Official NRL 2006 Thread

[Blewy]

Forgot to add that with the Titans in the comp it is an extra chance to get to some more games. Can jump on a train and head down to Robina. If the NRL are smart they will alternate home games one weekend for Broncos then next for Titans. Titans have even speculated, at least next year until they get their stadium at Robina that they may play some of their bigger home games at Suncorp.

I thought they were going to do that anyway..

 

[Mister Wright]

I thought they were going to do that anyway..

Good, I hope they do.

 

[Craig]

i dont think the Titans are a threat to Brisbane in the near future, most of the kids will continue to grow up wanting to play for the Broncos, for the next 20 years or while Brisbane are successful i dont think the Titans will be able to get anywhere near as many star young players as Brisbane does...

What makes you so sure?

If the Titans were around say a few years ago I think it is very very likely the likes of Michaels, Boyd (think he is from the GC but not sure) Eastwood, Hammett would all be Titans then Broncos players.

 

[Craig]

yeh but the fact they shouldnt have a team makes me not like them. Gold Coast have failed in the past, i know they all say it will all be different now but im yet to be convinced...

To be fair they haven't played their first game yet in the NRL.

If you want to know something different from last time? The fact that John Cartwright and Michael Searle has told Steve Turner that he is going to see out his contract with the Titans because if he wants to stay in Melbourne then he better work on his Aussie Rules ability. The only way I could see Turner getting out of it would be if he went to the Supreme Court or something. In the past they would have let him stay with Melbourne.

The fact they fought tough and nail for Turner and Searle went to Sydney straight away to meet with David Gallop show's thing are definatly changing, and the fact they fought hard for the franchise in the first place.

 

[Burpey]

Titan's will be close to my second-favourite team.

 

[Craig]

Same.

I suppose we will have to wait with the players they sign, but if Souths don't do well should they be considered for the Central Coast?

 

[Mister Wright]

Same.

I suppose we will have to wait with the players they sign, but if Souths don't do well should they be considered for the Central Coast?

I don't think that'll ever happen. They tried to kick Souths out once, and look what happened. Those fans that disapear during the seaosn will be back out in force if there is a chance of that.

 

[Johnners]

Predictions for this weeks finals???

Knights to just get over the line against the Broncs (Johns factor and all)
Dragons to cream the eagles who will suffer from the loss of Kennedy & Steve Bell...

On the topic of the Titans, i think they'll do well, i'd nearly put money on them coming 7th/8th

They're halves Combination looks dangerous with Prince & Campbell, and with Carney, Webster & Turner playing in the backline it will be dangerous...I'm not convinced with the foward pack though, i guess time will tell!

 

[Simon]

Same.

I suppose we will have to wait with the players they sign, but if Souths don't do well should they be considered for the Central Coast?

if anyone is moving it will be the Sharks...

 

[Simon]

Predictions for this weeks finals???

Knights to just get over the line against the Broncs (Johns factor and all)
Dragons to cream the eagles who will suffer from the loss of Kennedy & Steve Bell...

On the topic of the Titans, i think they'll do well, i'd nearly put money on them coming 7th/8th

They're halves Combination looks dangerous with Prince & Campbell, and with Carney, Webster & Turner playing in the backline it will be dangerous...I'm not convinced with the foward pack though, i guess time will tell!

Broncos will beat Knights, we werent that bad last week and newcastle arent as good as the Dragons, i think it will be close but Brisbane's defence will be too good. Lockyer is put Gidley under all sorts of pressure at the back...
Dragons to beat Manly by 20 i think. Even without Gasnier they have too much fire power...

Preston Campbell's best years are behind him, Prince is a very good halfback when the forwards are going forward, apart from Luke Bailey i dont think they have the pack to give Prince the time he needs with the ball in hand, not to mention the time it will take them to develop combinations. Look at how close this years comp was, you needed 10 wins to avoid finishing bottom 3, i dont think Titans will win more than 8 games in 2007...

 

[Craig]

if anyone is moving it will be the Sharks...

How is that? Heard/know something I don't but I should know?

 

[Johnners]

Broncos will beat Knights, we werent that bad last week and newcastle arent as good as the Dragons, i think it will be close but Brisbane's defence will be too good. Lockyer is put Gidley under all sorts of pressure at the back...
Dragons to beat Manly by 20 i think. Even without Gasnier they have too much fire power...

Preston Campbell's best years are behind him, Prince is a very good halfback when the forwards are going forward, apart from Luke Bailey i dont think they have the pack to give Prince the time he needs with the ball in hand, not to mention the time it will take them to develop combinations. Look at how close this years comp was, you needed 10 wins to avoid finishing bottom 3, i dont think Titans will win more than 8 games in 2007...

Whilst Campbells best years are probably behind him, he's been 1 of Penrith's best this year, and still has a fair bit to offer the titans. Point taken on how long it takes to make combinations... it will be a testament to John Cartwright if he can lift them to the finals (i'm hoping he can) but when i think about it, as you said 10 wins were needed to avoid bottom three, 2007 will be interesting in anycase...

As for Broncs/Knights game, The broncs do have an excellent defensive line as we saw with them conceding on 12 points in the 3 weeks leading up to the finals. But by that same token the eagles had a great defensive line, and whilst they managed to hold the Knights out for 50 minutes...they were completely overrun in the last 30...whoever wins though, it'll be an absolute cracker of a match!!! The two best players in league facing off, what more coudl you want

 

[Simon]

How is that? Heard/know something I don't but I should know?

not neccisarily, but the facts speak for themselves, they are the least established Sydney club, have a pretty poor history, with a few exceptions (S Rogers and ET) havent produced great rep players and generally dont draw great crowds. Plus St George/Illawarra is geographically so close.

Also go back to 99 when Souths were being kicked out the Sharks offered a merger with them but Souths knocked it back opting to go alone, it shows they arent totally against the idea of change. If any Sydney club is to relocate im fairly certain the Sharks are number 1 on the list...

 

[Simon]

Whilst Campbells best years are probably behind him, he's been 1 of Penrith's best this year, and still has a fair bit to offer the titans. Point taken on how long it takes to make combinations... it will be a testament to John Cartwright if he can lift them to the finals (i'm hoping he can) but when i think about it, as you said 10 wins were needed to avoid bottom three, 2007 will be interesting in anycase...

As for Broncs/Knights game, The broncs do have an excellent defensive line as we saw with them conceding on 12 points in the 3 weeks leading up to the finals. But by that same token the eagles had a great defensive line, and whilst they managed to hold the Knights out for 50 minutes...they were completely overrun in the last 30...whoever wins though, it'll be an absolute cracker of a match!!! The two best players in league facing off, what more coudl you want

Interestingly is the first time Brisbane and Newcastle have played each other in a finals match. It may be the last time we see Johns and Lockyer on the same field in a big match. will be a great game i think...

 

[Craig]

The Dragons were the reason I was thinking on the reason they might leave.

 

[Simon]

The Dragons were the reason I was thinking on the reason they might leave.

yeh its a factor, as St George and Illawarra already merged they are effectively immune from relocation so if it was between them and the sharks you know who goes...

the only saving grace for Cronulla is the stadium upgrade they are supposed to be getting. It's well overdue, out of all the NRL grounds ive been to Toyota Park and Olympic Park are about equal worst...

 

[bugssy]

Broncos will beat Knights, we werent that bad last week and newcastle arent as good as the Dragons, i think it will be close but Brisbane's defence will be too good. Lockyer is put Gidley under all sorts of pressure at the back...
Dragons to beat Manly by 20 i think. Even without Gasnier they have too much fire power...

Preston Campbell's best years are behind him, Prince is a very good halfback when the forwards are going forward, apart from Luke Bailey i dont think they have the pack to give Prince the time he needs with the ball in hand, not to mention the time it will take them to develop combinations. Look at how close this years comp was, you needed 10 wins to avoid finishing bottom 3, i dont think Titans will win more than 8 games in 2007...

i think prince / rogers would be a better half/5-8 combo but then you have preston which i would play him as hooker....

 

[Mister Wright]

There has been a lot in the sports news lately about the severity of Buderus' suspension, and while I believe he deserved all of his six weeks, I think he does have a point regarding players with rather clean records. If you're going to give guys like Crocker and Morley who pay rent at the judicury and get extra weeks because of their bad record, I do think that the 'cleaner' players should get some kind of reduction in their sentence, especially if it is true that Buderus has gone 10 years without a suspension.

 

[bugssy]

There has been a lot in the sports news lately about the severity of Buderus' suspension, and while I believe he deserved all of his six weeks, I think he does have a point regarding players with rather clean records. If you're going to give guys like Crocker and Morley who pay rent at the judicury and get extra weeks because of their bad record, I do think that the 'cleaner' players should get some kind of reduction in their sentence, especially if it is true that Buderus has gone 10 years without a suspension.

yer totally agree and i aint just saying that cause i am a knights fan but its true ten years and no convictions is a masive test to his integrity and to still get maximum is just a little unfair, as you said morley and crocker have shares in the judiicury but still get the same penalty. anyway he will be missed, but i am confident the mighy knights will get up.

 

[Mister Wright]

yer totally agree and i aint just saying that cause i am a knights fan but its true ten years and no convictions is a masive test to his integrity and to still get maximum is just a little unfair, as you said morley and crocker have shares in the judiicury but still get the same penalty. anyway he will be missed, but i am confident the mighy knights will get up.

Nah, Knights won't win.

The Knights were a bit studpid in saying that finals matches should count as 2 as far as suspensions go.