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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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If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures”. It’s a quote often attributed to Hippocrates, the Greek physician, yet it also succinctly sums up the situation…
Oh, how I love this time of year. The magical period right before the first round of the NRL season. There’s something truly beautiful…
Every now and then, an athlete comes along that transcends their sport. They become a household name, ‘appointment viewing’, and generate the type of…
Despite my own NRL team stinking up the joint, I must say the 2023 season was one of the most enjoyable in recent history.…
The mental stranglehold that Stuart Broad has over David Warner means the Australian opener needs to be dropped from the Test side, and his…
Bazball is not all it's cracked up to be.
With the NBA season now finished, and the Denver Nuggets crowned the 2022/23 NBA champions, it’s time to revisit my pre-season predictions and decide…
Last week I witnessed a lot of love for NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the most unexpected of places: my LinkedIn timeline. Every now…
Russell Westbrook’s eye-popping performances in the first round of the NBA playoffs has thrown gasoline on a fire that never seems to truly go…
Gazing into the crystal ball for 2023, there's some surprises on the NRL horizon.
The 2022-23 NBA season kicks off this week, which means it’s an apt time to make some outlandish predictions for what may just happen.…
Another NRL season is in the rear-view mirror, and as depressing as that may be, I feel like I may be able plummet further…
The NRL Grand Final is not that big of a deal to most fans.
When you haven’t written anything for a while, you should always endeavour to come back with a bang. That’s why my Roar return is…
The 2021-22 NBA regular season wraps up next week, with just a handful of games for each franchise to play before the play-in tournament…
It’s hard to believe this is my 11th year of putting what little credibility I do have, on the line. Yet here we are, once again on the eve of a rugby league season, and ready to look like a fool come October - perhaps even sooner - by making my annual fearless NRL predictions.
There was a lot of doom and gloom last summer when Australia lost a home series to India. The Test team was labelled, among…
There’s nothing quite like an overreaction to a single Test match – and one that didn’t even last four days, at that – but…
There’s nothing quite like the silliness of overreacting just two games into an 82-game schedule. To make any sweeping statements based on a sample…
No, I most certainly needed “converting”, because I didn’t think Cummins should get it. I was very worried about the impact it may have on our best bowler (player?), and the impact it may have on the Australian team.
In terms of who is forcing me to decide now, the reality of the situation is what’s forcing me. As mentioned, we don’t have the luxury of waiting until the end of the series to pick a captain, it had to be done before the series, so I’m giving credit to the actual decision, based on what the options were.
It’s easy to say in hindsight that a decision was wrong, but it still has to be made in the first place. Based on what I witnessed in the first Test, I think the right decision was made, irrespective of what happens from now on.
I’m converted: The Cummins-Smith captaincy partnership was the right call
Mainly because we couldn’t wait until the end of the series to make the decision of who should be the C and VC; it had to be now. And based on the limited options available, it’s hard to argue the wrong decision was made.
I’m converted: The Cummins-Smith captaincy partnership was the right call
Get him out of retirement, he’d be perfect!
Westbrook on the Lakers is the exact disaster we anticipated
I would love to be the GM – just surround those two with shooters who defend!
Westbrook on the Lakers is the exact disaster we anticipated
I didn’t mind the other moves they made after Westbrook – I thought they did well with limited money to find good players on good value contracts. The problem is, you wouldn’t have needed to do that in the first place if you didn’t get Westbrook. It all starts and finishes with that trade, and not in a good way.
Westbrook on the Lakers is the exact disaster we anticipated
Haha! Sadly, that’s the exact problem: I did know what I was sniffing!
Revisiting my five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
It shouldn’t have taken you that long.
Revisiting my five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
Yes, I, of course, meant that . . .
Revisiting my five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
There’s no hiding on the internet!
Revisiting my five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
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
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?
(I’m not convinced I explained that last bit very well!)
I’m converted: The Cummins-Smith captaincy partnership was the right call