***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Burgey]

And how many FC class and Test cricketers?

None. I tell ya though, were it not for lack of ability, I could have been anything...

Keely Deverey played for the netball division and she played for Australia. We've had some Aussie softball reps as well.

We had a fella in the late 70s who went from the soccer club to trial with Man Utd, also had some kids make youth development squads, including one guy who went on Aussie youth tours to Sth America and partnered Viduka in the AIS squad.

In the early years of post war settlement we had a Welsh international soccer player (he actually showed us all his Welsh caps he got for playing in the 40s - great player but a terrible coach - he told us to forget about 4-4-2 and to run with a system which he called "the wedge" - no one could work it out, and it wasn't made any easier by Taffie's accent), and a Pommie who was part of Man Utd's junior squads (big immigrant population then).

The problem was, this set a precedent, and for the next 10 years, whenever someone came from the UK, my grandfather who was club founder and president until he died in 1995 would write them up in the report as "former Scottish international" or "ex Arsenal star", when they could barely lace up a boot. Very funny reads though.

On topic, this game now on is proof you don't need heaps of points for a cracker jack RL game. Fair play Newcastle - they have been absolutely superb tonight.

If NSW will be picking an over rated pack with the likes of Gallen and Kite in it, they could do worse than give a bloke like this Patterson kid from Newcastle a crack off the bench. He looks like Origin material to me - big, mobile and hits like a train. Also slots goals over too.

They could do worse.

 

[chaminda_00]

If you believe anything that written in media, this is likely to be the sides that get picked tommorrow pending injuries.

Queensland

Billy Slater, Brent Tate, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Karmichael Hunt, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith (c), Ben Hannant, Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Cooper Cronk, Carl Webb, Michael Crocker, Jacob Lillyman

NSW

Brett Stewart, Jarrad Hayne, Matt Gasiner, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Greg Bird, Kurt Gildey, Ben Cross, Danny Buderus (c), Brett White, Anthony Laffranchi, Ryan Hoffman, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Peter Wallace, Wille Mason, Anthony Tupou, Brett Kite

Hannant, White, Cross and Gildey are under some injury concerns. Doubt these will be anything like the sides selected but thats pretty much what the media in Sydney reckon it going to be.

Price is pretty much ruled out as well Simon.

 

[Johnners]

If QLD really do select Hunt at 5/8, Tate on the Wing, and Cronk on the bench, I reckon Prince would be well within his rights to tell them where to shove it. That, and that he's never playing for them ever again, even if half the team dies with the plague or whatever. Even then, they'd probably pick Costigan & Sailor in the halves. (Obviously, if they pick him, he shouldn't say that)

 

[chaminda_00]

If QLD really do select Hunt at 5/8, Tate on the Wing, and Cronk on the bench, I reckon Prince would be well within his rights to tell them where to shove it. That, and that he's never playing for them ever again, even if half the team dies with the plague or whatever. Even then, they'd probably pick Costigan & Sailor in the halves. (Obviously, if they pick him, he shouldn't say that)

I hear that Travis Burns and Micheal Witt are also ahead of him in peaking order. Talk is they were also considering asking Tim Smith to come back to play if required as well. Matt Rogers was asked by the selectors about his recover progress. Brett Seymour named as also considered. There were a couple other players Miles mentioned with regard to halves and bench positions. But I can't remember them all. There were so many players he mention that he thought could do a better job then Prince.

Have to admitt it starting to become like anyone but Prince now.

 

[Mister Wright]

Even with all the speculation I'd be very surprised if Scott Prince wasn't named in the QLD side.

 

[Mister Wright]

Actually not sure we need anymore than four props.
8 Price
10 Civoniceva
14 Webb
15 Myles

Hannant will be back game two comes around.

Price is out for at least the first game, if not the series.

 

[Smudge]

Welcome back to big Dell.

Absolutely the harshest drug suspension in the history of professional sport in Australia.

What's harsh about a blatant breach of his contract?

 

[howardj]

What's harsh about a blatant breach of his contract?

I'm talking about the severity of the penalty.

Following your line of reasoning, you'd think it's OK if that if someone was five minutes late to training, they could be jailed...so long as it was stated in their contract and they knew about it.

That a person knows about a penalty, and that penalty is outlined in their contract, doesn't make the actual penalty itself in any way fair. You judge fairness on a case-by-case basis.

In any case, this penalty wasn't outlined in his contract. Rather, ASADA had room to move in terms of the penalty they imposed. ASADA elected to exercise their discretion and cut the standard two year penalty for Shane Warne by 50%, but elected not to do so for Sailor.

 

[Smudge]

I'm talking about the severity of the penalty.

Following your line of reasoning, you'd think it's OK if that if someone was five minutes late to training, they could be jailed....

Yes, that's exactly right.

Stick to politics, howardj.

 

[Craig]

I'm talking about the severity of the penalty.

Following your line of reasoning, you'd think it's OK if that if someone was five minutes late to training, they could be jailed...so long as it was stated in their contract and they knew about it.

That a person knows about a penalty, and that penalty is outlined in their contract, doesn't make the actual penalty itself in any way fair. You judge fairness on a case-by-case basis.

In any case, this penalty wasn't outlined in his contract. Rather, ASADA had room to move in terms of the penalty they imposed. ASADA elected to exercise their discretion and cut the standard two year penalty for Shane Warne by 50%, but elected not to do so for Sailor.

If Shane Warne was of lesser ability, would he still have gotten a year? FTR Warne should of gotten two years as well IMO.

 

[howardj]

Just announced:

Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Greg Bird, Peter Wallace, Brett White, Danny Buderus (c), Ben Cross, Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason, Paul Gallen

Interchange: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ben Hornby

 

[morgieb]

Just announced:

Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Greg Bird, Peter Wallace, Brett White, Danny Buderus (c), Ben Cross, Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason, Paul Gallen

Interchange: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ben Hornby

Gidley out? If so, we're ****ed.

 

[howardj]

Yes, that's exactly right.

Stick to politics, howardj.

An extreme example, granted. However, I'm illustrating the point that the fact you know about a penalty that may apply, does not, of itself, make that penalty fair or proportionate.

 

[howardj]

Gidley out? If so, we're ****ed.

Fractured cheek bone.

 

[Simon]

Awesome stuff for Wallace to make it, what a champ. Also no Kite, at least the nsw selectors got one thing right. Also surely there were better options than going back to Fitzgibbon.

 

[99*]

Fractured cheek bone.

Was he ruled out because of it though? He did play with it for a good 75+mins, and still was damn good.

 

[howardj]

I think Fitz will start, play 80, and be the goal kicker.

NSW will try to out endure the big Qld pack.

To this end, I notice that NSW pressed, and got their way, with the interchange rule.

It will be the NRL limit of 10 interchanges, rather than the International limit of 12.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

PIssed off aws.

 

[Simon]

Also Hornby wasn't he considered not good enough for City vs Country?
No props on the bench for NSW as well, and here I was worried about the lack of props Qld have.

 

[Craig]

Also Hornby wasn't he considered not good enough for City vs Country?
No props on the bench for NSW as well, and here I was worried about the lack of props Qld have.

That is a weird one.

My local paper today was calling for the inclusions of Laffranchi (obviously he got in), Mark Minichello, Scott Prince, Brad Meyers and Ashley Harrison. Naturally anybody who plays for the Titans is the son of God.