**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[Simon]

David Stagg as lock of the year is hilarious.

Who are the other contenders though? Really no one stands out.
Michael Luck - Just makes lots of tackles but thats about it.
Dallas Johnson - Like Luck but had one of his poorer seasons imo
Glenn Stewart - Too inconistent
Ash Harrison - Played mostly back row, also missed about half of the Titans matches
Paul Gallen - Probably could have won if not for suspensions etc...
Luke O'Donnell - Played too much second row.

Stagg won imo simply because he was consistent playing for a top team.
Jamal Idris winning Rookie of the year was the most questionabl award for mine, any of Dugan, Croker or Mortimer would have been better deserving.

 

[Burgey]

Hopefully, next year, the NRL gets away from playing SFinals at home grounds.

It's so bogan-ish.

They should be played at SFS, Homebush and Suncorp.

It should be made clear at the start of the year, not at the last minute though.

Not Suncorp unless Brisbane are hosting imo. Likewise, Newcastle should host if they qualify to, same with Cowboys. Otherwise, home city advantage surely enough.

 

[Simon]

Naa home finals in week 1 at least are a must for mine, teams slug it out for 26 weeks and surely there should be a significant advantage for being better over that period of time.

 

[Ausage]

Naa home finals in week 1 at least are a must for mine, teams slug it out for 26 weeks and surely there should be a significant advantage for being better over that period of time.

Dunno, I'm in two minds over this. Agree with the principle, but it would be great to see a near packed Homebush on Sunday for Dragons/Eels.

That said if Panthers were to host, say the Dogs, and we were forced to play at Homebush you'd hear me grumbling about it. No way the Dragons or Titans should be forced to move at the last minute either.

 

[howardj]

Naa home finals in week 1 at least are a must for mine, teams slug it out for 26 weeks and surely there should be a significant advantage for being better over that period of time.

Your advantage comes in not being able to be knocked out in the first week (which you couldn't be if we used the superior AFL finals format). Semi finals should be special, and should be played at big arenas in front of packed houses. They should be a showpiece. They shouldn't have the feel of a regular season match, played at a suburban ground like Kogarah.

 

[Simon]

Your advantage comes in not being able to be knocked out in the first week (which you couldn't be if we used the superior AFL finals format). Semi finals should be special, and should be played at big arenas in front of packed houses. They should be a showpiece. They shouldn't have the feel of a regular season match, played at a suburban ground like Kogarah.

So what about in the Titans vs Broncos case this weekend? I presume under your system with the game would be played at Suncorp, that's hardly fair is it?

 

[Ausage]

Your advantage comes in not being able to be knocked out in the first week (which you couldn't be if we used the superior AFL finals format). Semi finals should be special, and should be played at big arenas in front of packed houses. They should be a showpiece. They shouldn't have the feel of a regular season match, played at a suburban ground like Kogarah.

Teams 3 and 4 can be knocked out in the first week of the finals if teams 5-8 all win their games.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Teams 3 and 4 can be knocked out in the first week of the finals if teams 5-8 all win their games.

That's his point....

 

[Ausage]

Your advantage comes in not being able to be knocked out in the first week (which you couldn't be if we used the superior AFL finals format).

That's his point....

I took that line to mean that the teams that currently enjoy a home advantage have an advantage already by not being able to be knocked out in week one.

 

[howardj]

So what about in the Titans vs Broncos case this weekend? I presume under your system with the game would be played at Suncorp, that's hardly fair is it?

Yep, that's the Qld home ground.

It's always going to throw up anomalies like that, but I just think the emphasis should be on big crowds, showpiece events and really showcasing what is the best club footy we have to offer.

In any case, I really don't think Suncorp or Skilled Park or Dairy Farmers offers such a big advantage to either team, when two Qld teams are playing.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

He's saying we should switch to the AFL system so that they can't be.

 

[Ausage]

He's saying we should switch to the AFL system so that they can't be.

No argument here. Hate the McIntyre system tbh.

 

[Simon]

Dont really like the AFL system in that there is no difference between finishing 1st or 4th and same with 5th and 8th. Some dont like the NRL one for it but I like that only teams 1 and 2 are genuinely safe for week 1 while 3-6 are in danger but not definite elimination if they lose.

 

[luffy]

Has anyone heard anything about Craig Field taking up a the role of Assistant Coach for the Rabbitohs?

I know he has said that he is staying in Wagga for next season, but the rumour won't leave that he is going to go back to Souths.

A latest indicator is that he left his job yesterday at whiich he was manager, so i'm a bit unsure.

 

[Craig]

Off to the Titans v Broncos home final. I'm going with three other people, and from what I've read, I was quite lucky to get 4 seats that everybody would sit together. Considering that the tickets were going like hot cakes (people lining up for more then 1 hour at the Titans merchandise store) yeasterday morning. So stoked that I got seats at 5pm.

 

[howardj]

Well done, mate.

Enjoy.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Two aspects to like about the AFL one:

You know your situation before the start of the finals; you're not relying on other results.
The proof is in the pudding, finishing in the Top 4 has paid off. Only two sides from 5-8 have ever made it through to the Preliminary Finals.

 

[duffer]

Bring back the top 5 imo. Those finals used to be so awesome. Obviously will never happen as they want the TV matches for having more games but still. Five would really make it a best of the best scenario.

 

[luffy]

Personally i'd like the Top 6.

 

[Mister Wright]

Personally i'd like the Top 6.

Agree.

Week 1:

Game 1: 1 v2 (Play for a week off)
Game 2: 3 v 4
Game 3: 5 v 6 (loser is knocked out)

Week 2:

Game 1: Loser of 3 v 4 plays winner of 5 v 6 (knocked out)
Game 2: Loser of 1 v 2 plays Winner of 3 v 4

Week 3:

Semi Final 1: Winner of 1 v 2 plays Week 2 game 2 loser
Semi Final 2: Week 2, Game 1 winner plays Week 2 Game 2 winner

Week 4:

Semi Final 1 v Semi Final 2