A senior Australian Rugby league official recently leaked to Socrates that the ARL are looking at experimenting with the State of Origin team selections for future interstate matches. While not being totally dissatisfied with current arrangements the official argued that it was experimenting with selection rules that turned interstate Rugby League fixtures into the success that … [Read more...]
Nothing better than a “hit up”… but
In recent weeks I have noticed that some of the more flamboyant National Rugby League teams have been breaking the unwritten rule that, when in possession deep in their own half of the field, big forwards must make “hit ups” to gain field position. Teams like Parramatta and Eastern Suburbs have occasionally taken the riskier option of making a few passes to get the ball away … [Read more...]
Sport 2021 – Sports philosopher No 2. Aaron Kearney
It’s hard to summarise the sporting life of multi-award-winning journalist Aaron Kearney. Attempts to do so demand more print space than is possible for the average sporting story. Suffice it to say that Kearney has played, watched, reported on, commentated (T.V. and radio), anchored, written about, produced, organized and facilitated more sports and sporting events than most … [Read more...]
Athletes in the LGBTQI Mardi Gras
The central theme of this years Sydney LGBTQI Mardi Gras was “Fearless.” What a great theme. The Australian LGBQTI community’s night of nights conjures a huge range of intense emotions from participants, supporters and observers alike… and the joy that flows from the demonstrated fearlessness of the community is the emotion that seems the most palpable to me! No sub-division … [Read more...]
Should Cooper Cronk have played?
I heard Cooper Cronk’s appearance in the 2018 NRL Grand Final (despite breaking a scapula only one week earlier) described as disgraceful... and as a piece of alpha male stupidity. More generous critics suggested that he should have prioritized his health above what was just a football match. The most intelligent of Cronk’s critics made the point that, of course Cronk would … [Read more...]