Official NRL 2006 Thread

[steds]

Went down to Brookie
Just to see the eagles play
Nearly choked on my KB
When I found out big Robbo was gay

 

[Blaze]

Ropati is playing 5/8 ATM so i guess he could play halfback or Benji halfback and Ropati 5/8. Its an option, not a great one, but an option.

Ropati is useless, he won't get close to the final 17. He can't kick so he would struggle to play halfback, and he is like a turnstile in defence.

I would say the backline would look something like this for the ANZAC Test

1. Webb
2. Vatuvei
3. Whatuira
4. Vagana
5. Webster
6. Marshall
7. Hunt

Ropati is a centre IMO and he has Soiola, Toopi and Shantayne Hape in front of him as well as Whatuira and Vagana.

I am guessing that the Super League players won't be coming back from the UK so that rules on Vainakolo.

 

[Blaze]

still dont have a halfback though, even if Hunt does go im not convinced hes the answer as a halfback, but i guess hes better than any other option NZ have....

He is worth a try... Jones will be back for the Tri Nations, but you're right, long term the cupboard is pretty bare.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hunt's decided he's a kiwi after all now then?

 

[Blaze]

Hunt's decided he's a kiwi after all now then?

Apparently he will 'consider his options' if the kiwis were to approach him.

I think he has grown up a bit and realised that he is a New Zealander (and that he is about 5th choice full back for Origin)

 

[steds]

I think he has grown up a bit and realised that he is a New Zealander (and that he is about 5th choice full back for Origin)

Ziiing.

 

[Simon]

Apparently he will 'consider his options' if the kiwis were to approach him.

I think he has grown up a bit and realised that he is a New Zealander (and that he is about 5th choice full back for Origin)

hes probably not even that high, id say Wesser, Slater, Bowen, Thaiday, Schifcofske are all in front of him!

 

[Simon]

Ropati is useless, he won't get close to the final 17. He can't kick so he would struggle to play halfback, and he is like a turnstile in defence.

I would say the backline would look something like this for the ANZAC Test

1. Webb
2. Vatuvei
3. Whatuira
4. Vagana
5. Webster
6. Marshall
7. Hunt

Ropati is a centre IMO and he has Soiola, Toopi and Shantayne Hape in front of him as well as Whatuira and Vagana.

I am guessing that the Super League players won't be coming back from the UK so that rules on Vainakolo.

that looks like a pretty weak back line compared to what Australia's is likely to be
1 Lockyer
2 Minichiello
3 Cooper
4 Gasnier
5 King
6 Thurston/Barrett
7 Johns

 

[Blaze]

that looks like a pretty weak back line compared to what Australia's is likely to be
1 Lockyer
2 Minichiello
3 Cooper
4 Gasnier
5 King
6 Thurston/Barrett
7 Johns

Is Lockyer going to play fullback?

It may look a lot stronger than NZ on paper, but all of those players apart from Thurston played in the Tri Nations and look what happened, your backs can't shine unless your forwards step up to the mark (for a change)

 

[Simon]

Is Lockyer going to play fullback?

It may look a lot stronger than NZ on paper, but all of those players apart from Thurston played in the Tri Nations and look what happened, your backs can't shine unless your forwards step up to the mark (for a change)

yeh locky to the back is the talk atm, its got its merits, imo even just caue we dont have any obvious wingers, King is a centre and mini a fullback, but both have played plenty of wing. anyway the circumstances are completely different now, and also Johns didnt play in the tri series if u remember, and he makes a bit of difference, also considering you guys dont have Jones...

 

[Blaze]

yeh locky to the back is the talk atm, its got its merits, imo even just caue we dont have any obvious wingers, King is a centre and mini a fullback, but both have played plenty of wing. anyway the circumstances are completely different now, and also Johns didnt play in the tri series if u remember, and he makes a bit of difference, also considering you guys dont have Jones...

Johns played in the first game and hobbled off in the second... But yeah if Johns fires we have very little hope.

 

[Blewy]

Hunt at half will NOT work for the kiwis... Benji needs a directing half beside him... Hunt is very much and instinct player in the mould of Benji and they would not compliment each other...

Benji needs someone to direct the team around the paddock and give him the ball when he wants it...

Its dissapointing they dont have someone to do this (other then Jones)... If Jones does play in the Tri-Series and Benji's fit i would back the Kiwis to win it again...

 

[Simon]

Marshall at halfback and Hunt at 5/8 would work better imo...
if Australia are at full strength i cant see NZ beating us in the ANZAC test or in the tri Nations...

 

[Blaze]

Marshall at halfback and Hunt at 5/8 would work better imo...
if Australia are at full strength i cant see NZ beating us in the ANZAC test or in the tri Nations...

Yeah but you would have said the same thing last season as well and we won it without Marshall. SBW and 4 or 5 others.

 

[Simon]

Yeah but you would have said the same thing last season as well and we won it without Marshall. SBW and 4 or 5 others.

to be fair Stacey Jones makes just as much difference to nz as Johns makes to australia, its a shame but we dont have a great second choice halfback

 

[Blaze]

to be fair Stacey Jones makes just as much difference to nz as Johns makes to australia, its a shame but we dont have a great second choice halfback

Not true... you have Brett Finch

 

[Simon]

Not true... you have Brett Finch

dont even joke about things like that

 

[Simon]

has anyone else played Sterlo's Trivia challenge DVD, imo its too easy, first time i bombed out in the final, second time i won it easily, plus the game is pretty one dimentional, hopefully if they bring out another one its much harder with a better format...

 

[Blaze]

Warriors to win IMO

My tip of the year... (Lucky Johns wasn't playing)

**** we are boring though... the razzle dazzle years are well behind us. Pretty impressive performance all the same, especially on d. Our completion rate was outstanding as well.

And the Tigers were back to their best today, Marshall makes such a big difference to them, even if he isn't always involved.

 

[howardj]

3/7 tips

Damn those Tigers

Damn them to hell