**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[Ausage]

Am quietly weeing my undies in anticipation of tomorrow night's blockbuster.

It's such a 50/50 game.

Yeah looking forward to it too tbh, although I wont get to watch it till later. The Bennett's return, Henjak's graduation subtext makes all the more exciting.

 

[Burgey]

I'm quietly ****ting myself about tonight's game for the following reasons:

1. Our record vs the Titans
2. 5 day turnaround after playing in the heat, tackling our arses off and only having 45% of the ball.
3. GC are a good team - ran 3rd after all.
4. Everyone down here is just assuming Parra will win. Not through lack of respect for the GC, more because everyone is stinging for Criminal Element v Parra next week.
5. Parra have flattered to deceive so often in the past few years, I'm expecting a disaster.

I think we'll know inside the first 10 minutes if Parra are flat from last week. If they play up-tempo I think they'll win, but if they're even minutely off their game I can see them getting pumped royally.

 

[Simon]

I'm actually pretty confident Eels will win, just think at this stage of the season history, form etc... goes out the window and what happens on the day matters most and I think Eels have more self confidence and overall ability to win this game.

 

[howardj]

Agree with what Sterlo said last night - adrenaline and the cut-throat nature of this time of year, tends to cancel out or at least dull the effects of short turnarounds and other niggling things. All four teams will be up and about this weekend.

 

[Ausage]

I'm quietly ****ting myself about tonight's game for the following reasons:

You're the first Parra fan I've heard being even remotely worried. Already been invited twice to the Dogs game next week.

The people involved weren't all that interested in the season before Rd 19 though.

 

[howardj]

You're the first Parra fan I've heard being even remotely worried. Already been invited twice to the Dogs game next week.

The people involved weren't all that interested in the season before Rd 19 though.

nor were the eels.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Nah, tipping the Titans tonight for sure.

 

[ripper868]

Hayne injured in first 10 minutes, Mortimer MOTM with 2 tries and a golden point field goal. Phil Gould to jizz his pants.

 

[Burgey]

You're the first Parra fan I've heard being even remotely worried. Already been invited twice to the Dogs game next week.

The people involved weren't all that interested in the season before Rd 19 though.

Anyone who takes anything to do with footy for granted in September is an idiot (no offence to your friends).

All teams suffer the drop off in support if they go ****e though. The Criminal Element's home crowds are up 40% on last year. Of course, being Dogs fans, none of them pay to get in, they just climb the fence before stealing the wallets of other patrons.

 

[Simon]

Anyone who takes anything to do with footy for granted in September is an idiot (no offence to your friends).

All teams suffer the drop off in support if they go ****e though. The Criminal Element's home crowds are up 40% on last year. Of course, being Dogs fans, none of them pay to get in, they just climb the fence before stealing the wallets of other patrons.

But thats ok cause their team breeds all their own players, they aren't like the Roosters and just buy them off other clubs. Wait...

 

[Burgey]

But thats ok cause their team breeds all their own players, they aren't like the Roosters and just buy them off other clubs. Wait...

Yeah, it's true they've had to buy a few players this year, but it's only a recent phenomenon. The player's they had in the early part of this decade were, of course, all home grown .

 

[morgieb]

Apparently Andrew Symonds might sign with Brisbane. And no, I'm not joking.

 

[Simon]

Apparently Andrew Symonds might sign with Brisbane. And no, I'm not joking.

LOL isnt that story about 5 years old? Also thats exactly what the Broncos need a 33 year old that hasnt played the game in 15 years.

 

[Burgey]

LOL isnt that story about 5 years old? Also thats exactly what the Broncos need a 33 year old that hasnt played the game in 15 years.

They already have Tonie Carroll.

When TC retires, someone has to make Lockyer's tackles.

 

[BoyBrumby]

If this is NRL's reposte coup to KHunt going to Aussie Rules, you'd maybe have thought they'd go for someone who isn't a borderline alky, given the publicity the code's had over the last year with bevy related "antics".

 

[Burgey]

God, these sudden death games do my head in. ****ting myself here.

 

[Simon]

First team to win the comp from 8th? Yes imo.

Cant wait for the Eels vs Bulldogs prelim final, will be one of the biggest matches in years. Hope we get 60k for it.

 

[Burgey]

First team to win the comp from 8th? Yes imo.

Cant wait for the Eels vs Bulldogs prelim final, will be one of the biggest matches in years. Hope we get 60k for it.

Hope you're right on both counts mate

Jeez our defence is awesome atm. Benefit of mobile forwards and big, mobile backs.
Reckon we're a real chance now vs the Dogs. Shant be sleeping all week tbh.

Presumably Inu will be back, hopefully Mortimer comes up ok. Thank God Mateo was there when he got hurt.

 

[Ausage]

First team to win the comp from 8th? Yes imo.

Cant wait for the Eels vs Bulldogs prelim final, will be one of the biggest matches in years. Hope we get 60k for it.

I'll be there. Gf brother wants to go, so I'll tag along. Pretty excited about it considering the Panthers aren't playing. Should be a great game.

Can't believe I'm going to go to a live footy match cheering for Parra

 

[Son Of Coco]

Really dont think they have gone that well. They have finished outside the top 8 the last two years after making the finals in 2007, they have got Internationals in Asotasi and Luke. Guys like Sandow, Sutton, Merritt etc... are rep standard players if you listen to the media hype and they were in a great position to make the finals when they beat the Broncos but they couldn't go in with it.

2009 will go down as a failure of a season for Souths, it's not like they discovered any future talent either, Sutton is inconsistent as ever, their best player has been 32 year old Luke Stuart, Colin Best is another aging player among their best, really the only young shining lights were two wingers in Jamie Simpson and Chris McQueen. You could argue that Eddy Pettybourne is up there but I'm not sold on him.

I don't think you have a long record of giving Souths credit for much though They are inconsistent, but they're better than they were a few years back.

Nice to see the Gold Coast resort to ineffective kicking on almost every play near the Eel's line tonight...took a leaf from the Blue's book in SOO1 this year.