Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Who you picking this weekend?

N.Z Warriors V Manly Sea Eagles

Melbourne Storm V Cronulla Sharks

I think it will be a Sharks V Manly Grand Final.

I support Newcastle but I still love my footy  : ok:



 :peace:

i'm guessing this is a "land down under" kinda thing right?

Yup. Rugby League. The Greatest game of all.


 :peace:

Man i have to say. i have just returned from a year in OZ.... yeah thats right traveller! Best time of my life. But i loved NRL and have been following it since i got back. When i left Melbourne were on their customary run which made me think they would take it out again. But they lost to Newcastle Knights and then lost to the Warriors for the 2nd (maybe 3rd) time this season and got extremley lucky against the Broncos.

I hear they may lose Cameron Smith for the last two games.... that would be a huge loss to them methinks.

I know Cronulla are playing well and they have home advantage and beat them at home earlier in the year..... but i'm gonna go for Melbourne in that one.

I'll go for Manly in the other one.... the Warriors are a different kettle of fish away to at home.

So i'll go for a repeat of last years final.

------------

On another note.... for people who have never seen the greatest sporting event in OZ IMO. State Of Origin blew my mind this year.... what a bloody great idea. Simply brilliant. I'm gonna be paying for that every year now.

i wish rugby was alive in the US. I'd like to knock the shit outa some one but with out pads and with out practising and running 2 miles twice a day (i'm refering to american football)

Alot of coaches have taken methods of training from american footy. The QLD rugby league is a huge deal up there and they play with alot more passion because there is less money involved therefor their training isn't as in depth as the National Rugby League. But I think alot of the Local Comps would give any National Team a run for their money. Local Boys play very hard and with alot of heart.

I just heard that sunny bill williams wants to return to Australia and Play for the bulldogs again. He left the country/team/sport without warning to play French Rugby Union for more money.

He is an absolute wanker and should be banned from playing in the N.R.L and English Super League forever. He has contributed nothing to the gama and I was glad to see him go.


 :peace:

He's a great player but i can't believe he left. I was disapointed to see Gasnier go as well. Although he is bloody brilliant. NRL has gotta hang on to people like Inglis, Folau, Thurston, Mason, Brett Stewart, Gidley, Justin Hodges.... and players like that.

Man i miss watching NRL and The Footy Show : ok:

Do you get any coverage of league where you are? And where is that?


 :peace:

England.... I can't even watch the Super League coz it just doesn't have the same intensity that that the NRL has although saying that i did watch a bit the other day. You can get coverage but you have to pay for a sports package which gets me a load of US crap. I'll be paying the one-off fee for the grand final and Future State of Origins though. Also the time difference means i might not get my moneys worth.

 I know what you mean. The last world cup I was up at 3am to watch it.


Cameron Smith got 2 weeks for his Grapple Tackle. Everyone is in an uproar about it. But, although I think it was unfair, He is NO Danny Buderus


 :peace:

Spoken like a true Newcastle fan there : ok:

LOL.

But I do think Cameron Smith is very overated. I think Kurt Gidley plays Hooker better than smith, even though Gids is a full back, is utillity effort is fuckn brilliant and he really shines when he is put in as Hooker on offence and Fullback on Defence.

Smith is an ok player and should keep his QLD spot but IMO I would not have him in the Australian side unless Gidley, Soward and Farrah were unavailable.


 :peace:

Gidley is brilliant. But i think Cameron Smith has leadership qualities that people admire on top of his skills. I haven't seen enough to be sure but Smith has always impressed me. But then i watched alot more of Melbourne than Newcastle while i was out there.

But anyway looks like a rematch of last years grand final. I wonder if we will see another KO in the first mins like last year.

You're right. His leadership skills are pretty good. He is a much better captain then Lockyer or Anaster.

I hope Manly and Melbourne both punch the fuck out of each other on sunday. It's been a while since there has been a good blew in a grand final.


 :peace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9uN2bs7BII&feature=related

Found this for people who wanna see a bit of good footy. Pretty cool song too!!!  : ok:


 :peace:

Leeds 24-16 St Helens  :smoking:

Manly 40-0 Melbourne

I didn't get to see the NRL final, was it as one sided as it sounded?

Looking forward to the world cup now, not that I think we'll win but I think we've got a shot at the final, NZ can be hit and miss and looking at the squad the Aussies have named I think the English forwards look stronger (on paper at least). Should be a good comp.

I was looking over the Aussie squad for the world cup.

Its awesome. Its a shame Mason got injured and Gasnier went to Union but their team is still awesome. What happened to guys like Hunt from Brisbane?

Cinoniceva, Fitzgibbon, Price, Glenn Stewart & Gallen should provide alot of power.

Some interesting decsions to be made though:

Fullback - will it be Billy Slater or Brett Stewart?

Wings - I take it Folau will play on the right wing, but does this mean Inglis on the left? Coz if that the way it is then that is scary how good their centres and backs are if they are putting Inglis on the wing.

5/8 - Lockyer surley will play if he's fit and there is enough backup there if he needs a rest mid-game. He can win matches out of nothing.

No7 - Thurston, surely.... but then there is always Scott Prince who had a great season before breaking his arm in Origin.

Centres - I assume its gonna be Hodges & Tate but Folau and Inglis could go in there and play brilliant.

Cam Smith at Hooker is a cert

and i haven't even mentioned Gidley who can play in so many positions and win games from all of them.

Its just scary. Just watch for the Thurston Kick to Folau all tournament.... Can he be stopped jumping for a ball. I doubt it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXiRJVITsCU

Now i'm English but prefer NRL to super league and am more familar with the aussies.

But there is one aussie i can't stand and thats Willie Mason.... There is nothing better in Rugby than seeing Willie Mason get owned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1Vkih5tOQ

The best ever Grand Final  : ok:


 :peace:

Yeah a great game. Those drugs Andrew Johns was taking helped him get that last pass off though. haha only joking. He's a legend... probally best ever.

1. Stewart / Slater
2. Folau
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Tate
6. Lockyer
7. Thurston
8. Price
9. Smith
10. Cinovincina
11. Fitzbibbon
12. G. Stewart
13. Gallen

14. Kite
15. Perry
16. Laffranchi
17. Gidley

I reckon that will be the aussie team against New Zealand its hard to see weakness really but the only plus for the others is that Hunt, Crocker and Mason are out and Gasnier who was probally the best centre in the game has gone to Union. The problem is that Brent Tate has had a great season and could tackle all night and Hodges is so strong chasing and scoring in his place.

Also its will be hard for someone to fill in for Lockyer if he gets injured which he does alot.

That is a great side but Gids is not a bench player. He should be on the starting side. when he is on the field in any REP game we tend to score points.


AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE........


 :peace:

But where does Gidley fit in?

Surely not at full back with Slater & Stewart.

five eighth.

Its deffinately a utility position. I wouldn't put him at half back but the number 6 is close enough and can use the field alot and that is how he plays.


 :peace:

Adam Watene, Wakefield Wildcats prop collapsed and died yesterday after a session in the gym. he was only 32.

RIP


If he's not a specialist 6 I wouldn't start him there, have him on the bench and then he can come on if one of the backs is tiring/injured.

There's a similar debate about the England team and who gets the 6 spot, Mcguire or Pryce, Pryce will get it but Mcguires too good to not be playing but where does he play. He's a 6 and not a lot else, whereas Pryce has played all over so do we put Pryce at 1 or centre to accomodate them both and play Pryce somewhere he's not played for 4 years. Or only play one of them and leave a game breaking player off the pitch.

Fuck, 32. Poor bugger. That is so said. To be Honest, I was just thinking the other day about how you never hear of Footballers dying. But that is terrible.

I really do think Gids should be 6.


 :peace:

Surely not in front of Lockyer.... thats crazy. As good as Gids is he's no Lockyer.

Justin Hodges out of the World Cup due to injury, and apparently Karmichael Hunt has been called up to the squad.

Yeah its looking interestingly weaker in the Aussie centres. I mean 6 months ago it probally would have been Gasnier & Hodges in the centres and now both of them are out of the entire tournament. Folau can play there, So can tate but you'd think they'd keep Folau wide due to his ability under the high ball.

I think Tate will be one of the centres but i'm really not sure about the other one.... i was wondering about Cooper but he doesn't seem to have been mentioned.

I guess you could play Inglis as a centre. He'll be awesome wherever he plays.

Brett Stewart's out for Australia as well now and Darius Boyd's been called up.

I'd imagine that's Slater nailed on for the fullback spot now.

Just to add, I can see the other south sea island nations doing well this tournament. Both Tonga and Samoa have excellent squads.

Yeah saw that. There squad is getting thin real quick. Slater is nailed now with Gidley as his backup.

I guess boyd might go wide and they can bring either inglis or folau into centre

Does Anyone else think the song for next season should be Metallica's the day that never comes?

Listen to it with footy on your mind and you'll know what i'm saying.   :peace:



 :peace:

So we know the Aussie Team:

Australia:

Billy Slater
Joel Monaghan
Greg Inglis
Israel Folau
Brent Tate
Darren Lockyer (capt)
Jonathan Thurston
Petero Civoniceva
Cameron Smith
Steve Price
Glenn Stewart
Anthony Laffranchi
Paul Gallen

Interchange: Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Anthony Tupou, Kurt Gidley.

Some Interesting selections there. Looks like Folau & Tate in the centres. I think its a shame Folau isn't on the wing. I know he'll prefer being more involved but he is so good in the air from JT's kicks.

The good thing for the aussies is that their team is so interchangeable all the first 5 on that list can play on the wing if needs be. And with Lockyer , Cam Smith & JT they are always gonna be dangerous.

Watch for Price's brilliance for challenging kickers.

If there is a element of unknown its with Glenn Stewart & Anthony Laffranchi who have both been brilliant in the NRL but are untested at this level. Teams might target that as well as Slater under the high ball.

Good looking team, a squad like that deserves to be favourites. I still think the English pack looks stronger (on paper at least).

Yeah i think maybe you are right. Civoniceva is incredible though.

The Aussies just have so many match real match winners compared to all the other teams.

Slater, Inglis, Folau, Lockyer, Thurston, Smith, Gidley, Prince.... not a bad bunch!

No doubt, they're all world class, no team can match the aussie backs, however even the best will struggle behind a beaten pack. Forwards win you games and your backs decide by how many. Having said that it's not like the aussie pack is shit, far from it, just on paper I think England have the edge and judging by the monsters NZ usually produce probably weaker than NZ's pack too. If you want to beat the aussies you've got to dominate their forwards and not give their numerous playmakers room to start controlling things. Much easier said than done though.

I recon the kiwis will kill us on sunday. I hope I'm wrong but They are a good side.

NZ are paying $5.00 for a win. I think I'm gunna stick $50 on them.


 :peace:

http://www.nrl.com/tabid/10758/Default.aspx

Watch it all live!!!

Probably should have posted this earlier. Sorry


 :peace:

 :hihi: Probably. I didn't see the England game this morning but at least we won. Sounds like PNG gave us a scare first half though. Assuming there's no massive upsets in the rest of the group games that should see us through to the semis. I'm looking forward to Aus vs NZ tomorrow, and hopefully if that link works I'll be able to watch it. Thanks for the link  :peace:

It'll be a top game tomorrow but i really do think the kiwis will win. Like I said before I hope im wrong but they are a strong side.

The game before it will bw awesome, Aboriginal Dreamtime V NZ Mouries.. I think that will be better than the main game. The Aboriginal side has a few bloke there that shoud be in the Australian side.


 :peace:

Australia wont lose a game in this comp i dont think. They'll beat NZ tomorrow and it could be quite comfortable if they get the first couple of trys.

England just didn't turn up first half today... and PNG were just brilliant but ran out of steam around the 65 minute mark.

Rob Burrows was brilliant for us and when Maguire came on he look awesome. Pryce didn't do much but i think there is more to come.

But considering we played aweful 6 tries isn't so bad. Its can only get better ...... i hope :nervous:

If ever there was a doubt how much better the Aussies are thna everyone else i think thye just showed it.

A Team without Hodges, Gasnier, Mason, Brett Stewart & Crocker just took NZ apart. The truth is it should have been more. Defence Brilliant and Locky and JT controlling it from the first minute.

The Only thing that was wrong was NZ should of had another try when Slater kicked the ball out.... I think the video ref was high for that one. But then NZ could of has Matai sent off early.

If teams give JT & Locky that much time then you might as well hand them the world cup now. The scary thing is, i thought Australias handling at time was quite poor... quite a few mistakes. So maybe they can get better! :nervous:

They are just so strong. Folau is a man beast and Inglis has the fend off of a god. There was less kicking to Folau than i expected but then you can't really complain if you have just won and Folau got two tries. I think at some point in this tournament that will be a big play though.

Oh i nearly forgot that hit on Tupou... WHAT A HIT!

NZ were pretty poor though, they didn't look much better than the side that came to England last year for the test matches. Gotta remember they've lost players too, I think a few of the Tongan and Somaon players that have played for NZ in the past would still make the squad and of course lost SBW to union.

England are going to have to be a lot better than last week if they want to beat Aus but Smith's a good coach he'll know what needs to be done. A good kicking game's a must, kick balls down Slaters throat all game and we'll get punished, we also need a quick play the ball, Roby was excellent on Saturday and him making good yards scooting from dummy half will be vital. 

Well I guess I was wrong!

But NZ didn't play too bad last night.

Fuck I hate Cameron Smith. Why is he there?


 :peace:

Coz he is brilliant. I can't believe you don't rate him. I think he is one of their best players

Because he is a Hog and he very very very rarely runs the ball. He does fuck all and his kicking game is up to shit.


I think the poms will cop a floggin tomorrow night though. PNG gave them a bit of a rattle and I think, even though England won, it took alot of confidence out of them.


 :peace:

52 - 4

Aussie Aussie Aussie

OI OI OI

Poms V Kiwis next week. Should be a gooden. Its in Newcastle, im spewin im not there anymore coz I was keen to goto that game.


 :peace:

When does the Super League start in England?

Can someone tell me all the teams in that comp please?


 :peace:

The first match of Super League is on 6th of February

All 14 SL teams for 09 are...

Leeds Rhinos
St Helens
Wigan Warriors
Catalans Dragons
Bradford Bulls
Warrington Wolves
Wakefield Wildcats
Hull FC
Hull KR
Harlequins
Castleford Tigers
Huddersfield Giants
Celtic Crusaders
Salford City Reds