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The Hayne Plane: Are the Titans about to take flight?

August 3, 2016, 4:08 pm By Joel Leave a Comment

The prodigal son has returned… but not to Parramatta. No, Parramatta’s favourite son, Jarryd Hayne, has traded in the blue and gold of the Eels for the slightly lighter shade of blue and gold of the Titans. In doing so, he’s not only offended everyone within a 10 kilometre radius of Westmead, but also dramatically changed the dynamics of the race to the Telstra Premiership finals. To add a player of Hayne’s quality to a potential Top 8 team so late in the contest, is to not only throw a cat amongst the pigeons, but to trap the pigeons in a cardboard box and arm the cat with a blowtorch.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Editorials, NRL Features & Analysis Tagged With: David Mead, Gold Coast Titans News, Jarry Hayne, Josh Hoffman, offense, Parramatta Eels News, VOA, Willaim Zillman

The Greatest Game of All: Storm defeat Cowboys

August 2, 2016, 5:32 pm By Joel Leave a Comment

Without a major upset in Round 21,  The Obstruction Rule turns its eye to the battle of the premiership heavyweights – the Melbourne Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys, in this edition of The Greatest Game of All. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: NRL Features & Analysis, The Greatest Game Of All Tagged With: Cooper Cronk, defense, Johnathan Thurston, Justin O'Neill, Kevin Proctor, Lachlan Coote, Melbourne Storm News, North Queensland Cowboys News, offense, Rory Kostjaysn, VOA

The Greatest Game Of All: Panthers defeat Broncos

July 26, 2016, 2:56 pm By Joel Leave a Comment

The Obstruction Rule takes a look at the biggest upset of the round – the Penrith Panthers defeating the Brisbane Broncos, and asks how it happened and whether we could have seen it coming? [Read more…]

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Filed Under: NRL Features & Analysis, The Greatest Game Of All Tagged With: Alex Glenn, Anthony Milford, Beau Scott, Brad Arthur, Brisbane Broncos News, Bryce Cartwright, Corey Oates, defense, Jack Reed, James Fisher-Harris, Josh McGuire, Michael Jennings, New Zealand Warriors News, offense, Penrith Panthers News, South Sydney Rabbitohs News, Te Maire Martin, VOA, Waqa Blake, Wayne Bennett

The Robbie Farah Effect: Can a team be better off without its star?

July 21, 2016, 7:36 pm By Joel Leave a Comment

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor caused a stir this week when he announced that club stalwart and fan favourite Robbie Farah would be dropped to reserve grade. Taylor faced the media and explained that he felt they have “too many cooks spoiling the broth”, and that “it’s just not working for us at the moment in regards to the cohesion of the team”. The pitchforks immediately came out – fans were up in arms, Twitter exploded. It’s a wonder that Leichhardt Oval wasn’t burnt to the ground. But lost amongst all the hubbub of the talking heads proclaiming that Farah deserved better and that Taylor had lost his mind was one tiny, but significant detail. Taylor might actually be right. [Read more…]

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Related NRL News & Posts:

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Filed Under: Editorials, NRL Features & Analysis Tagged With: Jason Taylor, Lachlan Coote, Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses, North Queensland Cowboys News, Penrith Panthers News, Robbie Farah, VOA, Wests Tigers News

Tight Games: Why top teams don’t have to blame the ref

July 21, 2016, 1:06 am By Joel Leave a Comment

The difference between contenders and also-rans is that contenders always find a way to win the close ones. This is a commonly held belief of commentators and fans alike and has been perpetuated year after year without challenge. But is it true? And if it’s not, what is the defining trait of dominant teams, or is there even one at all? [Read more…]

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Related NRL News & Posts:

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Filed Under: NRL Features & Analysis, Rugby League Theory Tagged With: 2016, Cronulla Sharks News, margins, Melbourne Storm News, North Queensland Cowboys News, NRL, St George Illawarra Dragons News

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