***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Johnners]

Talk about an over reaction, we all know Prince was unlucky but Hunt is hardly ****, he pretty much plays as a 2nd 5/8 for Brisbane every week and when Lockyer retires he will end up there full-time. It's not like hes completely rubbish, ignoring how good Prince is.

It's not an over-reaction at all. The guy is the best player in the NRL (if not the best, top 3), and they don't pick him. It's not that I don't think Hunt can do a reasonable job, it's that I know Prince is far more likely to do a fantastic job. It's that I know Hunt/Slater are better players than Tate any day of the week in any position in the backline, and it's that I know PJ Marsh has hardly been fit enough to play NRL this season, let alone play state of origin. It's an abomination.

 

[Mister Wright]

Nah, not a shocking attitude, a shocking selection (I really don't hope we lose, but I won't be all that disappointed if we do). The guy is basically the best player in the NRL, and they don't ****ing pick him. Instead they pick a player out of position, and have a player on the wing who offers nothing that Hunt/Slater couldn't offer (Actually, he offers less), whilst we have the best Halfback in the NRL sitting on the sidelines. Not only that, there's a player on the bench who has hardly played any NRL at all this season. As I said earlier, it's an abomination.

While I agree with you in that I don't agree with the selections, to say you won't be all that disappointed if we lose means your not a true QLDer. Even if they picked an side with the 13 players I hate the most I would still be disappointed if they lost.

 

[chaminda_00]

Every heard if selecting a side for future. Pretty clear that Hunt's selections at 5/8 is Queensland looking for a long term replacement at 5/8, rather then a short term replacement in Prince. Clearly the selectors felt that Hunt is the long term replacement.

 

[chaminda_00]

Was really just thinking aloud as to where Marsh is going to fit into the side. Not too happy with the balance of the side myself.

Hodges into the backrow. Most likely they will play Smith as running backrower, like the last two seasons with Berringan in the side. Difference I guess is those two could both defend like backrowers, Marsh can't.

 

[Mister Wright]

Every heard if selecting a side for future. Pretty clear that Hunt's selections at 5/8 is Queensland looking for a long term replacement at 5/8, rather then a short term replacement in Prince. Clearly the selectors felt that Hunt is the long term replacement.

Haha. Selecting a side for the future? Are you serious? Prince isn't exactly old.

 

[Craig]

Haha. Selecting a side for the future? Are you serious? Prince isn't exactly old.

He is only 28.

 

[Simon]

It's not an over-reaction at all. The guy is the best player in the NRL (if not the best, top 3), and they don't pick him. It's not that I don't think Hunt can do a reasonable job, it's that I know Prince is far more likely to do a fantastic job. It's that I know Hunt/Slater are better players than Tate any day of the week in any position in the backline, and it's that I know PJ Marsh has hardly been fit enough to play NRL this season, let alone play state of origin. It's an abomination.

It is an over reaction, people are saying queensland wont be able to score a point with Hunt at five eighth, WTF is that about? I was pushing for Prince to be in there he deserved it, but Hunt will do a good job regardless.

 

[Simon]

Haha. Selecting a side for the future? Are you serious? Prince isn't exactly old.

Exactly, every state of origin is like test cricket for mine, the next game is the most important regardless of someone's age if they are the best player at that time for that game then you pick them.

 

[Craig]

From the Gold Coast Bulletin:

Is this why Prince was left out?

13May08

IS there a rift between Scott Prince and Johnathan Thurston that Queensland State of Origin rugby league selectors are so scared off that they won't put them in the same team?

Are they scared of bad blood spilling between Queensland's two aces? Are they scared of Prince overshadowing Thurston?

Despite the game's most respected coach Wayne Bennett declaring it would be `silly' not to pick Prince in the Origin side, Queensland selectors did the unthinkable and omitted Prince for Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt.

Even Hunt agreed Thurston and Prince should be Queensland's halves.

"My honest opinion is you've got probably two of the best halves running around the paddock who are Queenslanders, Johnathan Thurston and Scott Prince, and I can't see why they wouldn't pick them," said Hunt earlier this week.

Link

From the comments section:

"Looks like Prince is paying for leaving the Broncos years ago. Any young player wanting to play Origin, get a run with the Broncos, that's the tip. Look at the top 4 teams. Gold Coast 1 player selected, Manly 1 player selected. Broncos 6 , I think, haven't counted. What have the Broncos done this year. Beat the Rabbits, Tigers and Panthers. One good win against the Roosters and lost to the other top 4 teams Melbourne Manly and Titans. a bit overated for sure, watch them slide down the ladder."
Posted by: Paul Bawden of brisbane 9:02pm Tuesday

Link and then scroll down

Ouch.

 

[Simon]

OMG, anyone would ever think hes the first person to be overlooked despite being in good form. Remember when Hodges came back to the Broncos and was easily the form centre in the comp yet Cooper got picked ahead of him in the test side, all the years Schifcofske couldnt make the Origin side, etc... If Prince is any sort of a player he'll hit back and keep performing to the standard he has been.

 

[howardj]

Is Prince a better defender than Hunt and more able to handle the traffic that will be sent their way? No

Has Prince played more second-receiver than Hunt down the years in NRL? No

Has Prince proved himself at Origin level more than Hunt? No

Prince is unlucky, but it's hardly outrageous.

 

[Johnners]

It is an over reaction, people are saying queensland wont be able to score a point with Hunt at five eighth, WTF is that about? I was pushing for Prince to be in there he deserved it, but Hunt will do a good job regardless.

Where did I say that QLD won't be able to score a point with Hunt at 5/8? My reaction is quite justified.

OMG, anyone would ever think hes the first person to be overlooked despite being in good form. Remember when Hodges came back to the Broncos and was easily the form centre in the comp yet Cooper got picked ahead of him in the test side, all the years Schifcofske couldnt make the Origin side, etc... If Prince is any sort of a player he'll hit back and keep performing to the standard he has been.

Thing is, he's in more than just good form, he's the best player in the NRL. That and his situation is somewhat different to the non-selections of Hodges & Schifcofkse. Hodges wasn't snubbed so the selectors could pick a player out of position, and IIRC that was never the situation with Shifcofske. Just because he's not the first player to be snubbed doesn't make it any less of a shocking decision.

It's an abomination.

 

[morgieb]

Really weird Storm side selected due to Origin:
1. Steve Turner
2. Brett Anderson
3. Will Chambers
4. Sam Tagatese
5. Dane Neilsen
6. Russell Aitken
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Clifford Manua
9. Matt Geyer
10. Antonio Kaufusi
11. Jeremy Smith
12. Sika Manu
13. Aiden Tolman
14. Liam Foran
15. Kevin Procter
16. Scott Anderson
17. Sinbad Kali
18. Lucas Miller

 

[morgieb]

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

 

[morgieb]

Eels v Roosters - Roosters have lost key origin players, but Eels are garbage
Titans v Bulldogs - not really affected by Origin, big win here
Sharks v Broncos - See Titans comments, but this'll be closer
Sea Eagles v Cowboys - Cowboys are dire currently, and Manly are still strong
Dragons v Storm - may be affected by origin, but Dragons are dire, and Melbourne are gun
Panthers v Warriors - Warriors can't win away from home
Knights v Tigers - are currently in good form
Raiders v Rabbitohs - Rabbitohs are dire, whereas Raiders are gun at night at Canberra

 

[Craig]

I've heard a lot of good reviews about Kevin Procter. Apparently the Titans wanted him in the exchange for Steve Turner when the whole fiasco came to light.

 

[Johnners]

Round 9 Results

Mr Wright - 41
Morgieb - 39
James90 - 38
Clapo - 37
Boy Brumby - 37
Tozzer - 37
DCYE - 36
Burgey - 36
Chaminda_00 - 35
Simon - 34
Bugssy - 31
99* - 31
Matteh - 26
B]superkingdave[/B] - 24
Pinchy81 - 22

Another poor round in general. Burgey, Morgieb Smith & Tharmi all topped the round with 4 correct, whilst the rest of us scraped through with 2 & 3. This week will be a 'mare to tip thanks to origin though! Oh, and if I don't receive any tips from Bugs, Pinchy & Dav this week I'll remove them from the ladder.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

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

 

[morgieb]

I've heard a lot of good reviews about Kevin Procter. Apparently the Titans wanted him in the exchange for Steve Turner when the whole fiasco came to light.

That was nearly 18 months ago.

 

[morgieb]

Who is Tozzer?