**Official** NRL 2010 thread

[James90]

Broncos
Eels
Warriors
Titans
Storm
Dragons
Roosters
Rabbitohs

 

[BoyBrumby]

I think it's a bit harsh labeling a footy player as a mercenary because they chose a 1m offer to switch codes. Who wouldn't change careers if offered a 600k per year pay rise? The NRL is just going to have to accept it will lose players if the ARU wants to stump up that kind of money.

Just as many have gone frogside of late as well: SB Williams, Gasnier, Rooney & Gower off the top of my head all play union in France now. At least with blokes going to the ARU there's the possibility of playing for the Wallabies. Only way Aussies league players going to France are going to play international union is in another country's colours. Gower already plays for Italy & Rooney's making noises about wanting to play for us (English parents I think).

Friday April 30

Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs

Saturday May 1

Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2

Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

 

[alternative]

Friday April 30
Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs

Saturday May 1
Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2
Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

 

[Craig]

Just as many have gone frogside of late as well: SB Williams, Gasnier, Rooney & Gower off the top of my head all play union in France now. At least with blokes going to the ARU there's the possibility of playing for the Wallabies. Only way Aussies league players going to France are going to play international union is in another country's colours. Gower already plays for Italy & Rooney's making noises about wanting to play for us (English parents I think).

Friday April 30

Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs

Saturday May 1

Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2

Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

I'm interested in how sustainable it is for Super 14 (or Super 15 next year) franchises to throwing the amount of money that they are doing presently, or are prepared to play their new recruits. Will SANZAR do anything if any of their franchises goes arse up (genuine question)? I'm surprised they don't have a salary cap of some sort.

 

[Ausage]

Rooney's making noises about wanting to play for us (English parents I think).

Rooney would make your squad? He was not in the best of nick in his last year at the Panthers.

Friday April 30
Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs (probably the toughest pick this year imo)

Saturday May 1
Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2
Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

This round could bomb spectacularly imo.

 

[Johnners]

Friday April 30

Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs

Saturday May 1

Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2

Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

 

[NUFAN]

Had the best weekend of footy last weekend going to 4 great games (OK the Broncos game was a dud).

Friday April 30

Broncos vs Knights
Eels vs Bulldogs

Saturday May 1

Warriors vs Raiders
Titans vs Panthers
Cowboys vs Storm
Dragons vs Sharks

Sunday May 2

Wests Tigers vs Roosters
Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

 

[BoyBrumby]

Rooney would make your squad? He was not in the best of nick in his last year at the Panthers.

Dunno, really. Although he's a big lad with pace and has the advantage of playing outside Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon, so if he's going ok doubtless the word will get back to Jonno.

 

[Burgey]

Eels vs Filth tonight in wet old Sydney town. Froffin..

 

[Craig]

Funnily enough, as a result of the salary cap saga in Melbourne, the Storm are actually selling more memberships as a result. They have just gone over 9,000 memberships when last week it was in the low to mid 8000's in terms of memberships.

 

[Burgey]

Luckiest team to benefit from Melbourne losing all points?
Brisbane imo. Horrible.

 

[Ausage]

Luckiest team to benefit from Melbourne losing all points?
Brisbane imo. Horrible.

Frustratingly for my tipping I would have answered Knights last week.

 

[howardj]

I will stick with my team through thick and thin; through droughts and flooding rains; through ebbs and flows; but geez we (the Broncos) suck at the moment.

I'm also sick of the will-he, won't-he saga with Izzy. He's a good player but, it's all about value for money. For the money we pay him and the slice of the salary cap he takes up, he is probably our worst current investment (in proportion, as I say, to the salary we pay him).

 

[Burgey]

I will stick with my team through thick and thin; through droughts and flooding rains; through ebbs and flows; but geez we (the Broncos) suck at the moment.

I'm also sick of the will-he, won't-he saga with Izzy. He's a good player but, it's all about value for money. For the money we pay him and the slice of the salary cap he takes up, he is probably our worst current investment (in proportion, as I say, to the salary we pay him).

Good you feel that way, though in fairness you support a team that's barely had a tough time in over 20 years.

Not saying that to bag you or them, it's just a fact. Be interesting to see you the club deals with it.

Agree re Folau too. Good player but over-rated imo, and massively over paid.

 

[howardj]

For sure, it's been a great ride as a Broncos supporter pardon the pun.

Anyway, I have a solution for the salary cap dramas. I think it has been suggested before, but I really think the NRL should have a system whereby you're paid $100 000 for each Origin appearance. It should be paid by the NRL and should be outside the cap.

Therefore, rather than Folau for example today weighing up (as he currently is) a $400 000 offer to stay in league, or an $800 000 offer from the ARU, or $900 000 offer from AFL, he would be weighing up a $700 000 offer to stay in League.

That way, if there is only a $100 000 sacrifice (rather than a $400 000 sacrifice) players may be more inclined to stick to a game they are great at, than take a punt on a game they have never played.

Either that, or the NRL could have a central contract system, like with cricket, and centrally contracted players (say the elite 25) could be paid an extra $300 000 each outside the cap.

Niether of these measures costs more than $10 million, which I'm sure could be found after the next broadcast deal, and hopefully before too.

 

[NUFAN]

howardj, I think 100K is too high per origin, but the price should definitely be increased.

Also, if this was to be introduced, NRL club coaches could NOT be Origin Coaches, cause Brett White, Finch, Hoffman etc would always make the NSW team under Bellamy.

 

[Burgey]

Whether the figure is 100K or whatever, I like the idea. Provided, as Nufan says, there's no current NRL coach involved.

It's all peripheral though, the big news of course is the juggernaut has now officially begun to roll on.

Three on the bounce now, though still far below our best. Good signs from Hayne last night - not trying too hard as he was earlier this year.

Still pissed off at Poore - run hard, ****! And if Fui goes for that hit, it's a disgrace.

 

[Craig]

Why not bring in the draft system (like in AFL, NBA, NFL etc.)? I don't know if raising the salary cap will just work as it will mean clubs will find themselves in a situation where they are paying money to players that they can't afford, and clubs will still try and find a way to cheat the cap. A few people at Melbourne had no problem doing that, so what's to stop that happening again?

 

[howardj]

Why not bring in the draft system (like in AFL, NBA, NFL etc.)? I don't know if raising the salary cap will just work as it will mean clubs will find themselves in a situation where they are paying money to players that they can't afford, and clubs will still try and find a way to cheat the cap. A few people at Melbourne had no problem doing that, so what's to stop that happening again?

Mate, I also like the trade-based thing in the AFL. For instance, when Judd decided he wanted to switch clubs, Carlton had to give West Coast 2 or 3 guys in return (which, for the uninitiated, is equivalent to 1 Judd).

 

[morgieb]

Mate, I also like the trade-based thing in the AFL. For instance, when Judd decided he wanted to switch clubs, Carlton had to give West Coast 2 or 3 guys in return (which, for the uninitiated, is equivalent to 1 Judd).

Trades won't work because the AFL don't have any direct competitors (barring Irish footy, and that's amateur), whereas league does.

They tried a draft but it got declared illegal.

Both ideas should happen in a perfect world however.