John Campbell is in a self-analytical state of mind. Here he tries to explain his passionate disapproval of English sporting efforts. A lot of my mates who follow the NRL still sprout the ‘whoever is playing Manly’ line when asked who they will be barracking for in any upcoming round of footy. It harks back to the bad old days when the Sea Eagles from Sydney’s northern … [Read more...]
The Julian Rocks – a critter-filled snorkelling adventure
Socrates put down his basketball and rolled up his wrestling mat for a day to try out one of Byron Bay's most unforgettable adventure experiences and asks himself why he hadn't done it many years earlier. Julian Rocks is reputed to be one of the world's best scuba diving experiences and while Socrates only took the lesser snorkelling option he was still gobsmacked by the extent … [Read more...]
Forgiveness and trust… the keys to playing great footy (and being a great rugby league coach)!
Tim Edwards sits in on a Ben and Shane Walker (coaching guru brothers who mentor the Queensland Rugby League's Ipswitch Jets) video analysis session with their players and tries to figure out just what makes them so different from other coaches. Ben and Shane Walker coach the Ipswich Jets in the Intrust Super Cup, Queensland's rugby league competition. The former NRL star … [Read more...]
Introducing the Sunwolves! The case for Japanese Rugby.
Chris Waterman examines Japan's recent love affair with rugby and with their own team the Sunwolves. Few genuine rugby fans will have forgotten watching in disbelief as Karne Hesketh dived over on 84 minutes to claim victory for the Brave Blossoms against the Springboks and thereby ignite last year’s Rugby World Cup, and although the Japanese narrowly failed to qualify for … [Read more...]
Cecil Healy – the village hero who changed the world through his sport!
One of Australia's least known sporting heroes changed the world in so many ways... but his mercurial swimming and other sporting feats were not much help against the guns and bombs of war! Manly is viewed by most as a commercial, services and tourism hub surrounded by an urban sprawl. Well, it is that. Sort of. But it’s also a village. Even twenty years ago, when I still … [Read more...]