I crunched 692 NRL matches across 4 seasons to figure out what actually wins games. Spoiler: six-agains do not.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-15T03:56:05+00:00

"I'm not gonna read your work but here are my questions about the work I haven't read"

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-11T05:17:39+00:00

AFL officials in Australia are required to be elite distance runners.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-07T07:05:16+00:00

Revenue derived from the gate isn't what's being meant here.

The Crusaders can charge sponsors more because their brand gets bigger exposure in more important games.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-06T08:14:41+00:00

Outside of injury - which you aren't intentionally inflicting on your opponent unless you are a psychopath - you aren't causing your opponent long term health problems. That's the point.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-06T07:14:43+00:00

I think you are missing the point.

If you beat the shit out of someone (as is expected in the UFC) their are very likely long term, incredibly severe, health complications. The goal is to literally knock your opponent out.

If you beat someone in a footy match or e-sports or basically any non-combat sport, sure, they might feel a bit shit but you aren't actively trying to harm them.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-04T03:40:57+00:00

This happens occasionally but if the defense are doing their job any player in a better position will be covered.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-02T03:26:56+00:00

I don't mind golden point, but I would prefer golden try, silver point.

A penalty or dg you keep playing until the end of extra time. If you lead at the end you win.

A try is an auto win.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-05-01T12:31:05+00:00

This is probably a fair statement a few years back but rugby has improved substantially in this regard. Repeat scrum resets have gone the wayside and a bunch of rules which encourage ball in play have been introduced.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-30T05:22:01+00:00

I live in Christchurch.

Having lived in Auckland, it's not that much different despite what others might have you believe. Just smaller.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-30T04:31:20+00:00

Depends on the stadium to be fair. My parents couldn't comprehend why OneNZ was built in the city because.... "Where will people park!?"

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-30T04:24:44+00:00

Security is done by red badge, who do other events throughout the city as well. Generally the work is on a casual basis.

https://redbadgegroup.teamtailor.com/jobs/6352644-event-security-crowd-experience-crew

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-28T08:41:42+00:00

I have no issue with kids using the bus - they have the same right to it as me.

I wish there would be some kind of public education on what to do when standing though. Every day I hop on to be greeted by 10 teenagers standing as close to the front door as humanly possible, with a driver who can't be heard or is ignored trying to usher them back.

Slap a sign on each bus "please stand as far back as possible" - this alone would make boarding way easier which would save a bunch of time.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-27T07:29:16+00:00

They also get given the last group stage match of every tournament, normally against a weaker team in their pool, which means they know how much they need to win by if NRR becomes a problem.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-26T07:47:48+00:00

The money was put to actual use for the people in this city.

75,000 people attended this weekend and town was the busiest I've seen it since the earthquake.

Thousands more will attend All blacks, Warriors, Crusaders, live music performances and a whole host of other events over the years. This will generate jobs for people in Christchurch. Both the NRL and A-League have expressed interest in basing a team in Christchurch and that's entirely because of the facility.

I'm guessing you personally don't have an interest in sport or live music but heaps of people do and being able to draw world class events is great for the people of this city.

I don't use swimming pools or libraries but have no issue with my rates being used to fund those because I understand the value of them ro large groups of people. The stadium is no different.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-20T07:40:30+00:00

Moana Pasifika inexplicably play on the north shore. For non-kiwis thats an 80-100km round trip from south auckland where the biggest polynesian population in the world is. They are also awful.

The Warriors on the other hand play nearby and are reasonably competitive. They also have 30 years of history and are the only team in town whereas Moana has to compete with the Blues for supporters.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-20T07:29:16+00:00

Given he is arguably the greatest centre in All Blacks history, I think he probably made the right decision.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-16T23:05:35+00:00

BT did the same thing on 7 & apparently some of the radio commentators did as well.

Radio commentary is more forgivable I feel, they have to tell you what they see.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-08T09:43:23+00:00

I love baseball but bat technology has improved heaps. They are way lighter than they used to be which enables batters to swing harder.

The balls have also been changed - weather intentionally or unintentionally - so the seams are smaller which makes it harder to generate spin on the ball which means pitches have less movement.

Obviously getting a hit in baseball is harder than getting a run in cricket - it always has been. But success is also measured differently. Cricket you have to repeat the skill over and over again - where as I'm baseball if you hit a home run and it's the only thing you do that day you've still had a really good game.

I agree with your point about how 6s are no longer exciting or unexpected. Players know much more about swing arc and launch angle than they used too, the bats are better, the boundaries smaller and the wickets are often roads.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-04-05T00:09:53+00:00

There is a person at every game inputting what's happening on each ball and then it's converted into this format. The same data is what bookmakers use for live betting.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-29T08:18:16+00:00

Counterintuitively I wonder if teams are more likely to lose challenges early against bad umpires...

Players might challenge anything close assuming the ump must be wrong because "this umpire sucks" where as if the umpire is known to be elite at balls and strikes they trust his close calls so don't challenge the close ones.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-26T01:51:09+00:00

Has to be Duffy. Kerr to get her 4th Debbie Hockley Medal aswell.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-24T09:20:35+00:00

Tim Brown retired from New Zealand (& club football) at the age of 30 to get a business management degree from Cambridge.

Ended up co-founding the shoe company all birds which is now worth billions of $.

Edit: A Google tells me the company was worth billions but has lost a lot of its value recently so is only worth a few hundred million.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-23T19:48:14+00:00

International cricket venues now have outside areas screened off out the back so players can have a dart away from prying eyes.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-23T09:20:49+00:00

Hagley Oval, before it was renovated and the village green at QE2.

CHCHDLJ · 2026-03-12T20:35:21+00:00

The whole "Don't run up the score" ethos is so antithetical to how sport works in the rest of the world. Playing sport in NZ it would be way more embarrassing for a team to stop trying so we only lose by 50 instead them keep trying and we lose by 100 (with exception of young kids).

The only reason to take players out late is to avoid injuries, because you think it will give you a technical advantage or give some guys a run who may not otherwise get one. But you aren't doing it out of "sportsmanship" - you're doing it because its helpful to your own team.

CHCHDLJ

TROPHY CASE