A Set the default text size Geelong won the grand final with an utterly dominant display of football, just like Melbourne, Richmond and Hawthorn before then. They got all facets of their game going at the right time and made being part of that side a breeze. We've seen in the past – say, in the 1970s and 80s – that it was common for teams that unfortunately lost in any particular year to brush themselves off. In many cases it was made somewhat easier by previous success, like Hawthorn or Carlton, who lost in a particular year but bounced back the following season to win.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/09/29/can-sydney-bounce-back-from-grand-final-defeat-or-is-this-all-theyve-got/

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Dayne Zorko's captaincy of the Brisbane Lions has come under serious question after allegations surrounding his sledging of Harrison Petty in the clash against the Demons last Friday. Some outside the club have called for Zorko to stand down as captain. Some reactive Brisbane fans echoed those sentiments. As Mark Robinson wrote in the Herald Sun, 'Zorko is a classic case of white line fever'. He plays on the edge, which has led him to butt heads with opposition players from time to time. Some Lions fans and the commentariat have said that Zorko's behaviour is unbecoming of a captain, and maybe they're right, but the thing about footy, as in life, is you can't have a person's strengths without all their faults.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/08/24/the-favourites-to-replace-zorko-as-brisbane-captain/

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A Set the default text size Nick Malouf raising the silverware with the Australian men's sevens team in the grandstand at So Kon Po was not meant to happen.In December 2021, Rugby Australia (RA) announced that men's coach Tim Walsh and women's coach John Manenti would swap roles.With no context, this exchange would have seemed peculiar. RA however understood the assignment.Weight was once more being thrown behind the women's program, with Walsh deemed the man to take them in the right direction.Manenti on the other hand was sent to take on a previously impossible task with the men, who had time and time again failed to establish themselves as consistent performers.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/11/08/aussie-sevens-success-time-to-pay-the-misfits/

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A Set the default text size This is the penultimate article in the series where I'll pick a team of the best players who got away from a club since 2000. Today – the North Queensland Cowboys. The only criteria are that the player named must have made his debut for the Cowboys, left the club after 2000, and then played with another NRL club, rather than just retired or headed to obscurity in either the ESL or rugby. (Details in brackets are the year the player debuted for the Cowboys and the number of games played for the club.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/09/26/the-ones-who-got-away-north-queensland-cowboys/

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A Set the default text size In case you missed it, an exciting piece of the Australian rugby pathways puzzle has been running over the past few weeks. The Under 16 and Under 19 national competition has just finished up, featuring age group representative teams from each of the five Australian Super Rugby franchises.First of all, it's a credit to Rugby Australia that these games have been available for punters like me to view live from the comfort of their living room. And if you did miss them, not to worry – you can still watch the replays on demand on Stan Sport! The junior and grassroots game is something to be celebrated, and access like this is vital in raising its profile.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/11/18/the-kids-are-alright-how-do-we-keep-junior-talent-in-rugby/

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A Set the default text size The NRL is heating up and with just one round of regular season footy to be played, each top eight side will be trying to make a statement before finals time. The Penrith Panthers will be looking to retain the title, whilst the rest of the contenders will be attempting to dethrone Penrith. Amongst those sides is the Cronulla Sharks who for some unknown reason have been flying under the radar all season, despite being a consistent top four team all year. The Sharks always seem to be an underestimated team, regardless of rarely having a slip-up in 2022.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/09/01/cronulla-are-dark-horses-to-win-the-comp-heres-why/

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A Set the default text size The reintroduction of the Australian A program has been extremely beneficial for the development of fringe players.It has highlighted some talents and perhaps, allowed provincial coaches to look at their squads and identify weaknesses, which could be adapted in the future, especially with Ben Darwin's ‘Gain Line' analytics model, but that's for another day.The Australian A program was developed many years ago to provide exposure and give up and comers a chance under higher pressure situations.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/10/09/rugby-australia-we-have-a-problem/

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A Set the default text size Dynasty-hunting Melbourne City have returned to their irresistible best to charge to a 4-0 rout of 10-man Sydney FC and power into a fourth consecutive A-League Men grand final high on confidence. Friday's semi-final tie was locked at 1-1 from the first leg and after Sydney's Max Burgess was sent off in the 20th minute, Curtis Good's 37th-minute header and Jack Rodwell's 59th-minute own goal sent City on their way at AAMI Park. Marco Tilio added a third in the 67th minute while Richard van der Venne looped a fourth home in the 82nd to seal a 5-1 win on aggregate and a shot at a premiership-championship double.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/05/20/city-thrash-10-man-sydney-make-fourth-straight-grand-final/

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A Set the default text size Looking forward to 2023, I would like to share a few thoughts on Super Rugby (men and women) going forward, especially Super Rugby Pacific. I would like to keep it positive especially given all the horrendous negativity in my job at present.This could very well be part one.The draw needs to be compressedAnd by that, I mean the local derby rounds have to go. Hear me out: to make space for future expansion or a crossover competition, we can't afford to add to the playing schedule.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/01/02/the-overhaul-super-rugby-badly-needs/

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A Set the default text size Stop press: Waratahs/Wallaroos openside flanker Emily Chancellor has been signed by Harlequins Women. She will join the club after the World Cup. Hopefully this will be an opportunity that opens up for many more Australian players. There is plenty of club rugby this weekend but to keep the international flavour of the last couple of weeks going, the Wallaroos are playing. The Wallaroos have two upcoming Tests: Saturday 20 August in Christchurch and Saturday 27 August in Adelaide as a doubleheader with the Wallabies.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/08/19/no-wallabies-no-matter-wallaroos-are-go/

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