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The Roar

The Roar

Gibbo

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Joined April 2021

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Yes, one guy with a delusional disorder for sure, but this seems to have permeated right into the upper echelons of British society. I’d love to know King Charles’s take on Bazball, though, I have a feeling he’s more of an ODI type.

England's Bazball excuses are only holding them back

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Cricket
 
Jul

@BigGordon: it reminds me of a certain US election where someone demanded a state to find 1100 votes. Hmm…

England's Bazball excuses are only holding them back

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Cricket
 
Jul

It’s unbelievable! Actually, there are distinct relationships to politics. If you’re polarising enough, you’ll get enough supporters to win a few things or a few times (see Donald Trump), and if it doesn’t work, then you blame everybody else but yourself (see also Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull).
However, in sporting terminology, England’s “new” is actually old. There’s good evidence to suggest that Australia played its cricket this way in the 1920s. Warwick Armstrong’s touring side in 1921 scored very quickly, but they dominated 5-0. Armstrong himself was not a “push-into-the-gap-take-a-quick-single” kind of bloke.
There’s evidence to suggest that Bradman’s Invincibles side played similarly, if not this quickly, all the time. So really, England hasn’t “reinvented Test cricket”. They’re merely rewriting history to suggest that.

England's Bazball excuses are only holding them back

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Cricket
 
Jul

Fair point on Chad. However, I think I saw him fewer than 10 times last year force a repeat set. I’d love to see him grubbed to the in-goal and force opponents into a repeat set. He often does this little chip bombs that aren’t shallow and aren’t deep and don’t really do a whole lot. Doesn’t give the kick chase a whole lot to work with.

After a prelim in 2022, what’s going wrong in North Queensland?

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League
 
Apr

It’s a combination of both, I think. A lot of the players sold out last year and had something to disprove. This season, they’ve bought into their own hype a bit too much and are living and dying by the sword, or so it seems.

The loss of Tabuai-Fidow and Gilbert hurt, but they’ve still got most of their starting 17 from last year. Complacency and some of their vets showing their ages have a lot to do with it. Tamou looked like he needs a walking frame…till he got injured. Hiku isn’t the same player he was. Townsend has clearly regressed from last year. It’s a combination of both.

After a prelim in 2022, what’s going wrong in North Queensland?

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League
 
Apr

I’m not so sure Feldt is on a decline. I think he’s better this season than last and he was pretty average last. He’s only 29, but he hasn’t been amazing the past couple of years. I reckon 1-2 more years of decent Feldt and then he’ll just implode.

After a prelim in 2022, what’s going wrong in North Queensland?

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League
 
Apr

Geez you’d think as a former English teacher I’d know this! I learned something. Thank you!

After a prelim in 2022, what’s going wrong in North Queensland?

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League
 
Apr

Really good points! I wasn’t aware of the time spent practicing slowing down PTB. Definitely can see the impact in the number of 6 against against us and penalties for 10m and things like that. I dislike calling out players also, but in the cases of Nanai and Hess, both are experienced enough not to be making stupid tackles.

I do think a lot of our struggles are conditioning issues. Those infamous runs up Castle Hill at all hours of the day and night produced a toughness that is sorely lacking in season ‘23. We do need our gun forwards back, and as much as I love Jakey Granville, he’s neither a prop nor a lock. One of our poorest performers this season has been Chad Townsend, but with no halves other than Ben Hampton on the books, then I’m not sure what else we can do.

After a prelim in 2022, what’s going wrong in North Queensland?

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League
 
Apr

Love your thoughts, Tempo! I agree with your point on the Shield, but I’d argue that the likes of Ashley Chandrasinghe, Corey Rocchiccioli and Jack Clayton are relative unknowns and all of them are mainstays in their respective state sides. Sure, Matt Short and Jordan Silk have shot to prominence through the BBL, but many of the other guys are relative unknowns. I’d argue that one thing that’s HELPED both Short and Silk in rising to prominence are the Test stars who’ve played with them, the likes of Marcus Harris for the Vics and Matt Wade, Jackson Bird or Peter Siddle for the Tigers.

Whilst just bringing back Smith, Warner and co. into the Shield won’t guarantee attendance, if it’s marketed well, at least one day was on a weekend, and it wasn’t just a boring bat-a-thon, then I think the crowds would come. I mean, it’s free entry in QLD and NSW to Shield matches, and I’d happily spend a Saturday or Sunday at the cricket for free. Maybe that’s just me, though. We did see big crowds in the BBL when Smith and Warner played, but there was A LOT of marketing that went into that as well.

I read the Code Sports article on it just today! What a great report that was! For me, I’d just like to see both eyeballs and bums on seats increase at the Shield. I’m glad that more people are watching it, but let’s also get the internationals involved and see the attendance climb.

How to make long-forgotten Sheffield Shield great again: Player availability, better pitches and day-nighters

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Cricket
 
Mar

Two examples from US sport that bear consideration. Tom Brady, in the last few years of his tenure with the Patriots, stayed with them for unders, and he even restructured his contract, twice, to help the Patriots sign other players and still remain under the salary cap. Tim Wakefield, the former Boston Red Sox knuckleballer, took a minimum salary for about the last 5 years that he played because he loved the Red Sox so much and wanted to be a part of their roster. If I were a pro player and I’m that connected to a club and a fanbase and just want to stay so much, I’d take unders as well if my family was happy.

It's time for more salary cap transparency

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League
 
Mar

Curious to know what other basic mistakes I’ve made?

Australian cricket needs a refresh before it goes off a cliff

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Cricket
 
Feb

I’m 32, hence why I clarified in my lifetime. But yes, great pickup, thanks Ben. Which sides have never won a series here? I’m thinking SL, BAN, ZIM? Is that all?

Australian cricket needs a refresh before it goes off a cliff

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Cricket
 
Feb

Woobla, you wrote the article I was going to write (with a few minor alterations). I’ve always struggled to differentiate whether the players were frustrated that Langer held them accountable for their mistakes or whether they just disliked him. Does being held accountable make for old-school coaching? I’d say not. It also doesn’t condone angry outbursts nor water bottles being thrown around a room. That said, there’s a reason why Craig Bellamy gets the best out of the Storm every year (when he’s not over the salary cap), and part of that is through holding every single player accountable for his performance on and off the field. Same with Todd Payten at the Cowboys.

Player power: Be careful what you wish for...

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Cricket
 
Feb

Who’s that with the 8 year contract?

Player power: Be careful what you wish for...

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Cricket
 
Feb

So very true. I’m working on a follow up to this, though, that argues that it’s time for Australia to shift to a red ball player/white ball player approach.

Nobody denies that Starc is a wonderful all-format player, but surely, at age 33, it’s time that he rests by playing one, or only 2 formats not all 3? Same with Cummins.

Australian cricket needs a refresh before it goes off a cliff

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Cricket
 
Feb

With depth curated from the Ranji Trophy.

Australian cricket needs a refresh before it goes off a cliff

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Cricket
 
Feb

There’s technology being trialled at the moment, Randy, that can detect the angle of the ball out of the player’s hands. That’s the technology we need. For me, anything we can do to take away the decision out of the hands of the referee is an improvement.

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

That’s the same reasoning the powers-that-be gave for introducing the DRS in cricket. That’s why, in this case, I’d much rather take away the human element in adjudicating forward passes and just rely on any available technology to determine angle out of the hands.

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

There’s new technology being trialled atm in lower grade games and a few other places that looks really good and takes out the human judgement call with technology. Passes will still “look” forward because of Newton’s first law of motion (as above), but that’s about educating fans and players as to the physics behind it all.

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

Hey Phil, I agree with you, but the issue is not with the Bunker itself or the concept. It’s with the humans. Once they stop inventing obstructions against Souths or penalising escorts for a Feldt flop, then my respect for them will go up. The point of this article was arguing that tech doesn’t help where humans are involved but in something like the forward pass, which is purely scientific/technical by definition, then it can work wonders. Take out the humans and see what this Tech can do

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

Fair enough. If the tech had said that Holmes’s pass was forward, I’d have accepted it. I can’t argue with the tech, and as you point out, it’ll equally disadvantage teams as much as it’ll advantage them. I acknowledged that my judgement call was probably influenced by my bias, but I also thought that one of RCG’s passes when he scored was forward too. What do I know? At the end of the day, let the tech decide and educate the broader public around the physics side of it and why sometimes passes appear forwards or float forwards but are actually flat.

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

Hey jimmmy, my suggestion above was to take the humans out of it entirely and make the technology determine whether or not it’s forward and signal the ref to blow the whistle. It’d have to be real time, unable to be overridden by the on-field official and not waste time in endless reviews. That way all forward passes in every situation would be called.

Human error is inevitable, we need technology to avoid forward pass madness

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League
 
Sep

Joe, I was at the Cowboys vs Roosters game at the SCG. Every single time a Cowboys player touched the ball (bar Taumalolo), they were booed. Every decision for the Cows, the refs were booed. Every try the Cows scored (which, unfortunately were far too few), they were booed. Some of the language emanating from the stands towards Townsend, Dearden and Holmes was just atrocious. I don’t think it’s just a Latrell thing.

Booing Latrell doesn’t necessarily make you racist, but it probably makes you a jerk

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League
 
Sep

One thing that can’t be discounted is belief. The Cowboys have belief and resilience, instilled in them through the coaching staff but also because the bulk of their younger players are guys from the local area. They have pride and passion to represent the broader North Queensland community. The story of a young bloke like Heilum Luke coming from Cairns to play top flight rep footy is remarkable. Todd Payten has been able to channel that remarkably well. Penrith is similar in the fact that most of their younger players hail from the local area.

Where the Warriors struggle is attracting young talent to choose rugby league over the All Blacks. Where the Wests Tigers and to a lesser extent St George-Illawarra struggle, is balancing the joint ventures properly. If Newcastle simply had a coaching staff that could develop young talent rather than taking talented playmakers from other clubs (Ponga, Milford, Gagai, Clune, Clifford, etc.), they’d be reaping the rewards now.

Set of six clubs forming a perennial NRL underclass: Strugglers stagnate as smart sides get stronger

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League
 
2022

Great synopsis, Danielle, and as a Queenslander, I was mystified at some of Freddie’s decisions. I think To’o and Foxx would’ve given QLD headaches every game. I think RCG was unlucky to miss out from Game 1, and I think Stephen Crichton can count himself very fortunate indeed to have been in all 3 Origin matches.

Like all great coaches, there comes the point in time at which they arrive at a use-by date, and I think Freddie’s time is now. I also thought Kevvie’s time was when he left as well, but I would have loved to have seen Mal Meninga stay on for a couple more years to try to see him develop players after JT, Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk retired. I’d like to see Freddie transition out and appoint a new person to the role.

Unsteady Freddy: Head-scratching decisions cast doubt on Fittler's suitability as Blues coach

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League
 
2022
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