***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Johnners]

cant believe noel kelly was picked at hooker, meninga in front of Langlands and Fulton is a bit of a joke too. Johns was always going to be picked (stupid media influence), hard to argue with the rest.

Johns was always going to be picked because he was the best, not because of the media influence.

 

[Simon]

Johns was always going to be picked because he was the best, not because of the media influence.

The best? That's very subjective, it's impossible to say who is the best halfback ever but imo its not Johns, if you want to disagree then thats your choice.

 

[Simon]

Bellamy is staying in Melbourne, good luck to him, he can stay and coach his cheating ways down there and we'll get along with Ivan Henjack and win a couple of premierships thanks.

 

[morgieb]

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[morgieb]

Signings so far:
Wendell Sailor (mid-season) - drugs to Dragons (unconfirmed)
Danny Buderus - Knights to Leeds (ESL)
Isreal Folau - Storm to Broncos
Willie Tonga - Bulldogs to Cowboys
Luke Lewis - Panthers to Rabbitohs
William Zillman - Raiders to Titans
Gareth Ellis - ESL to Tigers
Tonie Carroll - Broncos to retirement
Matt Geyer - Storm to retirement
Lance Thompson - Sharks to retirement
Danny Nutley - Roosters to Sharks (mid-season)
Wayne Bennett (coach) - Broncos to Dragons
Neil Henry (coach) - Raiders to Cowboys
Graham Murray (coach) - Cowboys to teaching
Nathan Brown (coach) - Dragons (no club signed as of yet)
David Furner (coach) - Raiders (assitant coach) to Raiders (head coach)
Steve Folkes (coach) - Bulldogs (annouced he's leaving)
Kevin Moore (coach) - Bulldogs (assitant coach) to Bulldogs (head coach)

 

[morgieb]

Titans vs. Broncos
Eels vs. Sea Eagles
Bulldogs vs. Dragons
Sharks vs. Panthers
Cowboys vs. Warriors
Roosters vs. Knights
Wests Tigers vs. Rabbitohs
Raiders vs. Storm

 

[Mister Wright]

Johns was always going to be picked because he was the best, not because of the media influence.

I know it's the 100 years celebration, but the name of the team is deceptive, because Johns certainly wasn't the best halfback of the last century, given that most of his better work has been done post December 31, 1999.

It's even debatable if he was the greatest halfback of the last 100 years. I guess if he wasn't Phil Gould's boyfriend, he wouldn't have got so much media attention.

 

[Craig]

Bellamy is staying in Melbourne, good luck to him, he can stay and coach his cheating ways down there and we'll get along with Ivan Henjack and win a couple of premierships thanks.

Well the way Brisbane was going a few weeks back I was almost left with the impression they were turning into the new Sydney Roosters.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know all this talking about tackling styles is important, but shouldn't the NRL be doing ways to try and improve NRL crowd figures as well, I mean they are a joke even compared to AFL outside of Melbourne. Sydney rugby league fans are a deadset joke and the most fickle ever.

I personally think League is a better sport to watch and would watch anywhere anytime over AFL, but it doesn't help the sport's cause in trying to determine which is a much better sport.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Probably doesn't help that league transfers so well onto television. All the action pretty much happens within the scope of the cameras. You don't lose much by not being there, aside from atmosphere.

 

[99*]

I know it's the 100 years celebration, but the name of the team is deceptive, because Johns certainly wasn't the best halfback of the last century, given that most of his better work has been done post December 31, 1999.

It's even debatable if he was the greatest halfback of the last 100 years. I guess if he wasn't Phil Gould's boyfriend, he wouldn't have got so much media attention.

1908-2008 not 1900-2000. IMO it was a fair pick to have Johns, he is one of the best to play the game, but the idea of a "team of a century' is always going to leave people asking questions about selections. The top 100 players selection caused debate IIFR. We should just be happy that so many great players there have been in 100 years.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I know it's the 100 years celebration, but the name of the team is deceptive, because Johns certainly wasn't the best halfback of the last century, given that most of his better work has been done post December 31, 1999.

It's even debatable if he was the greatest halfback of the last 100 years. I guess if he wasn't Phil Gould's boyfriend, he wouldn't have got so much media attention.

He was a pretty fair player mate, I have no problems with him being there. He could have a pretty massive influence on a game. The thing that stands him above Lockyer in my opinion (not that Lockyer was going for halfback, but they've often been compared when talking about the best player when they were both playing) is that Lockyer goes missing too often in big games when there's not much going on. Johns would pull his team along making something happen. Lockyer's a very good player, don't get me wrong. I'm simply using him as an example. Lewis, Johns, etc etc were the type of players who could get things going all by themselves. They'd be that good it almost seemed some games were all about them, the others were just along for the ride.

Coming from the home of 'The Sunday Mail' though, I'd expect opinions like this regarding Johns.

 

[Craig]

Titans craving up AWS.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Ennis has got to put in some practice not looking up before he decides he's hurt and subsequently lying down for 30 seconds.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Hey Ya! Good work Titans.

 

[chaminda_00]

It is pretty clear that not many guys on here know much about the likes of Keith Holman or Billy Smith. If you do I would challenge you to find a good arguement about how Johns is better then either player. Don't get me wrong Johns is a great player, but you got to be kidding yourself if you think he is better then either of those two guys. Clear bias there to a modern superstar over two all time greats of the game.

I'm not reading too much to whole beat up over here about the bias in selection of Queensland players over NSW players. They had what five players out of 17 players. I think the selections of Lewis and Mengia over Langlands, Messenger and Fulton had more to do with the fact that those guys would have probably been selected in a couple different positions. So they wouldn't have got a large percentage of votes in the centres or 5/8 in Fulton case. It just looks like Mengia and Lewis got through mainly due to being specialist, the extra pencentage of QLD votes would have helped, but I doubt it was the big factor.

It wouldn't surprise me if Langlands, Messenger and Fulton got more votes overall, but not enough as specialist in one position. If that was the way the voting was conducted then their is major flaw to system. As there is major disadvantage to guys that can play a couple positions. Only guessing that what happened, from looking at the side though. Most of guys in the starting XI are specialist and having three backs on the bench says something as well.

Lazduras and Walters are unlucky IMO, but I can see why they missed out.

 

[James90]

$100 on Brisbane -1.5 at 1.91
$50 on Manly at 2.20

Profit.

 

[Johnners]

Would love to hear why you think Holman & Smith were clearly better.

Loved the Broncos loss tonight, especially after watching Ennis play, such a ****. Archer had a bit of a shocker in the 2nd half as well, wtf was with the "high shot" on Hodges, and then the subsequent penalty against Thaiday (I think). Also found it amusing that after all the hype about the "chicken wing" after playing Melbourne the other week, I saw 2 instances of Broncos players using it (one in the 3rd or 4th set of the match, the other in the 2nd half), and 1 by the Titans. The rest of the teams are kidding themselves by crying foul, because they're just as guilty afaic.

 

[chaminda_00]

Would love to hear why you think Holman & Smith were clearly better.

Billy Smith four priemerships with St George during the back end of their 11 straight wins. Along with Langands was regarded by many as main reason they won the last couple titles with ageing side. Along with Langands kept them competitive when they lost all their players in 66. Played in another final in 71, which they he pretty much single got them to in the first place with three field goals in the semi.

Rep career wasn't as good due to a fair few injuries, but when fit was one of first guys selected for team. He did win a World Cup in 1970 against a very strong England side, where he captained the side during some matches.

Overall Johns had a better rep career, but the fact that Langer was selected ahead of him at times and he played hooker to play other halves probably cancels that out. Smith's club career was class above though.

Keith Holman had a very simlar record on club football with two titles. Like Johns he pretty much single handed lead the Magpies around for his whole career. Most, if not all of their success was on the back of his performances. But the big thing for me was his performances for Australia. Basically walked into the Australian side after 18 months of club football and helped Australia win back the Ashes for the first time in 30 years, with a side that overall probably wasn't that great at the time. As a few of St George boys came through, the side improved, but he really did lead from front without that many stars around him for both Australia and Wests.

 

[Simon]

It is pretty clear that not many guys on here know much about the likes of Keith Holman or Billy Smith.

Pretty sure i picked Keith Holman as halfback in my team of the century, look back a few pages.

 

[NZTailender]

Don't watch the NRL as much as I used to, but it seems each team changes their jersey colour/design every ****ing week for various reasons. Wtf?