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Mate having worked in London for 18 months, albeit a long time ago in the 1980’s, i can safely say the British Press, particularly in London are the nastiest anywhere. You‘re correct, there was no choice with 10 men and a lead, but to park the bus. By the way part of my package working over...

A favourite tactic of the one and only Jose Mourinho.

Are you a member of the Arsenal Mania forum, mate?

Did anyone watch the game against PSG this morning? By all reports we played well.

Arteta needs to be firm and not allow any of the injured players to return in an international game.

Just one more PL game before the International Break, Saints at Emirates should be a win. Hopefully a lot of troops return for the Bournemouth game and no more injuries during the internationals.

It's also noticeable that Sitili has filled in at centre on some occasions. We haven't had a 2nd rower who is capable of that for a while. Darren Smith might have been the most recent.

I won’t comment until I see the draw. It‘s about time we got a fairer go with it, particularly with games on Prime Time TV. A home game in Round 1 which we haven’t had since 2017 would be nice as well.

If you were a fan between 1956 and 1966 as I was when Saints won 11 in a row, you would have really seen obnoxious fans. Definitely the worst I have seen. Loved it in 1967 when we beat them in the Prelim Final to qualify for the GF against South’s.

I‘m sure we all remember the incident between Sam Kasiano and Corey Parker at Suncorp. Basically when you make a legs tackle the tackler is SUPPOSED to release the tackled player immediately. Parker didn’t. Sammy lashed out with his feet, like Michael Hancock did multiple times per game, and...

As I am retired TT, I don’t mind doing Jury Duty. Bit of a change from either playing Golf or being at home. I’m now exempt until June 2027.

No thanks Harry. Can’t stand that egomaniac.

Correct. You’ve only got to be part of a jury trial as I have been twice, to realise that Police make mistakes.And this leads to verdicts that don’t go their way.

Hulk Hogan Mark 2.

Are you going to morph into Bellyache, mate.

I sincerely hope you are wrong.

Of the 4 refs who have games, Arkins would be my preference.

Atkins has the whistle, Klein in the Bunker. Klein has the whistle at Penrith, Sutton going to Melbourne and surprisingly Gee misses out. Todd Smith doing the Cowboys game.

Likely Allianz.

Good to see someone on this forum can spell properly Kaz.

The famous Bullfrog quote of “2 on the field, 2 on the bench and 2 suspended” still applies as most props can only play 50 to 60 minutes tops, and they’re certainly not worth big $ because of that.

While there is no doubt we couldn’t handle Olakau'atu last week, i believe he can be exposed in defence. The Tigers scored a couple down his edge in the Leichhardt game 2 weeks ago, and the Sharks exposed him today when he came up with a couple of lazy efforts. Ivan Cleary made reference years...

When I was playing albeit nearly 50 years ago, I accidentally hit someone in the head while making a tackle, It was a front on tackle, I had my arms spread wide ready to aim for his belly button and pull of a wrapping type tackle, with my head to one side. The opposing player ducked at impact...

During my career in the middle I penalised 2 players for a voluntary tackle. Both incidents were identical. A player fell on a loose ball, opposing player stood over him, did not put a hand on him, and the player got to his feet and played the ball. To me the advent of the surrender tackle has...

This is the guy in Rugby League I despise more than anybody.

And move Critta to left centre for one match.

Years ago I remember reading about a game in Rugby League week involving the Moree Boomerangs. This was the club Ewan McGrady played for before he joined the Bulldogs. The Boomerangs led by more than 40 points at half time, I think it was 48 nil but I’m not 100% sure of the exact score. They...

Chris, I remember that 1967 game like it was yesterday. My father and I were sitting in that small stand in the South Eastern corner between the now defunct Hill and the Bob Stand, which is now at North Sydney Oval. It was at that stage the happiest day of my life of 13 years at that point...

If South’s are allowed to get away with this, it will just add fuel to the raging inferno of speculation that there are favoured teams in this comp, and South’s are one of them. Pride of the League, hogwash.

Are you really surprised mate.

South’s did it in 1989. Went out in straight sets in the semis though on their home turf @ sfs.

Spot on.

There are pros and cons of allocating playing days for the full year when the draw is done months in advance. The biggest problem of course is teams that many, including channel 9 who have a big say in what they show in prime time spots, are not as competitive as expected. A perfect example of...

The practice of any car parked in a spot clearly marked as disabled parking, without the necessary permit displayed on the windscreen, should be more strongly policed than it is. Particularly in shopping centres. Those spots are there for a specific purpose, not for some “Ham and Egger” who...

And that $1.4m player is not producing the goods on a consistent basis when he is not injured.

I agree. It's been pretty much standard for a long time that if you come back from a suspension and get charged with a similar offence the second suspension is longer. Isaac Luke missed the 2014 GF because he got 4 weeks for a cannon ball after returning from a 2 week suspension for the same...

Left side.

I like your pack. I just think ciro will look for another ball player/link man to keep the balance of the side. My fear is he will go for Hutch.

Ciro seems to prefer a ball player at lock. That makes Hayward the next man up. Hayward usually doesn't start though. Who comes on to spell him in the middle of the game is the question. I doubt it will be Curran.

There are heaps of nrl players who need to improve their defence. That's why the current top 5 are the only teams who can win the comp. All 5 have conceded under 400 points. The others not even close. To win a GF you need to be able to defend. Conceding 30+ points and expecting to win won't get...

I don't necessarily mean older journalists should be on the panel. I am suggesting people who have been around the game a long time. Could be ex coaches players, referees etc. My biggest problem with these best ever teams is many of the younger judges on a panel never saw great players of the...

In order to get a fair assessment in regard to selecting best ever teams or hall of fame nominees a selection panel comprised of people who have been around the game a long time is needed. While we all hate Rothfield he and other journalists of his vintage have more knowledge of players...

First indigenous player to play for Australia. I don't remember seeing him play, but my father did. Passed away last year aged 85.

I remember his brother Greg playing fullback in lower grades. Not sure if Brent did.

Half to fullback worked well for Jason Alchin in our 88 Premiership side.

We also took a home game to Forsyth Barr an indoor stadium in Dunedin, which we won.

I can believe he would do that. Great bloke. Hope he makes the commission one day. He'd sort out a few of the pretenders on there at present.

Fair enough. If we sign him though, what is he worth? Prop is a position where you need a few, maybe not as many as say 30 years ago when Bullfrog made his comment about "2 on the field, 2 on the bench and 2 suspended, but most Props are good for 50 minutes or less. The question for me is he...

As "Mr Never Happy" at the Dolphins has said for years, Props don't play big minutes, so you don't pay big money for them. Max 500k. There is also a reason why Penrith moved him on and Gus would be well aware what it is. RCG is a no in my opinion.

Met him at the Members night in 2013. Great bloke and very humble.

NRL call that strategy ground of best fit. Finals in week 2 or 3 are home region not necessarily home ground like week 1.

The Sharks have in the past been allowed to play at Shark Park in week 1 a few times. Beyond that they have played their next final at Allianz. Remember Trent Robinson kicking up a stink last year about playing the Sharks at Shark Park in week 1and wanted the game at Alianz.

It was obvious to me in the 90’s that 2 referees are a must. I can say from experience it is almost impossible to keep a good 10 and watch cheating markers at the same time, without help. The game is much faster now

I agree.

I think Sharpe did us once in the 2 referee system in a game at Suncorp. I think she was paired with Cummins.

Students in all Health Sciences courses including Physios and OT’s do a clinical placement in hospital during the last Semester of their Uni course. I worked in the Health Sciences Faculty of Sydney Uni for 25 years, and the time they spend there counts towards their assessment, which helps...

The last time an all Sydney Grand Final was on the cards, the Swans got there. The next night the Giants copped some really poor decisions to ensure the fairy tale puppies got into the GF, and then of course the trend continued in the GF with the Swans going down. Since the two epic Swans v...

Good coaches always keep something up their sleeve for big end of season matches. There were times when I was coaching older kids in junior league, that we rehearsed set moves over and over throughout the season to use against specific teams in big finals. Other teams in our competition...

Perfect weekend. Dogs and Gunners both get the chocolates.

Like the concept, but I doubt the NRL would.

Agreed. TV has a big say, probably too big. Contracts would have to be renegotiated and cost the NRL revenue.

Going back a few years, my wife and I attended a number of City V Country games in regional areas, which were in front of packed houses. The presence of teams in the area gave that local community a big boost. I would say the venue with the best facilities that we went to was Mudgee, closely...

Yes.

I thought he did a tap kick then passed the ball. I could be wrong though.

Just in case anyone is confused about the incident at the 20 metre line prior to half time. While it is commonly referred to as a 20 metre restart, it can be a kick in any direction, from the Centre of the 20 metre line. Looked to me like it wasn’t at the centre point. If you kick it directly...

Particularly when you consider some clubs do diddly squat to promote the game by not giving a home game to a regional area.

In order to make the GF we have to beat 2 of Melbourne, Panthers, Roosters and Sharks. Remember we might start on Melbourne‘s side of the draw and potentially play Sharks in week 2, but then we would cross over to the other side of the draw in week 3 to play either Panthers or Roosters.

Think I’ve read something like that recently. Can’t recall where.

Yes one of the Barrett’s would be the go. One plays fullback, the other five eighth.

At 32 he’s not long term And find this alleged signing a bit strange. His father (Andy) played for Leeds Rhinos (I think) and captained Great Britain Rugby League.

Plays stand off (five eighth) in Union for England. Great goal Kicker. Can’t see however where he would fit into this side.

Saw Arsenal Beat Sydney FC at Accor in 2017. Bought an Arsenal Jacket, Sydney 2017 on the back.

Don’t rate Fittler or Johns.

Radley has a long rap sheet. That is taken into account for future suspensions which get progressively longer.

Gutherson is not a Pom, but not far behind them, in the whinging stakes.

Sam Thaiday got away with running in for years and years.

I prefer Fox Commentators to Nine’s.

My 2 favourites were the Rock (hence the signature at the bottom of my posts), and the Undertaker. Been to a couple of shows at the old Entertainment Centre. Lost interest when Taker retired.

While I think the sentence is fair, it makes me laugh to a certain extent how incidents like this in the distant past, the players who allegedly bit someone got away with it. The obvious one being in the 70’s when Raudonikis admitted years later that he bit Johnny Gibbs (wait for it), on the...

Goodies and baddies. Are we talking about NRL or the WWE?

I met and spoke to BMOZ in the car park one day a while ago. Pulled up into a vacant car spot alongside me as I was getting ready to leave. Good bloke. Said hello Brett. He said how do you know I’m not Josh. I said Josh has slightly more hair. He laughed and said. TRUE.

Lying will lead to a longe sentence. Better to own up and take your medicine.

Perenara and McCallum are not fools. Neither is Bellew whose father at various stages was head of referees and President of the NSWRL. Geoff Bellew has been around the game virtually all his life. They should be able to see through any porky pies.

Greg “Garden Gnome” McCallum and Henry Perenara are good people. They will make a fair judgement.

Can‘t remember one. Anything that is not graded by the MRC, the player concerned is in Barney Rubble.

Not that I could tell.

I seem to recall he got a life membership at one of the recent AGM’s. Not sure of a job. BMOZ is an assistant coach under Robinson.

Off topics a little.Where I play golf at Barden Ridge. The competition today was won by JMOZ. Handicap 15, he played to 10. Played with his brother and Boyd Cordner. Saw the twins parking their cars nearby this morning as I was getting ready to go home.

Same guy as Last week. Liam Kennedy.

Wests Tigers have Belinda Sharpe for the 2nd consecutive week. That goes against normal practice.

Referee just announced, it’s Adam Gee.

Maybe he’s playing ducks and drakes with the Dolphins and he makes a late change.

In theory the referee is supposed to be close by when the ball is grounded. When a try is scored from close range the referee is supposed to be in the in goal and directly in front of the try scorer. Not always possible but that’s what the referees bosses are looking for.

Too coincidental to be anything but deliberate. My biggest issue with the draw is we haven’t had a home game in round 1 since 2017. That also can’t be coincidence. If Accor is unavailable early in the season, there is no reason we can’t play an out of Sydney team at Belmore.

That‘s the way I see it too. Melbourne might play a big drawing team in week 3 at Marvel. That’s happened in previous years.

Doubtful if Penrith would be allowed to play a Prelim at Penrith. NRL would probably put the game at a bigger stadium to increase attendance and consequently revenue. More likely Allianz.

Maybe so, but I suspect Gus may have played a part in moving him on.

Yes RCG was at the Panthers before Parramatta. Like Waqa Blake he was moved on before his contract ran out.

You are not public enemy number one in my eyes.

The Grand Final is usually played between teams that are in the top three or four from a defensive standpoint. Teams who win games by say 40 points to 30 on a regular basis generally don‘t make the big dance.