Roar Guru
Joined July 2012
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The World Cup final for 2017 was about as intense a game of Test match rugby league as I have ever seen. It was…
After years of waiting, Lady Luck has finally given England a most desperate reprieve. Nobody who witnessed it can ever forget the agonising game…
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has named his squad to take on the Australian Kangaroos in next Friday's Anzac Test. The Kiwi coach has…
The NRL have erred in their appreciation and awareness of drama and narrative. Professional sport is a form of entertainment. It is like a…
On the 20th April, Lebanon's University of Balamand (UOB) erased the demons of recent grand final losses to defeat Lebanese American University (LAU) 17-10…
I read some comments on Super League the other day that suggested the competition ought to be more aggressive in how it portrays itself…
They've done it. England have finally done it. After eight long years without any silverware to show for their efforts, England have taken out…
England, what happened? After their stunning second-half performance in Hull, England have produced a fizzer in attack despite an intense defensive effort in the…
Following the Rugby League International Federation's Annual Congress and AGM in Paris on the fourth and fifth of November, the much anticipated Strategic Plan…
England is back. Well, kind of. After a lacklustre first 30 minutes, England clawed their way back to totally dominate the second half with…
Later on this evening, South Africa and Lebanon will face off for the second match of a two-Test series in their attempts to qualify…
After some diabolical handling performances, the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Penrith Panthers will be desperate to not lose grip on the rest of the…
![[VIDEO] Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers highlights: NRL scores, blog](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/J-Soward-415x285.jpg)
Both the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm will be looking to bounce back from recent woes at Pepper Stadium in Penrith. Join The…
In the midst of the current obsession with the shenanigans surrounding the Good Friday clash between Souths and the Bulldogs, rugby league journalism here…
The Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers will be looking to leave recent woes behind them as they get their 2015 premiership seasons underway…
![[VIDEO] Gold Coast Titans vs Wests Tigers Highlights: NRL scores, blog](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AaronWoods-415x285.jpg)
With two matches done and dusted, the Super League is now pinning its hopes on 2014 champions St Helens to overcome NRL premiers South…
Undoubtedly the most famous of all grand finalists, the St. George Dragons seared themselves into the imaginations of rugby league fans by winning a…
With all the talk of expansion and internationalism, now is a good time to pause and reflect on the rich tapestry that is rugby…
What does the success of the Auckland Nines, the Four Nations and the push for an expanded World Club Series mean? It means that…
Rugby league's history, tradition and future will be on display in February courtesy of the 2015 World Club Series. Some of the code's oldest,…
They don’t understand how disingenuous their arguments are.
Instead of asking "who's Tommy Makinson", first ask "what's the Golden Boot"?
It is a completely unreasonable misunderstanding by Fittler and co.
What does Tedesco’s performance in the NRL or Origin have anything to do with an award given to the best player in Test matches over the year? When Tedesco can play in more than one or two Test matches a year, then yeah, let him beat a guy who has played very well in four Test matches.
And if that still upsets you, then let’s have Dally Messenger win the award forever. Maybe that will shut the mouths of the village myopics.
Instead of asking "who's Tommy Makinson", first ask "what's the Golden Boot"?
Why? Each award is only ever good for the year it was won. The Golden Boot is the best Test player throughout the year.
Tommy has been excellent in all of England’s Test this year and has played more internationals this year than Tedesco has, no matter how good he was in the single match against New Zealand.
How accurate are the RLIF's international rankings?
The award criteria was changed to only include internationals.
Tommy has been excellent in each Test match he has played this year. When Australia play more than one Test match, then let Tedesco win.
How accurate are the RLIF's international rankings?
It was an excellent game of rugby league.
The value of such matches to the code is immense. Hopefully people here will learn to appreciate why.
Watching England improve over the last 5-6 has been exciting. Under Bennett, England have learned to hold their heads up for 80 minutes and have taken their game up another level. It really has been pleasing to see.
New Zealand have been able to take advantage of their players gaining a professional pathway through the introduction of the Warriors into the ARL/NRL. Now, with Bennett guiding England, they too have their chance of increasing their professionalism to match that of Australia’s.
Now, whenever Australia wins, at least it can be said that they won against proper professionals.
England take series with 20-14 win over New Zealand
Any player can swap back and forth, even amongst Tier 1 nations.
But it takes a lot longer to do that than it does for lower-tiered nations.
Hope that answers your ‘question’.
In defeat, Tonga scored a huge victory for international rugby league
What the match showed was simply this – that people can be interested in rugby league other than NRL and State of Origin.
Some people don’t like that interest and will find ways of denigrating it, imagining that they are witty and clever in doing so.
But the reality is that that interest exists and the future success of such games depends on how that interest is channelled.
You’d imagine that any half decent sports administrator and marketer would be jumping at the chances such interest can offer.
In defeat, Tonga scored a huge victory for international rugby league
A changing of the guard really means an evening up of the playing field.
It’s easy for Australia to be number one and all conquerable when they are playing amateurs (or even professionals) who rarely get a chance to play with each other as a team.
Australia may still win more often than not with a level playing field, but it will then have been properly earned and, dare I say, more interesting and appealing for fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters.
The Robin Hood of sports reaches for its quiver
There is no ‘decline’.
Nations who can field players that regularly play in professional leagues (ie, NRL or Super League) and can play them together more often will rise to more or less match Australia.
The reality is that unless England and New Zealand can play more than one or two Test matches per year, the NRL and Origin’s size and influence ensure’s that Australia will never fall below 2nd in the world.
Are the all-conquering Kangaroos on the decline?
The Wolfpack’s presence galvanises whatever division they are in. With Toulouse, Toronto and Bradford all competing in the same division in 2019, the ingredients are there to raise the professionalism and appeal of the code.
Broncos seeking to buck a troubled history
Good luck to all involved over the coming weeks.
Now the NRL is over, the best part of the rugby league season begins
In what way was he wrong about highlighting the inherent provincialism and conservatism of rugby league’s power brokers?
Are Super League really going to refuse entry to Toronto?
Toronto are firmly embedded in the modernity.
Sadly, the rest of the ‘professional’ rugby league world are not.
Are Super League really going to refuse entry to Toronto?
My concern reading the article was the focus by the RFL on Perez himself.
Through the CEO’s comments, the RFL have put the entire responsibility for the success of the Wolfpack on the shoulders of Perez.
Instead of questioning whether Perez – who, by the way, has delivered – will still be here after 5 years, the RFL should be ensuring that Perez himself being or not being involved becomes an irrelevant point.
It’s up the RFL to ensure that the landscape facilitates the success of such enterprises.
The RFL’s comments are an example of the insidious nature of village thinking: putting across points that on the surface appear reasonable but are actually designed to shift responsibility for accepting change away from themselves.
In this light, his comments were disgusting and coming from the highest levels of the code, immensely disappointing. Half the world can handle international logistics, visas, sponsorship, and so on. Yet the RFL cannot?
(time to start rolling my eyes again)
Are Super League really going to refuse entry to Toronto?
I’d been hearing rumours of this all year but given the potential financial rewards there was no way I could give the rumours any serious consideration.
Super League are up against the behemoth that is the NRL and in my mind, there would be no way Super League would balk at the opportunities afforded by the Wolfpack’s presence.
When the NRL were trying to sabotage the Denver Test, a little switch inside my head just clicked and that was that, I just stopped following the NRL completely.
However, if Super League do the same for Toronto… I think that’ll be the end of my interest in rugby league.
I just can’t fight this kind of village thinking anymore.
Are Super League really going to refuse entry to Toronto?
I was shell shocked without being shocked.
Awesome effort by Japan. Well done to Belgium.
日本はよく頑張ってたけど、おめでとうベルギー。
Japan's heartbreaking World Cup exit is a case of opportunity lost for the Samurai Blue
An exhibition style match?
It was a Test match and deserves to be treated as such.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 16
Some of these fans deserve Gould and co.
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog
Remember when people said that there would be some blowout penalty counts if the league ever decided to properly enforce penalties?
And remember when people said that it would take a little while before players and coaches adapted but that it would be better for the game in the long term?
And now people are complaining over the very same thing that everyone said should happen…
(rolls eyes)
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog
It was considered. That’s why there is an international window.
Sorry Barry, you’re one of the few people who comment here that I rarely, if ever, find something to disagree with as your arguments are always reasoned, sensible and well explained.
But to find a reason to not play is an argument that I just can’t support.
How I made the final leap from journalist to activist
It doesn’t ‘have’ to be in June but it is.
And really, that is all there is to it.
How I made the final leap from journalist to activist
Because that is when the international window is set during Origin period?
How I made the final leap from journalist to activist
‘You’ as in the third person village gardeners, not ‘you’ as in the author.
Instead of asking "who's Tommy Makinson", first ask "what's the Golden Boot"?