Roar Guru
Joined May 2013
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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…
Hi Taree Raider, it’s the tribalism and loyalty that I love most about rugby league.
In 1990 when the Rabbitohs were wooden spooners with only 2 wins and 20 losses, I went to every home game. We had mufti day at school one Friday after the end of the NSWRL season and I turned up wearing my Souths jersey (with number 6 on the back for the mercurial Phil Blake). I walked into class and our chemisty teacher Mrs Hill took one look at me and said, “you’re brave”.
But the other kids respected it. It was then that I learned that when you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle! And this’ll help things turn out for the best!
Six talking points from Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders NRL qualifying final
Hi Joe, here’s a stat I bet you didn’t know.
If the Eels make the grand final they would have beaten the Broncos, the Storm and the Rorters. The stat? Well, they happen to be the three sides I loathe the most. It’s a Con-specific-stat.
Now that’s a stat worth bottling – go Eels!
Win or lose today, Parramatta are the NRL's walking dead
They should win the prel, but there have ben a few mentions of how the Roosters win record with JWH is something like 64% but it’s only 46% withouth him. He’s important to their team.
Six talking points from Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs qualifying final
Hi Tom G, don’t you just love it when a smart ar.e gets it wrong. Stick to making roast chicken, Red Rooster.
Writ is an archaic form of ‘written’. So one can understand the idiom writ large as something written largely or magnified. However, it should always be in reference to a specific noun, used after said noun as an appositive, and not as a verbal phrase (e.g., is writ large). It does not require the use of commas. Can also be used in the forms writ larger and writ largest.
Waerea-Hargraves to miss Roosters' prelim for trip
Really good wrap up Scotty, but as Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “while there is life there is hope”, so I am still hopeful we can win next week and stay alive in ’19.
On the other hand, as Harry Callaghan said, “A good man always knows his limitations.” And I would agree that out limitations are the forwards.
However, I believe our forwards are more limited with George and Tom there. We seemed more competitive without the twins, and a few of the young guys were certainly putting in more than the twins have been. To that end, I think Wayne’s biggest mistake was not the fullback switch, but was bringing in an underdone George. I was expecting George to really step up but he didn’t. It’s time for the Rabbitohs to commence the process of gradually extricating themselves from the Burgi.
About our performance last night – to quote Prince when he heard Michael Jackson’s Bad album: “the only reason it was called Bad was because there wasn’t enough room on the sleeve for Pathetic”. Our performance wasn’t bad, it was pathetic. But gee the Roosters are an awesome side – some of their tries were spectacular.
And a final quote: I thought Souths were gooduns last night, but to quote the Fonze, I was wr…wro…wr…wrong.
Now I bet you never expected to see quotes from a Roman statesman, Dirty Harry, Prince and the Fonze in the one post! 😁
Six talking points from Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs qualifying final
He sounds as though he’s sucked in a tonne of helium.
Brett Finch fumes as Marty Taupau avoids being sent off for swinging arm
Far out The Baa, I agree with every single point you made. Billy in particular has been excellent, but Sam and Jonathan Spelt Incorrectly make me cringe.
I usually watch Nine on mute with ABC Grandstand on the radio, as with their digital radio signal there’s no delay. For the first time in ages I listened to the Nine coverage on Thu night and it was actually tolerable without Gus the Hut.
I really do think that Gus brings the whole thing down. He makes everyone around him worse, including Warren. Joey and Freddie generally behave better when Gus isn’t there. Gus is a zit that must me popped.
Finally, quick question: how much is JT payed to be on Nine? I ask because on Thu night he literally made about 5 comments the entire match, which must work out at something like $1,000 a comment. Easy work if you can get it!
How to fix rugby league commentary
Also if he doesn’t make it there’s always the Rugby Sevens. But good on him for trying.
Holmes takes paycut to stay in NFL mix
Thanks to you Emcie, this is the Greatest Day of Hard Yard’s Life.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 24
I have never thought the Storm don’t have another gear. This is a side that has lost only 4 matches by a combined 8 points (1 point to the Rorters, 1 to the Sea Beagles, 2 to the Sharks and 4 to the Raiders).
Apart from a couple of matches, they have barely seemed bothered at all. You could score 3 tries against them and go to an 18 nil lead, and like automatons they are completely unfazed – they just go back to their processes and dig away at you until they catch up, just like they did when they were down 20 nil at halftime in their first match against the Rorters and yet took the game to Golden Point, only beaten by a freakish Latrell Mitchell field goal.
And yes, I know the reverse happened against the Raiders, but like Craig Bellamey remaining calm in the coaches box, that was the exception that proves the rule.
Camerom Smith is like the T1000 from Terminator 2. You blow a hole in their defensive line and he just looks towards the opposition and asks, “Look at my face. Do I look bovvered?”
I despise them and admire them in equal measure.
Seven talking points from NRL Round 24
How good is Joshua Jackson Mr Bacon. One of my faves.
NRL Round 24 teams: Ferguson back for Eels, Souths get big names back
I’ll take Sterlo’s interpretation over yours though 😁
Eight talking points from NRL Round 23
The line “Good teams don’t lose like the Eels did” is an excellent observation. I haven’t been convinced by the Eels as they don’t have the resilience and adaptability of the other top 6 sides. When things aren’t going their way they seem to crumble.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 23
My confidence in the Rabbitohs finals chances was elevated considerably after seeing Uncle Wayne and the players high-fiving and dancing with each other in the sheds after the Broncos game. They are one happy footy team and I think Wayne may well have my boys in the right shape at the right time.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 23
After the Raiders Manly game, I have invented a new game called Penalty Bingo™
The way it works is you have a card with different types of penalties listed – offside, raking, differential scrum, head-high tackle, incorrect play-the-ball etc – and every time a listed penalty is given by a ref, you mark it off the card.
As soon as you’ve ticked all the penalties off your card, you shout “PENALTY BINGO!!!” and you win a free meat-tray and a flagon of sherry.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 23
Yeah but back then the Dragons were over the cap 😁
Souths Sydney's Bennett and Demetriou temporarily win the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ argument
Robert’s elbow was unforgivable. Like a lot of Souths supporters I was unhappy when Bennett brought him to Redfern. He’s a hot head and more often than not, a liability. For every great run he makes he does a couple of bad things, like not passing to an unmarked winger, hogging the ball and yes, “brain fades”.
Su’A’s was not quite as bad, so I won’t be surprised if the incompetent MRC deals with it differentlly to the one by Roberts. Given that the MRC seems unfazed by knees to the head when the knee (according to the MRC) was done with “no force”, they could apply the same ridiculous logic to Su’A.
Based on that, I’m guessing Roberts will receive a healthy suspension, while the MRC will say the SuA one was done with “insufficient force” and will hit him with a lesser penalty, maybe a fine. On the other hand, my guess is as good as yours and both the Roberts and Su’A case will be another lottery decision by the MRC, which will leave everyone unhappy with their inanity.
I like my team playng tough but fair, and when I see my club’s players behaving like grubs, it disappoints me.
Souths Sydney's Bennett and Demetriou temporarily win the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ argument
Also bring back Annandale – the Dales were dudded in a dastardly display. And change Parramatta’s name to the Cumberland Fruitpickers – you wouldn’t even need to change the colours as Cumberland were blue and gold. Also dump Penrith and replace the Panthers with the Windsor Wolves, as the wolves were robbed of admission to the olf NSWRL in 1967. Apparentlly old Wolves have long memories.
Seven steps to save the NRL
The poor dogs are playing the mighty rabbits this week.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 21
Absolute champion bloke and a great servant to several clubs and to the game.
Michael Gordon set to retire at end of season
Maybe you should have written, “even the staunch Souths supporters on this site who have really said some ridiculous things about Moylan should feel shame at what this group have done to the game”. That would excluded more impartial Souths supporters like me ???? (the question marks are meant to be a winking face)
Debate rages as Sam Burgess successful at NRL judiciary
Why “even Souths supporters”?
Why not “even Manly supporters” (given that Jurbo got off a poor tackle), or “even Roosters supporters” given that JWH seems to continually be given light sentences despite the fact he’s a serial offender (serial grub), or “even Cowboys supporters” given that Josh McGuire is a recidivist eye poker. I could go on.
I am ashamed of the MRC, but it has nothing to do with me being a Souths supporter and everything to do with them being incompetent and dangerous.
Debate rages as Sam Burgess successful at NRL judiciary
I’m still pretty optimistic steve. Wayne’s sides often bobble a bit this time of year but (apart from last year when the Broncos were walloped by Saints) he seems to have a knack of getting the team firing at the right time.
Hope this happens but only time will tell. I can’t wait for the finals as this sure seems like a really long season.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 20
If we play like we did on Saturday night, Scott may be able to save time next Sunday by cutting and pasting most of what he wrote in the Broncos paragraph for next week’s Talking Point on the Souths v Melbourne game. I hope not though. I’m an eternal optimist, so I predict Souths 19 Storm 18.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 20
My take on Seibold is that much of South’s improvement last year was simply a by product of having a new coach, new structures etc – much like the “honeymoon period” new governments enjoy in the polls.
The Rabbitohs under Madge were stale – it was the same old plays, the same structures, with no modifications or improvements or innovation. Players felt stale under Madge. They felt beaten down and exhausted. They were bored. Others, like Nathan Brown, who was used as a battering ram by Madge, often improved and developed their games at other clubs.
It was often said that Madge was a hard ar.se and great at improving a club (which is true and I will forever be thankful of the Premiership that he delivered), but it was also said that Madge had no Plan B, and like a drunk uncle at a wedding, by 2017 he had overstayed his welcome.
So when Seibold came along, the team was momentarily invigorated. The players were happy to finally have some new plays, to be able to throw the ball around a bit more, to work on some new structres. But as with Madge, their new coach was too structured and reactive, and while the players weren’t bored yet, other team coaches had worked them out. And like Madge under Souths, there was no Plan B.
I don’t know whether or not Seibold can actually coach at a high level. But what I do know is that Seibold is far too stats focused. He is obsessed by stats and overanalysis and has a rigid gameplan (ironically even more rigid than Madge, who was criticised for rigidity).
The great coaches of today – Des, Robbo, Bellamy and Bennett – can all adapt as things become tough on the field. Can Seibold adapt or is he a one-trick pony? Only time will tell.
Six talking points from Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos NRL elimination final