***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[howardj]

How soft are Parra. Put simply, they're the 2008 St George. They don't show up 100% hungry. The only thing that separates their standing on the ladder from a team like Cronulla this year, is hunger.

 

[Simon]

They dont have any go forward and their halfback is rubbish. Apart from one Origin game Finch has never produced anything in a pressure situation while the game is on the line.

 

[Burgey]

They dont have any go forward and their halfback is rubbish. Apart from one Origin game Finch has never produced anything in a pressure situation while the game is on the line.

Yeah, but virtually the same pack got them to the QF last year. Actually, it was a lesser pack in that they had about 4 front rowers out injured - only Cayless was left and Chad Robinson played front row in the QF v Melbourne, IIRC.

I've followed Parra since 1976, and notwithstanding injuries, the loss of T Smith (who was erratic but creative) and Tahu, this team has enough talent to push the top sides.

Ironically, their best game this year was one they lost - to Brisbane in the game at Suncorp.

No, to me they aren't having a go. The commentators dress it up as "lack of intensity" or "not playing for 80 minutes", but they just aren't having a fair dinkum crack, and frankly that stinks. Hagan doesn't help matters by being so softly spoken and making excuses for them after every game. It's time he either bored it up them or pissed off out of the joint.

They're like an old mates club - there are that many blokes who've been there for yonks and whose places aren't challenged enough. Look at sides like Canberra and Newcastle who have a lot more players than Parra out of action, but they still have a crack.

Worst insult you can tell a sportsman is they aren't having a go, and sadly my team aren't. 5 settlers and a bomb worked well for Souths in 1987 but it doesn't cut it these days. When you have support players like Luke Burt and Jarred Hayne not even backing up forwards as they make a run on the edge of the ruck, you can tell the team's got massive problems.

 

[Simon]

This was raised on radio yesterday afternoon and I agree entirely, they have decent forwards but their game plan doesnt suit the players they have. They don't have a pack like Brisbane, Roosters, Panthers, Knights, they cant go through teams, they need to adopt a strategy similar to the Tigers of playing to the fringes and letting their smaller forwards find a bit of room rather than being bashed.

Also believe their balance would be immensely better with Mateo at lock and Kris Keating at five eighth.

 

[Burgey]

This was raised on radio yesterday afternoon and I agree entirely, they have decent forwards but their game plan doesnt suit the players they have. They don't have a pack like Brisbane, Roosters, Panthers, Knights, they cant go through teams, they need to adopt a strategy similar to the Tigers of playing to the fringes and letting their smaller forwards find a bit of room rather than being bashed.

Also believe their balance would be immensely better with Mateo at lock and Kris Keating at five eighth.

Spot on. Mateo at 5/8 is almost a waste. The loss of Smith is being more keenly felt than many (me included) actually thought.
They can't compete with the top sides if their back row is Hindy, Robinson and Wagon. It's not that they're dud players, they're really the SAME players - hard working runners rather than creative ball players. Mateo at lock would add a huge spark to the pack. The fact his 1st instinct is to run the footy is a good thing, but it also stifles the backs to an extent because he plays tighter than a lot of other 5/8s.
Yesterday was probably Inu's worst ever game too.

 

[Prince EWS]

The fact his 1st instinct is to run the footy is a good thing

The way he runs it, when he plays five-eighth - no it isn't. When you run on to the ball and get it at pace then yes it's a great thing, but he gets the ball often flat-footed right at the line, then tries to jink around and keep palming people. If he took note of what Greg Bird does when he plays five-eighth he'd be much, much more successful there as he's a lot more skillful as a five-eighth than Bird is.

 

[alternative]

ITSTL

Oops.

 

[Smudge]

A battle of two teams who didn't want to win in that Bulldogs v South game - some shocking decision-making.

 

[James90]

Had $20 on Canterbury to win at 2.45 and $5 on Canterbury HT/Souths FT at 7.50

At half time I had locked in a win of either $24 or $12.50

Somehow they invented a way to steal all $25. ****ing unbelievable. Enough to make a man retire from gambling forever.

 

[James90]

What's worse is that I almost decided to instead get on Canterbury to win the first half and also considered getting on over 45.5 points for the match.

 

[Prince EWS]

Had $20 on Canterbury to win at 2.45 and $5 on Canterbury HT/Souths FT at 7.50

At half time I had locked in a win of either $24 or $12.50

Somehow they invented a way to steal all $25. ****ing unbelievable. Enough to make a man retire from gambling forever.

If Canterbury won the game I'd have won myself $900. Should sue Ben Roberts.

 

[James90]

How much did you lose? I generally only bet in small increments. Most I've ever had on one result was $100 and that lost so am not really game. Just do it for fun.

Roberts = ******. All year I've said that Roberts and Holdsworth are the worst halves combo in the competition. Honestly think that Roberts needs some time in the NSW Cup.

How about Queensland and their abundance of halfbacks. Anyone else think that Sandow has a bright future?

 

[Prince EWS]

How much did you lose?

$100. I had a multibet on Penrith/Canterbury.

 

[NUFAN]

$100. I had a multibet on Penrith/Canterbury.

Can't believe that was paying $9 although I got both of those games wrong.

I wouldn't blame just Roberts, they had a big lead, shouldn't have even went down to the final minute.

 

[James90]

Gutted. I certainly couldn't afford that off my student salary of virtually nothing.

I had a fiver on Penrith earlier in the week and lost confidence so much that I even tipped the Eels. On the other hand I was extremely confident about Canterbury tonight. That's the way the cookie crumbles. Had a few bets get up by one point last weekend and the close ones have gone the other way this weekend. I deadset thought I had all bases covered though.

 

[Johnners]

Round 17 Results

Boy Brumby - 75
Burgey - 75
Mr Wright - 74
Morgieb - 72
James90 - 72
Clapo - 71
Chaminda_00 - 71
DCYE - 71
Tozzer - 71
99* - 65
Simon - 65

Brumby no longer has the sole lead, after an inspired 5/5 from Burgey shot him to equal top stop. 2/5 Drops Stedders from 2nd back to equal 4th, whilst 99* falls back to equal last with Simon. The only 2 games everyone tipped correctly were the Sea Eagles/Titans and Storm/Raiders with the other 3 matches getting mixed results.

Round 17
Panthers vs Knights
Roosters vs Titans
Sharks vs Sea Eagles
Warriors vs Cowboys
Rabbitohs vs Eels
Dragons vs Raiders
Broncos vs Bulldogs
Wests Tigers vs Storm

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

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

 

[alternative]

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

 

[BoyBrumby]

Brumby no longer has the sole lead, after an inspired 5/5 from Burgey shot him to equal top stop.

& all by backing against his own team; for shame, Burgey, for shame.

Panthers
Roosters
Sharks
Warriors
Rabbitohs
Dragons
Broncos
Storm

 

[Simon]

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