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Tim has been an NRL statistician for ABC Radio Grandstand since 1999, primarily as part of their Canberra coverage. Tim has loved rugby league since Sterlo was a kid with lots of hair but was cursed with having no personal sporting ability whatsoever. He couldn't take a hit in footy, was a third division soccer player making up numbers, plays off 41 in golf and is possibly the worlds worst cricketer ever. He has always been good at arguing the point though and he has a great memory of what happened. Follow Tim on Twitter @GorskiOPork
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“When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Harry Burns (as played by Billy Crystal), When Harry met Sally.
With 2020 upon us, every NRL club has something they’d love to eventuate this season.
“You’re just a kid. You don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about … I look at you and I don’t see an intelligent, confident man; I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you’re a genius.”
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) board seemingly don’t know that rules are already in place to prevent an incident like the one in the 2019 NRL grand final, where Roosters trainer Travis Touma interfered with the play.
Last week we looked at how each of the finalists performed in 2019 and graded them.
Yes, you heard me right: let’s stop playing the All Blacks.
No one should be alarmed that the Roosters have withdrawn their offer to Latrell Mitchell, which was rumoured to be for $800,000 a season.
While it was clouded in controversy, there is no question that the 2019 grand final was a cracker, played between two excellent sides.
One thing about Sam Burgess is for sure: he has never been boring.
The idea of Parramatta born and western suburbs-bred Blake Austin representing England devalues and disrespects the jersey.
The NRL has had a major rules-based headache since the debacles that unfolded on Sunday, October 6.
Welcome to the hot seat, Peter V’landys.
Lay the hell off Ben Cummins. The bloke made an honest mistake and we all need to get over it right now.
It is very hard for me to write these words as a devoted Canberra Raiders supporter. However, the statistical truth is my calling: the stats show that the Roosters are just too good.
There are two bronze statues at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
This Saturday, 28 September, at 7:50pm at the SCG will be the 39th time these two sides have clashed since the Storm entered the competition in 1998. It stands at 21-17 in the Purple Horde’s favour.
The Raiders’ home ground is a sell-out for this game. There will be 28,000 fans packed in to see the third and fourth-placed sides battle it out for a place in the 2019 grand final.
ITS DRINKING THE WATER!
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
Look Duncan, if you choose to interpret me that way, that’s your business. Go and get your knickers in a twist all you want.
My sentiments on Craig Bellamy and his methods are well known and have been for quite a while: https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/10/03/craig-bellamy-melbourne-storms-greatest-legend/
BTW, note the first commenter on that piece. I think you may be related.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
I stand corrected Paul. How silly of me to make that comparison. I totally withdraw my opinion. Thanks for setting me straight.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
Absolutely. Leave quickly.
At Channel 9 back in the day when you gave your four weeks notice they often gave you the money for that time and took you to the front gate.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
And after Origin?
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
I don’t think that Arrow will give anything less than 100%. But others might start saying so if the results aren’t great. That’s what I said.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
See below comment Duncan and take a chill pill son.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
You are still taking my use of robots as a purely bad thing. What I’m actually saying is praise. He has gone as close as I’ve ever seen a coach go to getting every one of his players to automatically respond to the situation unfolding in front of them in the way he wants. It has made them a fearsome force because they cope with most situations better than any other team and have done so for 15 years.
My point is that most teams aren’t that good and their emotions can effect their decisions and the way they play – although Bellamy has gone as close to eliminating that element as any coach I’ve ever seen.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
Don, Bellamy ball is deliberately robotic and predictable. The players are drilled, drilled and drilled again to know the script in what ever situation should arrive. Lord help those who don’t follow instructions.
And it clearly works.
While there are some individual players – Slater, Papenhuyzen, Munster, Addo-Carr – that have a license to vary a bit, their attacking flair usually comes off the back of very carefully planned moves. So while it looks awesome, it usually isn’t ad lib, its basically an algorithm.
And it works.
The issue I’m raising is that, while coaches would love emotion not to get in the way with players, it usually does and it has a big effect.
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer
I’ll be very surprised if the family homestead makes it through Saturday, but yet we hope.
Every NRL club's new year wishes for 2020
Apologies for my delayed response. Spent the whole day driving out of Bateman’s bay via Bega and Cooma. Was not fun. So far the family homestead is still standing. People in neighboring Rosedale and Malua Bay weren’t so fortunate.
Every NRL club's new year wishes for 2020
wow… I’m sensing some real pent up issues here From you Davico. Your anger betrays a deep hurt. Come on. This is a safe place. Let it all out. There is no judgement here. We are on your side.
Leave Latrell alone, he's done nothing wrong
Well, you see lads, I’ve got a bit of a better view than you of this sort of thing.
For example, back in 2008 – when the iPhone was only new and phones were often still connected to walls – I watched as a star 22 year old blundered through a contract scenario just like this. His family were just -if not more – at sea about the whole scenario. His manager, when this kids contract and possibly career were on the line, chose to go skiing.
Unsurprisingly things got a lot worse and the kid got sacked and spent 18 months out of the game during his prime.
His managers response to the CEO – when he finally turned up – was “you just cost me $120,000.”
His agents and family were worse than useless. It is often the case – even if they are trying to help.
My expectations of 22 year olds – especially those who are gifted athletes who have been put up on pedestals as future superstars in the world of rugby league – is bang on. They are pawns in this world.
Young Tommy Turbo is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Finance and a Bachelor of Economics. He’d have a better chance than most.
You can expect more from 22 year olds if you want, hold them to high standards and expectations, but 9 times out of 10 you will be wrong.
They are mostly just kids with little to no idea. They might not mean to cause trouble but they have a lot of life experience to gain, often the hard way.
And a big part of the problem is that they can legally drink alcohol, go to casinos, gamble and drive cars. And that they do.
Now add lots of money, lots of spare time and heaps of sycophants and hangers on to that scenario.
And calling a Gen X’er like myself a baby boomer is pretty poor form.
Its the sort of thing a millennial would do.
Leave Latrell alone, he's done nothing wrong
Well, when I was 22 I was a complete fool. I think most of us are at that age. The idea that I would have known how to conduct myself – or made a better fist of it than Latrell has – in a situation he’s found himself in. I’d probably have done worse. Especially if I had the media and social media glare upon me.
I personally think your expectations of 22 year olds is very high.
Leave Latrell alone, he's done nothing wrong
What on earth are you talking about? If a third party has no right under the rules to be on the field and they break those rules and impact upon the play of course the penalty should be extreme. Just like is the case for an unlicensed and unregistered driver causing an accident on the road. It’s an extreme deterrent to avoid a needless risk.
Why do you think it shouldn’t be extreme? Are you actually alfie langer?
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
No, by that extension, a Very severe penalty where speeding by an unlicensed and unregistered driver caused a bad accident.
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
The Collingwood runner blocked his own player from getting to a contest.
It led to a west coast goal in a match that the Eagles won by less than a goal.
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
The outrage on my part is totally justified because I’ve been warning of this exact risk being realised for years.
Now that it has happened you can bet your posterior I’m going to sink the slipper.
Andrew, your argument is really quite pathetic in my opinion.
Basically you’re saying it is infrequent, I don’t notice and I don’t care.
Just watch the game.
Nice one. Great input. Do you currently work at Moore Park?
I do watch the game Andrew. Very closely. As I say, their presence on the field is a totally unnecessary risk that their role in no way justifies taking.
They are not players, they are not referees. they have no priority whatsoever.
And, as I’ve clearly listed, there have been many incidents where they have become involved. I’ve seen many more where they’ve only just avoided interfering. Further, they are clearly involved in illegal on field coaching AND the rules – as I show – specifically say that they can’t have anywhere near the level of access to the field that they are being allowed. And there is no justification for allowing them to have it. No one gains, there is only risk.
Given all of these facts, here is my question for you: why do you think it is fine for them to be there? Because to me the only reasons I’ve seen are ignorance and apathy.
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
A wee bit crazy on punishment?
The idea is to get the trainers to have no impact on the play. They have no role in the game. They are not players or referees.
The punishments I suggest are deliberately severe to ensure that no one would be stupid enough to risk having a trainer in a position where them interfering with the play was even vaguely possible.
You only get the punishment if you do the crime. So don’t do the crime.
And I say again Mushi: what actual value do you believe the trainers being on the field actually add to the game that means you think they shouldn’t receive really harsh penalties if they transgress? Why do you think interference on their part should be seen as only a misdemeanor?
How is suggesting severe penalties as a full on deterrent spiralling?
Are you – in fact – an onfield trainer concerned about your job?
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
It was only used in one Nrl game and no one used it
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
HY I’m a die hard raider. They were just mistakes. Cummins and Sutton are not corrupt or cheats. I assure you they are very good men. And they just made mistakes. Promise.
The ARLC doesn’t need to change NRL rules, just enforce them!
I wouldn’t want to get injured and miss out!
Arrow will be at Redfern in 2020 when the Bunnies make the Titans a decent offer