Official NRL 2006 Thread

[Craig]

Matt Sing to join Hull on a 2 year deal next year to replace Nathan Blacklock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull/5049108.stm

 

[BoyBrumby]

Matt Sing to join Hull on a 2 year deal next year to replace Nathan Blacklock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull/5049108.stm

Fair play. Great signing.

 

[Blaze]

Souths have signed Vagana on a 3 year deal worth $1 mil apparently. pretty stupid decision imo. He is 32 and past his best, although he will lift the club behind the scenes I guess...

 

[Craig]

Surprised Wiki got off, thought he would get a suspension, even for a few weeks, but good luck to him and the Warriors. Billy Slater getting 2 weeks is no surprise but you would still have to tip Melbourne to beat Parramatta?

 

[Mister Wright]

Souths have signed Vagana on a 3 year deal worth $1 mil apparently. pretty stupid decision imo. He is 32 and past his best, although he will lift the club behind the scenes I guess...

He may be past his best, but surely he is going to add skills to their backline. If they hold on to Peachey, the MacDougall brothers, Sutton, Walker brothers and Williams that's not a bad backline.

Plus, the only way the Cowboys could build a successful side was by buying players past their best to act as role models and mentors for the younger guys coming through and that's obviously worked well.

 

[Mister Wright]

Surprised Wiki got off, thought he would get a suspension, even for a few weeks, but good luck to him and the Warriors. Billy Slater getting 2 weeks is no surprise but you would still have to tip Melbourne to beat Parramatta?

If Wiki wasn't suspended why wasn't he selected in the N.Z. team? Is it because he wouldn't have been allowed to play? Surprised Toupu wasn't selected either, especially considering the Broncos have released Eastwood to play for them.

 

[Simon]

If Wiki wasn't suspended why wasn't he selected in the N.Z. team? Is it because he wouldn't have been allowed to play? Surprised Toupu wasn't selected either, especially considering the Broncos have released Eastwood to play for them.

NZ didnt ask for the whole squad, only a few players here and there...

 

[Simon]

He may be past his best, but surely he is going to add skills to their backline. If they hold on to Peachey, the MacDougall brothers, Sutton, Walker brothers and Williams that's not a bad backline.

Plus, the only way the Cowboys could build a successful side was by buying players past their best to act as role models and mentors for the younger guys coming through and that's obviously worked well.

Both MacDougall brothers are leaving, imo they would be better off re-signing both of them rather than getting Vagana. Even if Souths end up with Kidwell, Jason Smith and Vagana they are still gonna struggle.

 

[Simon]

Surprised Wiki got off, thought he would get a suspension, even for a few weeks, but good luck to him and the Warriors. Billy Slater getting 2 weeks is no surprise but you would still have to tip Melbourne to beat Parramatta?

Wiki only got off cause the MRC charged him with the wrong crime, the Warriors argued that Parker was still in the air and not on the ground as the charge had been set out. so really he got off on a technicality...

 

[Blaze]

NZ didnt ask for the whole squad, only a few players here and there...

It's pretty much a development team mixed in with Super League players.

who is Harrison Hanson?

 

[Blaze]

Interesting to see Ben Roberts from the dogs named as well. Didn't know he was a kiwi...

 

[Simon]

Interesting to see Ben Roberts from the dogs named as well. Didn't know he was a kiwi...

he looks like a very solid player, did a reasonable job for the dogs when Sherwin was out, at least for NZ he's actually a halfback.

 

[Simon]

It's pretty much a development team mixed in with Super League players.

who is Harrison Hanson?

wouldnt that be Bronson Harrison from the Tigers?

 

[Blaze]

wouldnt that be Bronson Harrison from the Tigers?

That's what I thought, but it says Harrison Hanson (Wigan)

 

[Craig]

Interesting to see Ben Roberts from the dogs named as well. Didn't know he was a kiwi...

It wouldn't surprise me if his dad is Kiwi, or his mum is, but then again I'm not his biographer

 

[Blaze]

If I was a selector this would be the team I would come up with from the squad

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Lesley Vainikolo
3. Shontayne Hape
4. I Soliola
5. Francis Meli
6. Ben Roberts
7. Stacy Jones
8. Fui Fui Moi Moi
9. Motu Tony
10. Jason Cayless
11. David Kidwell
12. Ali Lauiti'iti
13. Vinnie Anderson

14. Greg Eastwood
15. Iafeta Palea'aesina
16. David Solomona
17. Robbie Paul


Players to miss out would be: Alex Chan, Harrison Hanson, Logan Swann , Willie Talau , Clinton Toopi

 

[Simon]

That's what I thought, but it says Harrison Hanson (Wigan)

oh well, ive never heard of him then!

 

[steds]

who is Harrison Hanson?

Wigan. Second row. Twenty years old. Very talented. Was a stand out player last season but I've not seen too much of him this year. Has a fair amount of injuries.

 

[Craig]

Wally Lewis - Rabbitohs > Brisbane this week as his tips for this week.

I suppose given that the Rabbitohs have had some near misses in recent times and the Broncos have lost players to Origin, they could sneak up with an upset so I can see his logic.

 

[steds]

If I was a selector this would be the team I would come up with from the squad

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Lesley Vainikolo
3. Shontayne Hape
4. I Soliola
5. Francis Meli
6. Ben Roberts
7. Stacy Jones
8. Fui Fui Moi Moi
9. Motu Tony
10. Jason Cayless
11. David Kidwell
12. Ali Lauiti'iti
13. Vinnie Anderson

14. Greg Eastwood
15. Iafeta Palea'aesina
16. David Solomona
17. Robbie Paul


Players to miss out would be: Alex Chan, Harrison Hanson, Logan Swann , Willie Talau , Clinton Toopi

Looks about right to me. I'd have:

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Lesley Vainikolo
3. Shontayne Hape
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Ben Roberts
7. Stacy Jones
8. Fui Fui Moi Moi
9. Motu Tony
10. Jason Cayless
11. David Kidwell
12. Ali Lauiti'iti
13. Harrison Hansen

14. Greg Eastwood
15. Iafeta Palea'aesina
16. David Solomona
17. I Soliola

Whilst Willie Talau has possibly been the second best centre in Superleague this season, behind Kirk Yeaman, I'm at a loss as to why he and Gobby Paul have been selected. Makes the squad look more like Dad's Army than an international side.
They also haven't picked a fullback?