inadvertently did the exact same thing.
The opening round of the 2019 NRL finals was dominated by touches. Well, two and a half touch-ups and one touch judge controversy, to be precise.
How do you “know” it’s going to get them nowhere at the end of the season?
Also, just out of curiosity, how are the other players you listed more deserving? (Especially as you’ve suggested playoff performance should come into, and some have patchy records on par with Giannis??)
The mind-blowing reason Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t win MVP
I’m glad you included that you were a Melbourne Storm fan, Matthew. It’s important context here that will prevent you getting abused!
Five sneaky underrated subplots from round 1 of the NRL
You leave Britney alone!
#freebritney
Five sneaky underrated subplots from round 1 of the NRL
He just doesn’t seem to be able to play a plan either. I’m all for halves that just play on instinct, but you have to be effective at that style. He doesn’t seem to tick either box.
Five sneaky underrated subplots from round 1 of the NRL
I was being a ‘double agent’, like Cronk.
Five sneaky underrated subplots from round 1 of the NRL
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
I won’t stand for this slander!
So let me get a seat.
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
My maths is so bad, I’d probably claim it’s right 3 times a day!
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
Where were you when I got 5 out of 4 right? Uh? UH?!
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
Well, technically I didn’t say we’d lose in the last round. I just suggested our fate would be decided in the last round! We could beat the Tigers, but still miss out on the 8 due to the Titans winning and getting us on for & against. Or something.
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
Will, is this your longest ever post on The Roar? The lady doth protest too much, methinks . . .
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
I spoke to my lawyers first, and they said the “quick PSA” that I included indemnifies me. So play on!
My five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
Thanks for all the comments, gang. I can assure you that I read every single one of them (the one saying this piece was “click bait” was easily my favourite! 😂 ).
Apologies I can’t reply in detail to many of them, as I normally would, but I need to re-introduce myself to my family after watching some amazing cricket for the last 6 weeks. As ever, it seems there are many differing opinions, but the passion for cricket is the one constant.
I know one thing for sure, Australia may have lost, but TEST CRICKET REMAINS UNDEFEATED!! It really is the best.
Not only is the sky not falling, this Australian Test team is really good!
Exactly. So what a great interviewer he’d make.
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
NSW to win game 1 by 132 points, and the series 4-0.
REVEALED: NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons teams for State of Origin 1
Whilst I admit it was also a shocking “admission”, I of course, meant a shocking omission”.
On fire today!
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
Gordy was a bulletpoint under The Matty Johns Show, but looks like it was included (or I removed it)!
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
Hannah Hollis is indigenous, as is Gordon Tallis.
However, I admit, that didn’t come into consideration and is post-rationalisation!
In all honesty, I chose the people from the existing cohort of commentators and analysts that I think are the best. But we do need better representation, however I think that’s a vastly different article/point.
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
I thought you meant they need to lay off the red wine!
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
As I said, we all have our own tastes!
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
Gang, I deliberately said at the end that I may have overlooked someone, and I most definitely did, and have been called on it. Billy Slater is great, and shocking admission from myself!
Poor form!
Who are we hiring - and firing - for the best rugby league TV coverage possible?
That’s actually scarily apt.
Welcome competition in the rugby broadcast rights race - and a farewell, for now…
We did a podcast?
Welcome competition in the rugby broadcast rights race - and a farewell, for now…
Lovely piece, Joe. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for writing.
Sadly, like you, I know TPJ’s pain all too well myself. And more than once. So I know how tough this piece must have been to write. But the more we talk about it, the more support and help is provided. So kudos to you for writing something so brave and courageous.
I wish TPJ and his partner all the best in this difficult time.
Tevita Pangai Jr's shattered heart is a season-ending injury