**Official** NRL 2010 thread

[Craig]

Stephen Kearney to be announced as the new Parramatta coach.

 

[Mister Wright]

Stephen Kearney to be announced as the new Parramatta coach.

Taking the Parramatta coaching position is like the NSW Origin captaincy, it is a no-win situation. Make the Grand Final (face the sack) miss the 8 (get the sack). It's going to be hard for a rookie coach.

 

[Craig]

Ausage, do you have any info on Sam McKendry, ie. any good?

 

[Ausage]

Ausage, do you have any info on Sam McKendry, ie. any good?

Yep. Very promising young prop. Has always given good impact but has developed more stamina this year. After Grant went down this year he was promoted to starting prop, and though I haven't checked the stats I would guess he played more minutes than any front rower bar Petero. We extended his contract this year. Got big hopes for him. About the only complaint I have with his game is the odd error he comes up with a bit more regularly than he should.

Shame he's a Kiwi

 

[Craig]

If Matt Orford (WAC) can get his release from Bradford, Canberra want to sign him so they can have him as cover for Terry Campese, who by all reports, will be lucky to play next season. Certainly won't be until the latter part of the season at least.

 

[Julian87]

Nah Campese still looks set for mid-season. It's just people within the club downplaying a comeback/mixing up form with when he'll actually play. Looks likely Orford may end up at Canberra though, which'd be awesome. Especially if we're in/on the edge of the 8 once Campese comes back and he can be eased back in/a wild card for the finals series.

If Orford signs we'll make the 8 no sweat. Best pack in the comp bar none and with the signing of Ferguson; one of the better 1-5s as well.

 

[Ausage]

Nah Campese still looks set for mid-season. It's just people within the club downplaying a comeback/mixing up form with when he'll actually play. Looks likely Orford may end up at Canberra though, which'd be awesome. Especially if we're in/on the edge of the 8 once Campese comes back and he can be eased back in/a wild card for the finals series.

If Orford signs we'll make the 8 no sweat. Best pack in the comp bar none and with the signing of Ferguson; one of the better 1-5s as well.

They'll want to make sure they get Orford though. McCrone may not have been the best 7 out there, but he was all you had and he's been released, unless there's a rookie coming through I don't know about. Without Campo or Orford the first half of the season could get pretty messy.

Agree though if you get Orford you'll make the 8. Smokeys for the whole thing imo.

 

[NUFAN]

They'll want to make sure they get Orford though. McCrone may not have been the best 7 out there, but he was all you had and he's been released, unless there's a rookie coming through I don't know about. Without Campo or Orford the first half of the season could get pretty messy.

Agree though if you get Orford you'll make the 8. Smokeys for the whole thing imo.

Has McCrone been released? that's news to me, I'm amazed as he was playing quite well over the last 2 months of this season.

Sam Williams is a half that the Raiders seem very excited about, he had a great year for the Under 20s from all reports.

 

[Prince EWS]

McCrone has not been released.

 

[Ausage]

McCrone has not been released.

That's what you get for blindly trusting posters on PI without doing any checking

 

[Prince EWS]

That's what you get for blindly trusting posters on PI without doing any checking

Maybe they were thinking of Herbert.

 

[Ausage]

Maybe they were thinking of Herbert.

Heh, looking back at it, that's exactly what they thought, and said. Not what I saw though.

 

[Craig]

This Israel Folau saga with Folau wanting to play for Tonga against Samoa this weekend has proven how vindictive and petty the ARL is. Not that I think Folau should play because he's made his bed to play for Australia, and he should only play for Australia as a result, but fair do if we have these rules in place. Nut the other thing is that they have no right to tell another country's rugby league board on what to do or not to do, if Tonga should want to pick him, or least help out as a water boy, then by all means, but to go as far as to stop him from trying to get into the ground? All for what, a match that has nothing to do with Australia, and I really don't see how this would give "added exposure to the AFL and GWS". How about you lot raise your game so players won't need to defect, perhaps try and even get a better TV money deal next time. Quite frankly, if we did away with the ARL, and the NRL boards, and one controlling body, like this independent commission is meant to bring us, then I would be happy to see it introduced.

 

[Ausage]

This Israel Folau saga with Folau wanting to play for Tonga against Samoa this weekend has proven how vindictive and petty the ARL is. Not that I think Folau should play because he's made his bed to play for Australia, and he should only play for Australia as a result, but fair do if we have these rules in place. Nut the other thing is that they have no right to tell another country's rugby league board on what to do or not to do, if Tonga should want to pick him, or least help out as a water boy, then by all means, but to go as far as to stop him from trying to get into the ground? All for what, a match that has nothing to do with Australia, and I really don't see how this would give "added exposure to the AFL and GWS". How about you lot raise your game so players won't need to defect, perhaps try and even get a better TV money deal next time. Quite frankly, if we did away with the ARL, and the NRL boards, and one controlling body, like this independent commission is meant to bring us, then I would be happy to see it introduced.

It sort of throws into light the ridiculous nature of Leagues international laws. Forget about the AFL for a minute, how many games has this guy played for Australia? Why is playing for another country even an option?

If Rugby League really wants a substantative advantage over the AFL it should use a strong international competition, and fixing the dodgy rules about players jumping from country to country, but most importantly changing the rules around Origin eligibility is the only way that's going to happen.

The other thing is that nobody would have cared if he played, but all kicking up a stink about it does is deliver another marketing bonus for the AFL.

 

[Craig]

It sort of throws into light the ridiculous nature of Leagues international laws. Forget about the AFL for a minute, how many games has this guy played for Australia? Why is playing for another country even an option?

If Rugby League really wants a substantative advantage over the AFL it should use a strong international competition, and fixing the dodgy rules about players jumping from country to country, but most importantly changing the rules around Origin eligibility is the only way that's going to happen.

The other thing is that nobody would have cared if he played, but all kicking up a stink about it does is deliver another marketing bonus for the AFL.

I think it's boarding on paranoia for the ARL head honchos. And FWIW, Nathan Fien has played one State of Origin game for Queensland, really shouldn't go and turn around and play for New Zealand IMO.

 

[Ausage]

Nathan Fien has played one State of Origin game for Queensland, really shouldn't go and turn around and play for New Zealand IMO.

Really shouldn't be let out in public tbh

 

[Mister Wright]

When players first sign an NRL contract they should have to state their allegiance. It's quite simple. Of a list of options; N.S.W., QLD, N.Z., Tonga, P.NG. England, France, etc. tick a box beside which representative team you want to play for. If you select N.S.W. or QLD you are eligible for State of Origin and the Kangaroos, if you don't, you play for your country and not for Australia or in the State of Origin series.

 

[Ausage]

When players first sign an NRL contract they should have to state their allegiance. It's quite simple. Of a list of options; N.S.W., QLD, N.Z., Tonga, P.NG. England, France, etc. tick a box beside which representative team you want to play for. If you select N.S.W. or QLD you are eligible for State of Origin and the Kangaroos, if you don't, you play for your country and not for Australia or in the State of Origin series.

I don't see why International eligibility needs to come into Origin. Why isn't it just who you started playing with as a junior? Someone like Pritchard would be eligible, someone like Burgess wouldn't. You'd improve Origin as a spectable, and it wouldn't force someone like Uate to give up on their nation just because they want to play at the pinnacle of the sport.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't see why International eligibility needs to come into Origin. Why isn't it just who you started playing with as a junior? Someone like Pritchard would be eligible, someone like Burgess wouldn't. You'd improve Origin as a spectable, and it wouldn't force someone like Uate to give up on their nation just because they want to play at the pinnacle of the sport.

Yep, AWTA completely.

I like the Nathan Cayless example best. He was born down the road from me and played all his junior football in the Parramatta Juniors competition. There's no doubt in my mind that he supported New South Wales with as much interest and passion growing up in the area as anyone else, but we weren't allowed to pick him because he chose to honour his heritage at international level and play for New Zealand. Origin is not international football; it shouldn't be bound by the same ties.

This definitely doesn't mean that the likes of Burgess, Morley or Galuvao should be eligible for Origin having only moved into New South Wales for rugby league purposes, but there's no reason someone like Cayless or Pritchard shouldn't be allowed to play Origin if they're good enough.

Some people will just never accept this argument though. I've argued it until I was blue in the face elsewhere before, but the same, tired old "Nah Origin is not for Kiwis!" line comes out time and time again, which completely misses the point that the likes of Pritchard and Cayless are very different cases from even Benji Marshall who came over here on a rugby league scholarship.

 

[Ausage]

Some people will just never accept this argument though. I've argued it until I was blue in the face elsewhere before, but the same, tired old "Nah Origin is not for Kiwis!" line comes out time and time again, which completely misses the point that the likes of Pritchard and Cayless are very different cases from even Benji Marshall who came over here on a rugby league scholarship.

I think there's something of a patriotic argument. It's the pinnacle of the Australian league therefore it should strengthen our national team. International league is like 3 sharks of varying sizes swimming in a pool full of goldfish though. Nobody cares that we're the biggest shark in the pond.

Who wants to support a shark anyway? Go the Kumuls imo.