**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[howardj]

Gallop should ban all players from drinking in public.

Honestly, it's not that big of a sacrifice.

If they want to get pissed, do it at the clubhouse or at a teammate's house or your own joint.

The game's image is just a joke.

 

[Simon]

Would be impossible to enforce.
It just requires a very small minority to stop being morons and theres no problem. Honestly around 450 players play in the NRL each season and 440 manage to keep out of trouble.

 

[howardj]

Would be impossible to enforce.
It just requires a very small minority to stop being morons and theres no problem. Honestly around 450 players play in the NRL each season and 440 manage to keep out of trouble.

True. I think most of the guy's are good.

It's a real shame fir the game's image, and the media just absolutely laps this stuff up.

 

[Burgey]

The hits just keep on coming for Mt Druitt By The Sea:

'He punched me': Manly sponsor - leaguehq.com.au

 

[Burgey]

Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons
Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys
New Zealand Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Cronulla Sharks v Penrith Panthers
Bulldogs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders

Honestly, care factor is SFA this year re the footy. Wouldn't hav a clue who half the sides have or haven't signed.

 

[Ausage]

Honestly, care factor is SFA this year re the footy. Wouldn't hav a clue who half the sides have or haven't signed.

I find myself feeling pretty similar at the beginning of most seasons lately (other than about the Panthers ). NRL tends to get more interesting once the season actually starts. The fact the teams are mostly merry-go-rounds is the main factor imo (obvious off field distractions aside). Most teams look extremely different to their 2008 incarnations.

*start rant about loyalty/lack thereof in NRL*

 

[Prince EWS]

Interesting to see everyone tip Brisbane so far. I'm still unsure on that game; I'm waiting for the final lineups.

Definitely tipping NQ now.

 

[Johnners]

Lineups are out? Link?

 

[99*]

I find myself feeling pretty similar at the beginning of most seasons lately (other than about the Panthers ). NRL tends to get more interesting once the season actually starts. The fact the teams are mostly merry-go-rounds is the main factor imo (obvious off field distractions aside). Most teams look extremely different to their 2008 incarnations.

*start rant about loyalty/lack thereof in NRL*

Secure at the bottom of the table?

 

[Prince EWS]

Lineups are out? Link?

All the clubs' websites.

 

[Johnners]

You suck cribbapple.

 

[Ausage]

Secure at the bottom of the table?

I believe this time last year everyone was saying that about the Raiders.

I seriously doubt we'll finish last this year. Top 4 contenders maybe not, but we have enough talent to upset most teams, but lack consistency. We will finish just outside the 8 or just inside if we play to our potential. Not to mention if we lose enough games early, ME will be gone, and we'll get a honeymoon stretch because of it

The spoon will go, as it does most years, to the team with little depth who cops the worst run of injuries and/or off field problems. Barring a few exceptions, it could be anyone. Who would have thought the Cowboys would have gotten as close as they did last year.

 

[luffy]

I believe this time every where (Damn Phil Gould) year everyone was saying that about the Raiders.

Fixed.

 

[Prince EWS]

You suck cribbapple.

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys
BRONCOS: 1. Karmichael Hunt 2. Antonio Winterstein 3. Alex Glenn 4. Israel Folau 5. Jharal Yow Yeh 6. Darren Lockyer (c) 7. Peter Wallace 8. Nick Kenny 9. Aaron Gorrell 10. Joel Clinton 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Ben Te'o 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Andrew McCullough 15. Lagi Setu 16. David Taylor 17. Steve Michaels; Reserves: 18. Ashton Sims 19. Aaron Sweeney 20. Josh McGuire
COWBOYS: 1. Matt Bowen 2. Ty Williams 3. Ashley Graham 4. Willie Tonga 5. Ben Farrar 6. Travis Burns 7. Johnathan Thurston (c) 8. Carl Webb 9. Aaron Payne 10. Antonio Kaufusi 11. Manase Manuokafoa 12. Ben Harris 13. Luke O’Donnell
Interchange: 14. Clint Amos 15. Matthew Scott 16. Shane Tronc 17. Scott Bolton; Reserves: 18. James Tamou

Melbourne Storm V St George Illawarra Dragons
STORM: 1. Billy Slater 2. Steve Turner 3. Will Chambers 4. Willie Isa 5. Anthony Quinn 6. Greg Inglis 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jeff Lima 9. Cameron Smith 10. Adam Blair 11. Sika Manu 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Kevin Proctor 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Brett White
DRAGONS: 1. Darius Boyd 2. Jason Nightingale 3. Matt Cooper 4. Chase Stanley 5. Wendell Sailor 6. Jamie Soward 7. Ben Hornby (c) 8. Justin Poore 9. Dean Young 10. Michael Weyman 11. Beau Scott 12. Ben Creagh 13. Jeremy Smith
Interchange: 14. Luke Priddis 15. Jarrod Saffy 16. Matt Prior 17. Dan Hunt

New Zealand Warriors V Parramatta Eels
WARRIORS: 1. Wade McKinnon 2. Denan Kemp 3. Brent Tate 4. Jerome Ropati 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Joel Moon 7. Nathan Fien 8. Sam Rapira 9. Ian Henderson 10. Steve Price (c) 11. Simon Mannering 12. Ben Matulino 13. Micheal Luck
Interchange: 14. Lance Hohaia 15. Russell Packer 16. Jacob Lillyman 17. Leeson Ah Mau
EELS: 1. Luke Burt 2. Joel Reddy 3. Ben Smith 4. Krisnan Inu 5. Eric Grothe 6. Jarryd Hayne 7. Brett Finch 8. Nathan Cayless 9. Matt Keating 10. Josh Cordoba 11. Nathan Hindmarsh 12. Weller Huaraki 13. Feleti Mateo
Interchange: 14. Kris Keating 15. Todd Lowrie 16. Tim Mannah 17. Fuifui Moimoi; Reserves: 18. Taulima Tautai 19. Joe Galuvao

Canterbury Bulldogs V Manly Sea Eagles
BULLDOGS: 1. Luke Patten 2. Hazem El Masri 3. Josh Morris 4. Jamal Idris 5. Bryson Goodwin 6. Ben Roberts 7. Brett Kimmorley 8. Ben Hannant 9. Mick Ennis 10. Michael Hodgson 11. Gary Warburton 12. Andrew Ryan 13. David Stagg
Interchange: 14. Lee Te Maari 15. Chris Armit 16. John Kite 17. Ben Barba
SEA EAGLES: 1. Brett Stewart 2. Michael Robertson 3. Jamie Lyon 4. Steve Matai 5. Andrew Suniula 6. Chris Bailey 7. Matt Orford (c) 8. Brent Kite 9. Matt Ballin 10. Josh Perry 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Glenn Hall 13. Glenn Stewart
Interchange: 14. Heath L’Estrange 15. Jason King 16. Adam Cuthbertson 17. Shane Rodney; Reserves: 18. Shane Neumann

Cronulla Sharks V Penrith Panthers
SHARKS: 1. Brett Kearney 2. Misi Taulapapa 3. Ben Pomeroy 4. Blake Ferguson 5. Luke Covell 6. Trent Barrett 7. Brett Seymour 8. Kade Snowden 9. Corey Hughes 10. Luke Douglas 11. Reece Williams 12. Anthony Tupou 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Ben Ross 15. Bryan Norrie 16. Grant Millington 17. Blake Green; Reserves: 18. David Simmons 19. Reni Maitua
PANTHERS: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Michael Gordon 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Tighe 5. Shane Elford 6. Luke Lewis 7. Jarrod Sammut 8. Tim Grant 9. Paul Aiton 10. Petero Civoniceva (C) 11. Trent Waterhouse 12. Gavin Cooper 13. Nathan Smith
Interchange: 14. Frank Pritchard 15. Adam Woolnough 16. Frank Puletua 17. Masada Iosefa; Reserves: 18. Matthew Bell 19. Wade Graham

Gold Coast Titans V Newcastle Knights
TITANS: 1. Preston Campbell 2. Esi Tonga 3. Josh Graham 4. Brett Delaney 5. Jordan Atkins 6. Mat Rogers 7. Scott Prince 8. Luke Bailey 9. Nathan Friend 10. Matthew White 11 Anthony Laffranchi 12. Mark Minchiello 13. Ashley Harrison
Interchange: 14. Aaron Cannings 15. Brad Meyers 16. Luke O'Dwyer 17. William Zillman; Reserves: 20. Michael Henderson
KNIGHTS: 1. Kurt Gidley (c) 2. James McManus 3. Junior Sau 4. Adam MacDougall 5. Akuila Uate 6. Ben Rogers 7. Jarrod Mullen 8. Dan Tolar 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Ben Cross 11. Steve Simpson 12. Cory Paterson 13. Zeb Taia
Interchange: 14. Matt Hilder 15. Chris Houston 16. Richie Fa'aoso 17. Cameron Ciraldo

Sydney Roosters V South Sydney Rabbitohs
ROOSTERS: 1. Anthony Minichiellio 2. Sam Perrett 3. Mitchell Aubusson 4. Iosia Soliola 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Braith Anasta 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Mark O’Meley 9. James Aubusson 10. Nate Myles 11. Lopini Paea 12. Craig Fitzgibbon 13. Setaimata Sa.
Interchange: 14. Frank-Paul Nuuausala 15. Shane Shackelton 16. Sisa Waqa 17. Jake Friend; Reserves: 18. Martin Kennedy
RABBITOHS: 1. Rhys Wesser 2. Nathan Merritt 3. Colin Best 4. Shaune Corrigan 5. Fetuli Talanoa 6. John Sutton 7. Chris Sandow 8. Luke Stuart 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi (c) 11. David Kidwell 12. Shannan McPherson 13. David Fa'alogo
Interchange: 14. Ben Lowe 15. Eddy Pettybourne 16. Jaiman Lowe 17. Garret Crossman; Reserves: 18. Jamie Simpson

Wests Tigers V Canberra Raiders
TIGERS: 1. Tim Moltzen 2. Taniela Tuiaki 3. Dean Collis 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Beau Ryan 6. John Morris 7. Benji Marshall 8. Bryce Gibbs 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Gareth Ellis 12. Chris Heighington 13. Dene Halatau
Interchange: 14. Rhys Hanbury 15. Rocky Trimarchi 16. Todd Payten 17. Daine Laurie; Reserves: 18. Corey Payne
RAIDERS: 1. David Milne 2. Phil Graham 3. Adrian Purtell 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Justin Carney 6. Terry Campese 7. Marc Herbert 8. David Shillington 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Josh Miller 11. Glen Turner 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Alan Tongue (c)
Interchange: 14. Stuart Flanagan 15. Trevor Thurling 16. Joe Picker 17. Nigel Plum; Reserves: 18. Brett Kelly

 

[Simon]

Honestly, care factor is SFA this year re the footy. Wouldn't hav a clue who half the sides have or haven't signed.

I'm actually the opposite, usually still in cricket season mode right now, but I'm pretty excited for NRL this year. Really looking forward to Super Saturday on fox sports with a pizza and having a bit of a punt.

 

[99*]

Loving that Knights lineup. Gidley

 

[Simon]

That Broncos line up is pathetic. Shocking really.

 

[howardj]

Is what happens when you spend half your cap on an outside back.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

**** that Roosters lineup is alright. We'll go a long way if we steer clear of an injury crisis.

 

[howardj]

I'm actually the opposite, usually still in cricket season mode right now, but I'm pretty excited for NRL this year. Really looking forward to Super Saturday on fox sports with a pizza and having a bit of a punt.

Yeah, it's pretty good - a lazy bet down the TAB, trotting off home for some live footy and a pizza, washed down with some of grandpa's old cough medicine. JUst a shame we have to put up with Lozz back on Fox!