Tag: From The Couch

From The Couch: Finals Week 1

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on September 10, 2012 4 Comments
From The Couch: Finals Week 1

Image: Breakdown #1 – Canterbury v Manly: No game was more finals than the clash between minor premiers Canterbury and defending premiers Manly. There was the sub-text of Des Hasler with the Tony Williams move next year also simmering below the surface. These two had played two crackers already and this would be the third. […]

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From The Couch: Round 26

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on September 4, 2012 3 Comments
From The Couch: Round 26

Image: Congratulations Tim Moltzen, Ben Roberts and Chris Sandow: On a weekend of high drama for the Willie M Medal, the Wests Tigers' Tim Moltzen polled two votes in the loss to Melbourne while Ben Roberts received two votes and Chris Sandow one in the final game of the year to lead to a three-way […]

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From The Couch: Round 25

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on August 27, 2012 3 Comments
From The Couch: Round 25

Further Notes on the Television Deal: A week on from the television deal and I am as flabbergasted as ever that Nine maintained the free-to-air rights. To get my initial thoughts on the deal read "A Deal with the Devil", here. Perhaps the most shocking element to come out of the deal was that Ten […]

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From The Couch: Round 24

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on August 20, 2012 4 Comments
From The Couch: Round 24

Bill Harrigan Must Go: Bill Harrigan's position as referees boss is untenable. So too is Stuart Raper's. They both must go. The abomination that is the obstruction rule rests almost solely on Bill Harrigan and his predecessor Robert Finch. They have promoted the confusion that is so great that even the most ardent rugby league […]

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From The Couch: Round 23

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on August 13, 2012 6 Comments
From The Couch: Round 23

Image: Farewell Fuck-Ups: Two all-time greats of the code, two champions with 660-plus premiership games, 68 Tests and 56 Origin appearances between them, will retire at season's end, both celebrating their final home games in round 26. And their reward? They have had their last games tarnished by the belligerence and selfishness of television stations […]

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From The Couch: Round 22

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on August 6, 2012 4 Comments
From The Couch: Round 22

Image: Bring Back Gus: The word is out – Phil Gould wants back in – and the NSWRL must make it happen. There is little question that Phil Gould is one of the great all-time coaches, successful at each of the three clubs he has coached and the greatest Blues mentor, with six series victories. […]

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The Early Line: Round 22

Filed in The Early Line by on August 2, 2012 0 Comments
The Early Line: Round 22

Image: The Sydney Roosters are getting 4.5 to 5.5 points against St George Illawarra and are capable of causing an upset in this. The Roosters have lost five straight at home but the Dragons have failed in their last eight road clashes. The Roosters have won just 3 of 15 against the Dragons, including four […]

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From The Couch: Round 22

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on July 30, 2012 2 Comments
From The Couch: Round 22

Image: A Match Made in Heaven: Ricky Stuart, "the best Parramatta signing since Jack Gibson", is now officially an Eel. It is a match made in heaven if you are happy to see the Eels stay mired down the bottom of the ladder. If you are fond of the Eels, it is going to be […]

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From The Couch: Round 20

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on July 23, 2012 1 Comment
From The Couch: Round 20

Image: The End of the Stephen Kearney Era: It will be Stephen Kearney's biggest regret, taking the Parramatta job. It will likely be his last and only premiership gig. In late 2010, when Kearney took the job, he could have had a gig at any number of clubs. He was the hottest ticket in town. […]

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From The Couch: Round 19

Filed in From The Couch, NRL by on July 16, 2012 5 Comments
From The Couch: Round 19

Image: Bring Back the Draw: There is a great deal of excitement at Making The Nut that the draw is back on the NRL agenda after the dissatisfaction with golden point reached critical mass after the Sharks-Roosters draw last Monday night. Good. Golden point is a farce. It always has been and has become increasingly […]

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