Recent content by Maester

Recency bias is a significant factor here, Djokovic has been on fire since Wimbledon and it seems like that will continue indefinitely. But Djokovic winning another 5+ slams after his 32nd birthday is not likely historically speaking. History suggests something is likely to get in his way...

I think Federer might finally be done winning big titles (masters and up). Seems strange to say after making the Cincinnati final (though it's his best Masters event) ... but his ground game has really declined compared to last year. He's 37 now, Djokovic is well and truly back, Nadal is in top...

I think if the Force can average around 15k for all their matches this year that will send a pretty big statement. Selling out 1 game is great, but hopefully the crowds don't drop to sub-10k after a couple of games. Will be really interesting to see what WSR evolves into next year. Western...

I think it depends on a) staying injury free and b) how much he cares about breaking Jimmy Connors most ATP titles record. Obviously injury could force him to retire but lets assume he stays free of any significant problem. He still needs another 13 titles to surpass Connors, and that would...

Wouldn't be surprised if oldest number 1 turns out to be his most durable record.

I think he's probably just realised that he has to go for it. That getting back to number 1, even if it's just for a week or two, would be a bigger achievement than anything other than winning another slam. And Wimbedon is ages away. By playing Rotterdam (and potentially Dubai) it might hurt his...

Australia is losing a team because the ARU wanted it. SANZAAR is not really some separate thing to the ARU - decisions like Super Rugby structure have to be unanimous, so each union essentially has a power of veto. Thus any SANZAAR call is also an ARU call. Malcolm McCusker is now representing...

Well Rugby WA obviously have some legal case for remaining until at least 2020 so we'll see how that plays out. And I'd also say that while it might seem unlikely, the ARU could also change its mind. Nothing is set in stone and even with a 15 team model for next year it would not be difficult to...

Yeah, the competition itself is what's broken, it's not like just 1 or 2 teams are struggling while everyone else thrives. The number of people with at least a casual interest in the sport would be roughly the same as it was 5 or 10 years ago, but the competition is hemorrhaging fans, and...

I think there could be some bigger things happen in Asian rugby after the 2019 World Cup. But SANZAAR will want this to be within Super Rugby not some other competition, hence their commitment to the Sunwolves.

While I think it'd be good for the Force to seek out other options if they are cut from Super Rugby, the biggest obstacle to joining the Top League would be the fact it's played during the Australian summer. And I can't see Japanese clubs being willing to play away games in Perth during December...

Possibly, but it's a more specialist position that would be harder for a rugby league halfback to transition to than fly half.

I'm pretty sure Foley is contracted to the Waratahs until the end of 2018 so that's another issue because I don't think Cronk could play any position other than fly half in rugby. Though I think Foley may be playing in the Japanese Top League at the end of this year so I'd say it's fairly likely...

The Waratahs are basically an Eastern Suburbs and North Shore of Sydney team. As someone who grew up in the North West I've always thought if a 2nd Sydney team was introduced based in Parramatta or Homebush that I'd probably switch allegiance, even though I now live near North Sydney. There's a...

Very unlikely at 35 years old. And one player doesn't win you a world cup. I think it quite unlikely that he would be significantly better as a rugby union 10 in 2019 than Bernard Foley. I think it more likely that Foley would be better. But hey, if Cronk really wanted to give it a crack, and...