*Official" NRL Tips discussion thread

[Mister Wright]

Hey Blewy! Now that the Broncos have been rightfully been given back their 2 points against the Tigers, I think it's time we see you sport the Broncos avatar again. Afterall Nibblet was a good sport and did it.

 

[Simon]

yeh i was only thinking that the other day, seeing as though he wore it for a day before, we will let him have it for only 6 days

 

[Mister Wright]

yeh i was only thinking that the other day, seeing as though he wore it for a day before, we will let him have it for only 6 days

Agreed.

 

[Simon]

back to the games, im looking foward to brisbane and canberra this weekend, im a bit afraid of phil graham carving us up, maybe elliott will pull one of his disgraceful selection decisions and pick bulgarelli in front of him..

 

[age_master]

What do people think about the whole Andrew Johns thing... personally i cant see why the Waratahs want to sign him so badly, im not questioning that he is very good but he would be playing a very different position in a different game and would be almost no chance at playing for the wallabies - and thats all if he doesn't get injured...

but - apparently he is almost certainly leaving newcastle....

 

[bennyr]

It's a tough one.

I reckon it's a huge risk for the Waratahs to take him on, but I also think he'd make an outstanding five-eighth in Union.

It's also a big decision for Joey. If he makes the switch successfully it would be a great way to end his career with plenty of bucks, and for a bloke of his age that's important. If he fails, or gets another horrible injury, it would be an awful way for a champion to end his career. Possibly safest thing for Joey to do is say "I just can't leave Newcastle", and preserve his legendary status in that city forever. That said, if I were in his shoes, I'd make the jump - he'll get a shedload of money and he'll never have to play against the Knights like his brother did.

The ARU don't seem to keen on him, but in terms of the battle between league and union it would be a mighty blow to league and would get union more viewers than any of their other signings. Listening to the radio this morning the whole thing is a political mess, and no-one even knows who is putting up the money for the Waratahs except that it's this clandestine group of people known as "The friends of the Waratahs".

So I guess I've formed the opinion that it might be a good thing for the Waratahs while I've been writing this post.

But the NRL need to fight like hell to prevent it. He's too good to lose.

 

[Simon]

who cares, let the baby go for the money, if he plays any games before he sufferes a season ending injury he will carve up.
and age how can u say he has almost no chance of playing for the wallabies!?!?! he would be there best player in the code!

 

[bennyr]

who cares, let the baby go for the money, if he plays any games before he sufferes a season ending injury he will carve up.
and age how can u say he has almost no chance of playing for the wallabies!?!?! he would be there best player in the code!

I think most of Newcastle and a good deal of the rest of NSW cares, broncoman. I do. If he goes, I'm far more likely to watch a few more Waratahs games next year (given he plays, he's almost as injury prone as that "great" Souths signing, Mad Dog MacDougall).

He might be a great player, but there's no guarantee he'd make the transition easily. And it would be very hard for him to edge Larkham or Gregan out of the Wallabies.

 

[Simon]

hes gonna go, its fairly obvious now, id say hes going onthe condtion that hes pretty much included in the wallabies squad at the end of next season, the same way sailor was, im sure he will cope with the rule changes, for him its the same game, catch, run, pass and kick.
As far as i said "who cares", i ment it be in the context of we already know hes 90% chance of going, so its hardly an argument!

 

[bennyr]

Fair enough, but I don't think it's such a foregone conclusion.

League is trying to sweeten him up with guaranteed work after football , and for a 32? year old professional Rugby League player that's gotta be a big factor.

 

[age_master]

well he would never push gregan out, and the chances of him pushing in front of Larkham and Giteau.... dont you think that the ARU would have offered money for him if they thought he would be a consistant Wallaby member

 

[Simon]

Grwgan is so far past his best its not funny. Johns would walk straight into that wallaby team if he wanted to....

 

[bennyr]

I think the ARU have pretty much stated that they aren't going to chase the top line League players with big money anymore, so I don't know if they would've offered him the money anyway.

 

[bennyr]

Grwgan is so far past his best its not funny. Johns would walk straight into that wallaby team if he wanted to....

And by comparison, how many games has Joey played in the last couple of years?

Anyway, I don't think Johns would be a great halfback in Union. He'd be much better at five-eighth.

 

[Simon]

yeh he would be a 5/8 for sure, but definately still a better halfback than Gregan!

apart from this year hes 2 previous season ending injuries were very late in the season, and keeping in mind super 12 is only 3 months long and then a handful of test matches, he will have plenty of time to look after his body.

 

[bennyr]

Yeah, I didn't think of that.

It might be good for him to go to Union to reduce match frequency and prolong his career. The more I think about this idea of Johns going to Union the more I like it.

 

[age_master]

Johns would walk straight into that wallaby team if he wanted to....

completley different game... and completley different position... one of his recent meetings with Ewan Mckenzie was to start to explain the differences between the codes.

and than he would have to learn how to tackle, than how a scrum works lineouts rucks and mauls....

than he would have to have a good season to even push for selection over Larkham, Flatley and Giteau


all at an older age than most which would make it even more diffecalt for him

 

[Simon]

he wont have to worry about line outs, im sure hes seen a bit of union to know how to play it, i played junior rep in both league and union, i only played league for a club and hadnt played union before i went to the trials and got in anyway.
apart from learing the technical aspect of the rules he will adapt straight away.

 

[Blewy]

Johns is Staying..

News on the footy show tonight...

 

[Simon]

is he a knight though???
seemed like the recent things he was saying that either way he wouldnt be in newcastle any longer....