Geoff Parkes's Blog, page 10

Five and a Kick: Choke on that – Sharks shed finals flakes reputation as Raiders suffer unwanted 16-year first

The Sharks have trampled over their reputation of being finals flakes while sending minor premiers Canberra straight out the back door with a 32-12 boilover.

Canberra became the first team to finish first and suffer two straight finals defeats since St George Illawarra 16 years ago and only the second since Canterbury suffered the same fate in 1993.

While they looked sluggish after their one-point extra-time loss to Brisbane the week before, Cronulla were energetic and electric to advance ...

NRL Week 2 Finals Team Lists: ‘Vomiting through the night’ – Raiders get exemption with star out, Dogs make Crichton call

Ethan Strange has been ruled out of Canberra’s NRL semi-final against Cronulla in a massive blow to the minor premiers’ hopes of avoiding a devastating straight-sets exit.

In the midst of a breakout season, the gun five-eighth took ill overnight and will be replaced in the halves by utility Simi Sasagi.

Sasagi has enjoyed a great year in his own right but has never started a first-grade game in the halves before, though has played a handful of NSW Cup games there.

Speaking to 2GB, Stran...

Wallabies’ hopes of snapping Eden Park, Bledisloe Cup hoodoo cop hammer blow

In a massive blow to their hopes of ending the All Blacks’ 51-Test unbeaten streak at Eden Park and putting one hand on the Bledisloe Cup, the Wallabies have lost enforcer Rob Valetini to another calf injury for next weekend’s clash in Auckland.

Already without Will Skelton, the loss of the back-to-back John Eales Medallist is a hammer blow to their hopes of going one-nil up in the best-of-two Bledisloe Cup series, which also acts as the final leg of The Rugby Championship. The Wallabies must...

‘Season is done’: Magpies DISASTER after brutal Pendlebury blow minutes into prelim

Collingwood have suffered a massive blow losing veteran Scott Pendlebury to a calf injury less than three minutes into the preliminary final against Brisbane.

The Magpies kicked the opening seven points of the game, thanks to a Mason Cox goal, but more concerning was Pendlebury limping to the bench without any meaningful contribution to the game.

“Major story BT – that man on screen, Roan Steele, the sub, he’s into the game,” Mitch Cleary told Channel 7.

More A...

‘Very pro a week off’: Chol learns fate over Stewart concussion as debate erupts over pre-grand final bye

Geelong have been hit with an enormous blow, with star Tom Stewart ruled out of the grand final with concussion after a first-quarter incident, while Hawthorn’s Mabior Chol has been handed a hefty suspension.

The Cats stormed home after the first break to book their place in the decider with a dominant final three quarters, but the major talking point was the defender’s health.

Stewart was heavily tackled by Chol, having been knocked off balance by Sam Butler, with his head hitting the gro...

‘Tackle is legal’: Umpiring great defends Chol over controversial incident as Stewart concussion ends GF hopes, sparks debate

Geelong have been hit with an enormous blow early in their preliminary final against Hawthorn, with star defender Tom Stewart ruled out with concussion after a first-quarter incident.

Stewart was heavily tackled by Hawks forward Mabior Chol, having been knocked off balance by Sam Butler, with his head hitting the ground.

Initially, greater concerns were for a potentially injured wrist, but after the Cats backman was helped from the field by trainers, he was substituted out of the match wit...

AFL News: Goodwin finds new home, Bombers president’s foul-mouthed rant, former Rising Star winner plots comeback

Former Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin has found his new AFL home, moving to Sydney as a football director.

Goodwin will join Swans coach Dean Cox as a director of coaching and performance after being axed by the Demons in August.

The 48-year-old brings a wealth of experience to the Sydney coaching box, with Cox entering his second year at the helm.

The Swans paid the price for a slow start to this year’s season, finishing 10th (12-11) after a last-gasp effort to make finals f...

What did I miss? Gordon makes ‘bittersweet’ returns after injury cost him a role in three massive wins

Scrumhalf Jake Gordon says it’s been bittersweet watching the Wallabies post some famous wins without him, and he’s eager to join in on the fun with a drought-breaking victory at Eden Park.

Gordon injured himself on the eve of the third Test against the British and Irish Lions in August.

It meant not only did he miss that win in Sydney a few days later, but also the Wallabies’ drought-breaking triumph against South Africa in Johannesburg, and the last-gasp victory over Argentina in Townsvi...

Ashes tweak gives Cummins hope to play in all Tests – but skipper admits that might not be ‘realistic’

Pat Cummins is aiming to play in all five Ashes Tests, but Australia’s grounded pace ace will only know if it’s a realistic option closer to the series. 

The will-he-or-won’t-he storyline surrounding Cummins’ fitness is set to dominate the build up to the Ashes, with the nation’s top-ranked bowler nursing a back issue.

Cummins has fronted media three times this month since news of the injury, first at a Cricket Australia event a fortnight ago and last week at a sponsorship announcement.

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No matter how many toys they receive, TMOs can’t guarantee ‘clear-and-obvious’ verdicts

When all is said and dusted about them from the cheap seats, the television match officials (TMOs), love them or berate them, have shifted the axis of officiating in rugby union.

The paranoia is undeniable that TMOs can tip ecstasy on its head to inflict agony on everyone involved in a game, especially at the higher echelons of footy, where, arguably, the cut seems to be felt the deepest. Even whistleblowers, as a collective, have undergone pangs of insecurity in the belief that they are losi...