Greetings football fans.
I thought I should create a space for anyone to chat about the Rugby League World Cup, and anything else for that matter. This page can become the off-season chat page until season 2027. It may not be needed, but it's here if it is.
As for the opening World Cup game last night...what can I say?
I've longed for a blossoming international game for years now. After a fair hiatus, the green shoots of international rugby league are growing. May they continue to prosper. A great opening clash, with promises of more great clashes ahead of us.
I'll add some fixture schedules and what-not to this page in the days ahead for those who might be interested.
Semi finals
- Saturday 7th November (7.05pm) - New Zealand vs Tonga (McDonald Jones Stadium)
- Sunday 8th November (7.05pm) - Australia vs Samoa (Allianz Stadium)
Comments
Submitted by Esra Star on
It seems France has been starved of fertiliser to start those green shoots,mate.
Submitted by Esra Star on
I thought Mitchell looked slow and a bit lazy on Thursday night.
Submitted by Esra Star on
I thought Tonga played well last night.
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Esra
I feel for French Rugby League and what's become of it. They have a chequered history and, if not for that, their league team could be better than ours.
A real shame.
England V Tonga game I missed, but I'm not surprised Tonga played well. I watched the other three.
All the best
The Thinker
Submitted by Esra Star on
Do any French teams play in the British super league?(obviously i don't follow it).
That may increase the skill levels to compete in a world competition.
I thought that Lebanon competed against the Kumels for at least the first half.
I am still of the opinion that the Papuan team will struggle and i also have grave doubts about the Western Australian team.
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Esra
There are two French sides in the English Super League currently - Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympic (who were promoted to the ESL this season). They finished 8th and 9th in a 14 team competition. The quality of the game in the ESL is a rung below the NRL it's fair to say, and we're seeing that with the rise of the Pacific nations. The number of Rugby League participants in France is very small, and I'll try to refrain from getting into the details of why. There are people old enough still alive to remember when the French team toured Australia in the early 1950s. They beat the Kangaroos 2-1 on that tour. Those that saw those games will tell you that French side were about as good as sport gets. I often wonder what could have been.
All the best
The Thinker
Submitted by Esra Star on
Thanks,mate.
Yes,i seem to remember the French sides of the late 50's and in to the 60's. And also,the fights,lol.
I'm 75.
Submitted by Mary S on
Hi Esra Star &TheThinker,
I would have been 15 in 1960 and hadn't a clue about Rugby League, as any sporting interest at that time (other than boys) was hockey, cricket or basketball!!
Thanks for the info posted, as the history of growth (or not in France' case) is interesting.
I have enjoyed watching some of the highlights of the recent gameson the NRL website, particularly Aus/NZ, as other household members declared that Rugby was finished for the year!!
Cheers,
Mary
Submitted by Esra Star on
It amazes me that there are so many world class players who would have been eligible to play for Australia playing for other countries and at the same time we can afford to make 5 or 6 changes to a winning team combination and still have a world class team running out this weekend.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Plenty of depth in Australia. A huge advantage over the length of a tournament when you can rest players or have options when people are injured.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Yep.
Submitted by Esra Star on
So far, Lebanon haven't been the push over Tonga thought they would be.
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
I agree Esra. I thought they went well actually. Tonga looked to throw pretty much all they had at them and Lebanon did a good job at defending them. Think Tonga will find it hard to beat either NZ or Australia, and England went fairly well against them too. Enjoying the World Cup though.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Footy never over GSharky - good to have some variety during the Summer.
Has been some big scores but although not mentioned yet our Jillaroos are certainly combining well.
Tonga has that NRL flavour to play with and sure strengthens them when they play together. Cheers and keep well - Big Pete
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
As regards yours and Mary's comments about France from yesteryear, I have a very vague memory of seeing a photo of a French player having a smoke on the field one day in a game. I'm assuming it was a game of some importance otherwise there wouldn't have been a picture of it. Do you have any recollection of this or am I dreaming?
Submitted by Esra Star on
That was probably me playing Union at school against Macquari boys high.lol.
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Gummy
That would be Puig Aubert. Famously used to smoke while he played. Bloke was good enough to get a statue in Paris.
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
Was that at Parramatta or Rosehill area Esra?
Submitted by Esra Star on
Lidcombe oval,Gummy. I was at Granville boys high. Out home ground was Granville oval at the time.That was mid to late 60's.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Just reading the news this morning and James Graham reckons the French gave up. I disagree,,i reckon the competed for about 30 minutes in the first half and then about 20 minutes in the second. I reckon it was a case of them running out of fitness.
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
I'm 10 years behind you Esra. Went to Parramatta High. Ventured over to Granville occasionally. Remember there was a first second third street etc. Don't remember how far the sequence went. We played on the school oval and occasionally at Cumberland oval. In those days you just walked in from the back of Parra Park.
Submitted by Esra Star on
They went up as far as 7th st,mate. Off Clyde st.
We used to head out to Cumberland oval on the weekends to watch Parramatta play. I saw Ken and Dick Thornett play as well as Ronny Lynch and many other greats.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Nice Esra - I once played basketball in a knockout back in 1975'ish at Auburn Stadium. Had to leave the Sunday game to see The Beach Boys at Syd Sportsground - poured rain. But knew the area well from trips down to the area.
We had a few players up in Group 10 from Parra. Barry Rushworth ran the Landsdowne Hotel in Main St Lithgow.
You sound like mate, that you came from a good era (with age). But I seem to recall you were a Bronco's fan, even if growing up in Granville area.
Cheers and keep well - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Morning,Pete.
I left home a year or two after i left school. The place was becoming another middle east,even then. I have lived in Queensland since about 1970,so that is where my Broncos affiliation comes from. I still hold a soft spot for the old Parra,but i reckon they suffer from bad management and have done since the 80's.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Thanks on that Esra - nearest I have friends in Qld now is Bribie Island where Mark A & Manyana resided. We spoke about it on occasions.
Had a few at Toowoomba but now only Facebook Messages.
I had rels lived at Pendle Hill and Toongabbie. That area has certainly grown as we often stayed in Parra area when visiting or shopping at Westfields. A motel on GWH/way backed onto the ramp that leads up to the car park was an ideal place to stay at.
Sad this week that Parra lost one of their long time players who also represented Australia in Barry "Bowser" Rushworth. He was publican at The Landsdowne Hotel in Lithgow (east of where I live). Bowser also played for Lithgow Workies in Group 10 R/League comp.
I was told years ago, that Dennis Fitzgerald was a bit of a thorn with Parra, even as a player, he knew the club but business was another thing. Keep well - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Just watching the Kangaroos last night,they didn't look like a happy team. Also,lucky that Tom Trbojevic scored 3 tries because he let 3 in. He was caught out of position(i thought) 3 times and in nearly the exact same moves.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Turbo looked to me like he was doing a similar antic to his Manly mate Saab and coming in too near and couldn't backtrack to cover in time.
Cheers and keep well Esra - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Looked to me like he was concentrating on the player on his inside and forgetting the winger. He didn't lay a hand on him.
Cheers,mate.
Submitted by Mary S on
I thought the same Esra, about Tom Trbojevic forgetting he had a winger to defend - he looked totally oblivious to the threat, but he cetainly put on the gas to get those 3 tries.
Australia seemed (to me) to be a bit lack-luste at times, but then brilliant off-loading & play in others. Fiji put up a good fight. All-in-all a great game.
Cheers,
Mary
Submitted by Esra Star on
Yes,it was a good game to watch,Mary.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
World Cup has had too many blowout scores for me, in both mens and womens.
Changing codes...what's happening with Man U Big Pete??
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Oh dear Steely - I was hoping that question didnt get aired.
Man Utd are on a bad run - again!
Appears to me - players and unity then many want to see owners gone. The fans appear to be calling the shots mate!
It continues without stability in the team. Devils play Chelsea tonight and that might decide if Carrick stays or goes. Talk is Eddie Howe is being scouted due to success he had with Newcastle. Nagelsman ex Bayern also in considering. But slowest start I've seen from them since EPL commenced (as it is known).
Keep well - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
I see that the Roosters have pulled the offer to Walker. Could it be that they have locked in Marky Mark to return in 2028? Also,as good as Walker is,the Roosters didn't suffer too much when he was out injured for a month or so at the pointy end of the season,so maybe they realised that there are other less expensive options.
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
Morning Esra and others. You wouldn't recognise Parramatta from whwn you probably last saw it. When I was a kid the biggest building there was the AMP building. It was a massive 3 (maybe 4) stories high and stood out like a sore thumb. Nowadays one police station is 13 stories high and probably several underground. Church St is a hive of restaurants and food outlets with foods from many many different countries. Turns out I'm only five years behind you. My mother used to drag me to the footy to watch Ken Thornett, Brian Hambly etc too. She said she never saw Thornett drop a ball. I wouldn't know I was always off running amok with all the other little kids. Wholeheartedly agree with your comments about Parra and their management. Know a brilliant money manager, born and bred in Westmead who's been a lifelong Parra supporter who applied to join the Parra committee. Didn't even get past first base but I can tell you he would have been a huge asset to them. That green bridge over Parra River that us kids used to jump off is still there, still green. Ah memories!
Submitted by Esra Star on
Cheers,mate. And just over the green bridge was the Green windmill milk bar.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
I've been there a few times Sharky - as I said to Esra in past reply, it was handy for us and many country people. Getting to be that P/matta is the capital of Sydney now with all the development and transfer of govt depts head offices to there. Sad also with passing of great Parra player in "Bowser" Rushworth who came from Lithgow (Workies Club r/league team). Last match I saw at the old Cumberland Oval was Parra v Manly, when Les Boyd and Bear O'Reilly collided and hit the deck with dust all over the place. I think the same year the old wooden grandstand got burned down.
Agree with your Church St comment. Ate out there on a couple of occasions. But correct with anyone knowing anything about management and not getting a nod. Sometimes the boys club makes the decision in the wrong direction.
My late Toongabbie cousin was good friends with Parra and Penrith coach Gary Cameron's mother. Gary was a school teacher and knew how to teach - thus coach. Coached reserves and U/23's but always losing players he felt with 1st grade injuries.
But agree - Parra is growing and come a long way since that AMP "Tower". Keep well - Big Pete.
Submitted by Bronco Legend on
Hi all,
Just looked up the capacity of Qld Country Bank Stadium which i have never been to and its 25,000 for the clash between Australia and Cook Islands this Saturday not sure if they will even half fill it as odds are $1.00 for Aus and $41.00 for Cook Islands but hope its a good game with plenty of noise. Will probably watch it on tv with too much beer again.
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Bronco Legend
Population of Cook Islands is 15000
There might be suburbs in Townsville with that many people
I reckon the Kangaroos will have them covered :-)
If you can only watch one game this weekend - Tonga v Samoa on Sunday is the one to watch. Some chance its one of the sporting highlights of the year.
All the best
The Thinker
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Spot on Thinker - I'll be watching Tonga v Samoa.
They really throw some flare into their matches much like the liveliness that PNG gave last night.
Dropped balls and excitement with several "arsey" passes to add.
Keep well - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Just watching the Poms v the Kumuls. I can't remember seeing a game with so many dropped balls.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Might have needed some of the lawn bowlers Grippo they used.
We did often in basketball if it was a little slippery.
Keep well Esra - Big Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Cheers,Pete.
Submitted by Esra Star on
The Welsh women are getting plenty of kick off practice.
Submitted by Esra Star on
Tonga and Samoa. Probably one of the best games i have seen in many years. It was no place for the feint hearted.
Submitted by Mary S on
Agree with you Esra. As promised, as good as a grand final with all the physicality.
Cheers,
Mary
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