Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
I'm not a leaguie, but this Kiwis team is the biggest embarrassment in NZ sport history
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Offical Rugby League Thread
- Thread starter dermo
- Start date
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Cricketer Of The Year
This has been the Kiwi's weakest spine in a while. RTS is ok but TMM and Levi are still kids and Johnson seems to get worse every year. It's not like Luke or Foran would be massive upgrades either. That's before we get to the names they lost to Tonga.
I think it's great that smaller nations are doing well. Having dudes like Kikau, Vinivalu and Korisau commit to Fiji long term would be awesome for the sport.
I think it's great that smaller nations are doing well. Having dudes like Kikau, Vinivalu and Korisau commit to Fiji long term would be awesome for the sport.
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Cricketer Of The Year
Why is NRL's gender advisor the one going on about it?
It's dire, but the headlines give the impression of it being way worse than it was. "Horrifying" and "among the most disturbing cases cases I've ever seen". Lol, no. It's more disturbing than big Willie peeing on a wall but less than Packer curbstomping some random, Pearce and the poodle or even Carney drinking from the fountain.
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Cricketer Of The Year
On a more interesting note, massively pumped to head down to Pepper on Sunday to watch the pride of the west demolish their inferior neighbours.
Hopefully the weather holds up. Sitting through our opening season game vs Newcastle a few years back in 35+ degree heat is one of my worst footy memories. Getting 40+ put on us didn't help tbf.
Hopefully the weather holds up. Sitting through our opening season game vs Newcastle a few years back in 35+ degree heat is one of my worst footy memories. Getting 40+ put on us didn't help tbf.
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Cricketer Of The Year
Nah, Kikau's gonna carve now that the deadwood has been culled.
In all seriousness I have NFI how this year's going to shake out. Can't recall a season with this many changes, particularly in major positions. Cronk, Pearce, Maloney, Moylan, Foran, Hunt, Tedesco, Hodkinson, Green, Reynolds all at different clubs. The big 3 (finally) being separated. Pretty huge changes and a lot will depend on how the playmakers settle in.
Burgey
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yeah it's shaping up as a pretty open year. Cowboys very hard to beat for mine. Rooters and Drizzle still up there and your mob should be ok too.
I do like Parra's backline, especially once Gutherson is back. Probably the most potent backline we've had since the 80s if they can all stay on the park.
Gutherson
French
Hayne
Jennings
Avau/ Hoffman
Norman
Moses
is pretty good. I think we had a very good backline in 09 as well, but not quite as good as that one. Mind you, nothing will ever beat the Parra backline of the 80s - Taylor, Grothe, Cronin, Ella, Atkins/ Lidiard, Kenny, Sterlo. Probably the best ever in club footy
I do like Parra's backline, especially once Gutherson is back. Probably the most potent backline we've had since the 80s if they can all stay on the park.
Gutherson
French
Hayne
Jennings
Avau/ Hoffman
Norman
Moses
is pretty good. I think we had a very good backline in 09 as well, but not quite as good as that one. Mind you, nothing will ever beat the Parra backline of the 80s - Taylor, Grothe, Cronin, Ella, Atkins/ Lidiard, Kenny, Sterlo. Probably the best ever in club footy
morgieb
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I could pretty much see any team making the 8 this year, there's no real standout **** team this season given that a lot of the weaker sides seem to have improved through roster improvements (Newcastle the stand-out here but I reckon Gold Coast, Wests and the Warriors have too) or changing their coach to someone less stale (Souths, Canterbury).
Think there are three standouts though.
Think there are three standouts though.
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Cricketer Of The Year
Nah, the Dogs are clear spoon favourites this year for me. They were absolutely shot last year and even if we accept that Foran will get to anywhere near his best form (a BIG if) the rest of their spine is very weak. Don't really rate Woods, particularly when compared to Graham. No idea how Pay will go but there's nothing to suggest he'll be able to get a team lacking spark like that firing.
It feels weird to say, but I don't like the Storm this year. Smith and Slater are no joke but I'm still not sold on the idea of Munster as a primary playmaker for an entire season. No idea which of the kids they have running around this week will get the nod longer term but inexperienced halves generally dont get you too far. Theyll be hard to break down but reckon the 8 will be an achievement.
Parra look pretty good on paper. Reckon Hayne will benefit from moving to center full time. Less pressure. I rate 3/4 of their spine both of their edges and most of their pack. Question marks are at Hooker and whether Moses can keep it up for an entire season.
Not sure about the Cows tbh. Yes they caught fire at the perfect time last year but they were average all year. Thurston was out for much of that ofc, but whether he can still handle a full season and if Scott comes back the same player are massive question marks imo. They'll be thereabouts but not certs imo.
Roosters should be very strong. Their strengths are obvious and I don't see their pack being much of a weakness in honesty. Will be hard to stop.
Rate the Dragons actually. Much the same team as the one that dominated the first half of 2017 before Widdops injury left McCrone (
) to run the team. I've got issues with Hunt but he's miles ahead of McCrone and reckon he'll go fine next to Widdop. Dugan is a loss but Grahams a big gain. I also rate Dufty and reckon he'll have a really good year.
Knights and to a lesser extent Titans both look much better than last year but still big question marks on both of their packs.
As for us, I think we'll have a good year. I'm of the view that the Moylan/Maloney trade was good for all 4 parties, but while I truly think we got the better of the deal it'll all depend on whether we get the ill disciplined, demotivated 2017 Maloney or the much more impressive 2016 variant. Same could be said for the Sharks with Moylan too. Don't buy the "destabilised" narrative either. There's finally a pretty decent mix of youth and experience in the squad so it's time for Griffin to actually do something with it. Not sure about a premiership, but given the open nature of this year I'd be disappointed with anything less than the 3rd week of the finals.
So in spite of it being the hardest season to predict in memory I'm going to attempt a power ranking. Yes I'm kind of hyped
1. Panthers
2. Roosters
3. Dragons
4. Eels
5. Sharks
6. Cows
7. Storm
8. Sea Eagles
9. Broncos
10. Knights
11. Tigers
12. Titans
13. Raiders
14. Rabbits
15. Warriors
16. Dogs
Not really confident in any of that tbh though.
It feels weird to say, but I don't like the Storm this year. Smith and Slater are no joke but I'm still not sold on the idea of Munster as a primary playmaker for an entire season. No idea which of the kids they have running around this week will get the nod longer term but inexperienced halves generally dont get you too far. Theyll be hard to break down but reckon the 8 will be an achievement.
Parra look pretty good on paper. Reckon Hayne will benefit from moving to center full time. Less pressure. I rate 3/4 of their spine both of their edges and most of their pack. Question marks are at Hooker and whether Moses can keep it up for an entire season.
Not sure about the Cows tbh. Yes they caught fire at the perfect time last year but they were average all year. Thurston was out for much of that ofc, but whether he can still handle a full season and if Scott comes back the same player are massive question marks imo. They'll be thereabouts but not certs imo.
Roosters should be very strong. Their strengths are obvious and I don't see their pack being much of a weakness in honesty. Will be hard to stop.
Rate the Dragons actually. Much the same team as the one that dominated the first half of 2017 before Widdops injury left McCrone (
) to run the team. I've got issues with Hunt but he's miles ahead of McCrone and reckon he'll go fine next to Widdop. Dugan is a loss but Grahams a big gain. I also rate Dufty and reckon he'll have a really good year.Knights and to a lesser extent Titans both look much better than last year but still big question marks on both of their packs.
As for us, I think we'll have a good year. I'm of the view that the Moylan/Maloney trade was good for all 4 parties, but while I truly think we got the better of the deal it'll all depend on whether we get the ill disciplined, demotivated 2017 Maloney or the much more impressive 2016 variant. Same could be said for the Sharks with Moylan too. Don't buy the "destabilised" narrative either. There's finally a pretty decent mix of youth and experience in the squad so it's time for Griffin to actually do something with it. Not sure about a premiership, but given the open nature of this year I'd be disappointed with anything less than the 3rd week of the finals.
So in spite of it being the hardest season to predict in memory I'm going to attempt a power ranking. Yes I'm kind of hyped
1. Panthers
2. Roosters
3. Dragons
4. Eels
5. Sharks
6. Cows
7. Storm
8. Sea Eagles
9. Broncos
10. Knights
11. Tigers
12. Titans
13. Raiders
14. Rabbits
15. Warriors
16. Dogs
Not really confident in any of that tbh though.
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Cricketer Of The Year
Feeling pretty good about this one. Kid was absolutely dynamite.