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Scott is one of The Roar's assistant editors and live bloggers. He has written over 2500 articles covering everything from rugby league to basketball, from tennis to cricket.
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The NRL season continues to take shape, but it’s as hard as ever to predict which teams are going to wind up in the top eight and which aren’t, with more unexpected results and three golden point games over the weekend. Let’s rip into a new edition of talking points.
The Jaguares will be desperate for a victory when they make the trek to South Africa for a tense match-up against the Bulls in Pretoria. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 12:05am (AEDT).
In what could prove to be the game of the round, the surprisingly strong Parramatta Eels take on the Cronulla Sharks at Homebush. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:35pm (AEDT).
Match result: The Manly Sea Eagles have won the second golden point game of Round 4, beating the South Sydney Rabbitohs by a point with Daly Cherry-Evans kicking the match-winning field goal.
The Lions will look to strengthen their grip on top spot in the South African conference as they shoot for four wins in a row against the Sharks who need to fight their way back to the winners’ circle. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10am (AEDT).
Match result: The New Zealand Warriors have clinched their second win of the season over an abysmal Gold Coast Titans outfit at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Sydney Roosters will look to continue their improvement with Cooper Cronk back on the field when they head back to the Sydney Cricket Ground for a clash against the inconsistent Brisbane Broncos. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:05pm (AEDT).
We are three rounds into the NRL season, and tipping isn’t getting any easier, thanks to a couple of upsets last week and some very tough games this weekend. This is The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel for Round 4.
This could be the last season rugby fans get to cheers the Canterbury Crusaders, following a joint announcement from the club and New Zealand Rugby admitting the franchise’s current name and imagery combination are “no longer tenable”.
It’s a big week of team changes in the NRL, with superstar Kalyn Ponga shifted to fullback by the Newcastle Knights, while injuries have forced Kieran Foran and James Roberts, among others, to the sideline.
Round 3 is done and dusted, and with a big injury, a field goal thriller, a couple of blowouts, an upset and an outfit who continue to surprise against pre-season expecations, there is plenty to talk about. Here are my NRL talking points from the weekend that was.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will look to continue their strong start to the season and heap more misery on the struggling Gold Coast Titans in the final game of Round 3. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6:10pm (AEDT).
The North Melbourne Kangaroos will look to bounce back from a Round 1 drubbing when they head home for the first time this season to take on the Brisbane Lions. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm (AEDT).
Victoria have one hand on the Sheffield Shield trophy, and will be looking to push towards a victory in the final against New South Wales when the teams return for Day 4. Join The Roar for rolling updates and scores from 10am (AEDT).
The Chiefs finally kicked their season into life last week, but will face another tough challenge this week when they fly to Argentina to play for the strong forward pack of the Jaguares in Buenos Aires. Join The Roar for live scores from 8:40am (AEDT).
The Bulls were brought thudding back to Earth last week, and the task of returning to their early-season form won’t get any easier in Round 7 as they hit the road to play the Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores from 12:05am (AEDT).
The Brisbane Broncos will be out to get their second win in a row on home soil when they take on the out of form and struggling, but still dangerous, St George Illawarra Dragons. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:05pm (AEDT).
Victoria will take on New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield final at the Junction Oval today. Join The Roar for live updates of Day 1 from 10:30am (AEDT).
The Sheffield Shield final, with bonus points available for the first time in an attempt to stop negative, boring cricket, will see Victoria and New South Wales square off at the Junction Oval in St Kilda.
They say Round 1 is the hardest to predict, but that’s not the case after a tough Round 2 for half of The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel.
The policy guidelines never included a TBC to begin with. It was more of an “I’m on the other side of the world and forgot to put a tip in,” loophole.
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 6
In Melbourne with revenge on the mind… Reading between the lines, I don’t think there is much in it (nor does anyone else), and it could go either way, don’t get me wrong, but the Storm will win it.
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 6
That was an error from Fox, rather than one from the referees.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Yeah Paul – I’d assume there will be a rejig of the teams.
Not sure at the moment. At the very least, you’d think CA will cover Australia vs Australia A.
Australia A squads headlined by Test regulars and Ashes hopefuls
Absolutely agree about Burns.
Probably a fair point about Labuschagne.
Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson snubbed as Cricket Australia unveil 2019-20 contract list
Cheers Nat, and yeah. A lot easier to do when the Dragons are firing (unlike that blog I did last year when the Eels thumped us 38-0!)
Cogger had a lot of involvement, but thought he was a bit slow with the footy and let the defence read him far too easily.
Dearden has been excellent in those games hasn’t he? Reckon he is still a bit raw but may not be far away.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Fair point – I guess I’m taking what Paul Green said in his presser as the truth, but it’s definitely up for investigation and what Annesley says this arvo will be intriguing.
I think it’s when a doctor needs to come onto the field. They aren’t trained to get out of the way if the ball comes back.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Thanks Mark. Oversight.
Smith, Warner return in Australia's 2019 Cricket World Cup squad
I think that’s how it’ll be judged in the long term, even if JT probably had more raw talent.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Yeah absolutely. Ridiculous that it’s only a fine. McGuire should be looking at a month, maybe more on the sidelines. The NRL needed to make a statement and didn’t.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Absolutely. And Kaufusi should have been binned for his efforts.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
I probably haven’t seen enough of him play to make a firm judgement, but the Broncos have to try something. They can’t rely on their forwards so heavily to the point where they need to spend 70% of the game camped on the opposition try line to have a chance.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Cheers WB,
Yeah – Souths just need to get back to basics. Do what they did against the Roosters Rd 1 and don’t change a thing.
Newy look like they don’t know how to get the ball out wide which is a shame with so many weapons.
Im heading out to BW Stadium in Round 8 for Parra vs Dragons. Can’t wait!
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Agree TB – I just think the protocol absolutely needs changing if something like that can be allowed to happen.
Fair point re the Raiders.
Dragons made your guys pay for their mistakes and played pretty well I thought. Could be the confidence booster we need going forward, but you’re right. Canterbury were flat and with so much youth in key positions there are going to be more of those days. I think the last three weeks (some upside, but plenty to work on) is a fair indication of where the Dogs are at this year, rather than what we saw in the first two weeks. It’s why I couldnt understand for the life of me people tipping them for the spoon before the season started.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Hmm… maybe. Im not sold on Newcastle being as bad as those three just yet.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
AFB has been wonderful. For mine, he and Vaughan are the two form props of the competition.
I’m not happy we let Garrick go. Wasnt then, still not now.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
May not be far off the mark mordac – the whole spine was clunky with widdop at the back. Still not perfect, but a lot better.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Yow Yeh’s injury was the only thing I could think of when I saw it. Worst I have seen since.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 5
Yeah Andrew – looking forward to this.
Think Australia come in as massive outsiders. Probably the same deal as in the US – Barty has to win all three of her matches for us to get through.
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