***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[James90]

I dont think you can say with any certainty Broncos wouldn't have won, its less likely they would have, but its hardly the foregone conclusion that you are making it out to be. Its something we will never know anyway, fact remains we are unbeaten on top of the table.

Not only was the video ref try disallowed but the Broncos got a piggy back up the field when Anasta made a tackle around the shoulders and it resulted in a try. You can't say for sure that better refereeing would have won Sydney the game but the fact remains that the better team lost.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

If they're gonna play Gidley I reckon it'll be off the bench and one of Minicello/Stewart at the back. The way the season's gone so far it'd be Mini though there's still plenty of time for Stewart to find his form again.

 

[James90]

Awta.

Not sure about the half-back spot though. I still believe that Orford is the best footballer to never play representative. Especially amazing considering that both Mullen and Finch have played in recent years.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Orford has been woeful this season. Absolutely woeful. No creativity whatsoever.

 

[James90]

Manly have played a total of two matches. He'll come good.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

If you say so. Don't think so, myself. Especially when Lyon is next to him and Monaghan gone. Too much pressure on him.

 

[chaminda_00]

If they're gonna play Gidley I reckon it'll be off the bench and one of Minicello/Stewart at the back. The way the season's gone so far it'd be Mini though there's still plenty of time for Stewart to find his form again.

Yeah I know but if he gets a bench spot then it means no Farah pretty much which would be dire. Basically the only way to get him in the side would be to play Gildey at fullback.

With regards to Orford he was actually selected ahead of Finch in all his SOO matches. But he pulled out with injuries due to fact he can't play mid week games. Rarely trains during the start of week. Reckon your better off blooding Carney, Wallace or Pearce then going to guys aren't really long term options. Just look at the improvements in Prince's and Thurston's games when they got blooded early. Knights figured out Mullen was 5/8, hopefully the NSW selectors do as well.

 

[Simon]

Wallace would be in front at this stage, as good as Carney and Mullen might be they have both been pretty poor this season, Carney has easily been outplayed by Campese for the Raiders...

 

[Simon]

Oh and Folau signing for the Broncos is pretty good news, Broncos backline next year

1 Hunt
2 Michaels
3 Folau
4 Hodges
5 Boyd
6 Lockyer
7 Wallace

Thats a premiership winning backline if there ever was one.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Yeah I know but if he gets a bench spot then it means no Farah pretty much which would be dire. Basically the only way to get him in the side would be to play Gildey at fullback.

I'd start Farrah. As much as Buderus has given to NSW I think it's time to move on, Farrah is moving into his prime and we should make the most of it. With Anasta at 6, a likely rookie at 7 and Mini/Stewart at fullback, you need someone with playmaking ability at 9 and Buderus doesn't offer as much as Farrah in that area.

 

[Johnners]

If you say so. Don't think so, myself. Especially when Lyon is next to him and Monaghan gone. Too much pressure on him.

Monaghan was the real reason Manly went so well in the last 2 seasons afaic. Orford's a hack.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

awta

 

[chaminda_00]

Reckon it was the overall package personally though. Say if we sold Orford and kept Monaghan we would be playing as poor IMO. Offloading Burns and Groom didn't help things either. We got Nick Bradley Q playing 5/8 in the NSW Cup, while Halden in injuried. Depth in halves to the max.

 

[Mister Wright]

Lovin' the fact that Falou will be at the Broncos next year. How wonderful are the Broncos...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

You're paying him way too much. 400+ a season is ridiculous for a centre, especially one with only one good season under his belt.

 

[Mister Wright]

You're paying him way too much. 400+ a season is ridiculous for a centre, especially one with only one good season under his belt.

Pretty much standard salary for a representitive player.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Maybe, but I'd be surprised if he was a starter again this year, and you didn't need to spend that much on him. Michaels is a good player and getting better every week. Not saying that I wouldn't like having him at the Roosters or anything, but I reckon it's a lot to spend on a player with no proven record of longevity, especially when it's a centre and it could cost you re: salary cap. How many Broncs are coming off contract this year? Hannant is I think, not sure who else.

 

[sideshowtim]

Reported 500k a season. Now for a centre who has played one season, that is certainly more money than he is worth at this point in time. Certainly. There shouldn't be too much of an argument against this. Considering what I think he is capable of though, he could prove to be worth it, but it's always going to be difficult to justify that sort of price, especially for someone who isn't a playmaker.

In the end though, I'm just glad Folau is playing league.

 

[chaminda_00]

Whoever was going to buy Folau was going to pay that much. Either you take punt and pay it or you might look back in a couple years and regret not taking the punt.

 

[BoyBrumby]

WRT Folau, $400k does seem a lot, but you'd imagine he could have got half as much again if he'd gone to union or the Super League, so it's probably the going rate for a banner name like him.

Anyway, what's the go with Wallace? It's always dangerous making pronouncements on what you've read rather than seen, but he was being talked as an Origin chance after the first couple of rounds. Didn't even get a regular go for Penrith, did he?