Official NRL 2006 Thread

[Blewy]

The rumours doing the rounds are the 3 they are looking at are Soward, Head(Dragons) and i think its Sean Long from the UK...

Apparently Head is awaiting Barrets decision, he has stated he wants to play with a top class 5/8 and will only remain at the dragons if Barret stays...

 

[Blewy]

If i were brisbane i would be keeping a close hold of Greg Eastwood, the kid CAN play....

 

[Mister Wright]

Full round of tipping for me...

 

[Burpey]

The rumours doing the rounds are the 3 they are looking at are Soward, Head(Dragons) and i think its Sean Long from the UK...

Apparently Head is awaiting Barrets decision, he has stated he wants to play with a top class 5/8 and will only remain at the dragons if Barret stays...

It's always the same. Dragons produce 99% of their players themselves only for half of them to leave, whilst look at how many actual Melbourne juniors play for the Storm.

 

[Mister Wright]

It's always the same. Dragons produce 99% of their players themselves only for half of them to leave, whilst look at how many actual Melbourne juniors play for the Storm.

That's a pretty poor example to use. It isn't like Melbourne is the Rugby League breeding ground.

 

[Burpey]

That's a pretty poor example to use. It isn't like Melbourne is the Rugby League breeding ground.

It's a perfect example. Why do they have a team if they have no juniors and the grand majority of the city couldn't give a rats about them?

 

[Mister Wright]

It's a perfect example. Why do they have a team if they have no juniors and the grand majority of the city couldn't give a rats about them?

Because for Rugby League to grow in this country they just can't keep the game in Qld & Sydney.

 

[Burpey]

Because for Rugby League to grow in this country they just can't keep the game in Qld & Sydney.

This is the Storm's ninth season. As I don't live in Melbourne I can't categorically say anything, but I believe rugby league hasn't really grown there.

Add this to the fact that North Sydney no longer have a team and the Central Coast don't look like getting one for quite a few years. It's ludicrous.

I would like nothing more than for rugby league to become more successful nationally. I was quite disappointed when Perth and Adelaide were abandoned. I am not saying to necessarily get rid of the Storm, but it's safe to say the venture hasn't been a success.

 

[Mister Wright]

This is the Storm's ninth season. As I don't live in Melbourne I can't categorically say anything, but I believe rugby league hasn't really grown there.

Add this to the fact that North Sydney no longer have a team and the Central Coast don't look like getting one for quite a few years. It's ludicrous.

I would like nothing more than for rugby league to become more successful nationally. I was quite disappointed when Perth and Adelaide were abandoned. I am not saying to necessarily get rid of the Storm, but it's safe to say the venture hasn't been a success.

Despite the fact that they won a premiership in their 3rd season (I think it was), and since then, have had several state and national representitives. Without the storm we would not have seen Billy Slater and Greg Inglis who is a very good up-and-comer.

 

[Burpey]

Despite the fact that they won a premiership in their 3rd season (I think it was), and since then, have had several state and national representitives. Without the storm we would not have seen Billy Slater and Greg Inglis who is a very good up-and-comer.

Firstly, all their state reps are New South Welshmen or Queenslanders. No Victorian players in their side. They won the comp with a team that was basically the Mariners and Rams merged with other players bought from other clubs.

Secondly, all their players would be playing for other NRL clubs. I'm sure the Broncs or the Cowboys would have picked up the two you mentioned.

 

[Mister Wright]

Firstly, all their state reps are New South Welshmen or Queenslanders. No Victorian players in their side. They won the comp with a team that was basically the Mariners and Rams merged with other players bought from other clubs.

Secondly, all their players would be playing for other NRL clubs. I'm sure the Broncs or the Cowboys would have picked up the two you mentioned.

Maybe so, but I'm farly sure we wouldn't have seen them play at such an early age.

It is pretty hard to expect a state that has never had a history of producing Rugby League players (Craig Polla-Mounter is about the only one I can think of) to start producing some when they've only been in the comp for a couple of years. From what I've heard there are some promising junior players in Melbourne, but they can get snapped by AFL sides, etc.

 

[steds]

This is the Storm's ninth season. As I don't live in Melbourne I can't categorically say anything, but I believe rugby league hasn't really grown there.

Tbf, you could say that about the London (Harlequins as they're known now) team over here. Don't produce their own players. Attendance figures going nowhere, and down if anything. Had to merge with a union team to survive financially. But we're told there are more people playing amateur rugby league down there than up here. If that's the case, it's only a matter of time before they start producing some really good players of their own.
Give Melbourne some more time. They must be doing something right, or they'd have gone the way of the Western Reds or PSG already.


And doesn't Sydney have enough teams?

 

[Burpey]

Give Melbourne some more time. They must be doing something right, or they'd have gone the way of the Western Reds

What happened with the Reds is a totally different story, and I'd rather not get into the whole Super League thing.

How long do you give Melbourne? News Ltd will make sure they are always financially viable. I want to keep them, but they started in 1998. Eight years on, no signs of juniors though I may be a bit harsh expecting them to be coming up already. But the signs aren't good. Their feeder team is Brisbane Norths. No inclination towards taking players from the Melbourne comp (is there even one?).

However, I would like to keep Melbourne. I want them to succeed. If I had it my way I would also bring in Adelaide, Perth, Central Coast, and another NZ team. But it's not going to happen. Reality is a bummer.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Tbf, you could say that about the London (Harlequins as they're known now) team over here. Don't produce their own players. Attendance figures going nowhere, and down if anything. Had to merge with a union team to survive financially. But we're told there are more people playing amateur rugby league down there than up here. If that's the case, it's only a matter of time before they start producing some really good players of their own.
Give Melbourne some more time. They must be doing something right, or they'd have gone the way of the Western Reds or PSG already.


And doesn't Sydney have enough teams?

Fair point. It's essentially the same argument in Oz I think: heartlands v expansion. There's been a few grumblings from some quarters about Les Catalans inclusion too, what with their exemption from relegation & all. Might even have been Kear, what with him being a Castleford boy & all.

Obviously League's heartlands are QLD, NSW & the M62 corridor, but it is a fine sport so it needs to shed its parochialism & at least try to grow. Hopefully if the Dragons gain a foothold in France their National team will improve as a result.

& isn't Calderwood a London boy?

 

[steds]

& isn't Calderwood a London boy?

I said good players. When balsawood learns how to defend, I'll recognise him.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I said good players. When balsawood learns how to defend, I'll recognise him.

"own" = "good" now then?!

 

[steds]

"own" = "good" now then?!

it's only a matter of time before they start producing some really good players of their own

 

[BoyBrumby]

Tbf, you could say that about the London (Harlequins as they're known now) team over here. Don't produce their own players.

 

[steds]

But, he was never a Broncos/Harlequins player. How does Balsawood come into me saying Harlequins don't produce their own players?

 

[BoyBrumby]

But, he was never a Broncos/Harlequins player. How does Balsawood come into me saying Harlequins don't produce their own players?

Probably doesn't, in all fairness.

They have produced players tho, just none of any particular note. That guy who got pinched for steroids about 3 years ago? Can't think of his name. & Salter (?) who was a prop but went over to Union.