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The Roar

Scott Pryde

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Joined August 2013

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Scott has penned over 3000 articles and is one of The Roar's longest-serving writers, covering a wide range of sports. When he isn't writing about sport, you'll find him umpiring at the cricket, or on the hill at Kogarah supporting the Dragons.

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Look, fair points. I more meant that even with rubbish going on, the Sharks have been consistently good under him, whether he created the controversies or not – I’d argue, by the way, that while he may have known, it can’t really be pinged on him alone.

Shane Flanagan confirmed as Dragons assistant coach

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League
 
Nov

I know there is the disregard for the rules thing, but he is good at dealing with controversy and keeping a footy team on the straight and narrow – something Mary clearly can’t do.

I like it.

Shane Flanagan confirmed as Dragons assistant coach

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League
 
Nov

Oh goodness. Stop planting ideas. Very bad ideas. Someone will see it and decide this is a good idea.

There is no NBL vs A-League

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Basketball
 
Nov

Can the Dragons have Bellamy with Robbo as his assistant? That might turn us around.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

Yeah, I mean, shouldn’t Mary be in the discussion now? 😂

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

I reckon any team losing that sort of man power are going to be at the wrong end of the ladder… Maybe not 15th, but not far away.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

An advantage, but also a disadvantage. If you lose two Tests in a five-Test series, you could still come away with 72 points. If you lose two Tests in a two-Test series, you walk away with zero, and negative if you aren’t up to over rates.

Pakistan's middle order holds the key against Australia

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Cricket
 
Nov

I do believe so, yes.

Australia vs Pakistan: First Test preview, prediction

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Cricket
 
Nov

No, I’m not guessing. I’m going off official NBL media releases which detail that info (i.e. crowds are up year on year, broke the round record in Rd 1 this year, broke the single game record on Sunday). You’re right though, a lot of clubs don’t release individual game data which is frustrating.

There is no NBL vs A-League

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Basketball
 
Nov

That’s a good point, but I’ve just got a feeling about him doing something decent out here. He would have learnt from last time (where he didn’t go all that badly to be fair). Perth may not be the best metric to measure against either, although, seeing the picture of the green top at the Gabba, it might be.

Pakistan's middle order holds the key against Australia

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Cricket
 
Nov

I know you’re a football fan. I’m not here to get into a code war.

Expontentially may have been a poor choice of words, but the bottom line is that NBL crowds are growing. They have broken attendance records (total that is) about three (maybe four) years running and just had 17.5k to a game. Three years ago, that was an absolute pipe dream. You would have been lucky to have broken 10k for a final in Sydney. And while I’m not going to go and get actual numbers, total crowd figures are up across the board.

Of course, some crowds are still low, but a lot of that also has to do with building size, which is a key factor everyone seems to be missing. For example, Wollongong and Cairns hold no more than 5k, Brisbane about 5.5k… It’s not possible to have huge crowds – and I’m not saying there would be if the buildings were bigger, either, but the NBL is operating at something like 75% of all seats filled (or were last time I saw the number mentioned) – and in some cities, like Perth, it’s closer to 95%.

My point is that simply, these articles are only written because a) they know people like you and I will click on it and discuss them and b) because there is something there… NBL crowds, no matter what data is published, are on the way up. I’m not saying they are great, but they are on the way up. A-League crowds, unless you can show me some data to prove it otherwise, are not on the way up, and are stagnant, with some clubs really struggling. Is that a fair comment to make? Again, I’m not against the A-League. The on-field stuff has been pretty good this season. Just saying it how it is.

What the NBL doesn’t have though, is any notable TV ratings. The league are getting smashed there and also have no money coming into it from that deal. Without Larry K, the thing would be in dire straits. FFA and the A-League don’t have that problem, because, even though their TV ratings aren’t amazing, they still average close to double the NBL, and have a huge deal with Fox.

There is no NBL vs A-League

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Basketball
 
Nov

Played 15, Bellamy 8, Robinson 7.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

Except when you get to keep your best three players and spine, I’m not sure it can be called “ripped apart,” if you are talking about a playing roster.

Sure, 2010 destroyed the club not being able to play for points, but they kept a very strong roster and come 2011, were always going to be strong.

The point being argued here is that Robinson had major changes in crucial positions (fullback, halves) and managed to get his team back to the top of the ladder the next year.

Don’t get me wrong, they are both unbelievable coaches and very hard to split, but when there is nothing in the stats, that, for mine, counts for a lot. Bellamy just never truly got the opportunity to do it, although the way he dealt with the fallout from 2010 was very classy.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

And this is why the stories are written… Because NBL crowds are growing exponentially, even if TV ratings aren’t. A-League crowds are not growing.

In saying that, we don’t need to have a code war everytime one sport celebrates a success like the NBL did on Sunday.

There is no NBL vs A-League

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Basketball
 
Nov

Well, that’s true, but that was a doozy of a year for the Chooks… Lost Jennings, RTS and Maloney in the same off-season and virtually signed no one. Then had the Mitchell Pearce drama at the start of the year, where they lost something like seven of their first eight, before copping long-term injuries to Cordner and JWH…

I reckon most coaches would struggle to get their team clicking.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

Shaheen is a joy to watch when he gets it right, and could be dangerous in Aussie conditions, but it’s consistency and the fact he goes for runs that’ll hurt him. Run scoring is often faster in Australia due to the conditions, so that’ll be only heightened and he will struggle to build pressure.

Naseem Shah is in the same boat. Exciting, but too experienced. I think he will get a run, but then try to bowl too short.

Yasir Shah needs to be about 100x better than last tour if Pakistan are to have a chance.

Pakistan’s inexperienced bowling will struggle in Australia

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Cricket
 
Nov

It’s not a case of whether Pakistan will take their tour seriously. Of course they will. It’s Test cricket playing for your country.

It’s a case of whether they are up to the challenge of playing an Australian side in these conditions, which they aren’t.

Despite some of the strong Pakistani teams over the years, they have never won a series in Australia, and have only won 4 out of 35 Tests, including losing all of their last 12 without even a draw amongst that group.

Pakistan's middle order holds the key against Australia

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Cricket
 
Nov

In these conditions against this sort of attack it does…

Australia vs Pakistan: First Test preview, prediction

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Cricket
 
Nov

Yep, this is probably the most important series of Warner’s career… Could be the end of it if it’s not a good one.

Australia vs Pakistan: First Test preview, prediction

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Cricket
 
Nov

Jee there isn’t much in it is there Baz – and the wooden spoon wasn’t really a wooden spoon. Just a lost season because of the salary cap drama.

What might sway it in Robbo’s favour is the whole rebuild thing. He has done it with two different groups, and recovered from that dismal 2015 season where they finished 15th. Bellamy has never really been put into that situation.

The NRL's coach of the decade: Bellamy vs Robinson

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League
 
Nov

I know Ali hasn’t opened for a while at Test level, but I think he might in this series. Try to break up what is otherwise a shoddy opening combo.

Also, I reckon Imran misses out. They will be tempted to give Naseem Shah a run.

Pakistan's middle order holds the key against Australia

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Cricket
 
Nov

Don’t disagree with that, but you seem to be trying to undermine the impact of McInnes, when most good judges would have him as top five in his position at the worst.

Dragons confirm Issac Luke signing for 2020

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League
 
Nov

McInnes is, in my opinion, the fourth-best hooker in the game. Robson ain’t in the same class as him.

Dragons confirm Issac Luke signing for 2020

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League
 
Nov

Yeah, Robson, who has gone to the Cowboys.

Mary doesn’t play his juniors though, and doesn’t know how to develop them. It’s starting to become a long list of players who were supposed to be the next big thing, but haven’t kicked on yet under his watch… Aitken, Lomax, Dufty, Leilua (who I think will kill it at the Tigers), Robson, Field, Kerr off the top of my head.

Dragons confirm Issac Luke signing for 2020

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League
 
Nov

This is just silly. The talk is they want McInnes to play a bit of lock.

He is an 80-minute hooker though, and probably the fourth-best in the game. You don’t play the fouth-best in a different position so you can sign a veteran who will de-rail momentum trying to probably overplay his hand.

The fact Reece Robson was let go is just another sign Mary doesn’t know what he is doing.

The only way this is a good signing is if Robson was demanding to be let go, and Luke plays reserve grade unless McInnes is out injured or picked for Origin.

Dragons confirm Issac Luke signing for 2020

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League
 
Nov
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