Origin: The way it used to be
There has been a huge amount written about State of Origin over recent days. Topics such as the Blues' current malaise, just how many…
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There has been a huge amount written about State of Origin over recent days. Topics such as the Blues' current malaise, just how many…
There's a famous adage that 'possession is nine-tenths of the law'. Intuitively, this rule also applies to rugby league, as time in possession is…
There are numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the dropping of a sitter by Tigers winger Jordan Rankin, on Sunday April 10, 2016. These theories posit…
As per NRL rules, when the halfback kicks the ball dead the defending team gets a set of seven. So here's my set of…
Medical knowledge of the long-term effects of repeated concussions is nothing new. As far back as 1928 doctors recognised the so-called 'boxer's dementia'. Also…
Look up the word 'enigmatic' in the dictionary and you may well find a photograph of the great Queenslander, Peter Jackson. Peter 'Jacko' Jackson…
When most league fans heard about the so-called 'Santa Clause' that was inserted into Kieran Foran's contract with the Parramatta Eels, we responded with…
This week the Cronulla Sharks announced that they have signed 19-year-old Jack Rogers to the club. It was the most recent example of the…
After Michael Jennings was arrested over the weekend, the usual headlines appeared, announcing another NRL player behaving badly. It got me thinking about how…
With Game 1 of this year's State of Origin series around the corner, it's a good opportunity to revisit the one-game wonders of State…
There's been a lot of discussion on The Roar lately around the Blues' halves pairing. Let's firstly put things into perspective. Since the 2006…
A few weeks ago the admirable Men of League Foundation honoured 21 retiring champions. With the season almost over, I wanted to pay my…
Do you remember back in 2005 how the Origin records showed the Blues and Maroons had won the same number of matches – 34…
In a recent article, mastermind5991 asked the pertinent question: where has it all gone wrong for the St George-Illawarra Dragons. Mastermind mentioned the current…
When I was a kid there was an American TV show on Channel 7 called Great Mysteries of the World. It was a quasi-documentary…
It's been a funny few weeks in the world of rugby league. Remarkably, Manly's David Williams was charged with affray and offensive behaviour at…
The reaction to Paul Gallen's series of innocuous punches has certainly led to a hysterical reaction from some quarters of the game. The erudite…
It was October 1990: I was a skinny runt of a 15 year old, walking to school on a bright, clear morning with the…
When I grew up in the eighties the players selected to play for the Blues were the best of the available cattle. While there…
I told a Rooster mate on Monday that I feel it in my bones that it will be a Rabbitohs versus Storm Grand Final. He replied, “fark ya bones, Connie!”
NRL Finals Week 3 teams: Storm bench Chambers again, Roberts named for Souths
I do the same. On ABC Grandstand digital radio there’s no delay. I haven’t listened to channel 9 in years.
The uncomfortable truth about the NRL’s horrible media coverage
The ABC called it live as not a sin bin and then retracted it and called it a sin bin when they saw the replays. Replays can do that.
Yes, ten minutes in the sin-bin completely changes a football game. That’s the point!
I was listening to Tallkin’ Sport a few months ago – it was around the time the women’s soccer world cup was on. A guy called up arguing that the media interest in women’s sport was “political correctness”, as women’s sport (in his view) was boring and the media were simply being “politically correct” in covering it.
He then went on to complain about one of the Matildas players who, in an interview, had basically said “up yours” to critics of the team. He said her behaviour was inapproproate and she shouldn’t have been rude. One could accuse his criticism of the Matilda’s player as being “political correctness”.
So this bloke basically attacked political correctness in one breath and was then politically correct himself in the next. I see and hear that sort of thing all the time. Notions like “political correctness” and “nanny state” are generally in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, ten minutes in the sin-bin completely changes a football game. That’s the point!
I’m seriously over Bellybabies histrionics. It’s neither amusing nor impressive. He comes across as a self-important git on the verge of going postal. He reminds me of Dfens from the movie Falling Down, only without the irony or humour.
Craig Bellamy's fury over 'miscommunication' with staff before halftime
Also from Gus: I’ll rip the NRL to shreds on Channel 9 until they relent and give me a six figure salary to fix up the “mess” (because I am the only one who can fix it), then when I f”k things up I’ll blame someone else.
'It's a farce': Gus absolutely lashes out at the current state of officiating in the NRL
Shuddup, Gus!
The modus operandi of Channel 9’s commentators (well, mainly Gould, Joey and Vautin).
“Cmon ref, that’s not a penalty! They’ve given 10 penalties in the half! That’s too many! The refs have no feel for the game! They’re not letting the game flow! This is a disgrace! This is ruining the game! This is a farce!”
Three weeks later:
“C’mon ref, that’s a penalty! They’re letting the players get away with murder in the ruck! They’ve only given 2 penalties in the entire half! That’s not enough! How can a side not give away a SINGLE penalty in a half! That’s not possible! The refs have no feel for the game! They’re not letting the game flow! This is a disgrace! This is ruining the game! This is a farce!”
'It's a farce': Gus absolutely lashes out at the current state of officiating in the NRL
Also wanted to say how impressed I was with Adam Doueihi before he went off. He made a bunch of runs that got us out of trouble, saved a try and generally looked safe under the high ball. A lot of battered players in the end made it a gutsy win against a gutsy side.
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
I find that when I’m feeling pain stupid a Panadol and a lie down helps alot
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
You’re a good man, Dutski! (even though you’re a Roosters supporter 😛 ).
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
Agree Brian, his post was a bit passive agressive wasn’t it?
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
TB, also those claiming that the rules don’t matter as “what about GAME AWARENESS”.
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
They are great, Busty. A very gutsy football side.
Six talking points from South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL semi-final
I didn’t know that. Obviously I want Souths to make the GF, but if we don’t a Canberra v Parramatta would be the stuff of dreams!
The NRL semi finals: The statistical truth
Usually every finals series has a “fairy tale” story, a team of underdogs who have beaten the odds against their more fancied opposition, in doing so capturing the hearts of neutral fans.
Who would ever have thought Manly would be that team. I feel like I’m in Jerry and George’s Bizarro World.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles: NRL semi-final preview, prediction
I agree with the “as long as neither chooks or Storm win this year” thing.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles: NRL semi-final preview, prediction
Both the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles have pretty good records against the Raiders in Canberra, and whoever wins tonight will travel down with a lot of confidence.
Manly have been a revelation this year. A team can have all the talent or promise in the world, but if they aren’t unified and cohesive they won’t win many games. Manly are a team that play for each other and Des has rebuilt a team that believes. You cant put a dollar value on that. The improvement in individual players compared to last year has been remarkable.
Obviously I’m gunning for a Rabbitohs victory. I’m a bit miffed that for the second year in a row the headlines have all been around Sam’s extracaricular activities, rather than the upcoming game. The forward battle should be tantalising, though, and the halves are a key. I’m expecting a huge game from Sam, Cody, Reyno, Cooky and Murray to carry us to victory in a close one.
BTW Roar IT people, there needs to be a “fingers-crossed” emoji, as I needed one to end this post!
The NRL semi finals: The statistical truth
Do you put marshmallows in the hot chocolate?
Bellamy and Reynolds back Broncos pokie players
If it was the Panthers we could say “poorly performing penny panthers players played a pack of pokies”. Missed opportunity.
Bellamy and Reynolds back Broncos pokie players
The one I was most surprised and disappointed in was that Zane Tetelatehitter didn’t even get cited on the very late hit on Dooee.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves banned for Sydney Roosters' preliminary final
True facts, Scott. Wasn’t this his 4th visit to the judiciary this year? That’s up there with Big Sam! 😁
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves banned for Sydney Roosters' preliminary final
Shuddup Gus
Everyone loses it after Fatty's hilarious Kane Evans question to Brad Arthur
Hi Steve, there have been a lot of articles and comments arguing either that (a) coaches are of supreme importance to a team’s results; or (b) coaches really aren’t important as all that and we overplay their contribution.
I swing more to (a) as there is more historical evidence, your honour.
Probably the best example this year is Des Hasler at Manly (he’d be my coach of the year). He has a similar squad to last year’s, with arguably more injuries than any other club, yet he has got them to a couple of games from the GF (although they’ll lose this Friday 😛 ).
For me the biggest change to Manly is not just their performance on field, but the fact their players are no longer making headlines off the field. The players are clearly more committed, more united and more galzanised than they were last year, and that in my view is due mainly to the coach.
But I agree with you 100% that coaches are more disposable and often sacked too early. Is Seibold a great coach? I mentioned yesterday that I’m not sure, as I find his approach too analytical and rigid, but he has a young squad and needs the opportunity to develop them into what could be a phenomenal team. It would be inappropriate to sack him (or any other coach) after only a year or two.
But in saying all that, I think great coaches are very rare. Coaching at a high level is a blend of Harry Houdini, David Copperfield (the magician, not the Dickens character), Kaiser Soze, Machiavelli and Julius Sumner Miller. A bit of magic, a bit of manipulation, and a bit of an intangible that is hard to define and even harder to replicate.
Ricky Stuart's success highlights the absurdity of disposable coaches
Like a lot of fans I initially felt somewhat dudded, especially after hearing (perhaps eronious, I don’t know) that Seibold had made a “verbal agreement” as far back as April 2018.
I also felt underwhelmed by Bennett’s initial reaction as it made us feel like we were sloppy seconds. But I became more positive in the new year when I saw that Bennett seemed reinvigorated and happy at Redfern.
Of course, I was a bit fan of Seibold, but at the same time I was frustrated by our performances in the finals and of his seeming inability to change his game plan, especially around his use of the bench. Also, I have never bought into the idea that Bennett ruins clubs when he leaves, so wasn’t worried about that.
So all in all, I think we did better out of the switch.
Six talking points from Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos NRL elimination final
If Raiders get past Souths I will definitely be cheering them on (but GO SOUTHS!). A Raiders victory in a Raiders versus Storm Grand Final would be interesting for the following reasons:
1 – a Raiders win will be their first in 25 years
2 – if Storm make the GF and lose, it will be their third loss out of four consecutive grand finals. That’s gotta hurt!
NRL Finals Week 3 teams: Storm bench Chambers again, Roberts named for Souths