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Roy Masters

Roy Masters

Roy Masters is a Sports Columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Cowboys captain Tom Dearden had a frustrating day with officials in North Queensland’s round 2 loss to the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval last Saturday.

The easy solution to counter NRL’s need for speed

Last year’s NRL finals series was widely acknowledged as one of the best. The game was flying. But on the eve of this season, the NRL decided to make changes.

  • Roy Masters

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Ricky Stuart wears his heart on his sleeve more than most coaches.

It takes a special person to be an NRL coach. So why do they do it?

A football season is a test of whether the forces that bond a club together can withstand the forces seeking to pull it apart. Coaching is usually the easy part.

  • Roy Masters
Happy days: NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.

The NRL has never been stronger. But there’s a storm on the horizon

Revenue is up. Off-field “atrocities” are down. A bumper new TV deal is expected. But the looming addition of two new teams in two years is set to cause an ‘El Nino’ of extreme conditions in the NRL.

  • Roy Masters
Reece Walsh masterminded an incredible Broncos comeback against Canberra in last year’s finals.

Why the NRL might have no choice but to change the kick-off rule

The ARLC abandoned a proposed change to the kick-off rule in the face of opposition by the clubs. But one new rule they did accept could make it essential.

  • Roy Masters
Cathy Freeman was honoured with an Companion of Australia award.

‘We have to put out the message of unity’: Freeman’s road to AC honour

The Indigenous athlete who lit the cauldron at the Sydney Olympics and went on to win the nation’s hearts joins an illustrious list of gold medallists in receiving our top gong.

  • Roy Masters
Barry O’Farrell was axed as Wests Tigers chair, while the future of CEO Shane Richardson is under a cloud.

‘25 years of war’: Wests Tigers need a strongman to take charge

The boardroom bickering that has bedevilled the joint venture since its inception in 1999 will only come to an end when the club appoints a real leader to run the show.

  • Roy Masters
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Adam Reynolds looks on from the bench after being injured in the grand final. Brisbane were lucky to hang on with a reshuffled backline.

Bold plan for an extended substitutes bench could revolutionise the NRL

Some of the most successful coaches in rugby league want to potentially double the size of the current bench as the game becomes faster and more brutal. But will the change work?

  • Roy Masters
Reece Walsh and Nathan Cleary at Wembley Stadium.

Reg and Reece: Why flashy Kangaroos star is the best player since Gasnier

A man who played alongside Reg Gasnier in St George’s dominant era in the 1960s believes Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has the same magic.

  • Roy Masters
Veteran Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has a deep passion for the game.

A teacher, schemer, dreamer … but Des Hasler definitely isn’t paranoid

The Gold Coast mentor has surfed every cultural wave in his 20 years as a coach. And despite a disappointing season, he’ll be back at the helm for the Titans in 2026.

  • Roy Masters
Best of the best ... Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Sonny Bill Williams, Mark Gasnier, Brian To’om Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis.

Why Nathan Cleary didn’t make the best NRL team since 2000

The Western Suburbs coach of the century and former Dragons coach selects his best squad of the quarter-century. Do you agree?

  • Roy Masters