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Serious question - why can't Hodge lock down a starting position at fly-half for a Super franchise?

I'm sure the coaches are reiterating the 'earn the right to go wide' line ad-nauseam but they are probably also spouting the 'play what's in front of you' line too. This type of play comes with an element of risk and relies on good decision- making and skill execution; I think it's the poor...

2017 was a good year.

I did say long-term not short-term but I tend to agree with you. However another couple of games with Paisami's standard mixed- bag (line breaks, big hits, poor passing and dropped balls) will have to change things. I'm less confident than a lot of others that Paisami is going to follow a...

I really think his long-term position in the team is more assured than Paisami's.

He’s played like 120 minutes of combined rugby; and while he looks pretty good ball in hand, he looks equally as concerning without it.

I don’t mind the latter option for a number of reasons including some that are somewhat cynical. If we accept that results are always going to be secondary- why not go for an all indigenous approach; it would be great marketing, it might even be easier to save on wages across the squad and you...

*ball security. I don’t think it’s an understatement to claim his ball security is woeful for an international rugby players. He loses the ball in contact every second tackle. He needs to fix it quickly because it undermines all his good work.

Yep Smith took out BPA from memory in a subtle but no so subtle fashion so he couldn't clean out effectively which the AR definitely would have seen. I don't know if it's bias or more a fear of being called out by the New Zealand rugby machination following the game.

He has started one game and looked solid, nothing more. Let's judge him after another five tests.

Paisami's an interesting case and I'm not completely sold on him yet; he's very abrasive in contact and beats tackles but at the same time his poor security is woeful and has a tendency to throw wild cutout passes under pressure. Already Ikitau looks more assured than Paisami, if less spectacular.

It's worth noting that these are hardly professional salaries (or at least at they lower end of the spectrum) - the average squad member would probably be on less than 100k and that was before COVID and amendments to the CBA. But the return on investment does need to be questioned especially...

This is a good point. I don't think the ABs would select the same backline against the Springboks/ England because they know it would likely be an attritional game (read box kicks galore) and that back 3 is potentially suspect under the high ball. The ABs are aware Wallabies are unlikely to...

All reports suggest that the team is more pissed off at the trio who broke the rules rather than the 'snitch' - as they should be.

At the end of the day, this result is what professionalism looks like. Any comments with the general gist of 'back in the day' are obviously completely irrelevant.

Does this apply to brain injuries?

I reckon a better solution would be for Rugby Au/ NSW Rugby to prioritize success in a Western Sydney club above all else; if that means directing professional players, additional funding and seriously pissing off Randwick and Northern Suburbs then so be it. A couple of years of sustained...

I'm a little late to the party but thought I would add my two cents. Your comment about wanting to live in the parts of Sydney where established clubs are located might be true for you and I, but for many players from Western Sydney, especially those of Polynesian backgound, it doesn't. Coogee...

It's got QC (Quade Cooper) written all over it - LA will be great for his socials.

This will be unpopular but I can't see both Donaldson and Harrison being strong/ dominant super rugby players. None were absolute stars as juniors (I know there are late bloomers etc but its not a terrible predictor of long-term ability) and neither have looked a level above their competitors...