***Official*** NRL 2008 Thread

[Craig]

Turner hope your enjoying this match, cus it is going to be your last. Don't think even Grothe could have done worse.

Inglis pretty gun so far, awsome stuff from a pure fans POV. Doing well to not be 30-40 behind IMO.

Yeah you knew after Boyd's try he would be a one game wonder.

 

[Craig]

24-0.

 

[Craig]

30-0.

 

[pinchy81]

Dire, Dire game from the Blues perspective

 

[Craig]

Shows how over-rated Greg Bird is I never thought I would say this, but maybe they need Braith Anasta

And who needs Darren Lockyer

 

[Johnners]

Gun.

 

[chaminda_00]

TBF though Gildey played 5/8 for most of match and was the one that did nothing. not Bird. Really it doesn't matter who you have in the halves, when your forwards don't aim up. Really lack a couple extra couple front rowers. Reckon O'Meley and Bailey would have made a fair bit of difference. Even useless SOO players like Kite or Ryles would have added some variety to the pack.

 

[Craig]

TBF though Gildey played 5/8 for most of match and was the one that did nothing. not Bird. Really it doesn't matter who you have in the halves, when your forwards don't aim up. Really lack a couple extra couple front rowers. Reckon O'Meley and Bailey would have made a fair bit of difference. Even useless SOO players like Kite or Ryles would have added some variety to the pack.

What happens when you pick one front rower.

 

[Prince EWS]

Shows how over-rated Greg Bird is

And every other game he's played over the last two years shows how over-rated he isn't..

One poor game amidst several good ones does not prove someone over-rated: where was this post about Greg Inglis after Game I?

I would have picked Anasta as well and given him the entire series, but I can see why they didn't. They bit the bullet and ended the career of a player who had shown nothing at Origin level repeatedly. IMO Anasta is a much improved player from the player we've seen in years gone by and has been the victim of "Sinclair syndrome" a bit - he's been recalled more times than English beef but has never been given an extended run, is always under immense pressure and is scapegoated if the team fails to perform in attack. That's why I would have gone for him in Game I, but picking him now after one poor game from Bird.. a game NSW were outplayed in several areas and were never truly expected to win in the context of the series.. would be a mistake.

Bird wants to play there, the other players *apparently* want him there and it's really his spot to lose. It would have been great to give Anasta this series to see once and for all whether he was up to it, but it wasn't to be. Giving him another fragmented series of one game - a decider at that - won't do anyone any good. Least not NSW.

 

[Prince EWS]

TBF though Gildey played 5/8 for most of match and was the one that did nothing. not Bird. Really it doesn't matter who you have in the halves, when your forwards don't aim up. Really lack a couple extra couple front rowers. Reckon O'Meley and Bailey would have made a fair bit of difference. Even useless SOO players like Kite or Ryles would have added some variety to the pack.

Ryles has never let NSW down. It was his recurring injuries and inconsistent club form that got him axed from the NSW team the first time. The fact that he's in the form of his life and hasn't had a serious injury in quite a white seems to count for little though.. *shrugs*

 

[James90]

Bailey was possibly the #1 forward in the comp for the first few rounds before he got injured. However he'll only get one game before the next team is selected so you'd think that Ryles would get the nod.

Stoked with that result even though I had money on Prince MOTM and Queensland to win by 12 or less.

 

[Johnners]

I know it's only one game, but it's one game that quashed a lot of the concern about whether Prince & Thurston could play together for mine.

 

[chaminda_00]

Ryles has never let NSW down. It was his recurring injuries and inconsistent club form that got him axed from the NSW team the first time. The fact that he's in the form of his life and hasn't had a serious injury in quite a white seems to count for little though.. *shrugs*

He has never ever been a stand out at Orgin level IMO, he always been just solid. No doubt that maybe if he had a better fitness when he was a regular member of the side he could have done better. But like Kite IMO has always just been decent without ever standing out. Both players at their best at Orgin and Test level just basically followed the likes for Bailey, Civ and Price. Maybe useless was harsh, but never really was above par at Orgin level. Even in the form of life I can't see him being anymore then just decent. Really NSW needs someone to lead from the front and he isn't your man.

 

[Bobisback]

Had $5 on Darius Boyd for first try scorer. ALMOST put on a multi Darius Boyd first try scorer, Israel Falou last try scorer, but didnt want to waste money, such a ****ing idiot.

 

[Prince EWS]

He has never ever been a stand out at Orgin level IMO, he always been just solid.

Well yes, but he's a much better player now than he was then, and he was hardly a failure as such.

But like Kite IMO has always just been decent without ever standing out.

I disagree wrt Kite. Kite had an extended run in the team and his performances ranged from poor to okay. Ryles was never as bad as that and never had the run in his prime that Kite did. To group them together would be unfair to Ryles.

Really NSW needs someone to lead from the front and he isn't your man.

I disagree again. He leads the way statistically in the in several areas and is generally just one of the best props in the game. He cops a bad rap for his discipline but even that is exaggerated. Obviously Civo and Price are better, but they are going to be better than any props we pick and just picking second rowers instead is not the answer to this. The fact that Queensland's props are superior on an overall scale does not mean they'll be superior on any given day if we pick the right players: I believe Ryles and Bailey can better them if things go their way. This is not true of White, Cross or Simpson, or even Kite given what he's shown before.

Fitzgibbon has actually impressed me as a prop tbh, somewhat surprisingly, but Simpson is flatly not one, especially with limited gametime under his belt this season. White is just crap in general really - sure he's a specialist prop, great - but if we can only have one of those, why on earth does it have to be Brett White?

 

[chaminda_00]

If your picking front rowers on stats then Kite and Ryles whould be your first two front rowers picked for NSW. But you don't pick a side on stats, it on what they add to side.

Ryles had a fairly long run in the Blues side, was basically always picked for a couple seasons when he was fit. Granted he missed a few games during that period. But it was really after his first big injury that he lost he spot. Prior to that they were minor injuries.

Yeah no doubt he has improved a lot, but still think he is just a decent first graders that probably a standard below rep football. Standing out in a poor forward pack doesn't mean that much really.

Bailey and O'Meley are the guys I would go for. Bailey right up there is season when his been fit and has the experience. O'Meley been up and down and reckon he a lot more suited to rep football then White, Ryles or Kite. He also stepped up in some big games this season for the Roosters. If Cross is back I would give him another, reckon he made for rep football as well. Would pick Joel Clinton ahead of White as well. Really done nothing at Orgin level.

 

[howardj]

What a win; what a night.

It needs no embellishment.

 

[Mister Wright]

Feels so good to be a Queenslander this morning.

Was so excited after the game, booked flights and tickets for the 3rd game in Sydney.

 

[Burgey]

NSW were as bad last night as Qld were in game 1, only Qld converted more of their chances last night.

In order to ensure both teams show up for game 3, they should play it at Coffs Harbour - half way between Suncorp and the Olympic Stadium.

My NSW team for game 3:

Minichello (Stewart ok, but very slow to the ball when it's kicked down field - Mini is just better, provided he's fit)
Hayne (straight back in)
Gasnier
Cooper
Quinn
Anasta (at least he can pass the ball every now and again, also a better kicker than the flightless Bird)
Wallace
Gallen
Flopsgibbon
Mason
Cross
Buderus
White
Res: Bird, Mateo (covers 5/8, back row, can kick and actually tries to be creative with the ball), Bailey, Gidley.

Mason can cover front row rotation as well as being in the back row at the start. Bailey is proven (though he may have retired form the rep stuff - if he has, then keep Simpson on the bench). Hayne has to come back in - Turner and Gasnier together on the right side was like watching under 6s.

Inglis v Gasnier was a top clash IMO. Gasnier missed him once or twice, but he put a couple of good moves back on him. Was good to watch.

How far forward was the last pass in the second try, out of interest?

And Archer has to referee one way or the other. You can't blow no penalties in one game, have the sides play the same way in game two, and blow a pisspot full. Plainly the media stuff from Qld got to him post game one. No doubt NSW will bleat for 3 weeks pre-game 3.

 

[Simon]

Awesome game. Steve Turner should cherish that nsw jersey cause he will never get near another one again. Mason should be axed too imo, Greg Bird is not a 5/8 and never will be.