Roar Guru
Joined July 2010
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Earlier in the week I mapped out an unlikely pathway for the Bulldogs to make the semi-finals.
I was fooling around with the NRL ladder predictor this morning and stumbled across a possible – albeit unlikely (ok extremely unlikely) way the Bulldogs can scrape into the top eight. This was surely one of the most unlikely outcomes imaginable even a month ago.
You could argue that facing the Sharks, Panthers and Raiders is a pretty tough start to the season for the Knights.
As we near Round 1 of season 2019 it’s timely to have a look at the job security of the people with their necks most often on the block in rugby league: the coaches.
Before the start of every NRL season there are those players and coaches for whom the spotlight shines a little brighter, the bar is set a little higher or who are just a little more determined to prove the knockers wrong.
As the curtain raiser to the NRL grand final, the winners of the Queensland Cup will take on the NSW Cup champions.
In some ways the NRL painted themselves in a corner with the shoulder charge, its interpretation and the associated penalties. The Billy Slater case has brought that to light.
The grand final of the NSW Intrust Super Premiership was held at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon between the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and the Newtown Jets.
On the way to work this morning, I was reading the news and shaking my head at the crass selfishness displayed by the people we trust to be our leaders. For relief, I went to sport.
This isn’t about referee bias or a ref costing us the game. This is about whether the ‘crackdown’ was really about enforcing the rules of the game.
I don’t think the NRL’s referees are beyond criticism, but I don’t like the childish ‘that decision cost us the game’ attitude of some fans, particularly when they cherrypick one moment and ignore the other 79 minutes of the game.
It’s the final part of our series on who’s got a serious spotlight shining on them ahead of the 2018 NRL season.
Every year, there are NRL teams that really need to prove a point, but who within each club is being scrutinised the closest?
On the eve of a new NRL season, who has got the most to prove at each club?
Let me make something clear from the outset. It feels absurd to be defending the Roosters.
Everyone knows Round 2 is at least 15 rounds too early to be declaring teams chances for the season but I’m going to have a crack anyway.
Most NRL fans are confounded by the inconsistencies in the grading of charges laid by the match review committee (MRC), and the penalties handed out by the judiciary.
It’s the vibe. It’s Mabo…
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
Well said – that’s what always baffles me.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves banned for Sydney Roosters' preliminary final
This is definitely the correct decision…but I was almost hoping he’d get off to see the mouth foaming ferocity claiming sombreros and special treatment
Disappointing
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves banned for Sydney Roosters' preliminary final
I’m completely relaxed.
It’s not an angle, it’s literally what you’ve written today on this post.
Anyone who thinks the decision didn’t decide the game has an opinion you describe as “meaningless” and “nebulous” but you’re able to put an actual % on the Storm winning.
You do this all the time, then moan you’re being picked on when someone points out your blatant contradiction and hypocrisy…
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
You’re unbelievable !!!
If anyone else dares suggest what might have happened you get into a flap of “you don’t know, that’s a wild guess”
But then you’re entitled to not only suggest what would have happened but put a percentage likelihood on it.
Melbourne scores one try in 78 minutes. You reckon they were up to a 30% chance to score another on in the last two minutes.
You’re entitled to that opinion but it’s a bit rich when you accuse anyone else of “wild guesses” including their tips.
Show some consistency…
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
No, I think I’m actually clarifying them but I’m so far down the hypothetical rabbit hole that I could be wrong…
Ricky Stuart's success highlights the absurdity of disposable coaches
I’m nothing if not civil :silly:
I just don’t think a decision within a cm that happens at full speed in a split second is necessarily a guess.
I think you can make that extrapolation with the benefit of multi angle slow motion replays but not at the time.
A few years ago we had the video ref intervening whenever they thought the onfield ref got it wrong.
It was pretty unanimous that it was a red hot mess.
Now the game’s in crisis because we don’t do it because one touchie made a call that was wrong by mms.
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
Sorry Con
You’re not allowed to say that.
Please refer to Forty Twenty’s earlier comments.
Barrett might have had exactly the same results if Manly hadn’t sacked him. We just don’t know.
In fact, Peter Sharpe might have got the exact same results as Hasler did in his first spell at Manly so it’s impossible to even say that Hasler is a good coach and has had any bearing on Manly’s success.
Same with Bellamy. If the Storm hadn’t sacked Mark Murray he could have achieved the same results.
We just don’t know…
Ricky Stuart's success highlights the absurdity of disposable coaches
I didn’t say you were wrong just clarifying your point.
It’s funny, on Ryan O’Connell’s article you say people’s opinions that are different to yours are “meaningless”…
Consistent.
Ricky Stuart's success highlights the absurdity of disposable coaches
I don’t agree that’s the paradigm. Vunivalu’s arm shot out to within a cm of the line and he immediately drew it back in.
It’s completely conceivable that in that moment the touchie thought he went out.
It’s a mistake not a howler.
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
So you’re hypothetically arguing that people would hypothetically praise Bennett and Maguire if they were hypothetically appointed to replace the hypothetically sacked Stuart and Arthur and anyone who hypothetically didn’t agree with this hypothetical argument would hypothetically run you out of town.
Rock solid.
Ricky Stuart's success highlights the absurdity of disposable coaches
I think we’re too used to watching super slo mo replays from the comfort of our couch if we’re calling those split second decisions under immense pressure “easy” and “howlers”.
There’s a still shot where Vunivalu’s hand is 1cm from the sideline. The touchie is in the background running and almost down on his haunches trying to look around players to get the perfect angle. It’s not inconceivable that from his angle with his vision obscured it looked out.
It was an incorrect decision. It wasn’t a howler. The Storm weren’t robbed. The Storm fans who’ve made death threats against the touchie should be ashamed.
Now we’ve got people calling for use of the video ref!!! How good will that be? Every time a player goes near the sideline, we stop the game and look at it six times.
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?
Yeah, it was absolutely a trip…he didn’t have a hand on Roberts when he made contact with his leg.
It’s strange how tripping is now regarded as a minor offence…back in the day a trip would be six weeks,
Six talking points from Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs qualifying final
That’s a great article.
I like Croft as a player. I thought he was better than Hughes against the Cowboys but yeah his defence is an issue.
Maybe leaving is the best thing for him? He’s too good a player and natural halves are too rare for him to be playing reggies.
One club that springs to mind is the Cowboys. Clifford and Morgan are both running halves not entirely comfortable with steering a team around the park or doing all the tactical kicking.
Is it time to go Brodie?
PS – judiciary karma works in mysterious ways sometimes.
JWH probably shouldn’t have been playing last night but as a by-product of being cleared might now miss a bigger game.
Under the judiciary reforms a grade one tripping charge is a fine rather than demerit points. My (limited) understanding is that JWH can’t be fined though because he’s been charged three times. Same as Surgess last week.
It will be interesting to see what the judiciary comes up with for this one.
Six talking points from Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs qualifying final
Last year’s one point semi final loss to the Storm was such a tight, tough game that Souths must have finished mentally and physically exhausted. That didn’t happen last night so with that and Surgess back they’ll go into week 2 fresher than last year.
They’ll play the winner of Sharks v Manly so I don’t think a straight sets exit is a lay down misere. Big ask to bounce back from this loss but Souths aren’t without hope next week.
I agree about Verrills. Very smart player out of dummy half and strong defender. Friend has only played 4-5 games all year. He’s quality but it would be a huge ask expecting 80 minutes out of him. I don’t think Radley at dummy half works. Big decision for Robinson.
Souths were poor in the first 40 last night but is anyone really putting the loss down to the Johnston / Doueihi position swap…?
Six talking points from Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs qualifying final
Despite not being a supporter of either team I’m really, really, really looking forward to this game.
Even as a neutral it’s easy to buy into the rivalry.
I think the Roosters have more upside from last week than the Rabbitohs with Keary, Morris, TKO and Aubo coming back.
Like everyone, I’ve been waiting for the complete 80 minute performance from the Bunnies…but maybe that’s not what they’re going for. Maybe the plan is to do enough in games to get over the line and they show the ability to surge in games when they need to.
Burgess is a big loss but Cam Murray is the leader of that pack in deed, if not title. With Cook, Walker, Murray, Roberts, Johnson and Graham they have strike lol over the park plus Reynolds’ short kicking game.
Really hoping for a ferocious battle in the middle third. Interesting to see Knight and JWH clash. Knight has been really good this year – definitely his breakout. Tatola has too but has been a bit quieter in the last month or so.
Good luck to both teams…how good is September footy…!!!
Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: NRL qualifying final preview, prediction
Yep that was my thoughts too.
Everything the NRL does with regards to matches, from venues to scheduling to promotion is aimed at getting eyes on screens, not bums on seats. How could they possibly judge teams on crowds, particularly away crowds?
The other big flaw is – and putting my Bulldogs hat on here – judging the quality of teams solely on the last four years of results.
The Bulldogs are one of the most continually successful clubs over the past 40 years. Even in the “drought” since 04 they’ve been regularly in the semi finals and competing for premierships.
Six premierships since 1980. 13 grand final appearances since 1975. Few clubs can match that, but because they’re on the tail end of a brief unsuccessful spell, they’re judged on par with the Titans. A few 9th places for the Tigers and they’re judged as more successful. It’s ridiculous.
No mention of financial position either.
By 1998's standards, which NRL teams should face the axe today?
When you consider the Dogs beat both of those teams plus the Broncos and Dragons for good measure, it’s the greatest semi final run ever…
Qualifying finals: The real contenders (and the real pretenders)
You don’t know why statisticians don’t take games from the 1960s into account when trying to work out who will win in 2019…?
Qualifying finals: The real contenders (and the real pretenders)
Dogs were minor premiers in 93 & 94 too…
1995 is the greatest semi final series of all time.
Qualifying finals: The real contenders (and the real pretenders)
The best part is it will be refs fault if they lose…!!!
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Qualifying and elimination finals
He seemed like such a nice, quietly spoken young man…
Hudson Young speaks after copping eight-week suspension for eye gouge
It wasn’t just ref assisted…the whole NRL was on board
I knew something was up when they let Dusty ring his bell and play Souths’ victory song before kick off
It’s rich listening to Souths fans complain about favouritism now
Canberra and South Sydney must stay cool if they want to win
“If you think the figure is different to 20% or so then that is valid”
Except you never say that. You always say “that’s a wild guess, you don’t know what would have happened. Why are you stating you know that a fact…”
You’re the biggest hypocrite here…every single article
Touch-ups or touch judge: Which had a bigger impact on the 2019 NRL premiership race?