Roosters vs Rabbitohs: The ultra definitive NRL preliminary final stats preview
7:40pm, Saturday 22 September, Alliance Stadium. This is the last rugby league game at this ground.
Tim Gore
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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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Storm vs Sharks: The ultra definitive NRL preliminary final stats preview
There is no love lost between these sides. They really don’t like each other.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
If the hysteria is to be believed, we now have the proof that the AFL is clearly better and more popular than the NRL.
Rabbitohs vs Dragons: The ultra definitive NRL semi-final stats preview
Three weeks ago I would have predicted a total blow out to the Rabbitohs in this match. However, the Dragons seem to have found some pretty good form since then and now – back in Sydney – they’ve got to be a chance of beating the Rabbits.
Cronulla Sharks vs Penrith Panthers: The ultra definitive NRL semi-final stats preview
Any way you look at this match the Panthers have a hill to climb if they are going to beat the Sharks.
Josh, you want a fair go? Start by saying sorry
Okay Josh, you’ve got me. You do get a harder time from the press than most other rugby league players.
The Dragons are back and they’re a real chance
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Dragon’s season were exaggerated. They are now that most hazardous of commodities: a side with nothing to lose and a point to prove.
Broncos vs Dragons: The ultra definitive stats preview
The Broncos host the Dragons in this elimination final courtesy of nine measly points differential. And should never have come to that.
Roosters vs Sharks: The ultra definitive stats preview
The second of the top four finals match ups promises to be as much of a cracker as the Storm vs Rabbitohs.
Panthers vs Warriors: The ultra definitive stats preview
Just as the ladder positions one through four were decided by 85 points on the for-and-against scale, ladder positions five through eight were decided by 31 points.
Storm vs Rabbitohs: The ultra definitive stats preview
We kick off the 2018 finals with the battle of second and third. The Rabbitohs really should have locked up the minor premiership but three losses from their final four games saw them slide to third on for and against.
The Dragons' disaster: It’s not something about Mary
The implosion of the St George Illawarra Dragons has been horrible to watch – akin to an animal in agony.
Dylan Napa’s recklessness must be punished, accident or not
How is it reasonable for respected commentators to argue Dylan Napa has no case to answer for what was effectively another reckless flying headbutt?
Retraction and apology: Nathan Buckley can coach
Dear Nathan and Eddie, It seems I got it quite wrong and I owe you both an apology…
Will the actual NRL premiership favourite please stand up!
Is there actually a premiership favourite this year?
Your NRL team sucks. Here’s why
While Ivan Cleary’s orange and black-striped bus still has a chance of rolling into the finals, there are now seven teams actively planning their Mad Monday activities for September 3.
It’s the business end: Here are the contenders and the pretenders
With four rounds to go the NRL top eight is now almost certainly set. The only possible change is that the Warriors exchange places with the Wests Tigers. However, that is a very skinny chance.
The great integrity of Paul Gallen
“I’m me. I can’t put on airs. I’m not a phony. I know the way I am hurts me more times than it helps. But somehow it’s all tied up with my integrity, and my integrity is the last thing I’m going to let you take from me.”
Catastrophic officiating is Greenberg’s responsibility
“The buck stops here” – the sign on US President Harry S Truman’s desk. This is on you Todd Greenberg. This total disgrace of officiating is 100 per cent on you.
Festivus in July: It’s time to air my NRL grievances
In the 1990s TV show Seinfeld, the great Frank Costanza created ‘Festivus’, an alternate holiday to Christmas where an aluminium pole is erected instead of a tree, and a dinner held.
It’s a logical thought! I went down this rabbit hole. The theory was good but the evidence didn’t support it. The storm won the count on many of their losses.
Storm vs Sharks: The ultra definitive NRL preliminary final stats preview
Did you not make comment on this one? https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/08/25/retraction-apology-nathan-buckley-can-coach/
The case for Collingwood
For gods sake, don’t get your figures wrong.
Thanks for your defence BTW Nat.
Rugby league saves itself from itself… Again
I see the onward march of AFL as inevitable at this rate. with Soccer being the sport most likely to go into second spot.
The NRL does really need to look at where they are heading.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Swans crowds – until recently the only side – and a good one. Lots of their support is based in and around Moore park too.
The decline in numbers is something I only have anecdotal evidence, rather than hard.
Firstly, the AFL does development and marketing to kids so much better than the NRL.
Secondly, I believe the insurance premiums are knocking lots of people out on financial grounds, especially in the bush.
One of my detractors – somewhere in the comments – made the salient comment that League took the easy money in the 1990s and ceded control of their game to commercial interests, whose interests are in – obviously – making money and not spending it. therefore development and grassroots works isn’t a priority.
The AFL seems to have done it all a fair bit better.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
That doesn’t mean the NRL is failing.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Love the name by the way. reminds me of Bob Dylan.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
All your points are good JoX, however, my point of the article was not atNRL is better than the AFL or vice versa.
“The number of vacant seats at both Allianz Stadium on Friday night and at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night – while the AGL finals at the MCG had big crowds – was a clear demonstration that the AFL is Australia’s preeminent sporting code and that the NRL is failing. Right?”
That’s the key para that every person thinking that I’m trying to say one is better than the other – I wasn’t and am not – has missed.
The point is that, while the AFL has better numbers, the NRL is doing just fine.
And it is. Sure, it can certainly improve, but its not the dire situation that people are making it out to be.
I love and actively follow both codes. I think trying to assert that one is better than the other is a bizarre waste of time.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Correct DB! that’s a far bigger error than the use of the FTA figures too!
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Well thanks for stopping by!
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Agreed. My point is that it doesn’t mean that the NRL is not well supported or that it is in crisis.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Nat, let him go… He won’t be swayed by any reason. He doesn’t even comment under his actual name. He’s just a spanner throwing, keyboard warrior, spewing outrage behind anonymity. Your efforts just give him oxygen.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Which one? AFL – which I’ve been supporting since I was seven? football (soccer to some) that I’ve been following since I was eight? Rugby League that I’ve been following since 1981? or Rugby Union that I’ve been following since 1996? Please don’t say its cricket…
And please people, read the article before you comment. I make it very clear that I’m multilingual…
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
My point is that there are still 1.8 million watching. That’s a very viable amount.
That’s my whole damn point.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
I love conspiracy theories too Vinson. and like the X-Files “I want to believe.”
But it involves believing that the Referees are corrupt. I just can’t believe that. Or maybe I just don’t want to…
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Well, they were the only two I thought were still in doubt at three quarter time.
But don’t get me wrong, the quality of footy was still good. I wouldn’t have left.
And lets not bring Rugby Union into this. that sport is dire right now.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
I really think they would Peeko.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Thanks Gyfox.
Antony. Challenge for you. Drive from Mulgoa Street Penrith to Moore Park at 5pm on a Friday. Then, catch the train from central and walk to the SFS.
Then drive from Narre Warren to the G at 5pm Friday, then do the trip by train.
All are unpleasant, but the Penrith option is vile.
The trains in Melb are so much better for sporting attendance and I believe really make a big difference to attendance.
Obviously not that much. The AFL has a far bigger live attendance culture than the NRL for sure.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Good question Ryan.
No question the NRL has challenges. I think they need to consolidate as a priority well before expansion should be considered. There are a number of fundamentals that the AFL has well under control that the NRL does not.
The use of wooops is annoying though.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
I don’t trigger easy. If you want to have a go – which you clearly do – you’ll find me willing.
Or do you think that my role is to take your abusive assertions with good humour?
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
1. This article at no stage says that the NRL is better than the AFL. It is saying that the NRL is doing just fine. The only thing I said – as a paid up, four decade plus AFL Zealot – was that of the six AFL finals so far, only two were close run things, whereas the NRL matches had been closer.
2. They were not deliberately bogus ratings. It was an honest mistake – but sure, assume that I’m trying to do everyone over – for what end I’m not sure, but I guess your paranoia can come up with a stellar conspiracy theory.
3. Definitely did ridicule and mock people. You got me there. But – see the above points – lots of you went off charging away on false assumptions that showed you either hadn’t read or comprehended what I wrote, and that you immediately jump to conspiracy when given the option.
4. That’s the ability for every single person to air their opinions in the modern world people!
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Well thanks for stopping by!
I completely disagree with you.
The smaller NRL crowds confirm the AFL is the superior code? Rubbish!
Who said that?
Storm vs Sharks: The ultra definitive NRL preliminary final stats preview