**Official** NRL 2010 thread

[Simon]

NSW have to look past Perry, Kite, Bailey, White and Poore if they want to compete. There are some talented props in Weyman, Galloway, Tolman, Snowden, Douglas and Learoyd Lahrs that would be better imo.

 

[howardj]

See Brisbane, it says in the paper this morning, have changed their mind on BHennant and will be persuing him for 2011 subject to him being granted a release.

 

[Burgey]

NSW have to look past Perry, Kite, Bailey, White and Poore if they want to compete. There are some talented props in Weyman, Galloway, Tolman, Snowden, Douglas and Learoyd Lahrs that would be better imo.

Poore's going horrendous atm, thought he was ok last year. But yeah, I agree with the others. Especially those Cronulla props - they've been very, very good.

Makes you wonder about Ricky Stuart though - Cronulla's props are good, their back row has two Origin/ National reps, Pommeroy is hardly a bad centre either. They should be doing a lot better than they have the past two years imo.

 

[Blewy]

Paper talk down here this morning is Kite being on the shortlist for Origin again.

Fmd, don't these ****s watch the games? Most embarrassing moment of the season last year was his stylisied leave outside off stump as Inglis ran past him to score in the game in Melbourne. Useless **** he is.

The bloke can't even get a start for his club side, how the hell can they even consider him for Origin duties..

For me the NSW front row should be Galloway and Weyman with Douglas and Snowden/Learoyd Lahrs on the bench...


Interested to get the thoughts on what people think of the NSW backline at this stage...
An article in the SMH this morning about Chris Lawrences prospects... Personally i hope Lawry gets picked as i think he is ready for the next level, and with Jennings and the Morris boys i think could form a deadly combination out wide for the blues.. I know Bellamy rates him highly and i think if he has any say in the matter Lawry will be there somewhere..

 

[Simon]

Lawrence good player yes, I think he'll get a go at some stage in the series, Josh Dugan should as well. Hayne's positioning in defence is a real worry and we all know defence wins origin games, I think Dugan is the best defensive fullback in the game and will be rewarded with a shot possibly in game 3.

I'm not sure on the halves yet either, I have a feeling they will put Gidley in one of the positions. I think if he's 5/8 they'll go with Pearce at halfback, but if they put Gids at halfback then Bird will wear 6.

Also on the pack, thats what I think NSW's best combination is 8 Galloway 9 Farah 10 Weyman 11 Hindmarsh 12 Watmough 13 O'Donnell/Bird (depending on the 5/8)
Bench of 14 Douglas/TLL 15 Snowden 16 Gallen 17 Carney

 

[Blewy]

Im not convinced on Gidley as anything other then a utility... My 17 would be something like this..

Hayne (would give him game 1, if he doesnt aim up then Dugan would come in)
Morris
Jennings
Lawrence
Morris
Carney
Pearce
Weyman
Farah
Galloway
Gallen
Watmough
Bird

Gidley
Douglas
Snowden
TLL

 

[Simon]

Pretty much what I would have. Gidley I actually think is nothing more than a fullback and if he isn't the best fullback available then he shouldn't be in the team. But you just know the selectors will find room for him and most likely in the starting 13 just so he can captain the side.

 

[howardj]

Beat this:

Slats
Boyd
Inglis
Folau
Tuquiri
God
Thurston

Harrison
Myles
Thaiday
Hennant
Smith
Civoniceva

- Price
- Crocker
- Costigan
- Anyone who I've forgotten

 

[Simon]

Billy Slater
Brent Tate
Greg Inglis
Israel Folau
Lote Tuqiri
Darren Lockyer
Johnathan Thurston
Petero Civoniceva
Cameron Smith
Steve Price
Sam Thaiday
David Taylor
Nate Myles

Reserves
Cooper Cronk
Ben Hannant
David Shillington
Ash Harrison
18th Man: Scott Bolton

I think we'll go with a big pack, a huge next 3 or 4 weeks will see Taylor become a must pick. Depending on if Price is back Hannant would start with Scott Bolton coming onto the bench.
I cant split Tate and Boyd for a wing spot, Boyd playing fullback for Saints just puts him behind as I think Tate is playing well enough in the centres now to move to the win easily enough.

 

[howardj]

Great side mate

I think Mal likes his hit men though, so I suspect one of Crocker or Costigan could sneak in there.

Impossible to pick a bad side though.

I do love Tate in there on the wing - he doesn't pass, and he's as quick as anyone, so wing is ideal.

Can not wait.

 

[Simon]

Problem with Costigan and Crocker is that neither has played this year (Price hasn't either obviously) but I think with some game time under their belts they'll come into consideration. Crocker is close to a certainty if he isnt suspended or injured so here's hoping.

 

[Ausage]

Have a sneaking suspiscion that they'll want a defensive Beau Scott type player in one of the centre positions to allow them to play Soward. Have a feeling they're hoping it will solve the 5/8 issues NSW have had recently.

My team would be.

1. Hayne
2. Morris 1
3. Jennings
4. Lawrence (completely agree with Blewy re Lawrence. Good player.)
5. Morris 2
6. Lyon (Don't want Gidley there, Carney has been playing FB all year)
7. Pearce
8. Weyman
9. Ennis
10. Galloway
11. Watmough
12. Gallen
13. Lewis (has been awesome this year despite not playing in his best position)

14. Douglas
15. Gidley
16. O'Donnell
17. Lahrs

 

[NUFAN]

Snowden is an improved footballer over the past 12 months, but do NSW really want 2 forwards from the Sharks?

I think someone like Dan Hunt who has started the year very strongly and is playing in a winning team would be a better option.

I would go with..

1 Kurt Gidley
2 Brett Morris
3 Michael Jennings
4 Jamie Lyon
5 Jarryd Hayne
6 Greg Bird
7 Mitchell Pearce
8 Aiden Tolman
9 Robbie Farah
10 Michael Weyman
11 Luke Lewis
12 Anthony Watmough
13 Paul Gallen

14 Anthony Laffranchi
15 Dan Hunt
16 Tom Learoyd Lahs
17 Todd Carney

 

[Craig]

I know that Tomane was considered a few weeks ago as a 'dark horse' for Queensland. I thoughth e was a Kiwi?

 

[Mister Wright]

I reckon Boyd with his versatility will get the bench spot. Pretty much a straight swap for Hunt. That will allow us to pick 8 in form backs.

1.Slater
2. Tiquiri/Tate
3. Tonga
4. Inglis
5. Falou
6. Lockyer
7. Thurston
14. Boyd

 

[Burgey]

Love him or loathe him, Phil Gould knows league, and I find these one-on-one interviews he does on the Footy Show bloody enlighteniing tbh. The players open up to him about the intricacies of their games more with him than seemingly anyone else.

Quality.

 

[howardj]

One of the most knowledgeable sports commentators I've ever come across.

He runs rings around most others in terms of knowledge and actual insight.

He obviously has the odd agenda but, on balance, I really like his commentary.

 

[Simon]

The further he's gotten away from coaching the better he's become. around 6-7 years ago he was really agenda driven but in the last couple of years he has really improved his balance as a commentator.

 

[Ausage]

Gould is massively agenda driven. He knows his stuff, but he muddies that knowledge with his bias. Perhaps I notice it more being a Panthers fan. Prefer Sterlo as a commentator tbh.

 

[alternative]

Friday April 16
Titans vs Dragons
Wests Tigers vs Bulldogs

Saturday April 17
Knights vs Cowboys
Roosters vs Raiders

Sunday April 18
Warriors vs Panthers
Broncos vs Sharks
Eels vs Rabbitohs

Monday April 19
Storm vs Sea Eagles