***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[chaminda_00]

Wendell for Origin? No Thanks.

Also rumours he might turn out for Newtown before playing for Saints.

Heard Newtown wasn't going to happen as they are feeder club to Roosters or Sharks. So Queensland Cup looks most likely.

 

[Mister Wright]

Heard Newtown wasn't going to happen as they are feeder club to Roosters or Sharks. So Queensland Cup looks most likely.

Yeah, Newtown are the Roosters' feeder club.

Will be most interested on how long before Brown picks him in the top league. Given he's always been a fit person, he shouldn't be out of shape, and he was an excellent rugby league player when he was playing league. Also interested to see if he'll end up on the wing.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah, Newtown are the Roosters' feeder club.

Will be most interested on how long before Brown picks him in the top league. Given he's always been a fit person, he shouldn't be out of shape, and he was an excellent rugby league player when he was playing league. Also interested to see if he'll end up on the wing.

In theory he would have to get ahead of two internationals (Nightingale and Stanley) to get a spot on the wing. Would be funny if either get dropped to make way for Sailor. If he gets a start it will probably be off the bench and come into the pack regardless though.

 

[Mister Wright]

In theory he would have to get ahead of two internationals (Nightingale and Stanley) to get a spot on the wing. Would be funny if either get dropped to make way for Sailor. If he gets a start it will probably be off the bench and come into the pack regardless though.

Was also a good fullback. With Hornby playing a fair bit of halfback these days might be a chance there. But, then I haven't watched a Dragons game this season, so not too sure what players they do and don't have.

 

[chaminda_00]

Was also a good fullback. With Hornby playing a fair bit of halfback these days might be a chance there. But, then I haven't watched a Dragons game this season, so not too sure what players they do and don't have.

They also have Morris at fullback, who like Nightingale and Stanley have got a fair bit talent. None have really performed that well for Dragons though, so all are replacable if Sailor shows anything close to form he had in the past. But with the continual losses for forwards over the last couple seasons, thats were the Dragons really struggle.

 

[Johnners]

Haha sheesh. Cronk selected as backup for Thurston. What the **** else does Scott Prince have to do to be selected for representative teams?

 

[James90]

That's just ridiculous. Really, the worst selection decision I've heard. I'd have had Thurston and Prince as the halves from the start as I knew Lockyer wouldn't be up to it. Bird and Cronk ahead of Prince? Terrible.

Roosters
Cowboys
Bulldogs
Eels
Broncos
Storm

 

[Burgey]

It just shows that club form really doesn't matter for much if you're a certain player.

These dinosaurs who pick these sides have a predisposition to a certain "type" of player who they reckon is or isn't a "rep" player, even if they brain the opposition all the time at club level.

What else is the kid meant to do?

And while I'm on it, I'm sick to death with how bloody predictable footy is now. 4 or 5 hit ups or dummy half runs, followed by a kick to the corner. All because possession + field position = everything these days. Even the more creative players we have are stifled these days by pre-ordained game plans. Let them play what's in front of them. You see someone try somethign different, and if it doesn't come off, he gets torn a new ass hole by his coach!!!!

God, I watched a replay of the 1981 GF the other day - had to remind myself why a crowd would clap when a half back kicked a ball into touch. Of course, back then there was a contest for the ball.

When did you last see players consistently play what's in front of them instead of to a pre-ordained plan to gain maximum metres? FFS these days they divide up the field so certain players only run down a certain 1/3 of the field!!!! If I was SBW and someone told me to only play on one side, I'd just tell him to **** off - whay can't he go wandering, looking to inject himself wherever the situation demands it, instead of waiting, as planned for the ball to come to him on tackle three, two passes wide on the LHS of the field. What;s more, when did you last see a half back chip kick for himself other than when they're side is down on the score board and there's 5 minutes to go?

Then they reduce the interchange to give more creative players a chance, all for nowt. Why? because they let the coaches walk in and tell them they want the scrums set and then re-set with the packs binding properly, and video ref involvement on knock ons, thereby slowing the game down so the 2 less interchanges have zero impact.

****s!!!!

My grandfather died just after the Super League war started in 1995. He played pre-WW2 for Balmain. When the Superleague thing hit, he just said to me "The game's ****ed".

13 years on, and the people who run it aren't doing much which would change his opinion.

Rant over.

 

[chaminda_00]

I blame Wayne Bennett

 

[Craig]

It just shows that club form really doesn't matter for much if you're a certain player.

These dinosaurs who pick these sides have a predisposition to a certain "type" of player who they reckon is or isn't a "rep" player, even if they brain the opposition all the time at club level.

What else is the kid meant to do?

And while I'm on it, I'm sick to death with how bloody predictable footy is now. 4 or 5 hit ups or dummy half runs, followed by a kick to the corner. All because possession + field position = everything these days. Even the more creative players we have are stifled these days by pre-ordained game plans. Let them play what's in front of them. You see someone try somethign different, and if it doesn't come off, he gets torn a new ass hole by his coach!!!!

God, I watched a replay of the 1981 GF the other day - had to remind myself why a crowd would clap when a half back kicked a ball into touch. Of course, back then there was a contest for the ball.

When did you last see players consistently play what's in front of them instead of to a pre-ordained plan to gain maximum metres? FFS these days they divide up the field so certain players only run down a certain 1/3 of the field!!!! If I was SBW and someone told me to only play on one side, I'd just tell him to **** off - whay can't he go wandering, looking to inject himself wherever the situation demands it, instead of waiting, as planned for the ball to come to him on tackle three, two passes wide on the LHS of the field. What;s more, when did you last see a half back chip kick for himself other than when they're side is down on the score board and there's 5 minutes to go?

Then they reduce the interchange to give more creative players a chance, all for nowt. Why? because they let the coaches walk in and tell them they want the scrums set and then re-set with the packs binding properly, and video ref involvement on knock ons, thereby slowing the game down so the 2 less interchanges have zero impact.

****s!!!!

My grandfather died just after the Super League war started in 1995. He played pre-WW2 for Balmain. When the Superleague thing hit, he just said to me "The game's ****ed".

13 years on, and the people who run it aren't doing much which would change his opinion.

Rant over.

Nobody rants like Burgey. Nobody.

As a Storm fan I agree that Prince should still be picked as a replacement for Lockyer, and one can assume Cronk will make his Origin debut this year going by this logic.Bird is a dirty little **** for mine and if he wasn't playing for Cronulla I doubt he would have been picked at 5/8 or in the first place.

The Titans getting a massive dose of ignorance by the selectors. Laffranchi should of been a certainty in the side in the first place.

 

[Johnners]

I guess I can see the main reasons they selected Cronk. A) He plays with, and therefore should have a good relationship with Slater, Inglis, Falou, Smith, Hoffman & Crocker. And B) He's played under Stuart before (even if it was only for 1 match), which all no doubt helps due to the fact that if Thurston can't play, Cronk will have only 1 day to train with them.

That all said, I still think Prince was a little hard done by.

 

[Simon]

Prince very unlucky, cannot think of any reason why he wouldn't be there in place of Cronk.

 

[Johnners]

See what I said above. His club combinations with Slater, Inglis, Falou, Smith, Hoffman & Crocker must count for something given the very very short notice.

 

[chaminda_00]

Cronk > Prince

Form temporary, class is permanent.

But yeah with the short time to be called up, his club combinations would make a massive impact on the selection table. If Thurston had an injury scare at the start of week, things might have been different. Though I still reckon Conk a better footballer, even if Prince is in better form.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I hope the above post is a joke, 'cause if it's not, absolutely no respect.

 

[howardj]

There's a freaky amount of looove for Gold Coast players on this forum.

You'd think Prince and LaFrank were on the cusp of being inducted into the Immortals.

They're good players, yes. Deserving of Aussie colours? Arguably.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha. Prince >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cronk, don't give a **** how much he's hyped.

 

[Johnners]

There's a freaky amount of looove for Gold Coast players on this forum.

You'd think Prince and LaFrank were on the cusp of being inducted into the Immortals.

They're good players, yes. Deserving of Aussie colours? Arguably.

Do you think that Carl Webb & Michael Crocker are more deserving of Aussie Colours than Laffranchi at the moment? AFAIC, the answer is quite obviously no. You're kidding yourself if you don't think he's one of the top 5 fowards in the game at this point in time.

Oh, and agree with Smith re: Tharmis post.

 

[Johnners]

Haha. Prince >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cronk, don't give a **** how much he's hyped.

Indeed

 

[alternative]

Roosters vs Raiders
Cowboys vs Sharks
Bulldogs vs Panthers
Eels vs Dragons
Broncos vs Sea Eagles
Storm vs Knights