*Official* NRL 2011 Season thread

[howardj]

Tonight I was having dinner with my kids when my nine year old son told me "Dad, I've got a bet on a Tigers' try as first points scored tonight"

"Really?"

"Yeah two two dollars with my mate at school"

I thought oh well, kids do that, I'd have a bet against my mate like that. But then he says "He's given me $2.10"

Nearly fell off my chair.

There are some proud parenting moments. This was one of them.

classic

 

[Burgey]

You know it's not your year when you score an own goal in NRL, like Parra did against Canbwrra last night.

 

[Ausage]

Oh man life without Elliott is so sweet. Looked like a completely different team and it was awesome.

 

[howardj]

I'm declaring rugby league dead on the Gold Coast...again.

The Titans are a disgrace, as much off-field as on-field.

Whether it's

- Building that ridiculously expensive Centre of Excellence (plunging the club into millions of dollars of debt)

- Signing young guys and other guys who don't deserve it to long term contracts (include the coach in that)

- Piss poor/nobody cares on-field performance effort

..the club is rotten.

Worse than the Seagulls/Giants/Chargers.

 

[howardj]

And if league can't successfully expand to the Gold Coast, I think that's a red alert for any thoughts of expanding into Perth etc.

 

[Ausage]

I'm declaring rugby league dead on the Gold Coast...again.

Well I'm glad that's sorted.

Sorry mate, I pretty strongly disagree with most of that. The club is just experiencing it's first major downswing. The TV ratings show that the interest is still there in the region, and the crowds have been reasonable considering how pathetic the onfield performances are. Some of the management decisions have been questionable (Prince, Cartwright long term contracts), but they look poised for a revival soon with an influx of quality new signings. If the club's finances stack up (and none of us have any reason to believe they don't) then the Center for Excellence should be a fantastic initiative for the development of elite talent.

If we gave up on a team every time they started sucking on the field and experienced a downturn in crowds there'd be no one left in the comp but the Broncos (who are themselves experiencing a downswing in interest). Give them time, they'll become as important to the fabric of the city as the Broncos are a bit further north.

Just on expansion I think what it does highlight is that the SEQ market is more fragile than people realise, and leaping headfirst into expansion with a bid that isn't fully thought out is very dangerous, particularly with another team still trying to establish itself. If Perth can sell out their 22k stadium, and still manage nearly 16k after experiencing some horrific weather to watch 2 teams from the other side of the country they definitely deserve a shot at their own team. Repair one of the great injustices this game has seen by bringing back the Bears to CC (another area crying out for a team) and you've added two very strong regions to the comp.

 

[howardj]

Good points all.

I really should avoid the forums first thing Monday morning...never a happy camper!

 

[benchmark00]

Went to the game tonight. Matai is such a dog ****.

 

[benchmark00]

btw:

Attendances on Saturday on the Gold Coast:

Gold Coast Suns/Western Bulldogs - 16,149
Gold Coast Titans/Cronulla Sharks - 12,997.

Really can't use performance as an excuse.

 

[Ausage]

btw:

Attendances on Saturday on the Gold Coast:

Gold Coast Suns/Western Bulldogs - 16,149
Gold Coast Titans/Cronulla Sharks - 12,997.

Really can't use performance as an excuse.

You saying AFL is bigger on the Gold Coast then league?

Just wondering what that is supposed to prove.

 

[Ausage]

You're correct about Steve Catai though. Massive ****. However a pretty surprising performance from the cheap shot merchant, he didn't once limp off clutching his shoulder after giving it to someone across the chops. He started off with a nice shot on Nightingale's cheeks, but didn't follow through with his signature part of the equation. Disappointing really.

 

[benchmark00]

You saying AFL is bigger on the Gold Coast then league?

Just wondering what that is supposed to prove.

No, I'm saying that the Titans are failing, and your call of "..and the crowds have been reasonable considering how pathetic the onfield performances are" is wrong.

Titans are last and so are the Suns. Titans have had more time to establish themselves. Both played mediocre teams on the same day. Suns outdrew them

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I don't particularly care either way, but couldn't that be put down to a bit of first season buzz as well? I'd be interested to see if the Suns were last in two seasons time whether they'd still be pulling 16k. That said, they won't be last so I guess it doesn't matter.

Keep in mind I have no intention of following up this post with any reply to whatever you reply with.

 

[benchmark00]

Fortunately I have no intention of responding to your post

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

 

[Ausage]

No, I'm saying that the Titans are failing, and your call of "..and the crowds have been reasonable considering how pathetic the onfield performances are" is wrong.

Or maybe as a Penrith fan I just have low standards

In all seriousness though, the Titans haven't just been losing, they've been a terrible, terrible team to watch. Their style of play is ugly, and they have an old roster that is particularly slow executing it. They're still averaging 16k which I think is reasonable all things considered, not great obviously, but reasonble. That said it's still their lowest averaging season for crowds in their history, but I think they'll stabilise around the 18-19k mark in the coming years which would make them a reasonably well supported club.

 

[howardj]

It's not just their playing form though, there's a cancer in that club.

It's the home of the comfort zone.

Imagine Idris next year - he's already showing signs.

They've signed him to a longterm deal worth more than Hodges is getting.

 

[howardj]

Cleary to Penrith

$1.2million over three years.

 

[Ausage]

The Warriors press conference kept referring to the long term security that Penrith can offer him so I think it might be longer than 3 years. I heard 5 years tbh. Was coming here to rage about the length of the contract

Harsh on Georgalis but he must have been told there was something about to happen.

 

[Ausage]

My goodness that Joel Edwards hits like an absolute truck. Incredible tackler.