NRL Rumor File

[Vlasnik]

Your midweek fix of rugby league gossip has arrived courtesy of The Lurker, with news on Sonny Bill Williams, Daly Cherry-Evans and a high profile NRL executive who is far from popular at League Central.
MORE: The Lurker - NRL Rumour File - Monday | The Repeat Set - Summer series | HOW IT HAPPENED: Sea Eagles press conference
SBW u-turn?
Sonny Bill Williams dropped a few hints before leaving the Roosters that he might one-day return to rugby league.


Even the Roosters think SBW could be back after a two-year stint with the Kiwi rah-rahs.

Wrong.

Williams has told close friends he loved his time at the Roosters but rugby league is now a distant memory.

He is once again in love with rugby union. Williams won't play in the NRL again.

Cherry-Evans on his way out?
The rumour that continues to grow is that Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans will quit the Sea Eagles after next season when his contract expires.

Sea Eagles owner Rick Penn is desperately trying to re-sign both halves - Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.
But it will be a battle to keep both.

If I was a betting man, I'd have a few bucks on Foran staying but wouldn't outlay so much as a dime on DCE remaining at Brookie.


ASADA ruffles feathers...again
ASADA is public enemy number one in the Australian Four Nations camp.

We couldn't believe what we were hearing when told ASADA were banging on the hotel room doors of players looking for urine samples at - wait for it - 6am!

Players woken by the officials were absolutely filthy. And rightly so.

One player said privately: "They're a bunch of pr..ks."

Greenberg losing support
Todd Greenberg arrived at the NRL with much excitement and fanfare.

He had done a stellar job at Canterbury and was being groomed for the top job when Dave Smith was moved along.

Not anymore.

It seems Greenberg is on the nose at League Central, his chances of assuming the CEO gig drifting daily.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Best chance to catch someone out with drugs it at 6am, if the nrl wasn't filled with drug cheats we woulsnt jave this problem. LOL @ GREENTURD.

 

[doggieaaron]

Sbw really struggled this year,he knows the game is way to intense and physical and easy bucks playing rugby with paper thin defence

 

[marsh43]

Sbw really struggled this year,he knows the game is way to intense and physical and easy bucks playing rugby with paper thin defence

Didnt think he struggled much if at all tbh. Had injuries that held him back but any team with that money chasing piece of shit in it is 10x better.

 

[Raysie]

Can picture Greenberg as CEO of the Sharks one day. That's where all the scraps seems to be going lately.

 

[c-b-b]

TG apparently had a BBQ at his place recently with alot of media invited. Obviously trying to get support from them so bad press is kept at a minimum.

 

[jo_95]

Didnt think he struggled much if at all tbh. Had injuries that held him back but any team with that money chasing piece of shit in it is 10x better.

Yeah. The guy is a legit superstar. For some reason I kind of feel like he will play another season or two after the next World Cup. Although he will be early 30's by then so maybe not... He could easily play another 10 years of mid level rugby and make more than he ever could in the NRL where his value will start to diminish as his athleticism fades and he will get beat up much less in Union as well. It really makes no sense for him to play league.

he had less impact then he did last year for sure. But he was still easily in the top 10 forwards in the game. Probably still top 5

 

[marsh43]

Yeah. The guy is a legit superstar. For some reason I kind of feel like he will play another season or two after the next World Cup. Although he will be early 30's by then so maybe not... He could easily play another 10 years of mid level rugby and make more than he ever could in the NRL where his value will start to diminish as his athleticism fades and he will get beat up much less in Union as well. It really makes no sense for him to play league.

he had less impact then he did last year for sure. But he was still easily in the top 10 forwards in the game. Probably still top 5

Definitely a legit superstar. No one has ever walked in to an All Black jersey after spending 2 years in a different code and only playing a few club games, but this b*tch did.

He isnt a dominating force, like he is in league, in rugby but is versatile enough that he can play winger, first 5/8th or second 5/8th.

Still hate the stain!

 

[Vlasnik]

SHARKS MAKE MASSIVE PLAY FOR CHERRY-EVANS

The Cronulla Sharks are in the process of putting forward a mammoth offer for Daly Cherry-Evans which would make the star halfback the highest-paid player in NRL history.

Having just secured the services of Ben Barba from Brisbane , the Sharks are now attempting to prise his close mate from Manly on a seven-figure-per-season deal. Some of the cash Cronulla freed up from sacking Todd Carney has been spent on securing Barba, although the Broncos will continue to pay part of the former Canterbury fullback's wages as part of his release. However, there are still funds available for a marquee player and the war chest is likely to grow should the wooden spooners opt against re-signing a number of players coming off contract at the end of 2015.

The Maroons star is tipped as a future captain of his club and country and the Sharks believe a scrumbase pairing with Barba would be one of the most lethal in the game. Jeff Robson , also off contract at the end of the year, has been a solid performer for the Sharks in recent times. However, he will turn 33 next year and may struggle to gain another NRL deal.



Read more: http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/sharks-make-massive-play-for-cherry-evans-15781/#ixzz3JXxBEHA3

 

[El_Magic]

Yeah. The guy is a legit superstar. For some reason I kind of feel like he will play another season or two after the next World Cup. Although he will be early 30's by then so maybe not... He could easily play another 10 years of mid level rugby and make more than he ever could in the NRL where his value will start to diminish as his athleticism fades and he will get beat up much less in Union as well. It really makes no sense for him to play league.

he had less impact then he did last year for sure. But he was still easily in the top 10 forwards in the game. Probably still top 5

Maybe top 10 but not top 5. He was far too inconsistent. Bupa and jacko were both ahead of him over the whole season and that's just from one team

 

[Mr Invisible]

Not sure whats going on with the Sharks at the moment.

I wonder if they are going to have a clearout of players soon, as they haven't really released many players.

 

[jo_95]

Maybe top 10 but not top 5. He was far too inconsistent. Bupa and jacko were both ahead of him over the whole season and that's just from one team

Graham, Surgess and Corey Parker were blatantly better than him. Everyone else I think you can make a case either way to be honest (not saying he is 4th best just that he is in that discussion). And those are two of the best forwards in the comp, the fact they are in the same team doesn't matter because in most teams they would be the 2 best forwards!

 

[w00t]

Maybe top 10 but not top 5. He was far too inconsistent. Bupa and jacko were both ahead of him over the whole season and that's just from one team

Wouldn't have Jackson over him. SBW had injuries but when he was inform he was capable of demolishing defences. Even when he wasn't the fact that the opposition gang tackle him everytime means that there is far more room for the Roosters' halves to work with, Jackson isn't even close to that level yet, he had a stellar year and sure he's talented but SBW at the same age was a far better prospect let alone now.

An average game from SBW would be about the same as a solid game from Jackson, people label SBW's inconsistency due to the fact that his best game is pretty much carrying his entire team and his average game is what you can expect from any good forward on any given day. I haven't seen Jackson do half the damage that SBW is capable of in any given game.

 

[w00t]

Graham, Surgess and Corey Parker were blatantly better than him. Everyone else I think you can make a case either way to be honest (not saying he is 4th best just that he is in that discussion). And those are two of the best forwards in the comp, the fact they are in the same team doesn't matter because in most teams they would be the 2 best forwards!

People need to evaluate forwards not on the basis of what their impact is in a given game but what their presence does as well. SBW being the Roosters team means the opposition will spend far more time being wary of him when he has the ball, when the opposition attempt to nullify him, it allows guys like Pearce, Maloney, Jennings and etc to take advantage of the extra space because there is always a downside to having to pay special attention to an opposition player.

This happened to Barba as well when he played for us, problem was our halves couldn't take advantage because they didn't have the neccesary skills required.

 

[jo_95]

People need to evaluate forwards not on the basis of what their impact is in a given game but what their presence does as well. SBW being the Roosters team means the opposition will spend far more time being wary of him when he has the ball, when the opposition attempt to nullify him, it allows guys like Pearce, Maloney, Jennings and etc to take advantage of the extra space because there is always a downside to having to pay special attention to an opposition player.

This happened to Barba as well when he played for us, problem was our halves couldn't take advantage because they didn't have the neccesary skills required.

I agree. Those three are better than him. Outside of that you will have a rough time convincing me. I rate SBW, hate him but rate him.

 

[w00t]

I agree. Those three are better than him. Outside of that you will have a rough time convincing me. I rate SBW, hate him but rate him.

Graham and Burgess have been carrying their clubs pretty heavily in that regard and Corey Parker has been consistently one of the Broncos best performers for quite a few years now.

As for SBW, the only people who would contend with him are Fifita and Gallen IMO and the only reason they don't is because they were largely missing this season due to injury. Gallen and Fifita at their best do absolute wonders for their team. Players with great potential to become similar superstars like Taumolo (sp?) are still too inconsistent to be in that sort of category, but another season or two and they'd be just as beast. Taumolo especially in the 4 Nations was amazing

 

[Vlasnik]

The Sydney Roosters have picked up promising young hooker Matt Srama from the Gold Coast Titans on a one-year deal, starting from 2015.

Srama was released from the Gold Coast Titans and it's believed the 23-year-old will act as a back-up to Jake Friend.

“Matt’s opportunities have been hindered by injury but he’s in terrific shape. A tough and uncompromising player, Matt’s experience and talent will add great depth to our squad,” said Roosters recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan.

Srama has played 62 games in the NRL to date since making his debut with the Titans in 2011.

 

[Vlasnik]

There are reports Cronulla players banned by ASADA have been told they're allowed to resume training this Saturday night at midnight.

Does this mean they'll be holding a special 1am training session by moonlight? If not... they should!

"Cronulla Sharks players have just been informed they are free to return from ASADA ban by @NRL this Sat night - midnight.," tweeted The Daily Telegraph's David Riccio.

The players include Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou, having served a suspension for their involvement in the 2011 Cronulla Sharks supplements scandal.

 

[Özil]

Wasnt that the samoan team that got raided in their hotel and then asada later found out they got the wrong team?

 

[jo_95]

Graham and Burgess have been carrying their clubs pretty heavily in that regard and Corey Parker has been consistently one of the Broncos best performers for quite a few years now.

As for SBW, the only people who would contend with him are Fifita and Gallen IMO and the only reason they don't is because they were largely missing this season due to injury. Gallen and Fifita at their best do absolute wonders for their team. Players with great potential to become similar superstars like Taumolo (sp?) are still too inconsistent to be in that sort of category, but another season or two and they'd be just as beast. Taumolo especially in the 4 Nations was amazing

Fifita impressed me more in his last game (against the raiders I think?), when he was dealing with injury and toughed it out as long as he could, than I think any other player ever has in a single game. It was very, very impressive.