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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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A health pandemic, a shortened season and 20 rounds of intriguing footy later, the NRL finals are finally upon us. Here are The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions for this weekend’s qualifying and elimination finals.
And just like that, the finals are upon us. Here are my talking points from Round 20 of the NRL season.
Rule changes were brought in to trial, but try telling Broncos’ fans their loss to the Cowboys in the Round 20 opener was of no importance to anyone.
And so we arrive at the final round of the season. Rule changes, mass player restings and some intrigue around who plays who next week mean there is still much to discuss as The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel tell you who wins and why.
The minor premiership has been locked up, but with a shock result and some other intriguing games, here are my NRL talking points for Round 19.
Few were expecting anything other than a routine victory for the Rabbitohs on Thursday, but the surprise win to Canterbury wasn’t the biggest talking point out of the game.
After 18 weeks of trying, we have our first perfect round for the season. In fact, there were three of them in a week which went more or less as expected. Round 19 presents another chance, but who on The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel will deliver this weekend?
Sunday night. You know the drill. Here are my talking points from a fascinating Round 18 in the NRL.
The jury is still out on the South Sydney Rabbitohs after a tense two-point victory over the Wests Tigers on Thursday evening.
Two teams sit in the last chance saloon as Round 18 of the NRL rolls around, and it’s going to be an intriguing week ahead with plenty of other matches between top eight sides. This is The Roar’s NRL expert tipping.
Another week of NRL has passed us by, and the finals are drawing closer. Here are my talking points from Round 17.
It’s been some sort of season for the Penrith Panthers, who all but locked up the minor premiership with a clunky, yet still classy win over the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday.
Certainties? In rugby league? Last weekend told us there was none, with fresh intrigue surrounding Round 17. Here are The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel to guide you through each match.
Injuries continued to wreak havoc on the NRL during Round 16, with more surprising results than you could poke a stick at. Here are my talking points from the weekend.
Just when you thought the Eels were getting back on track, they turned out their worst performance of the season in a 38-0 beatdown at the hands of the Rabbitohs.
There are only 40 regular-season games left until the finals begin, but the next eight in Round 16 don’t look like they will throw up too many surprises. Here are The Roar’s NRL expert tips for the week ahead.
Another week is in the books, with most results going virtually to script. The top eight seems to be just about set, and the run to the finals has commenced. Here are the NRL talking points for Round 15.
Thursday night had to be a statement game for the Parramatta Eels if they wanted to be anywhere near the top of the tree come the end of the NRL season.
There are just six weeks of the NRL season to go and this could well be the toughest week for tipping yet as teams put their seasons on the line. The Roar’s NRL tipping panel are here to guide you through Round 15.
There are just six weeks to go in the NRL season, and the top eight is looking more set in stone. Here are my talking points from a fascinating Round 14.
I’ve written about Gutho a few times this year. He is just phenomenal.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
Help! What do I write about for my Friday column? I don’t want to sit through that game haha.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
Don’t mind the call for coach of the year to Holbrook actually…
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
The Panthers bandwagon will be as big as the Canberra one was last year. They are the feel good story, particularly with all the local juniors they have at the club. I reckon if they can get over that lack of finals experience, they are the best team.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
Because otherwise we get rubbish like Thursday night’s try… Where, you know, Paulo didn’t close to scoring.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
I normally don’t like Ricky’s dummy spits, but you can’t knock the guy for speaking his mind.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
Think you’re right re Canberra.
I don’t think it’s unfair at all. Their senior players never stood up, their recruitment was horrific, and they have ended up letting in almost 100 more points than the next team.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19
Probably Towensend’s the other week was more savage than Su’A’s last night, but yeah, he went at the high part of the body. If the defender slips slightly, the defender has to wear the consequences.
That is the rule.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
That’s just it. It’s not rocket science. Don’t tackle high, and there is no chance of that happening!
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Well this is interesting. If you ask Roosters fans on this site, I am incredibly biased against their club…
Which one is it?
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Townsend’s reminded me of the famous John Hopoate one. Seriously, Townsend and Sua’s hits weren’t in the same ballpark as each other.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
That trend of dropping the footy has been following Souths around like a bad smell for more than 12 months… I’m not sure what the fix is.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Yeah, I’m happy with the bunker being used there. It takes 30 seconds and we get the right result.
What annoys me is commentators who whinge and bemoan the bunker being used for tries that are obvious once you slow it down (because of course they are) but then come out of the woodwork to criticise when they don’t use the bunker but get the decision wrong.
It has to be one or the other. You can’t have both, but unfortunately, certain media types do it with everything. Six again? It was a great rule for a couple of weeks. One referee? It worked for a month before they started calling for it to be scrapped again.
Do we see a trend here? The NRL can never ever get it right…
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
I’m not sure Mitchell would have… The Dogs defence is the one thing which keeps them in games a majority of the time.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
That’s not a bad idea. Get a consistent process in place and explain what it is properly so fans and players know what to expect.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Yeah, you’re probably right regarding the consistency of the rule. I guess what I was getting at is that it’s not as if it’s the first time it’s happened, a player being put in the bin for a foul play which takes an opposition player out of the game, or at the very least, off for a HIA check.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
They had a couple of good weeks, but it looks like they just peaked at the right time against woeful Manly and Parra outfits.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Yeah, I’m not sure any of those sides (eels and the rest of the bottom 4) can win the comp…
I did mention the Souths try briefly, but it wasn’t the focus of the article.
And yeah, I’m a bit confused on that one as well.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
Spot on TB. As I noted in the article, it’s the defenders responsibility to stay clear of the head. End of story.
South Sydney's pretend contenders can have no complaints about Su'A's sin-bin
That would just sum up the way the club has been managed for years.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 17
Yes, they can, but good god they are inconsistent. I would hate to be a Tigers fan in all honesty.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 17
Fringe maybe, but guys like Lee, Hunt… They have been better this year and locked their spots down.
To’A has the potential to be better than the lot of them though, so they have to lock him up.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 17
Unless they have to meet in the prelims again of course.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 17
The Roosters defence has normally been so good. I wouldn’t be too worried about it coming good.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 19