The Crusaders and Hurricanes provided timely reminders of why most of us are interested in rugby. I’ll freely admit I didn’t tip either to beat the Blues and Chiefs, in their respective Super Rugby Pacific clashes last weekend. Both performances were of considerable merit and… Read More »COMMENT: Breathtaking arrogance threatens to tarnish legacy of sacred All Blacks jersey
The selection of Dylan Edwards has the potential to transform NSW and be the icing on the cake for Michael Maguire’s strategy that worked so well for New Zealand last year when they upset the Kangaroos. I see the battle of the fullbacks as being… Read More »MICHAEL HAGAN: The silent assassin who can tear Maroons apart – and how Madge’s Kiwi blueprint can shake up Origin
If you were to ask an outside observer on Saturday night whether the A-Leagues appeared in danger of extinction and on their knees financially, they would have looked at you oddly and thought you may have been a little mad. To the untrained eye, the… Read More »A-Leagues facing financial oblivion, or just spiteful anti-football media seeking an easy kill?
Worshipping false idols is a sin when it comes to Power Rankings and the Cronulla bubble burst in spectacular fashion at Penrith in Round 12. The Panthers are now back on top of these ranks even if the Sharks still hold a slight edge on… Read More »NRL Power Rankings: Round 12 – Panthers back on top, Bunnies off the bottom as premiership enters haphazard rep season
The stark difference between the NSW and Queensland game plans last year was laid bare in the opening minutes of what was ultimately a series-deciding Game 2. Queensland kick off with NSW completing a solid and unsurprisingly conservative first set, for Mitchell Moses to kick… Read More »The three-minute stretch to keep Madge awake at night