**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[Mister Wright]

Awta

 

[Craig]

Is this the end of the road of Melbourne's domination? I say yes.

It was always going to be a rebuilding year.

 

[Simon]

Yes, but I still thought they'd be top 4 or 6 (may well still be) but never thought id see them be so unenthusiastic and lose like that at home to a team like the Titans.

 

[Craig]

Aye, heads will probably roll for that "effort" last night. But fair play to the Titans, proving they can win without Prince.

 

[NUFAN]

Is this the end of the road of Melbourne's domination? I say yes.

I said something similar a few weeks back and was greeted with this message:

Oh, and whoever posted that Melb won't make top 4 is deluded. That would have to be the biggest certainty in Australian sport and will probably finish top again.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Biggest certainty in sport is Geelong finishing as minor premiers.

Or Demons finishing as wooden spooners (for the next decade, thx Gold Coast).

 

[Craig]

Biggest certainty in sport is Geelong finishing as minor premiers.

Or Demons finishing as wooden spooners (for the next decade, thx Gold Coast).

Nah GCFC () will be dead a few years after that. Nobody really cares about AFL that much up here, and Carrara is a dump, always has been and always will be, even with the upgrade, it is still a **** area.

Back on league, I can't believe Penrith would offer Karmichael Hunt $450k a year, he is good, but worth that much? He is off to join Sonny Bill in French rugby for mine.

 

[chaminda_00]

So what are the odds now on Manly getting the spoon? Go Raiders.

Tony Williams, Brett Stewart and maybe Lyon back next week. Jnr Hoppo an outside shot if he gets fit as well.

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

To Nufan:

I think that perhaps it is me that is deluded. I based my sumation on that even with a fall in output that Storm would still land in top 4. Seems that home wins no longer can be taken for granted, attack is not as potent without a "just kick it Izzy" policy (hope that come up with something new, they've got the cattle) and even the impregnable deffence is not so impregnable.

While I still believe that they'll make top 4 (blind faith definetly playing its role) they're now well and truly back in the pack. Success will be determined on attitude (mental tiredness from domination of recent years OR hard nosed professionalism of recent years).

It may well be that our bottom 5 or 6 players (who had to be paid for with food stamps) are just not good enough to allow the better players to play at maximum potential.

Storm gave me much pleasure and predictability (exception of GFs) while my AFL team (Carlton) was playing like a bunch of Hobbos. This year it may have all just swung around. But here I am in the Vain hope of a Victory-Storm-Blues trifecta.

So I was wrong. This year the storm are just another club back in the pack scrapping for a position in the 8. Salary Cap catches all in the end.

cheers

 

[NUFAN]

Cheers mate.

 

[luffy]

2/7.

Not bad.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Nah GCFC () will be dead a few years after that. Nobody really cares about AFL that much up here, and Carrara is a dump, always has been and always will be, even with the upgrade, it is still a **** area.

My point is that the GC side now get priority draft picks, so they get something like the first 7 picks in the draft, before the Demons get to pick, which ****s us hard.

 

[Ausage]

Back on league, I can't believe Penrith would offer Karmichael Hunt $450k a year, he is good, but worth that much? He is off to join Sonny Bill in French rugby for mine.

I hope they're not serious about that. We don't need him imo, especially for that money, and they're not even talking about putting him at fullback, but rather at 5/8. How could we justify spending 450k to play a player out of position (although ME does like doing things like that). Spend that money trying to lure Prince down here.

As for the Storm don't you think it's a bit early to be writing them off yet? Any team with Inglis, Slater and Smith is going to be solid. They played poorly last night, but they were damn close to knocking off the Broncos, and have the scalps of the Cowboys and the Dragons. No question they've come back to the pack (people said it happened last year but I don't agree with that) but I reckon they'll still be top 4 or thereabouts at the end of the year.

 

[Mister Wright]

Doubt if Hunt will go to another NRL club, the money Brisbane was offering wasn't shabby and something very close to what Penrith are rumoured to be offering. From what has been reported from the local press he wants to get away from the 'fishbowl' situation he finds himself in, in Brisbane and wants a few years break before returning. Not sure how that will go, but hopefully he sticks to his word that he won't play against the Broncos.

 

[chaminda_00]

Doubt if Hunt will go to another NRL club, the money Brisbane was offering wasn't shabby and something very close to what Penrith are rumoured to be offering. From what has been reported from the local press he wants to get away from the 'fishbowl' situation he finds himself in, in Brisbane and wants a few years break before returning. Not sure how that will go, but hopefully he sticks to his word that he won't play against the Broncos.

Should go play for the Warriors or Storm if he really wanted to get away from the fishbowl. I'm sure the Warriors could offer him enough. Really he just wants more money, nothing more nothing less. The fishbowl of Japanese Rugby and French Rugby isn't much better either.

 

[Simon]

Really over Hunt tbh, either sign with someone or get lost. Josh Hoffman come on down, should be the Broncos FB next year.

 

[ripper868]

2/7.

Not bad.

I have a bagel thus far. Surely there's Bonus points for picking all the losers

 

[Simon]

I have a bagel thus far. Surely there's Bonus points for picking all the losers

1/7, a bit disapointed that the Bulldogs won. Tipping 1 or 2 right is just pathetic, but getting 0 takes real talent.

 

[ripper868]

1/7, a bit disapointed that the Bulldogs won. Tipping 1 or 2 right is just pathetic, but getting 0 takes real talent.

TBH I'm hoping that the cowboys get up (have tipped raiders) just to complete the humiliation...could be a pants down around the office.

 

[Johnners]

Have 4 so far, quite chuffed about it tbh.