**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[Burgey]

Bad luck for Parra yesterday losing the play-making genius of Keating so early in the game. I mean, what team wouldn't struggle when they lose so magical a player?

****s.

 

[Simon]

Keating is a decent player for mine. Certainly not the worst number 7 running around.

 

[Burgey]

True, but to hear the players come off and use his injury as an excuse for the lack of communication in attack is pretty poor IMO, given he's only played all of three or four games there himself, and established players like Mateo, Burt and others were there.

The effort was there I suppose, but things didn't come off for them. Hayne was the best player on ground though, even in so thoroughly beaten a side. Should get an Origin wing spot, IMO.

 

[Simon]

Yeh Hayne should be in Origin, I think if the talk of putting Gidley at 5/8 is fair dinkum then Hayne should be the fullback.

Its pretty obvious Parramatta just dont have the players to compete, the three quarter line with the exception of Hayne is dire, Inu obviously hasnt gotten anything out of his time in the reggies.
Forwards are as soft as wet tissue paper, Tim Mannah looks good but Nathan Cayless should extend his rep retirement into a full rugby league retirement. Hindmarsh is obviously not a go to player in attack and if Todd Lowrie is in your starting pack then you wont be playing finals football.

 

[Johnners]

If NSW select Gidley in any position other than Fullback they deserve a thorough thrashing.

 

[Burgey]

****, don't start me on Lowrie. See Manly's last try? Wonderful non-attempt at a classic lock forward's covering tackle by Lowrie on Williams, D. Prick just watched him run past. Absolute shocker. Should never play 1st grade again.

 

[Simon]

If NSW select Gidley in any position other than Fullback they deserve a thorough thrashing.

AWTA. Gidley at fullback is the best player in the NRL for mine, in any other position he is average at best.

 

[Burgey]

AWTA. Gidley at fullback is the best player in the NRL for mine, in any other position he is average at best.

Yep.

Now watch Fulton and Co pick him at 6 or 7.

Completely agree he's the best player in the NRL atm. Also captains probably the best team to watch. They've got Patterson to come back as well. Hmm, they're still paying about $16 to win it I think - it's an open comp this year.

 

[Johnners]

Can see us being lucky like Manly last season as well, and losing only 1 player to origin (Gidley). Problem is, Gidley is a bigger loss to us than Stewart to Manly (imo).

 

[Burgey]

Here's a draft NSW team. I'd like thoughts on this as I haven't been following as closely as perhaps I should ths year. I think this is the team they may well pick, not necessarily the one I would pick.

Gidley (c)
Hayne
Cooper
Jennings
??
Campese
Wallace
Weymann/ Kitemyth
Farrah
Bailey
Gallen
Laffranchi/ Watmyth
O'Donnell

Reserves:
Lewis
Two of the forwards bracketed above
Poore

 

[Simon]

I'm thinking
1 Gildey (cap)
2 Hayne
3 Lyon
4 Jennings
5 Monaghan
6 Campese
7 Wallace
8 Kite
9 Farah
10 Bailey
11 Gallen
12 Laffranchi
13 O'Donnell
Reserves
14 Lewis
15 Stewart
16 Weyman
17 Watmough

 

[Burgey]

I'm thinking
1 Gildey (cap)
2 Hayne
3 Lyon
4 Jennings
5 Monaghan
6 Campese
7 Wallace
8 Kite
9 Farah
10 Bailey
11 Gallen
12 Laffranchi
13 O'Donnell
Reserves
14 Lewis
15 Stewart
16 Weyman
17 Watmough

Yeah, left out Lyon, forgot he said he's playing - this week.

That's a better line up than mine tbh. Don't mind the backs - I think the backs won't be the decider in this series anyway, despite Qld's supposed dominance there. Those NSW outside backs you name are pretty capable players.

I'm more iffy about our back row tbh. Laffranchi hasn't been as good this year as last year. Watmough's defence can suck, Gallen is a walking penalty count, as is O'Donnell at times. Glen Stewart over-rated IMO - not a bad player mind, but not NSW, let alone Aus quality. If picked, I do hope he proves me wrong.

Our front row options aren't at all bad though. Bailey - if he's fit, he'd be the first prop I'd pick for NSW, Weymann adds the nut-job factor and is explosive, so is Poore. They are both hopefully fit enough to keep Kite on the bench for 75 minutes.

Lewis covers everywhere from wing to second row, so imo he must be the utility.

 

[Simon]

Yeah, left out Lyon, forgot he said he's playing - this week.

That's a better line up than mine tbh. Don't mind the backs - I think the backs won't be the decider in this series anyway, despite Qld's supposed dominance there. Those NSW outside backs you name are pretty capable players.

I'm more iffy about our back row tbh. Laffranchi hasn't been as good this year as last year. Watmough's defence can suck, Gallen is a walking penalty count, as is O'Donnell at times. Glen Stewart over-rated IMO - not a bad player mind, but not NSW, let alone Aus quality. If picked, I do hope he proves me wrong.

Our front row options aren't at all bad though. Bailey - if he's fit, he'd be the first prop I'd pick for NSW, Weymann adds the nut-job factor and is explosive, so is Poore. They are both hopefully fit enough to keep Kite on the bench for 75 minutes.

Lewis covers everywhere from wing to second row, so imo he must be the utility.

The only changes that could be made is possibly another front rower (almost certainly Poore now that Galloway is injured) could come in. However I think NSW will want to put as many of their back rowers in as possible. Also think Creagh could sneak in there somewhere, despite how good O'Donnell is going I have a feeling he might get overlooked.

 

[Ausage]

They are both hopefully fit enough to keep Kite on the bench for 75 minutes.

How's Cooper's injury coming along? Surely he'll get the nod over Jennings if fit. As much as I love Jenko he was a turnstile against the Sharks in the first half on Saturday (did better in the second). He's improving but I wouldn't want him to have one of those "Brett Kimmorley intercept" moments that will scar the selectors from ever picking him again.

Can't believe they're even discussing Gidley anywhere but fullback. It's one thing when you have to fit B Stewart and Gidley in the same team, but Stewart is gone for the series. Who'd be our fullback? Hayne? (need to find another winger) Patten? McKinnon?

 

[Simon]

How's Cooper's injury coming along? Surely he'll get the nod over Jennings if fit. As much as I love Jenko he was a turnstile against the Sharks in the first half on Saturday (did better in the second). He's improving but I wouldn't want him to have one of those "Brett Kimmorley intercept" moments that will scar the selectors from ever picking him again.

Can't believe they're even discussing Gidley anywhere but fullback. It's one thing when you have to fit B Stewart and Gidley in the same team, but Stewart is gone for the series. Who'd be our fullback? Hayne? (need to find another winger) Patten? McKinnon?

Kimmorley was actually picked again two years after the intercept to Bowen.

Patten certainly wouldnt let anyone down if he was picked as NSW fullback, worse players have played rep footy.

 

[Ausage]

Kimmorley was actually picked again two years after the intercept to Bowen.

True. Just remember a couple of my mates howling with derision every time his name was mentioned for origin. There was always a stigma attached to him from that moment on.

 

[luffy]

Anyone else got a feeling Storm will have their work cut out for them tonight?

Personally I do.

 

[ripper868]

Anyone else got a feeling Storm will have their work cut out for them tonight?

Personally I do.

All depends on Campese IMO, think the storm will get up though.

 

[luffy]

Every single match Raiders play rely on Campese, tbh.

 

[Craig]

Have Canberra ever won at OP? Not many teams win there at the best of times (except the NZ Warriors ).