NRL Thread

[Simon]

Hmm aren't they both kiwis?

Hunt said he was aiming for to play for Qld and Australia last year when NZ wanted to pick him, so hes very much an aussie these days.
Gordon, i have no idea what his background is, tbh i thought he is an Aboriginal but ive been wrong before...

 

[Simon]

Have to agree. I honestly can't believe they have made it. Conceding 50 points in the first week of the play offs and then making the grand final. It sux. I really don't like the Cowboys. They aren't worthy grand finalists.


Parramatta vs. Tigers would have been special.

Parramatta vs Dragons would have been the best grand final imo, they were the top 2 teams and both were unlucky enough to have shocking last games...

 

[Blaze]

Parramatta vs Dragons would have been the best grand final imo, they were the top 2 teams and both were unlucky enough to have shocking last games...

Yeah they are the best two sides but niether really turned up in the weekend so they only have themselves to blame.

 

[Blaze]

Hunt said he was aiming for to play for Qld and Australia last year when NZ wanted to pick him, so hes very much an aussie these days.
Gordon, i have no idea what his background is, tbh i thought he is an Aboriginal but ive been wrong before...

I think I read somewhere that Gordon was a kiwi but it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't. As for Hunt, he is a disgrace. He is what's wrong with International League.

 

[Burpey]

Hunt's not even good enough to play for Qld. He will end up being a decent first-grader and that's it. He'll be lucky to play any rep footy in Australia.

 

[Simon]

how quicly some people forget, hunt was awesome in 2004 as a 17 year old, this year he started slowly but his form while broncos were in their slump was exceptional, along with Tate and Webcke they were the only ones to stand up, i think we will see Hunt in the Qld number 1 jersey next year...

 

[Simon]

I think I read somewhere that Gordon was a kiwi but it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't. As for Hunt, he is a disgrace. He is what's wrong with International League.

how is he a disgrace? the rules clearly state you "should" represent the country/state in which you played your first senior football, that was Brisbane so let him have it...
i say good on him for backing his own ability and trying to play for Australia unlike the Cayless brothers who decided they would play for NZ even though their only connection was their grand parents, they saw they werent good enough for Australia and decided to cash in...

 

[Burpey]

He was "awesome" last year? Get off it. He was good, but he was nowhere near "awesome". Take your Broncos bias out of it and have a look from my view and you'll see he is only good, not "awesome". It's excellent for a 17 year old to play first grade in the NRL, but he hasn't shown me he will become a huge superstar. He will just be a very good first grader

 

[Blaze]

how is he a disgrace? the rules clearly state you "should" represent the country/state in which you played your first senior football, that was Brisbane so let him have it...
i say good on him for backing his own ability and trying to play for Australia unlike the Cayless brothers who decided they would play for NZ even though their only connection was their grand parents, they saw they werent good enough for Australia and decided to cash in...

Correct me if I am worng but isn't Hunt a deadset Kiwi? Like didn't he live here until he was 13? By then you would think he could have worked out where he was from. I knew by the time I was 7 that I was a proud New Zealander and that I would always back them in anything forever. Your logic is pretty poor if this is how you feel because then international league wouldn't exist if everyone shared your opinion. Are you saying that all good NZers who don't get contracted by the warriors should try play for Australia who already have a plethera of good players in every position rather than play for their birth country just for the challenge? Their challenge should be trying to beat Australia in a NZ side.

 

[Burpey]

Correct me if I am worng but isn't Hunt a deadset Kiwi? Like didn't he live here until he was 13? By then you would think he could have worked out where he was from. I knew by the time I was 7 that I was a proud New Zealander and that I would always back them in anything forever. Your logic is pretty poor if this is how you feel because then international league wouldn't exist if everyone shared your opinion. Are you saying that all good NZers who don't get contracted by the warriors should try play for Australia who already have a plethera of good players in every position rather than play for their birth country just for the challenge? Their challenge should be trying to beat Australia in a NZ side.

I agree. He should follow the lead of SBW, who could easily play for Aus, and be true to his roots. It just makes sense. Players like Tonie Carroll are a disgrace (he's not even good enough to play for Australia anyway)

 

[Blaze]

I agree. He should follow the lead of SBW, who could easily play for Aus, and be true to his roots. It just makes sense. Players like Tonie Carroll are a disgrace (he's not even good enough to play for Australia anyway)

The one I don't get is Brad Thorn. He was dead keen to play for the All Blacks but doesn't want to play for the kiwis.

 

[Simon]

He was "awesome" last year? Get off it. He was good, but he was nowhere near "awesome". Take your Broncos bias out of it and have a look from my view and you'll see he is only good, not "awesome". It's excellent for a 17 year old to play first grade in the NRL, but he hasn't shown me he will become a huge superstar. He will just be a very good first grader

thats why they call it "potential" no player is a dead set superstar or anything that young, hes like Fittler, Daley, Langer, etc... in that we all have seen what he can do at this age and he will only improve, keep in mind hes playing out of position and is learning to play fullback on the run, hes doing a great job...

 

[Simon]

Correct me if I am worng but isn't Hunt a deadset Kiwi? Like didn't he live here until he was 13? By then you would think he could have worked out where he was from. I knew by the time I was 7 that I was a proud New Zealander and that I would always back them in anything forever. Your logic is pretty poor if this is how you feel because then international league wouldn't exist if everyone shared your opinion. Are you saying that all good NZers who don't get contracted by the warriors should try play for Australia who already have a plethera of good players in every position rather than play for their birth country just for the challenge? Their challenge should be trying to beat Australia in a NZ side.

Hunt left NZ when he was 12, under the rules of the game hes eligible to play for Australia and if thats what he wants let him have a crack, hes down the pecking order atm so its not a worry yet...

and besides it hardly matters who you play for at junior rep level cause SBW played for NSW at every junior level up until under 19's...

 

[Burpey]

thats why they call it "potential" no player is a dead set superstar or anything that young, hes like Fittler, Daley, Langer, etc... in that we all have seen what he can do at this age and he will only improve, keep in mind hes playing out of position and is learning to play fullback on the run, hes doing a great job...

What's his normal position then?

 

[Simon]

What's his normal position then?

hes always been a five eighth or a centre, before Brisbane did their major reschuffle at the start of 2004 he was expected to play centre, when Berrigan was 5/8 and Lockyer fullback, but as we know some players switched position and Hunt was asked to play fullback...

 

[Burpey]

hes always been a five eighth or a centre, before Brisbane did their major reschuffle at the start of 2004 he was expected to play centre, when Berrigan was 5/8 and Lockyer fullback, but as we know some players switched position and Hunt was asked to play fullback...

That makes no sense. Lockyer should be back at fullback. That's his position. I have not been impressed by his work at 5/8 this season, though he did well there last year. Berrigan is wasted in the centres, especially seeing they have the likes of Hodges and Tate to play there anyway. Also, I think it's time for Bennett to move on or get some fresh ideas. It just seems to me the Broncos need a change of pace somehow

 

[Blaze]

What they need is two big wingers to take the pressure of their forward pack the way Lote and Wendall used to.

Tame Toppu can't tackle and seems to be out of favour up there, Bott is too small IMO and Minto is useless.

IMO they should poach a couple of young NZ union players. Kinikinilau would go good as would Hosea Gear. Big strong wingers who can't make it in NZ rugby due to our depth in the wing department but they would do very well in the NRL. Not being racist but their best bet would be a couple of young polonesians.

 

[Simon]

we already poached a couple of god young NZ players, Eastwood got a taste of first grade this year and is one for the future...

imo brisbane's team should be
1 Darren Lockyer
2 Someone new!
3 Justin Hodges
4 Brent Tate
5 Leon Bott
6 Karmichael Hunt
7 Brett Seymour
8 Shane Webcke
9 Barry Berrigan
10 Petero Civoniceva
11 David Stagg
12 Tonie Carroll
13 Shaun Berrigan
Res
14 Sam Thaiday
15 Brad Thorn
16 Casey McGuire
17 Neville Costigan

quite simply Hodges and Tate are our best centres and mcguire is a great bench player and s berrigan is far too good to leave out of the side, so i think he could switch to lock, hes not a creative half and has always struggled there so maybe if he puts on 5-8kgs he would make a good lock, this would also let us move thorn ro the bench so we have some impact after webby and civ go off after 25 minutes. im happy enough with Bott, hes still only a kid and will improve, but we definately need a big strong winger, i dont know where its gonna come from but Scott Minto is rubbish...

 

[Blaze]

Last week you said Lockyer should stay at 6?

 

[Simon]

Last week you said Lockyer should stay at 6?

naa i said he will, thats wayne bennett's opinion, not mine...
it doesnt really matter for attack, but i feel hes doing too much work in defence and Hunt would handle it better anyway...