***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[chaminda_00]

**** Souths win a game.

 

[Simon]

**** Souths win a game.

they'll still get the spoon.

 

[alternative]

I was hoping they would never win a game this season, dammit.

 

[Burgey]

Anthony Lafranchi (or however it' spelt) will travel for love apparently.

Gold

Proof today though whyt he Cowboys won't win the comp. Some serious defensive defficiencies there, and there seem to be a few blokes who wait for Thurston and Bowen to do it all.

 

[99*]

Lockyer is out of the ANZAC test.

Also did anyone see the ref get hit by the ball from the Penrith game? Bloody ****-head fans.

 

[Son Of Coco]

**** Souths win a game.

Good to see, they played pretty well. I hope they win a few more before the season's out.

 

[Craig]

Lockyer is out of the ANZAC test.

Also did anyone see the ref get hit by the ball from the Penrith game? Bloody ****-head fans.

Should go to jail IMO. Or if that is deemed OTT then banned for life from CUA Stadium and other league grounds.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Should go to jail IMO. Or if that is deemed OTT then banned for life from CUA Stadium and other league grounds.

Go easy Craig, he's only pulled out of a test...no reason to send him to jail and ban him from all grounds. The man has to make a living!

 

[morgieb]

At least Lockyer's likely replacement (hopefully) is Scott Prince, he's one of the best players in the league ATM.

BTW Daniel Abraham played for North Queensland, now that's a blast from the past

 

[Burgey]

At least Lockyer's likely replacement (hopefully) is Scott Prince, he's one of the best players in the league ATM.

BTW Daniel Abraham played for North Queensland, now that's a blast from the past

Not happening - Bird to 5/8 and Crocker comes into the side, despite Laffranchi being 18th man to start with

 

[Simon]

Wonder what it means for NSW, there are two major stories going around that Gidley will be halfback and Bird will be 5/8. Anasta was pretty much expected to be there but apparently the NSW selectors want to be able to fit in all their back row talent and this will be helped by playing Bird in the 6. Hope they do as this means NSW will pretty much have a non existant kicking game.

 

[Simon]

BTW Daniel Abraham played for North Queensland, now that's a blast from the past

How do you figure? He was playing for Newcastle last year and has just been playing Qld cup with the Cowboys feeder side, not like he's been missing for a few years.

 

[Johnners]

Laffranchi not playing is an abomination.

 

[Simon]

Laffranchi not playing is an abomination.

Agree to an extent, I'd have gone with Crocker in the first place but after being made 18th man Laffranchi should have been picked.

 

[Mister Wright]

I got the impression that Crocker has been brought in to the squad and a decision on the final line-up won't be known until closer to the game.

 

[Simon]

I got the impression that Crocker has been brought in to the squad and a decision on the final line-up won't be known until closer to the game.

he's into the 17, they haven't made the decision as to who will start at lock.

 

[Burgey]

Wonder what it means for NSW, there are two major stories going around that Gidley will be halfback and Bird will be 5/8. Anasta was pretty much expected to be there but apparently the NSW selectors want to be able to fit in all their back row talent and this will be helped by playing Bird in the 6. Hope they do as this means NSW will pretty much have a non existant kicking game.

Spot on - if they run with that line up, there's a dearth of kicking options.
Can't work it out really - with the back line Qld will assemble, it will be vital for NSW o have them playing off their own line as often as possible.
There's a natural aversion to picking young play makers, but maybe they should run with Carney, thought he was good in the game on Friday. Finch won't let them down, but if you saw the Parra game on Saturday, he wasn't even taking allt he kicks in pay for them (which is why, despite all the media crap about him, Tim Smith was important to that team's chances of doing well in the comp this year).

 

[howardj]

Ah, it's very early and a lot can happen, but this is the basic Origin framework (of course there are always arguments over who will start, and who will come off the bench):

QLD
Hunt
Slater
Folau
Hodges
Inglis
Prince
Thurston

Johnson
Crocker
Webb
Civo
Smith
Myles

- Thaiday
- Hennant
- Costigan/Shillington
- Marsh

NSW
Stewart
Hayne
Gaz
Cooper
Monaghan ???
Anasta
Gidley

Bird
Hindmarsh
Hoffman
Kite
Buderus
Mason

- Toupou
- LaFrank
- Gallen
- Heighington

 

[Burgey]

I think Stewart may be injured for the 1st game. Hodgson likely to come in I think.

 

[James90]

Bahaha. Loving this as a Queenslander.