Roar Rookie
Joined February 2020
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The captain’s challenge is a big talking point of the NRL pre-season. Similar to the cricket system, the captain can make as many challenges…
Still very fuzzy on the value of Hasler. History suggests it’s unlikely to end well – each of his previous coaching roles have ended in legal proceedings. Fair enough the club might be willing to trade that risk if he brings success but he’s been largely ineffective here so far, as he was in his last stint at Manly.
Round 1 Predicted Teams: Titans - Des needs to settle on halves duo, where will ex-Wallabies star get a start?
It looks like a strong starting team from most angles. The bench and reserves look very skinny though. Any team losing a player like Tino (as per last year) would have felt it, but few would have suffered as badly as the Titans did.
Foran had a resurgant year last season but how long will that carry him? He signed a 1 year extension for 2025 so this could be the last time around. Possibly Des looking at switching to Gordon + Campbell/Brimson as the halves somewhere during the year – unless Foran is on fire.
Round 1 Predicted Teams: Titans - Des needs to settle on halves duo, where will ex-Wallabies star get a start?
It’s an odd one. A train and trial deal for a very young guy, or a long-term Cup player, has no guarantees but is just an opportunity to show you can mix it with the big boys.
For a guy who’s played 120+ NRL games though it surely has a different purpose. I would have figured if Lodge showed he was fit he had a deal. Odd that Lodge would have turned his nose up at that, although I suppose it’s a fairly weak position to negotiate the Top 30 contract from (and he already turned down 150k at Manly).
Lodge set to suit up for sixth NRL club after Dragons toss veteran prop a lifeline
I’m good with your descriptions of the best crossover positions. No arguments at all. Bit baffled by the idea that Tahu was selected for the national team just so they can get a look at him. If the jersey is given away that cheaply then maybe Rothfield is right after all.
Marshall switched due a career slump (he had lost his Kiwi spot and his club captaincy after being relegated to bench utility at the Tigers), which he has since admitted was terrible motivation to move. He requested a release from Union within 2 months of his first game.
Still he had some bright spots in his tiny Union career, according to Wikipedia in game 4 of his 6 he was named in the Foxtel team of the week with 10 runs (130 metres), 2 line-breaks, 3 Offloads and 2 Try-Assists. I have no doubt there were poor moments too as he adapted to a different game but there were signs he could have made it work if he had the desire to stick with it.
Wallabies on Brown's radar as Eels star casts wide net in search for new mega deal
Canberra coach. Fantastic player, dual international. In 2 decades as a coach though his teams never seem to lose a game on merit, there’s always an issue to rant about.
Human Rights Commission complaint lodged over Tony Jones' 'insulting and offensive' Djokovic dig as drama escalates
You’re not wrong about Rothfield but I often find the list of League ‘failures’ as having unusually high bars. Tahu was never a regular Kangaroo and hadn’t made the team for 2 years at the time of his switch, switched to Union and played for the Wallabies immediately. Surely this was significant success?
Carter Gordon or Mark N will be considered success stories if they become regular first graders this year for their club sides. If either make the Kangaroos this year it will be considered a ridiculous achievement.
Both Blacklock (5 games) and Marshall (6 games) decided very early in their first Super seasons they were going straight back to the NRL. Perhaps it was just too hard for them and they knew they would fail, more likely they just realised they didn’t have the desire for it – either way it wasn’t much of a sample size. If you want to see a great try though search ‘Blacklock waratahs chip chase’.
Wallabies on Brown's radar as Eels star casts wide net in search for new mega deal
I suspect Orr knows exactly how to have discreet conversations when it suits, and exactly how to create a media circus when it suits.
Wallabies on Brown's radar as Eels star casts wide net in search for new mega deal
Jimmmy, I wouldn’t disagree with your predictions but usually when RL is looking predictable something jumps out of no-where.
Who would have thought in 2019, when we were looking at a Roosters vs Storm GF and complaining that no-one could beat these teams, that the team that came 10th and had won 2 premierships in 50 years was going to the next 5 Grand Finals and winning 4 of them?
Round 1 Predicted Teams: Panthers - Three key personnel changes usher in new era as premiers chase five in a row
Villiami Fifita got selected and looked really good in a couple of games early last year. Got injured, didn’t make it back to first grade but keen to see more of him.
Loko Tonga is the guy Dragons trainspotters are looking out for though. 19, 6’5″ and 120+kgs. Flanagan has already said he’ll get a shot this year.
Lodge set to suit up for sixth NRL club after Dragons toss veteran prop a lifeline
Can’t see this team doing anything
Round 1 Predicted Teams: Panthers - Three key personnel changes usher in new era as premiers chase five in a row
I did remember him probably because of the distinctive name. He was one of those players that scored tries for fun in reserve grade but just never quite got a shot due to timing and injuries in the top grade.
One-hit wonders: From prolific try-scorers to heavyweights and even fighters, the Dragons who never got a second game
Kemp at Saints was well before Hook. He would have signed while Bennett was there in 2011 and then played the one game under Steve Price in 2012.
One-hit wonders: From prolific try-scorers to heavyweights and even fighters, the Dragons who never got a second game
In fairness Kemp would have been 26 at the time, unfortunately for him that was about 3 years after his career peak. I do listen to his podcast occasionally though and it’s pretty decent. Haven’t tried the beer though!
One-hit wonders: From prolific try-scorers to heavyweights and even fighters, the Dragons who never got a second game
Said the same in the other thread Tony. Dragons lack an outright star in the front row but otherwise have a host of experienced players with some exciting younger guys looking for a shot. What use is Lodge?
Lodge set to suit up for sixth NRL club after Dragons toss veteran prop a lifeline
It’s train and trial at the moment, so currently they’re paying him pro rata at 60k per year.
Lodge set to suit up for sixth NRL club after Dragons toss veteran prop a lifeline
I don’t particularly want Lodge in the team due to his past. But it’s more than that. I really don’t see where he would be useful.
The Dragons props in the top 30 are JdB, F Molo, Sele, Couchman, Lawrie, M Molo, Fifita, Tonga, Latu. No doubt they could use an explosive elite front rower, but what use do they have of a ‘bench in a crisis’ level prop who hasn’t managed a full season in 6 years? How much injury trouble must we be in for Lodge to get a run?
'Every one of my mates rang': Smith clarifies link to Sydney club as rumours swirl
While I would like to hope it doesn’t progress there’s really no reason to put a veteran like that on a train and trial unless you’re assessing fitness. Flanagan has said in response to the deal that he’s keen for a bit more experience in the reserve props.
It all points to him being in the top 30 if he turns up to training in reasonable shape. Hugely unexcited about this.
'Every one of my mates rang': Smith clarifies link to Sydney club as rumours swirl
Is it just me? 😁 I think they even have a similar running/playing style.
Rival club emerges as Brown destination after manager tests open market for Eels star
Yes, or if you are trying to sell them on a player coming through from lower grades.
But a guy like Brown who’s played 100+ first grade games in the halves and represented NZ a bunch of times? They know who he is and whether they rate him.
Rival club emerges as Brown destination after manager tests open market for Eels star
His manager is obviously going to be his biggest cheerleader, but I’m with you. Brown reminds me a bit of Corey Norman – sometimes brilliant but often finishing games with a suspiciously clean jersey.
He’s only 25 so potentially prime years just coming up and he would be a welcome addition to many squads (my Dragons could certainly make use of his talent!). No way would I want my club spending 1m+ on him and considering him the player to build the club around though.
Rival club emerges as Brown destination after manager tests open market for Eels star
There’s a couple of points there. As others have noted, there’s a very real chance that Orr is actually the ‘leak’ and is doing this for attention and news space. If we go with that theory then there very likely is a genuine motivation for Brown to get out of the Eels. It’s not a tactic you can use over and over, so you wouldn’t waste it on a speculative market check.
If we take Orr at his word though then I really don’t see anything unusual. He’s an agent, his player is coming up to a decision point, it’s literally his job to generate options to put before his client. It doesn’t require Brown having any particular desire to get out of the Eels. As I said above, my only surprise would be the lazy way he went about it.
'Leaked within minutes': Agent slams NRL clubs after Eels star shopped to rivals
Let’s not exaggerate the scenario though, he hasn’t asked to leave and his management sending an email like this does not mean he isn’t happy at the Eels.
His contract has an option to leave at the end of the year, before (it sounds like) he is locked in for another 5 seasons. His management is obligated to gauge the interest and put any solid offers to him, he pays them a fair whack of money every year to generate these opportunities.
If a good club was willing to offer him far more money than his Eels deal, he’d want to know that information so that he could make a decision before rd10.
In fact the only thing I find surprising about this is the idea that it was done with a grammatically poor group email. There’s only 16 other clubs in the comp, these managers are paid enough that they should be making regular, personal contact with relevant people in each club to discuss available players.
'Leaked within minutes': Agent slams NRL clubs after Eels star shopped to rivals
Not sure where I read it but I thought Su’a had been named captain last week? Clearly that was wrong.
I’ll join the chorus of people who would prefer 1 captain, and don’t particularly like captains that are new recruits. Neither point is something I’d get worked up about though, I don’t think it will have a significant impact either way. Both Gutho and Cook would have clearly been strong leadership voices in the group even if neither of them were officially captain.
'Fight for everything': Flanagan makes surprise call on Dragons captaincy
Expectations would have to be a little lower with the team sheet losses compounded by those injuries. There’s a still a lot of quality sprinkled through the team though which makes them a bit of a wildcard. Most likely a middle of the pack team but a couple of breakout years (Dearden at 23 has to be a chance at that) could push them up.
Round 1 Predicted Teams: Cowboys - Injuries cause havoc, vacancies out wide and up front
If I was to be fair I would point out that not a single quote in the article mentioned Australia, not even implicitly… McCullum was being asked about the make-up of his team for a limited overs tour of India before heading into the Champions Trophy.
McCullum unveils blueprint for Bazball pace aces to be firing for Ashes in bid to ‘blow Aussies away’