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Joined July 2013
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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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“For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks — not that you won or lost — but how you played the game.” Bollocks. Utter bollocks.
They couldn’t find a way to fine Ricky Stuart for his comments at the after-match press conference – although they did issue him a warning – so they fined him $10,000 for throwing a bottle out a window.
Any way you look at it, the Penrith Panthers are streaks ahead of the pack and only bad luck can stop them from claiming their first title since 2003.
There are so many rugby league supporters out there stupidly taking great joy in the current plight of the Brisbane Broncos.
While there is a general consensus that the six-again rule brought in this season has opened the game up, the rule needs adjustment to ensure it provides the side in possession with an actual advantage and doesn’t become a tool that allows defending sides time to reset their lines.
John Bateman, the boy from Bradford made good, is a star. There is no doubt about it.
If there is one thing I really hate it is hypocrisy. I cannot stand people who criticise something and then do it themselves.
A lot of people are railing against the punishments that were imposed on Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Nathan Cleary, arguing that they are unfair and out of step with what people in the mainstream get.
Some players rarely get the public acclaim, man of the match awards or Dally M points the ‘stars’ do, but are just as essential to their sides’ successes.
Here’s the thing people: rugby league – and pretty much any popular sport – is not going to be killed by the impacts of COVID-19.
Dear fellow rugby league fans, I am so excited about the 2020 season starting.
Well, here it is people! The business end of The Roar’s top 50 NRL players countdown.
The 2020 NRL season starts next Thursday and I can’t wait.
Season 2020 is just about to start and one thing is almost certain this year: at least one coach is going to be sacked, if not more. But who? And when?
Just like a Hardy Boys book, sometimes the NRL presents some baffling mysteries that require dedicated sleuths to solve them.
What is the dumbest idea on the rugby league spectrum? Holding marketing events that pose as meaningful competitions just before the actual competition that really matters kicks off.
Continuing on from my earlier piece, if you’re daunted by the prospect of adopting an NRL team, I can help you make that decision.
So you have been gripped by rugby league fever and you know the only cure is to choose a club to support.
After years of promise, Jack Wighton finally arrived as a top player in 2019.
“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.
No. I said nothing about not calling him a grub. Go wild. Knock yourself out. Two contracts have nothing to do with the way he played the game. As explained, the wrestling etc wasn’t implemented to injure – although it is clearly a risk – it was to slow their opponents. It worked.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
My editor is awesome. We don’t always agree but he’s a bloke of rare integrity in such a role. I am far more of a click bait champion then he will ever be.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Nice. Good point. Well made.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
And I still love you Choc!
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Busted Peeko. Not my title.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Busted. Not my title.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Dunno. Stole their lunch? Made them not drink till after hours?
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
I love the Panthers. I love Ivan Cleary. I love the way they play. I love their joy.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
I stand corrected! 3026 in total so far in all games…
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
The governing body has said a lot of things that have little behind the facade
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Not my title. I went with “one of the greatest ever.”
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
No retraction will be forthcoming.
And – as unpopular as my stance is – I could not give a rats a$$ about Origin. Haven’t for decades.
Arrogance – like ego – is not a dirty word.
Please don’t mistake my statement for abuse.
If you don’t have arrogance you almost aren’t going to have the success Smith has had. It is an essential part of his armoury. I might like him to be a magnanimous man of the people, everyone would love him to be a big, cuddly, jovial bloke, but that usually doesn’t align with the magnitude of success he has achieved.
You’ve got to be single minded, focused, proud, confident, unapologetic, etc to do that.
And do it he has. Kudos to him.
Look at the scoreboard people. I’d be arrogant too.
Crikey, I AM arrogant and in comparison to Cam I’ve achieved nothing.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
You can call me many things, but not a hypocrite.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Look, while my kids are playing bush league it is all about having fun and high morals and ethics.
Once you get to the top echelons of any sport that changes. You and your kid either walk away or you embrace it.
I’d hate to think I’d ever encourage or turn a blind eye to my kid doing EPO or the like to be competitive – because they had to if they wanted to be, and they had committed so much effort and passion to get to that point, especially when it might be their best way out of a low socioeconomic position in life – but I’m not going to be so naive as to think that’s an easy choice.
What is remembered, what is recorded, is whether you won. If you are lucky – like Darren Lockyer, like JT, like Johns, like Fittler, Like Daley, Like Cliffy, like Alfie, Like Mal, Like Wally, Like Ricky, Like Bert, Like Bozo, Like Baa, Like Sterlo, like Steve Mortimer – you are also remembered for the way you played too.
But likeable losers – and I am one – no one remembers us.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Deano also won a lot…
That’s partly why he’s remembered…
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
YES! He was, wasn’t he?
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
JT didn’t have this amount of success.
Andrew01 is right, we’d be jealous of this success at any side. I’d probably hate it more at Manly or the Roosters too.
But go ahead, build that siege mentality if you want. I probably would too if I were you…
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
It has Baz.
Cam Smith has never given me the time of day. Mind you, why should he? He owes me nothing.
And I’ve sunk the slipper on him a few times too.
However, how I wish he’d been a Raider. I’m just jealous. He is a superstar and deserves all the plaudits.
Those hacking on him this week are just that: Hacks.
He is a champion worthy of our admiration.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Both. But he’s the king pin.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Look, you stick around as long as he has, you’re gonna have low points.
In 1991 the Raiders were pilloried for their salary cap breaches. After the audit of all the clubs happened the Raiders were only 5th worst. However, the side was pulled apart where other sides weren’t.
I have little yo no faith that the salary cap is effective at all. The Storm and the Eels and the Bulldogs crime was getting caught.
But the Storm built that side. They didn’t buy it.
Who were Cronk, Smith, Inglis, Slater, etc etc etc before they were Storm players? Kids with promise is all. The cap makes little concession for great development of players. It really should. The Storm have been second to none at developing raw talent into champions. That’s why I still count the 07 and 09 wins as theirs.
I’ll continue to.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
I wasn’t allowed to include my similarly unpopular view on the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in professional sport.
What got me about Armstrong is that his vehement denials included effectively destroying people.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Those are his NRL points.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
See, I’d argue Craig Bellamy is the best ever coach…
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
Here is another analogy – I love analogies… – Mark Waugh was a beautiful batsman to watch. Just beautiful. Steve wasn’t. In the trenches it is Steve you wanted with you. It is Steve’s name that goes with Warne and McGrath’s as the greatest players of our golden era.
Cam Smith wins. I don’t care about pretty or entertaining – although Smith has been involved in masses of that too, make no mistake – I care about winning. Only 30 players have played more NRL games than Smith has won. Genius. For 15 years he would have been the first player I picked if I was building a side.
The best I’ve ever seen.
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever
I disagree
You don't have to like him, but you do have to admit Cameron Smith is rugby league's greatest ever