Search results

This is probably the strongest England team we have seen in Australia for some time. However, they will be playing on Australian pitches which have been pretty spicy over the last couple of seasons. It remains to be seen how the England batsmen cope with these conditions, particularly since...

He didn't tell us early of his own accord. We forced his hand. He would have strung us along if he was able to. Credit to Richo for bringing this to a head.

I enjoyed your analysis Jolls. Your posts are a must read for me. I was just curious about your comment that the Broncos have one of the best packs in the comp. I must confess, I usually only watch us each week, so that is the first time I have seen the Broncos play this season. Based on that...

That is an interesting list, which just reinforces what a great batsman Steve Smith has been for Australia. There are plenty of England supporters claiming that Joe Root is the best batsman in the world at the moment and they are hoping that he will dominate when he tours here next summer (for...

You'r right, Davo was outstanding. He took 186 test wickets @ 20.5. He is clearly one of the all time greats. He's not really spoken about much these days which is a pity.

That's a coincidence - I was at that game too. There was quite a big crowd for a club game because Richie and John Benaud were playing for Cumberland and Simmo and Davo were playing for Wests (at least I think Davo was playing). Davo retired around then.

I'm jealous. I was desperate to go to that game but my father said it would be a big crowd and I was too young to stand on the hill. I was 12. I reckon you are right about Lawler. Irvine didn't kick for Norths and the report is that when he lined up the kick from the sideline, Lawler spoke...

I could be wrong, but I think this is taken in the third test in 1962 Australia v England. It's a very famous incident. I believe the Australian player is Dud Beattie, the Queensland prop from Ipswich. He had dislocated his shoulder and played on as long as he could. Remembering, there were...

Hate to be pedantic Steve, but you'r wrong. Australia has dominated England for most of the last 100 years.

I’m not a fan of picking an all rounder for the sake of it. For me, an allrounder batting at #6 has to be able to make good runs on a consistent basis, and take the pressure off the front-line bowlers and bowl some decent long economical spells. In this series Marsh has failed to do either. He...

My favourite call (or the one I remember best) was by the legendary Ron Casey calling a match between Newtown and Balmain at Henson Park. Laurie Morashchi was playing centre for Balmain and George Ruebner was on the wing. At one point Balmain swing the ball out to the backs and Ron calls...

I doubt it will go to court. Lee talked up a storm after we were robbed in Townsville but he backed down in the end. He is full of bluff and bluster.

For me, there is one big question mark over Roots' ability with the bat. And that is, he has failed in Australia. Root is regarded by many (Poms) as a modern day "great". But if he is a "great", I want him to prove that to me in Australia. After all, we are the greatest test playing nation...

Do great coaches make a team great, or do great teams make the coach great? I was having a conversation with a mate about Cleary when he was the WT coach back in 2018. I thought Cleary was high quality based on what he got out of our very ordinary squad that year. My mate argued that Cleary...

I’m not so sure the modern players would adapt as quickly as you assume. In the old days there was a genuine contest for the ball and the forwards spent a huge amount of time practising scrummaging. Hookers were selected to win the ball. There were not many hookers in those days that were much...

A few comments in reply. First, I'm not sure that you are disagreeing with me. I said that these types of players can move to a quality team and play a role for their coach, and that is exactly what they did. Second, if people mean they are "not stars", then why don't they say so? How can I...

I agree. It's hard to maintain my enthusiasm for the NRL. For example, in the game against the Bears yesterday, they had a PTB on our line. Ngatikaura came into dummy half and pushed Tumeth over who was getting into a defensive position on our line. Tumeth went sprawling and Ngatikaura...

It is pretty common on here for people to say that player X “is a reserve grader at best”, or “not up to NRL standard”, only for that player subsequently to join a quality club and do OK. Last night two of the Donkey’s spine played for us and when they left most were pleased to see them go...

That's interesting. I had two PE teachers in 1964, one of whom played for Balmain - Jack Danzey. He played 5/8 in the 1964 GF. Copped a bit of a ribbing from the boys the following week at school. The other was Gary Knoke. In that year he represented Australia in the final of the 400 meter...

Yes, that is my impression too. It seems that NRL clubs are in a better position to snap up young talent when they leave school than is Rugby. I seem to recall that Rugby was unable to offer Angus Chrichton a senior full time contract and a pathway into super rugby when he was 18. So he chose...