Roy Masters
Roy Masters is a Rugby League Columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald
Free at last: new deal to benefit all levels
Roy Masters The new Australian Rugby League Commission has delivered the code an outstanding stepping stone broadcasting deal, eclipsing anything done in the past and securing its media future by unshackling the...
War looms over top job
Roy Masters ANOTHER rugby league civil war is on the distant horizon unless the ARL Commission appoints a football person as its chief executive.
Origin Legends to fight for future
Roy Masters The NSWRL has threatened to sever ties with the state's Origin Legends association, following the failure of the ex-Blues' body to supply financial accounts.
Roy Masters
Dramatic licence: whistleblowers in danger of playing to script to ensure theatrical finale
Roy Masters Referees risk becoming choreographers, directing the course of NRL games to produce dramatic results.
Why succeeding often means failure
Roy Masters IT'S preferable to be the coach who follows the coach who follows the legend. Just ask anyone who followed Jack Gibson, particularly after his appointments at Eastern Suburbs (two premierships) and...
Blues sold a dummy when junior rules were changed
Roy Masters NSW's long wait for another Andrew ''Joey'' Johns-style halfback may be over … in another 15 years or so.
Roy Masters
How many careers ended because of a ref's wrong ruling?
Roy Masters Watching football these days fills me full of memories. It makes me reflect on the number of legitimate tries in the past that were disallowed and the ones that were awarded, despite them being...
Roy Masters
Fox, Nine could be outfoxed on TV rights
Roy Masters A SHORT-TERM deal between rugby league and its broadcasters looms as a distinct possibility following News Ltd's acquisitions.
Roy Masters
Old tensions surface in great debate over Immortal eight
Roy Masters An historic meeting in Sydney on Wednesday of some of the game's top powerbrokers will decide rugby league's eighth Immortal.
Now Stuart must move heaven and earth to make Blue moon rise over Suncorp
Roy Masters The Blues were over the moon after their victory in the Sydney State of Origin match, but coach Ricky Stuart must ensure such euphoria is not blue-moon rare.
Out of favour, out of friends
Roy Masters God so loved the world, he didn't send a committee. He sent himself.
Loyal servant's departure won't be lamented by all
Roy Masters Less than a week ago, a TV network boss asked me bluntly: ''Who runs rugby league?'' He was seeking answers to the powerbrokers with whom he should negotiate the upcoming broadcast rights.
The brain game provides one of many challenges for today's coaches
Roy Masters A neurologist friend tells me there is a part of the brain that actually grows in adulthood.
Roy Masters
Fine line between danger and putting head on the block
Roy Masters When Tom Raudonikis coached Wests in the mid-1990s, he discovered a novel way of motivating his team.
Maroons are masters of subterfuge and dirty deeds come Origin time
Roy Masters NEVER trust a Queenslander at Origin time, even the ballboys.
Chin up, Blues, you've got these guys covered
Roy Masters The Blues camp was incensed by a remark from Maroons forward Sam Thaiday when asked what was Queensland's biggest danger in the lead-up to Origin I.
Dark forces at work if Blues can break the spell
Roy Masters You need a witch's cauldron and a clove of garlic to understand state of origin.
Hayne looms as magic potion in NSW's witching hours of power
Roy Masters You need a witch's cauldron and a clove of garlic to understand State of Origin, particularly games played in Melbourne.
Quite a blue: battle of the breweries brought to a head as Origin adverts become a XXXX-nightmare
Roy Masters AUSTRALIA'S two biggest breweries have resolved their dispute over Cameron Smith, skipper of the XXXX-sponsored Queensland team, being used in advertisements to promote the sale of VB, the sponsor of...
Roy Masters
The best Origin players are not always superstars
Roy Masters NSW coach Ricky Stuart has a ''blueprint'' for success, a master plan to reverse six years of State of Origin domination by Queensland. It defines the qualities he seeks in an Origin player.
