***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Jakester1288]

Lets draw our attention on today's Roosters v Manly game. Who do you guys reckon will win?

I think Womanly will just beat us, through I good finish. They will only win by less than 12 in my opinion, and the Roosters will play their best footy in three weeks. Watmough and Glenn Stewart are out for this match, and the Roosters are at home. So far, all is looking good for the Roosters.

Whenever I tip against the Roosters, we win. I actually tipped against us this week, so it will be interesting to see if we win. But I can't honestly see us winning though, hence my tip going the way of Manly.

Discuss.

 

[chaminda_00]

I don't have a problem if the Bulldogs gave him the green light, but they didn't so that is my beef.

Ok fine, if you are an NRL club CEO and you had the funds to sign SBW when his rugby stint is over, would you have no problem signing him even though he has a history of walking out midway through a current contract without your consent (ie do a runner)?

Anyway SBW should harden up, $450k is heaps of money and if he thinks he is so hard up, then he should try living off a lot less then $500 a week. People in this country don't realise how lucky we have it.

It all relative to the situation though at the time. It does seem that there are some issues at the Bulldogs. Over the last couple seasons they have lost players like Mason, O'Meley, Anasta, Myles and Price. All were related to the salary cap and well the increases in SBW contract. But as soon as a couple other clubs offered them anything that was decent they all jumped without a second thought. If the club/player relationship was as strong as they like it to be, then atleast some of the those would have stayed.

There clearly some personally issues and like most other players that jump ship they are over the media attention into their personal life. Some might say it part of being a professional sportsmen. But when you can be a professional sportsmen, earn more money and not have as much attention, then it might not be something that forced apon them.

The other thing is that he did ask for a release during the season. The Bulldogs (well within their rights) played hard ball and got caught out. If it was a case of him picking up his bags on leaving out of blue, then fair enough. But it is something that has been on the cards for a while.

Put simply in a couple seasons if he sorted out some personally issues and wanted to comeback to league. I'm sure most clubs would consider signing him. The guy is only 22 and I'm sure most people have made stupid decisions at that age. Mind you one of those stupid decisions was signing a 5 year deal in the first place.

 

[chaminda_00]

Lets draw our attention on today's Roosters v Manly game. Who do you guys reckon will win?

I think Womanly will just beat us, through I good finish. They will only win by less than 12 in my opinion, and the Roosters will play their best footy in three weeks. Watmough and Glenn Stewart are out for this match, and the Roosters are at home. So far, all is looking good for the Roosters.

Whenever I tip against the Roosters, we win. I actually tipped against us this week, so it will be interesting to see if we win. But I can't honestly see us winning though, hence my tip going the way of Manly.

Discuss.

Manly by 50, next.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Manly by 50, next.

100+ imo.

You'll miss Watmough and Stewart though, there's massive work in those two.

 

[chaminda_00]

100+ imo.

You'll miss Watmough and Stewart though, there's massive work in those two.

Yeah Williamson is back and Menzies in backrow make up for it a bit. Also balance out the side with Robson at 5/8, not Menzies.

 

[Craig]

Warriors v Storm had to have been one of the worst games I have seen this year.

 

[Jakester1288]

Manly by 50, next.

100+ imo.

You'll miss Watmough and Stewart though, there's massive work in those two.

What was that? I didn't hear you?

 

[howardj]

The other thing is that he did ask for a release during the season. The Bulldogs (well within their rights) played hard ball and got caught out. If it was a case of him picking up his bags on leaving out of blue, then fair enough. But it is something that has been on the cards for a while.

Put simply in a couple seasons if he sorted out some personally issues and wanted to comeback to league. I'm sure most clubs would consider signing him. The guy is only 22 and I'm sure most people have made stupid decisions at that age. Mind you one of those stupid decisions was signing a 5 year deal in the first place.

Oh ok. So all you have to do is ask for a release, be knocked back, then when you pack up your bags and pull the rug out from underneath your teammates, it's somehow not so bad- simply because you've asked for a release in the first place? Plenty of players ask for releases during the course of their contracts. However, when knocked back, they don't sneak out the back door like dogs. It was a dog act, from a weak guy.

 

[James90]

Itstl. Pretty impressive win in the end for the chooks. Will lock in a home final.

Broncos floating between the extremely tight top four and an even more congested fight for 6th, 7th and 8th. May still knock off Cronulla and clinch a home final.

 

[chaminda_00]

Oh ok. So all you have to do is ask for a release, be knocked back, then when you pack up your bags and pull the rug out from underneath your teammates, it's somehow not so bad- simply because you've asked for a release in the first place? Plenty of players ask for releases during the course of their contracts. However, when knocked back, they don't sneak out the back door like dogs. It was a dog act, from a weak guy.

Flip side is that many club force players out of a club before there contract is over, i.e Jason Ryles. It ok to for club to treat a player like that, but if a player does basically the same thing to a club, then they are the ones that have done the dog act? Clubs treat players like pieces of meat all the time, what is difference between a player going to same thing.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

What was that? I didn't hear you?

I'm a Roosters fan so your taunts don't mean much to me.

We should've won by a hell of a lot more too, some stupid plays. Pearce kicking across field on zero tackle, wtf.

 

[BoyBrumby]

yeah, i dont know where he will play, it would have to be either in the centres or second row. anywhere in union needs a very different skill set to his.

That said im sure he will have fun partying in France with Henjack.

Surely this will burn any bridges he has left in Australia (and rugby league in general).

No way; SBW not close to tall enough for lock in union. 6' 4" a bare minimum really.

Inside centre for me, don't think he's got the kicking game for fly-half (in fact I'm convinced he doesn't) and that's the postion most likely to make best use of his distribution & vision.

What is interesting (or enlightening at least) is that guys like Gaz & now Sonny are giving up any chance of rep footy in the senior code (unless they plan on qualifying for France) by disappearing up there. Makes the greed seem that bit more craven. At least when guys like Rogers, Wendall & Tuqiri moved over they could claim it was union's greater world-clout that convinced them.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Hehe, five year deal.

 

[Craig]

According to the leading French agent who helped broker the deals for Gower, Gasnier and Luke Rooney to go to France has said to be not be surprised if guys like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Billy Slater and Karmichael Hunt all move there as well.

Hey I probably would not say no to living in Perpignan.

 

[Mister Wright]

Flip side is that many club force players out of a club before there contract is over, i.e Jason Ryles. It ok to for club to treat a player like that, but if a player does basically the same thing to a club, then they are the ones that have done the dog act? Clubs treat players like pieces of meat all the time, what is difference between a player going to same thing.

Yeah, but at least St. George gave Ryles notice that he wasn't needed for the next year and wasn't dumped mid season.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah, but at least St. George gave Ryles notice that he wasn't needed for the next year and wasn't dumped mid season.

The fact that he left mid season, probably had more to do with the nature of French rugby contracts and the fact they have to be signed by this time. So the players can play next season. If he waited to the end of season he would have had to sit out a whole season.

 

[howardj]

Flip side is that many club force players out of a club before there contract is over, i.e Jason Ryles. It ok to for club to treat a player like that, but if a player does basically the same thing to a club, then they are the ones that have done the dog act? Clubs treat players like pieces of meat all the time, what is difference between a player going to same thing.

That's not a flip side at all. Jason Ryles had every right to stay at St George and insist his contract be honoured, and play park football and still pick up his $400 000 per year - just the same as guys like Josh Hannay did for a season when he wasn't wanted at the Sharks. The fact is Ryles agreed to leave and therefore only at that point did he forfeit his $400 000 per year (ie both parties agreed to terminate the contract). That's the polar opposite of what has happened with the Dogs and SBW.

 

[chaminda_00]

That's not a flip side at all. Jason Ryles had every right to stay at St George and insist his contract be honoured, and play park football and still pick up his $400 000 per year - just the same as guys like Josh Hannay did for a season when he wasn't wanted at the Sharks. The fact is Ryles agreed to leave and therefore only at that point did he forfeit his $400 000 per year (ie both parties agreed to terminate the contract). That's the polar opposite of what has happened with the Dogs and SBW.

You do realise Ryles is basically going to get the same and maybe even slightly more in England, so he never really forfiet the 400k.

 

[howardj]

You do realise Ryles is basically going to get the same and maybe even slightly more in England, so he never really forfiet the 400k.

What's that got to do with it? You're throwing up red-herrings.

The point is that, if he wanted to stay at St George he could have done so because there was a legally binding contract. Only when both parties agree to terminate is it OK for (a) the player to go elsewhere and (b) the former club to not have to pay him a cent more.

OK?

People who put forward this rubbish argument that, in this professional age, contracts don't mean a thing so you can do what you like, are living in la la land. Contracts only don't mean a thing when both parties agree to terminate.

I honestly cannot believe that any person would defend what SBW has done - talk about being blinded by his celebrity. You only have to look at the way he did it, sneaking out the back door like a dog, to know that even he knew what he did was wrong.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Can't blame Sonny Bill for wanting to play the global rugby code... hehe.

Nah, poor effort on his front - for all his moaning about Willie Mason demanding loyalty then leaving, it doesn't make his own decisions any better. He better learn how to tackle like a grown-up too, if he wants to make it in union.

You mean miss at least 3 or 4 a game?