Round five selections

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – Brookvale Oval

The Rabbitohs lose at Brookvale (71%) more often than the Sea Eagles win at Brookvale (66%), but it's the ins and outs for this game that have the visitors as slight favourites. Daly Hyphen-Evans is out with an injury yours truly once suffered (syndesmosis), Buhrer is out again as quickly as he was in, and there's doubts over Matai and Lawrence. It's the Bunnies with the ins that wins - two Burgess brothers (Sam and Tom) and a supporting role in the forwards from the returning Dave Tyrrell. How does Sam bounce back after what looked like a genuinely awful neck injury is anyone's guess, but the big boof did win a Clive Churchill with a fractured head so I expect he'll do just fine.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2

Result - Rabbitohs 16 defeated Sea Eagles 12

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – Cbus Super Stadium

It pleases me to see the Titans doing well, but there's doing well and then there's a level above that. Last week reminded us all there are two teams that can play at a level beyond the rest. Hopefully there are three or four teams capable of lifting to those lofty heights. The Titans aren't in that group, but they're near the top of the ladder because they're winning and you can never say never in the NRL. If the Broncos shot all their ducks last week and left nothing behind for this week the Titans win this. Ifs and buts were candy and nuts....as the great Homer J would say. Jack Reek and Corey Oates return, and Oates has a few weeks to get fit and prove to the Queensland selectors he deserves a seat on the Origin bench. Titans captain Nathan Friend is back, and the ever-ascending Ashley Taylor gets to take on his old club. Let's hope the Titans pull a decent crowd through the turnstiles on Friday night, but I still think the Broncos will win this season so they need to be winning games like these.

Verdict – Broncos by 8

Result - Broncos 24 defeated Titans 16

Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – AAMI Park

The Melbourne Storm are so short of backs they've resorted to signing an AFL player this week - we won't see Shem Tatupu on Saturday but we're likely to see him soon. Koroibete has been named but won't be playing, so I'll assume Tohu Harris plugs a gap in the centres and Ben Hampton shifts out to the wing...I think. Despite all the deck-chair shuffling in Melbourne, this Knights squad are a bunch of kids. Sure they have a few wiser older heads in their seventeen but the wiser older heads of Smith (Cameron) and Cronk can steer their kids better than Smith (Jeremy) and Mullen. The Storm rarely lose two games in a row, and its even rarer if that second game is played at home. Even rarer still when their opponents haven't beaten anyone at all. Assuming we have dry weather football on Saturday I'm keen on total points overs for those that are remotely interested in such things. Purple reign. Purple reign.

Verdict – Storm by 13

Result - Storm 18 defeated Knights 14

Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

Paul Gallen has announced that 2016 will be his final Origin campaign - which is rather presumptious of him. He'll need to stay on the paddock between now and then, and I've a feeling he'll be limping off the field on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I don't wish injuries upon anybody, but the nicest guy in rugby league has been spending more than his fair share of time in rehab since Stephen Dank got shown the door at Sharks Central. So....how will the Sharks respond when Gallen heads into the tunnel in the 18th minute of this game? I think they're better without him. The quick turnaround from Monday night has me a little concerned but this Sharks backline has points in it, and the Tigers couldn't even jump out of the barriers against the Dragons. That said, I'm pegging this as the game of the round. On season statistics thus far these sides are pretty evenly matched. Once I've finished watching Winx win the Doncaster I'm definitely tuning in for this. The Tigers to give their all, but they're going to need a bigger boat.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result - Sharks 34 defeated Tigers 26

North Queensland Cowboys vs St George Illawarra Dragon – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

The Dragons are winning games with defence...and they have to. In their last four hours of football they've scored just three tries. The Cowboys scored that many against the Broncos just last week, and had another three disallowed. The last time the Cowboys played at home they scored seven tries and kept their opponents scoreless. For the first time this season the Cowboys have to make a change to their roster, with Javid Bowen making his first grade debut with the club his uncle made his own. Benji Marshall returns for the Red V and the Dragons will get their fare share of support at a venue they don't get to visit too often. A fair contest but the Cowboys to pull away at the business end - Thurston is some chance of outscoring the Dragons on his own.

Verdict – Cowboys by 16

Result - Cowboys 36 defeated Dragons 0

Sydney Roosters vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday afternoon – Central Coast Stadium

Are the Roosters fans great travellers? This could feel like a home game away from home for the Warriors - they'll draw a few Kiwis from the region and most neutral observers would love to see the Roosters remain winless at the foot of the table. Clearly the Warriors haven't set the rugby league world alight but at least their losses to the Tigers, Broncos and Storm were competitive losses. A big win over the Knights is questionable form but they found their mojo in the second half and that could be the shot in the arm they need. As for the Chooks, the narrow loss to the Sea Eagles suggests they're edging nearer to a win, but near enough isn't good enough.

Verdict – Warriors by 1

Result - Warriors 32 defeated Roosters 28

Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium

I like the look of the Panthers line-up...I really do. Moylan at fullback and Martin in the halves is a looking glass into what should be a successful future. My only concern is that the combinations may take a week or two to bed down, and this weekend they're up against a settled line-up playing with confidence and playing at home. Note that Latimore and Taylor have been added to an extended bench for the Panthers, and if both were definitely playing I could actually tip the visitors. As things stand I'll stick with the Eels at home, but the gambler in me is keen to back the Panthers with the handicap start.

Verdict – Eels by 2

Result - Panthers 20 defeated Eels 18

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Canberra Raiders – Monday night – Belmore Sports Ground

The Dogs lost their first choice fullback and dummy half before the season began...so they're doing okay. The same could be said for the Raiders, who lost their two best halves in round one. At least the Raiders are getting them both back on Monday night. It's a nice looking seventeen the Raiders are taking on the road, and at any other venue I'd give them a chance. Sadly, they're travelling to Belmore, and Belmore will be packed to the gills with blue and white brethren. With the will of the people behind those big Bulldogs forwards (and helping those referees with the 50/50 calls) I can't see anything but a Bulldogs victory. Looks like a game you want to be watching though. The atmosphere at Belmore will leak into your loungerooms...in a good way.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 10

Result - Raiders 22 defeated Bulldogs 8

Wally Lewis - round five selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

  • Sea Eagles vs RABBITOHS
  • Titans vs BRONCOS
  • STORM vs Knights
  • Tigers vs SHARKS
  • COWBOYS vs Dragons
  • ROOSTERS vs Warriors
  • EELS vs Panthers
  • BULLDOGS vs Raiders

Comments

Baggy_Gee's picture

BTW Coach, working in a kitchen, the best I get is the radio, so I have to listen to the call and hope they aren't heading off on a tangent before rushing back to tear their pants when something happens.

Coach Potato's picture

Why can't Parra just win one outright?

The 01 and 09 runners-up teams would absolutely run rings around the current Parra team, so what hope is there?

Coach Potato's picture

Thats why I gave you the link (?!)

Baggy_Gee's picture

Timing, luck, bounce of the ball on the day, who knows. The biggest question is really who were bounced out by that illegal Storm side, and would we have beaten THEM on the day. Maybe, Hayne in the form he was in running in to the GF was amazing, did we shot our load to soon, and getting to the GF was our win? I think that mentally a long drought and then a crack at the title means a lose.

The Ponies, Cowboys, Rabbits, Roosters look at winning the thing, then there are a lot of team that justify their season by getting to the 4 or 8, so I really think that mind set and mentality are the biggest factors in winning the GF.

Baggy_Gee's picture

I appreciate that, and nothing was said on the commentary that lead me to believe that he had dropped the bundle like that. They were creaming themselves that something had happened.

Coach Potato's picture

**** Bunker, it's easy *****

Regarding ball control, ask yourself this simple question when you review ball control -

Q? In your wise opinion, could the player have stopped the ball from hitting the ground?

A? Yes = Player Has Control = TRY
A? No = Player Has Lost Control = NO TRY

Just forget about separation. It doesn't prove anything.

Coach Potato's picture

With the 07 and 09 thing, I've never heard anyone argue that it should revert back to the minor premier as the winner as is Rugby League tradition.

In 07 it was the Storm with Manly 2nd on the ladder, so still would be Manly.

In 09 it was the Dragons' minor premiership. Should the trophy be theirs?

newbie from perth's picture

Hi everyone,

Sitting down trying to nut out who should win and why is not doing me much good this year. I’ve missed a few by small margins yes but still getting them wrong. Should I just throw the towel in now or tell myself Round 5 is where me and the Roosters start coming good? Gosh darn it, Newbie’s “old school” (and proud of it) so he’s gonna just keep on havin’ a crack. No shame in getting smashed as long as you have a go, hold your head high as you trudge wearily off the paddock and hopefully learn by your mistakes. Geez, I’m all fired up now so maybe we should get this show moving eh? Into it …

Manly
Broncos
Storm
Tigers
Cowboys
Roosters - gotta be getting’ close now. Can I please have this one Johnny Ray? Please? Please?
Eels
Bulldogs

I’ve just realised a “system” I was told about by a bloke at work would’ve seen me sitting on 22 coming into this weekend. Depending on how I go this week, I might just start using it. Mind you, the guy who told me about it uses it for his soccer tipping so not sure if it would stand the test long term with the NRL. We’ll see…

OK kids, good luck with your tipping and may your team win by 40 points! Cheers.

P.S. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer? Hmmm…

Johnny Ray's picture

That's a good godamn point Newbie. No really the fact that there's light in Fridge but not Freezer really does throw me. It's like why is most popular brand of condom from Japan ? I mean can you really trust using a condom that's made in country of 128 million people ? Dude I don't ! Personally I would prefer using one from country with much lower birth rate like Moldovia or Latvia or Leitchenstein ! That or if they could make one from non existent country like Narnia that would be perfect ! You know forget Trojan, give me couple of Prince Caspian's ! And you know what ? Forget everything I just said ! I'm just drunk right now staying up all night drinking Kiwi Lager waiting for New Zealand to play England in T20 Cricket ... :-S

Baggy_Gee's picture

4/0 after 0.1 projecting on that run rate they should get 480, pretty handy start.

Tailspin's picture

Hey everyone, hope you all had a great Easter and pigged out on the chockies, good job with the fishing Thinker, We went over there a long time ago now camping and mainly fished on the eastern side, got a few dart and whiting, but it was blowing 20-30"s the whole time we were there, so we ate a lot of sand :(
Anyway, here we go
Bunnies by 8
Broncos by 16
Storm by 16
Sharks by 8
Cowboys by 18
Warriors by 4
Eels by 1
Dogs by 7
Hope you all have a great weekend.

christine's picture

My tips this week are the same as wally , may the football gods be good to us all .

The Thinker's picture

The Broncos are looking very sharp at training this morning. They seem switched on, and Milford is clearly growing into his role each and every week.

Rick's picture

....................... Hey there a how are you going with your tips this round?

Thank you Johnny Ray for congrats last round long way to go yet mate.

Great to see your tips up Christine.

Islander's picture

Hi everyone, looks like another tough round, dont it?

here i go than

Manly
Broncos
Storm
Sharks
Cowboys
Warriors
Eels
Bulldogs

Thanks everyone and a special thanks to "a" for doing up the ladder for those of us not in the comp. Least we get to see where we would be on the official ladder with our points. Not to bad, i reckon. thanks again.

christine's picture

I'm changing 1 of my tips to warriors not roosters .

a's picture

Here are my tips

Rabbitohs by 6 They will not lose 3 in a row and Manly will not win 3 in a row its a rabbit for me

Broncos by 10 I think Titans good start is over her Broncos should win and win well here

Storm by 16 Knights to remain winless after 5 rounds

Sharks by 2 Although I don't think Gallen is a very good player I still think Sharks will win

Cowboys by 12 I think Cowboys will be cranky after the refs robbed them they will come back and kick Dragons asses here

Warriors by 1 I think Roosters will have to wait a little longer for there win here

Eels by 4 I think Eels will get on top of the Panthers here

Bulldogs by 8 I think Bulldogs will kill Raiders

Coach Potato's picture

Coach's Round 5 theory.
I wrote this before round 5 last year. Just slightly edited to now include 2015 results. See what people think and see who's top4 after this week...

Submitted by Coach Potato on Wed, 01/04/2015 - 7:09pm

Been waiting to reveal this one, so hoping you all like it ...The special Easter surprise for 4 teams this week will be a virtual guarantee of playing semi final footy? 'But its only round 5 you idiot? WTF? Is all that starch affecting your brain, Mr Potatohead?'

No I say. My stat says that the top 4 teams after round 5 are virtually guaranteed a semi-final spot, 21 weeks (or 147 days) into the future. Let's have a look at the last 9 years, and see if those teams went on to play semis, yes or no

2015
Souths - YES (7th)
Brisbane - YES (2nd)
Newcastle - NO (16th)
Sydney - YES (1st)

2014
Gold Coast - NO (14th)
Canterbury - YES (7th)
Brisbane - YES (8th)
Penrith - YES (4th)

2013
Melbourne - YES (3rd)
Souths - YES (2nd)
Manly - YES (4th)
Newcastle - YES (7th)

2012
Melbourne - YES (2nd)
Canterbury - YES (1st)
Brisbane - YES (8th)
Nth Qld - YES (5th)

2011
Melbourne -YES (1st)
Brisbane - YES (3rd)
St George - YES (5th)
Nth Qld - YES (7th)

2010
St George - YES (1st)
Melbourne - NO* (6th) -*finished 6th but suspended from playing semis
Wests - YES (3rd)
Gold Coast - YES (4th)

2009
St George - YES (1st)
Gold Coast - YES (3rd)
Brisbane - YES (6th)
Souths - NO (10th)

2008
Brisbane - YES (5th)
Sydney - YES (4th)
Gold Coast - NO (13th)
Cronulla - YES (3rd)

2007
Manly - YES (2nd)
Melbourne - YES (1st)
Nth Qld - YES (3rd)
New Zealand - YES (4th)

So in the last 9 years, of the 36 top4 teams after round 5, only 5 didn't play semis. (And if Melbourne had not been suspended from the 2010 finals, it's only 4 out of 36 that didn't play semis)

a's picture

Can you do 1 for the bottom 4 as well coach

The Thinker's picture

Outstanding contribution from the big potato....well done Coach!

Coach Potato's picture

Thanks Thinker.
For anyone that is fully prepared to lose hard earned money - with top8 betting usually still pretty open after only round 5, you could bet on any, or all of the top4 after this week with statistically, a 90% chance of collect.

BigPeteBx's picture

Howdy Thinkers - yes I know how it feels to be in several tipping comps.
As you'd understand, I love a challenge, but most Friday afternoons and then Saturday mornings for me is getting the codes tips together, and deciding who to tip. I am in 11 NRL Tipping Comps, 7 A-League and 6 EPL.
Working Mon- Fri like many, finds a big rush on Friday arvo and get to see matches whilst jumping from one to another to see how progress is going.
Big Pete's Round 5 predictions are MANLY, BRONCOs, STORM, SHARKS, COWBOYS, ROOSTERS, EELS, BULLDOGS.
Good Luck with it all.
Big Pete (South of the Border and West of The Sandstone Curtain)

Coach Potato's picture

It was meant to work for bottom 4 but Cowboys, Sharks, and Manly blew that theory last year. Top4 theory is still holding up.

Johnny Ray's picture

Thanks for that Coach. What you've just given us is possibly the biggest stat that anybody has ever given us on this site. Seriously that's huge ! Thanks mate ... ;-D

parrafan's picture

had a shocker last week but I'm feeling lucky this round I'm going with
RABBITOHS
BRONCOS
STORM
SHARKS
COWBOYS
WARRIORS
EELS
BULLDOGS

Coach Potato's picture

Sorry Manly still missed the finals last year, Cowboys and Sharks went against the round 5 bottom4 theory.

Coach Potato's picture

... Ok I'll still share the other half of that post from last year - edited to include 2015 results .....

But wait, Tim Shaw says there's more. Here's the bottom4 after week 5 for the last 9 years, and whether they played semis - yes or no

2015
Cowboys - YES (3rd)
Cronulla - YES (6th)
Gold Coast - NO (14th)
Manly - NO (9th)

2014
Canberra - NO (15)
New Zealand - NO (9)
Newcastle - NO (12)
Cronulla - NO (16)

2013
Canberra - NO (13)
Canterbury - YES (6)
Penrith - NO (10)
New Zealand - NO (11)

2012
Manly - YES (4)
Wests - NO (10)
Gold Coast - NO (11)
Parramatta -NO (16)

2011
Penrith - NO (12)
Parramatta - NO (14)
Canberra - NO (15)
Gold Coast - NO (16)

2010
Parramatta - NO (12)
Newcastle - NO (11)
Cronulla - NO (14)
Brisbane - NO (10)

2009
Wests - NO (9)
Nth Qld - NO (12)
Manly - YES (5)
Cronulla - NO (15)

2008
Parramatta - NO (11)
Nth Qld - NO (15)
St George - YES (7)
Souths - NO (14)

2007
Brisbane - YES (8)
Wests - NO (9)
St George - NO (13)
Sydney - NO (10)

Of the 36 bottom4 teams after round 5 over the last 9 years, only 7 made the semis. So also only a fairly slim chance of making the semis from the bottom 4 after round 5.

WesTigerSteven's picture

Hi Thinker/Everyone

Here is my predictions for round 5

Rabbitohs
Broncos
Stomp
Tigers
Cowboys
Warriors
Panthers
Raiders

Have an awesome weekend my friends

And go the TIGERS!

Johnny Ray's picture

Manly. Crap. Correction Titans to beat Nroncos tomorrow ... :-S

Tailspin's picture

Well Johnny Ray, I think the Bunnies were lucky to get away with the win, especially leading 16 nil after 16min

a's picture

WestTigerSteven I will I clude you on the ladder for the people who are not on the tipping ladde

Coach Potato's picture

Baggy, when you mentioned about teams mentalities when goals for the year might only be top 8, it does bring to mind the Panthers victory chant. Whoever wrote this needs a huge kick up the ass. Players banging garbage bins in the change room, going off on a song with words "we ain't gonna come last" (?!???) Skys the limit hey Penrith. I love my team, but totally ashamed of this song, and how it has the players joining in with such gusto ....

(I think it's sung to the tune of "I don't know what I've been told" Bill Murray/ Stripes thing)

I KNOW WHO AND WHAT I AM
I KNOW WHO AND WHAT I AM

I'M A MIGHTY PANTHER MAN
I'M A MIGHTY PANTHER MAN

WE PLAY HARD AND WE PLAY FAST
WE PLAY HARD AND WE PLAY FAST

AINT NO WAY WE'RE COMING LAST
AINT NO WAY WE'RE COMING LAST

2016 IS OUR YEAR
2016 IS OUR YEAR

THAT'S WHEN YOU HEAR THE PANTHERS CHEER
THAT'S WHEN YOU HEAR THE PANTHERS CHEER

AND WHEN WE GO IN FOR A TRY
AND WHEN WE GO IN FOR A TRY

THAT'S WHEN YOU HEAR THE PANTHERS CRY
THAT'S WHEN YOU HEAR THE PANTHERS CRY

PANTHERS ARE YOU READY, READY?
YES WE ARE READY, READY

PANTHERS ARE YOU READY, READY?
YES WE ARE READY, READY

HU HA, HU HA
WHOOP, THERE IT IS
WHOOP, THERE IT IS
WHOOP, THERE IT IS

Rocket Ryan's picture

Haven't heard it sung to much Coach,dont think I will this year either!

Rocket Ryan's picture

Only Coach Potato and Johnny Ray on the Titans tonight.

Coach Potato's picture

They sung it two weeks ago, Rocket. Beat a 2015 Grand Finalist. Left them sprawled over the turf a bit like they were in October.

Johnny Ray's picture

Yeah and you know what that means Rocket Ryan. Coach gets this pick wrong and I'm moving in with him which I don't know why but for some reason I imagine his place being alot like that one scene out of Tim & Eric's Awesome Billion Dollar Movie : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvrqq2X6MzY ;-D

mark ashford's picture

Hi Thinker....Golden Trevally ! Good fish mate underrated as a table fish hope you and family enjoyed it.
COACH I was in no way suggesting Peter Wallace "take a dive" just thought the guy was genuinely injured.
Agree Penrith plays the game pretty straight. Saw a couple of Manly players fall over last night to milk one.
Some RL pundits are suggesting Souths were "lucky" to win.
Were they "lucky" to score 16 unanswered points early?
Were they "lucky" to hold out Manly for the rest of the game?
Sure Manly came back hard but Souths held firm. Gees how many sets did they defend their line.
That's what wins games not luck.
I think the bunker is doing OK...it's never going to be perfect but what is?
Do we go back to one ref and all decisions being made on the ground.
I blame #9's team for a lot of the dissent. Leave it to the refs for mine.
Broncos to win by a little bit tonight.
COACH your amazing stats (thank you) indicate my Broncs will be there at the end. Thanks again.
Some dude on #9 last night (don't know his name) said Gillett was to resign with the Broncs for another 3 years??? can anyone confirm this?

Coach Potato's picture

Glad you are happy with the stats Mark although 'only' the winner of tonight's Titans Broncos game will be top 4 after this week.

Sure I know Wallace should have gone off, no Moylan (c) out there so might have been a leadership was preventing him from putting his hand up to come off.

Coach Potato's picture

It sounds absurd but technology really has gone too far. We analyse the last play to the Nth degree, and don't give a stuff about getting the rest right.

We really could make next seasons trial games video ref free. Reinstate the ingoal touch judge.

Matter of fact, why can't it be like tennis. Linesmen everywhere they're needed. How about 2 linesmen on each side- 50m each plus an ingoal touchy at each end. Then all calls are instant and on ground. Worth a try to me.

Coach Potato's picture

... One added clause : remove the ability of the touch judge to rule on forward passes, or any other officiating whatsoever unless it regards the sideline. So you wouldn't get calls coming from everywhere, you would always get a call from the closest one to the action.

Johnny Ray's picture

Crap. Looks like I will be moving in with Coach after all. Guess this means that I better go off and buy some groceries then. Hot Fudge Ice Cream and Frozen Snickers bars for everybody ! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZnhLJff6rU ;-D

Coach Potato's picture

Here you go Broncos ... Although what's the crap about claiming that you represent all of Qld ? That's just B.S.

http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2015/05/01/we_re_the_broncos_ne.html

WE'RE THE BRONCOS

We’re the Broncos
The mighty Broncos
We keep fighting every second till the end

We’re the Broncos
The greatest team on earth
We’re the heart of all Queensland

Never stop
We never rest
On and on we beat the best
Never giving up we bleed maroon and gold

For the league
We risk it all
Miles above
We’re standing tall
We’re the finest and the greatest club of all

We’re the Broncos
The mighty Broncos
We keep fighting every second till the end

We breathe in our soul
The best game of all
We are the Broncos of Queensland

Hey!!

Baggy_Gee's picture

Punch the sky with bloody fists

And bash against the wall

When we hear the whistle blow it's time to go to war

We bleed for one another and the story must be told

That if you cut us open we'll be bleeding blue and gold

Parra! Parra!

You know we came to fight

Parra! Parra!

Our brotherhood is tight

When you wake up wounded just remember how it feels

To try to go toe to toe with the Parramatta Eels!

Them's words to boil the blood and fire the spirit. On the mentality thing, does it seem that the Ponies are just going through the motions against teams that aren't the Cows? Take away the 14 th man in the last ten minutes, and the disrespect shown to the Titans might have bitten them some place uncomfortable.

Baggy_Gee's picture

Coach, they have recruited from magical far away places like Toowoomba, Roma, Ipswich for their cross sectional representation of QLD.

Coach Potato's picture

I can see now why Cowboys and Broncos have historically not seen eye to eye. Big brother thinks he owns the State.

Coach Potato's picture

Ask any young Aussie player if they would play for State and Country for free, and unanimously you would get the answer "Yes".

Q? If representing State or Country was for no pay, do you think Radrada gives a rat's ass about playing for either one?

Baggy_Gee's picture

That is the crux of the issue, leading try scorer in a outside the top 8 team, should be allowed to cash in. Look at the guy who plays full back the the Broncos, AWOL all season except for his 3 games for QLD, and he gets a slice of that revenue. Sami's twice the player he is and gets squat. They are over paid, and as my boss once said when we were discussing the salary cap, "if they weren't in the NRL, they would be down at the local every weekend playing for free!" I agree, and I agree with you Coach, make Origin a free rep game for the fans, don't charge $80 for a seat before food and drink, and allow the FANS to see the best of the best have a good game.

Coach Potato's picture

Roughly $150k per player per 3 game series and similar for coaches. The NRL spends $5.5M a year just on salary for these three games.

This is more than many players get paid for a whole season. The total is more than the season budget for a new NRL team. No wonder players couldnt give a rat's which country they are originally from, or which state you were born in. Doesn't matter. As long as you get a start for either it's pay day. C'mon NRL. It's good it's not worth that much.

Johnny Ray's picture

The NZ Warriors Team Song
"Even The Knights Are Better"
(With Apologies To Air Supply)

I, I was the lonely one
Wondering what went wrong
Why love had gone
And left me lonely

I, I was so confused
Feeling like I'd just been used
Then you came to me
And my loneliness decide stay with me

I use to think I was tied to a heartache
Now it been twenty one years of heartbreak all thanks to you

Even the Knights are better
Tigers, Roosters and Panthers
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

Even the Dragons play smarter
When they have someone out wide to pass to
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

You, you knew just what to do
'Cause you had been lonely too
And you showed me how
To make it worse the pain

And you did more
Than hurt already broken heart
'Cause you've suppose to of made brand new start
And I, can see that you're still playing same old way

I never dreamed there'd be somebody
you'll be embarrassed to be fan of
Until you came into competition
and no need to mention it's all thanks to you

Even the Knights are better
Tigers, Roosters and Panthers
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

Even the Dragons play smarter
When they have someone out wide to pass to
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

I never dreamed there'd be somebody
you'll be embarrassed to be fan of
Until you came into competition
and no need to mention it's all thanks to you

Even the Knights are better
Tigers, Roosters and Panthers
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

Even the Dragons play smarter
When they have someone out wide to pass to
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

Even the Knights are better
Tigers, Roosters and Panthers
Even the Knights are better
Play better than you

Air Supply - Even The Nights Are Better Lyrics | MetroLyrics
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDMApjKUQQ ;-D

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