Offical Rugby League Thread

[Prince EWS]

Just checked properly - looks like they put Jesse in their squad back then for that reason but didn't actually play him.

 

[Coronis]

Had an amusing conversation with a coworker recently. He’s usually pretty good with his League views but seems more pissy since the Broncos lost.

Lockyer > Johns

“Johns can’t compare to Lockyer, hell he’s not even the best halfback ever” (note: he agreed Lockyer wasn’t the best fullback or five eighth)

Wouldn’t say who the best was but as a Broncos fan I’m assuming he was referring to Langer.

 

[ripper868]

Webcke > Lyons.

Sure they play completely different positions, but whatever.

 

[Hurricane2]

Teams in contention for the Grand Final 2024

In order of likeliness

Penrith
Broncos
Daylight
Roosters
Warriors
Souths
Daylight
Eels
Knights
Dolphins (they will go well)

Underachievers
Raiders
Bulldogs
Tigers
Dragons

Hard Working teams who will make a tilt at the 8
Gold Coast
Sharks
Manly

Teams that will be the same as last year
Storm
Cowboys

 

[ashley bach]

@Hurricane2

Always felt like I'd forgotten someone. Welcome back mate it's been awhile. Please feel free to join the tipping comp this year.

 

[ashley bach]

Campbell Graham out for approx 6 months is a blow for the Wabbits.

 

[Molehill]

I see Wigan beat Penrith on Saturday, consecutive wins for English sides. I don't know a great deal about League, but how come there's such a difference when it comes to International teams? is it just that there's a load of Aussies/Kiwis in the Wigan/St Helens teams?

 

[Son Of Coco]

I see Wigan beat Penrith on Saturday, consecutive wins for English sides. I don't know a great deal about League, but how come there's such a difference when it comes to International teams? is it just that there's a load of Aussies/Kiwis in the Wigan/St Helens teams?

There's that. The ref was apparently a bit of a cheating **** this time around too, but then that's just hearsay as I didn't watch it.

I think UK teams very rarely travel here to play it. We nearly always go there, but then I think Penrith lost here last year anyway.

 

[Tart]

I see Wigan beat Penrith on Saturday, consecutive wins for English sides.

Cheating refs will do that

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, there's a healthy smattering of Australasian talent in every SL club. Each team has a quota of 5 overseas players, but those holding an EU or Kolpak-aligned passport (which includes Fiji, Tonga and Samoa) don't count towards it. So obviously in reality a lot of teams have vastly more foreign born or raised players than their official quota.

To such an extent that another rule was introduced that teams could have no more than 7 non-locally produced players shortly after Brexit, which has led to the occasionally anomaly like the English international Gareth Widdop not counting as a native because he started his career in Australia (moved there at 15, IIRC) but the Australian-born PNG international Lachlan Lam counting because he played some junior league up here when his old man was playing for Wigan.

Speaking of which, I think I count six dirty foreigners in the Piemen's WCC wining XVII: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Bevan French, Willie Isa, Kade Ellis & Patrick Mago; so there's been some duking of the system. Possibly with Isa who's a Samoan international (although Kiwi by birth and Aussie by upbringing).

 

[social]

Super League generally attracts past their prime Australians looking for a different experience towards the end of their careers or guys who didn’t quite make it for whatever reason

Bevan French is a typical example

Talented player who fell out of favour at the Eels and tried his luck elsewhere

The average length of an NRL career is 40 odd games (less than 2 full seasons) so it’s a tough gig to crack & it’s a brutal sport so can’t blame him

 

[Molehill]

There's that. The ref was apparently a bit of a cheating **** this time around too, but then that's just hearsay as I didn't watch it.

I think UK teams very rarely travel here to play it. We nearly always go there, but then I think Penrith lost here last year anyway.

I saw the end which had a contentious try disallowed - tough one to call either way to be honest. But even so, the club sides are clearly more competitive than the International ones.

I've never quite understood why they never seem to have neutral referees, just seems to be asking for trouble.

 

[Tart]

I saw the end which had a contentious try disallowed - tough one to call either way to be honest. But even so, the club sides are clearly more competitive than the International ones.

I've never quite understood why they never seem to have neutral referees, just seems to be asking for trouble.

The disallowed Penrith try was a 50/50 call at least, even if they gave up on some replays a little quick

The Wardle try is one of the worst calls I've ever seen

 

[Flem274*]

As promised here we go, still 7 weeks until kickoff but best to be well prepared.

2024 NRL TIPPING COMP

@AVA @the big bambino @BoyBrumby @Burgey @Coronis @dontcloseyoureyes @duffer
@_Ed_ @Flem274* @Fuller Pilch @Gnske @James @JBMAC @Kraken @mr_mister
@Mister Wright @morgieb @Mike5181 @Prince EWS @ripper868 @RossTaylorsBox
@Shady Slim @Smudge @Son Of Coco @social @Spikey @Tart @thierry henry

RULES

NRL matches only, includes play-offs and finishes off with the grand final.

1st=3000
2nd=2000
3rd=1000

Dead-heat rules apply eg 1st=2,500 each, 3rd= 500 each

It's not about picking winners but picking what side of the handicap you venture.
1 point for every correct pick, 0 for a wrong pick.
The lines used will be the NSW TAB.
Pews will post the lines on a Monday. All picks to be in no later than 1 hour before kick off in the opening match of the week.
Should the lines change before the game, we'll still be sticking to the original lines on the Monday. If you get your picks in early this could either
mean good or bad fortune pending on which way the line goes.
How to send in your picks:
Here's an example of what you'll see:

Penrith (-5.5) Brisbane (+5.5)

Home team always on the left, if you back Penrith you are buying which means you need them to win by 6+
Back Brisbane and you are selling which means you win when the Broncos win or lose by less than 5 points.
Games are all in order so when you send in your picks it should read something like this...

S
S
B
S
B
B
S
B

Everyone will receive ONE runners chance. That is if you forget to get your picks in on time you will automatically be given the home team
to cover the handicap, if you forget twice then congratulations you score an automatic 0 points.
It's simple, get your bets in on time.

Pews will also post the leader-board and the end of the round, which will make it interesting to see how we're all going.

In the final four rounds and the play-offs, picks for those at the top end of the leader-board will be made invisible.
That means picks won't be seen or known until kickoff in the opening match. The reason for this is to stop copying, for example 1st could mirror
2nd place picks which would give no chance to be caught.

Should any unforeseen circumstances occur I'll reserve the right now to have the final say(with or without advice from the committee)

Entries close on the 1st March(1st game on the 3rd)
Please confirm your entry with a simple ''in''

The bad news is I'll be winning the comp, so you plonkers will be eating my dust fighting out 2nd and 3rd.
Either way I'm quietly confident it's going to be fun for everyone involved. Enjoy!

in

 

[Burgey]

I see Wigan beat Penrith on Saturday, consecutive wins for English sides. I don't know a great deal about League, but how come there's such a difference when it comes to International teams? is it just that there's a load of Aussies/Kiwis in the Wigan/St Helens teams?

I think in the past English sides have done well in this game as they're into their season whereas the NRL sides are still in trial mode.

I read a report the other day suggesting the NRL might buy the UK Super League. I'd like to see anything which keeps the comp over there going. I don't get to watch a lot of it but it's often pretty entertaining.

 

[Molehill]

I think in the past English sides have done well in this game as they're into their season whereas the NRL sides are still in trial mode.

I read a report the other day suggesting the NRL might buy the UK Super League. I'd like to see anything which keeps the comp over there going. I don't get to watch a lot of it but it's often pretty entertaining.

I wouldn't have thought it's in any danger. It's well supported by Sky whilst the BBC have always seemingly over reported on a sport that's not played South of Sheffield. And as sad as it is to see Rob Burrow, he's doing a lot (together with Sinfield) to keep League in the public eye.

The season has literally just started here, I think Wigan had played one league game before this. I'm just surprised to see the English teams being as competitive as they are against their Aussie counterparts.

 

[ashley bach]

Paging @Fuller Pilch the only guy here who's unable to start a conversation it appears.

 

[Burgey]

Ash, are you going to run the TC from this thread or a dedicated one? Personally think the latter is a good idea.

Standard cut off for tips being in - hour before kick off of the opening game of each round applies?

Also, is Cribbeh still posting the lines up?

 

[ashley bach]

Hopefully things come together a bit in the next couple days, have PM'd those who may of been unaware so just awaiting final entries.
Guessing from here we'll get another 10 players or so but @RossTaylorsBox needs convincing to get his butt in here.

Yes all picks to be in 1 hour before the opening match of the round, even though this first round is really weird with the timing of the first 2 games
being played in the USA then a bit of a break until the 3rd match.

Pews is getting to work soon and as far as I'm aware he'll be doing a separate thread which seems like a good idea.

 

[Burgey]

Still trying to work out why Cribbeh thought people would think there's a conflict of interest in him posting the TAB betting lines when he's a NSW public servant, but then again there are strong links between State govts and the gambling industry.