sidelined

Look. I know I bagged Melbourne a bit last night but it is not a bad old town. Apart from the worshipping of false gods. I’ve found some English Super League on the hotel telly and that is helping to banish the pallor that hangs around my league spirit. So, what do we have this [...]

As part of the centenary celebrations for rugby league in Australia, the top 100 players of all time have been announced. As such lists do, it has sparked argument considering that only Darren Lockyer is the only current player to make the list. Roy Masters, who was one of those eligible to vote, outlines the [...]

Some of you may have noticed that cricket has dominated the news for the past few days. The aftermath of the Sydney test has released a wave of recriminations, hyperbole and effigy burning not seen for many a year. First off, cricket will survive this brouhaha as it survived Bodyline, Ray Illingworth taking his players [...]

Saturday dawned and I started to count down the hours. I couldn’t wait till 7:00pm when I would attend, not just my first A-League game, but my first ever local football fixture at Gosford. And it promised to be a beauty. The Central Coast Mariners versus Sydney FC. One thing did seem amiss. During the [...]

Regardless of who wins the Rugby World Cup, the next few weeks will see the last chapter written in George Gregan’s Test career. His on-field exploits are legendary, but the George Gregan I will remember most vividly is the one who turned up for a public jersey-signing marathon at North Sydney oval a few years [...]

The interesting thing about finals footy is the manner in which you team may exit the finals (winning the grand final excluded of course). For the fan, not making the finals is tinged with disappointment but a relief that the season is over. In the case of the Rabbitohs, making the finals was reward enough [...]

This is the busiest time of my year – the time when all the deadlines I have ever had coalesce, whilst working three jobs, and being a single parent (my now ex-partner ALWAYS goes away at this time). And then there’s the only real reason to live, finals football. 66%/$1.57 Power Eagles $2.35/34% 30%/$2.25 Hawks [...]

Group B Australia Should win: Bolster rah rah sense of entitlement and superiority. It is the way of the universe. Can’t fight it. Shouldn’t win: Oh, I couldn’t cope. Wiki says: Mark Champion. No, seriously that’s what came up. You heard it here first. Wales Should win: The accents – so cute! The singing. The [...]

Here it is … (62%) Magpies Crows (37%) (17%) Tigers Saints (83%) (93%) Eagles Bombers (7%) (23%) Lions Cats (76%) (91%) Power Dockers (9%) (57%) Swans Hawks (42%) (15%) Bulldogs Kangaroos (85%) (78%) Demons Blues (21%) I tipped all the away teams, with the solitary exception of the Power-Dockers game. Looks like I’m home with [...]

On Facebook I guess!! Here are my tips (31% / $1.95) Saints Eagles ($1.78 / 69%) (13% / $5.50) Blues Kangaroos ($1.13 / 86%) (92% / $1.14) Dockers Demons ($5.25 / 8%) (40% / $2.30) Magpies Swans ($1.57 / 59%) (70% / $1.38) Crows Lions ($2.90 / 29%) (23% / $3.00) Bulldogs Hawks ($1.36 / [...]