For those of you back from Mad Monday celebrations - feel free to chatter away on this page until season 2017 begins...if you want.
The Thinker
NRL tips from the biggest mind in Rugby League
The latest in NRL news
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An ex-Illawarra Dragons NRL player wishes he could “turn back time” after spitting at a woman in the pokies room of a Wollongong pub last year in what a magistrate described as “...
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Ali Brigginshaw warns Australia that England will be more aggressive than traditional foes New Zealand in the one-off Test match in Las Vegas.
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The Canterbury Bulldogs have released playmaker Karl Oloapu from the remainder of his contract effective immediately amid his ongoing neck injury.
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Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies were two of many NRL players who had taken the opportunity to hit the town in Las Vegas before knuckling down for their season opener at Allegiant...
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Canberra Raiders pair Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies apologise for an incident in a Las Vegas hotel that saw the two "really good mates" briefly kicked out of the building.
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When Benji Marshall said he put his family above footy, experts questioned his commitment to coaching — but his family-first mantra has helped build the most exciting Wests Tigers...
Comments
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings folks....the Four Nations squad that Mal Meninga has named is an interesting one. No Paul Gallen, but Trent Merrin gets a spot. I like it.
And I dips my lid to James Maloney who gets to go on a Kangaroos tour. Under-rated, durable and free of controversy. I like that too.
And three Boyds in the squad...a record surely.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
How is Jake Friend in the team.
He must be the closest player to the door out at the Roosters.
I could name probably ten hookers with more ability and form.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
No Bryce Cartwright, No Nathan Cleary surely less value taking the rooftop cruisers busted unit Dugan and the looking very middle aged Ferguson.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hey Mal, what happened to your incumbent Radradra?
Better not upset him, he'll threaten to leave.
On second thoughts, ace manoeuvre Mal.
Piss off Semi.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Such a stupid thing incumbency, If your not the best, there's the door. We need to enforce that in the NSW team and if we want to get back on top of NZ we need to show half the players the door. Get the best and stuff the rest. Oh and bid good bye to that lazy Boyd.
Submitted by a on
You should do a Four Nations page Thinker
Submitted by Tailspin on
Hey Thinker and TLH, thanks again for a great year of footy, it's been fun and very informative, thanks to all the tipsters for your input, we will get them next year a.
Bring on the 4 nations, should be very interesting with the players picked me thinks.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Presidents XIII has historically been a reward for future stars to don the green and gold in front of the regular 13. What a disgrace that Mitchell Pearce is not only absolved of his beastiality simulation, but seemingly still regarded as the future of rep footy. Not like there aren't any exciting young talents who don't fit the bill.
God help us if NSW selectors turn a blind eye again to talent in favour of the Mr Average.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Pretty telling that Australian selectors felt Fifita's integrity was not befitting of the green and gold, while Shark officials were totally fine with his level of integrity.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Footy Chick.. Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!
Submitted by Mark Andrew on
Squad doesnt look too bad, the right amount of fresh faces who all play well enough to have their spot, although Friend is a surprise so hopefully he stands up to the honour. Looking forward to seeing what sort of enthusiasm they bring to the matches.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Jake Friend is the last person the Roosters would be escorting to the exits Coach. He's easily been one of their best in a poor year.
They need someone for the 9 jersey to play if/when Cameron Smith doesn't play, and it's not easy to come up with a logical Australian replacement.
McCullough?
Granville?
Lichaa?
Wallace?
Surely you don't mean Wallace?
Nathan Peats? Maybe, but I think he spends most off-seasons having his body put back together.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Does anyone at all agree the James Maloney threw upwards of 15 forward passes through the finals series without getting pulled up.
The most telling was to set up the try against the Raiders.
What the hell is wrong with calling the game refs?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
He's average Thinker and if he's one of their best, the Roosters dont have much at the moment.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Anything that jumps out at you as to the holes in Wallace's game?
He has McCullough on toast 2 out of 2.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Friend made 1279 tackles this season (more than anyone by a long way) and missed 62....in a side that went terribly.
Wallace made 864 and missed 66.....in a side that went well.
Wallace is also getting surgery in the off-season....so he's not available anyway.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
At least there is no question on Wallace's integrity.
Those originally in the mix with chequered histories include Fifita, Radradra, Darius Boyd, Dugan, Ferguson, Friend, Inglis, and Thaiday.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Thinker, Friend going back a few years would put forwards on a charge, and players through holes with continual forward passes. Very poor technique, timing , a cheater, or combination of.
Lately he gets pulled up, one game I recall , a number of times. He now doesn't know what to do. He didn't have much else to his game.
You mentioned defence, but second into the tackle and you still get a tick and don't miss many. Not mentioning any other facet of play doesn't exactly paint a picture of a Kangaroo.
Wallace is a great organiser, schemer, terrific passer of the football, solid kicking game including goal kicking, a Thinker. Turning the Broncos around on tackle three occasionally at Suncorp was dynamic, and suddenly copied by other teams late in the season including Brisbane.
The case put forward for Friend is a poor one if you have nothing else.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Peter Wallace is 31. Jake Friend is 26.
Meninga has a responsibility as coach to prepare the national team for a world without Cameron Smith. Peter Wallace won't be playing the game when Cameron Smith retires from Australian representative duty.
And when your squad includes Smith, Thurston and Maloney....I doubt Meninga is thinking he needs to find more goal-kickers.
I haven't suggested Friend is a great player, but I've pointed out that options for Australia in the number 9 jersey are thin on the ground. I've also pointed out that Wallace needs (or has had) surgery.
The Panthers have three players in the squad. They only had two Origin reps this year. How many do you need to have to make you happy?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I thought it was just about who were the best available players with a birth certificate or raise their right hand before accepting match payments. Please don't say Friend is the future in place of Smith. X-rays of the Australian spine soon to show fractures in four places.
Wallace would have played if chosen. Lots of players have off season surgery that woudnt stop them playing if they didn't have it done.
I didn't say he needed to kick goals was just part of his skill set.
You're 100% right.
You have mentioned Friend is a great player. Moreso, you don't have much case for his selection at all. You don't turn up at a job interview and promote yourself by saying "well what have the others got?" Well, you can, but it ain't gonna get you the job is it?
Submitted by The Thinker on
Coach said:
"How is Jake Friend in the team.
He must be the closest player to the door out at the Roosters."
Well.....he was awarded the Jack Gibson medal this season for player of the year. Trent Robinson has publicly stated he is the club captain for years to come. So I'd say you are wrong there.
Coach said:
"I could name probably ten hookers with more ability and form."
Okay....let's see them. The list can't include Smith or Ennis. It can't include players from other countries - which probably rules out Peter Wallace whose last international duties were with Scotland. It also can't include players with any sort of chequered history - which probably rules out Peter Wallace who was arrested after a pub fight on the Sunshine Coast.
Once I've ruled out all the ineligibles...I'd struggle to name ten that are left.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I didn't say I was naming regular first grade hookers and I didn't say I wasn't including players who aren't in first grade or have ever played first grade. This is how much I rate him or more to the point, dont. He rode the wave of a team full of stars around him but not to be confused that he wasn't one of them
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Theres 50 players in the NRL who could play hooker and outplay Friend.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Pedanticists and hair splitters.
Gotta love em.
Submitted by Footy chick on
Hi Thinker,
I just wanted to thank you for running the tipping competition again this season, and to thank you for the prize.
My club didn't do very well this year, so I should be able to pick up some discounted bargains :-)
See you all next year xxx
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I struggle to understand why Peats isn't a chance, take away that bad season where he missed, (along with our back up hooker) half the season, he is consistant and has played at least 85-90% of games this year. Might not be captain material, but he does lead by example on the field and has enough creativity that he can cause a few issues for the defence. WE WANT HIM BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surely he deserves a shot on the bench for some of the "easier" games. You know England, New Zealand, those push over opponents
Submitted by Tailspin on
I agree with you coach, Maloney is a grub and one of the best forward passers in the game, also if the selectors are serious, friend shouldn't be in the side, they should be blooding new young talent which there is plenty of that. I cant see friend staying for too long Thinker, it is time for new blood and to see the young boys shine, not a whole complete side but new talent has to come in, it is inevitable. Friend did have a great year though.
Submitted by a on
Foran contract is denied by the looks
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I have a feeling Friend and Maloney used to be a double force at Roosters and it helped win them a Premiership in 2013.
Isaac Luke another forward pass specialist helped Souths get to the Grand Fina in 2014, (who would ultimately win the Premiership)
Not to mention Jake Granville who can throw a few forward passes helping Cowboys to a Premiership in 2015.
Maloney as we know, his forward passes helped Cronulla win their Premiership in 2016.
Is there something in this?
Does a team actually require a forward passer to make it?
It's a horrible thought.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Not much of a gamble to work out that Foran would be in jail for most of next season.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Every team has someone that pushes the ball forward coach, even the panthers.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
A team with Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow make a Grand Final - who would have believed the washed up NRLers had it in them.
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/20876/10607321/chris-sandow-n...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
# A replay of Grand Final 2013, Wigan winning out.
# Warrington runners up in both 2012 and 2013 and now haven't won for 61 years. Nipiúu mom!heir 58th and 59th seasons didn't have no fairytale finish,
#Scheduled for 3am Sunday, Sydney time. Gary, where's your bloody preview
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sorry - second point included some keyboard hijacking.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Less than 12 hours from the Grand Final in the only other Rugby League comp to compare to the NRL, and nothing. No preview, no tips, no interest, no (other) comment.
This page on the face of it, can give the impression it is a lover of Rugby League - fullstop, but that only seems to be true regarding the NRL and the international games where Australia has some involvement, either playing or hosting.
I definitely don't think it's fair of me to ask the page to be something it's not, if that's not what it wants to be.
It is a bit sad to me, is all, and I realise that's for me to deal with - seemingly on my own.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Seems that this page is the majority and I'm the minority.
Watch the morning news and see nothing of this as if it never happened. Doesn't exist.
For anyone interested, not bothered to Google themselves, Wigan won 12 -6. Warrington 61 years and still counting.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/oct/08/super-league-grand-fi...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
That means Wigan play Cronulla in the World Club Challenge when you finish yarning.j
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Its still going to be held over there isn't it? The problem is that unlike what they'd have you believe, pay t.v. hasn't really blossumed here in Aus. We only get the sport that free to air gives us and I think that last time there was Super League on the box I watched every game I could. Much faster game and the players are a lot tougher. Saw a center get clipped high, arm bounced off the ball and up, he hit the ground bounced up and played the ball like nothing had happened. That happens here, its a concussion interchange, a few minutes of feinging injury and then a penalty. Completely different game.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I'd like to Chris come back and terrorise the Sharks in OZ. But not one English player would survive the game in early autumn. Broiled alive would be the best description.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sorry for interrupting everyone's NRL hibernation.
Fiji 20 Samoa 18
Ok. You can go back to sleep now.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yeah go on Qld. Take the Bathurst 1000 to somewhere north of the NSW border. I'm sure it's be just as good.
(Not)
Submitted by Tailspin on
C'mon coach, that's taking it a bit too far don't you think.
Go the Holdens 1 2 3.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
There was not one Australian made car in the race.
That's because there aren't any Australian made cars anymore.
A sad day in Bathurst for a driver.
A sadder day for the Australian Car Industry.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Yes it is a shame there is no more Aussie made cars.
Submitted by a on
I enjoy seeing Car Crashes in V8s
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Darius Boyd for Captain.
What an enthralling post match interview you'd get - him and Uncle Wayne together. Zzzzzzzzzz
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
How did Boyd get best and fairest at the Ponies? I can't stand the sight of him because if he isn't having fun, he doesn't not put in on the field. FFS watch the Cowboys vs Broncos in the finals. Darius could have dived, might not have stopped O'Neil, but at least he could hold his head up and say he put in for the team. But NO! O'Neil has to run around him, no effort, no attempt, how do you Broncos fan put up with him. That crap happening in Parra, we'd be trying to string them up for wasting our precious cap space now Choc wants to be a dickhead. Crying out loud, Boyd, front up or ship out.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Watene-Zelezniak not good enough to push Nightingale off the wing for the Perth Test. Not sure if Nightingale has put in a decent 80 minutes in the last 6 months. Bloody incumbency. Its a crock.
It's really not about picking the best available.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yeah very bloody official, NRL.
Lewis Brown has been at Manly a whole year.
Embarrassingly out of touch NRL.
Embarrassingly true to form.
http://www.nrl.com/official-2016-four-nations-squads/tabid/10874/newsid/...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
... as has Marty Taupau.
Embarrassing NRL.
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