Marshall was on 600k at the Dragons, turned his nose up at their offer of $300k for 2017. Little did he know he wouldn't get another offer until he pawned himself to the Broncos for $100k.

I guess the Broncs assume $100k is peanuts so who cares if it doesn't pay dividends. What I don't think has been thought through too well is the fact this guy has stunted rather than sparked the attack of the team he has played for in recent years. He has made a great habit of his ineffectual play helping his team concreted to the bottom 8, more often the bottom 4. If the Broncos are happy to pay peanuts to see what happens here, all the fans that don't like Broncos are cheering just as hard.

If Peanuts is what the Broncos think of it, then Good Grief will be their weekly catch cry.

Nah, It just means the Dragons have found the two books in the cupboard.
Book 1, Show to the NRL
Book 2, NEVER show to the NRL
They must be trying to balance the books. Mitch Rein was one of their more penetrative players last season.

Didn't your mob pick up Trent Merrin from the Dragons last season Coach? He went pretty well didn't he?

While the first game Saturday mornibg Australia v Scotland will mean nothing, I mean players who arent good enough for State of Origin will be playing and too good for the Scots - the second game, Sunday morning, England v New Zealand is the actual playoff for a finals spot.
With no semis played (all teams would bloody make it wouldn't they), it means this game may as well be a Prelim final. The winner has to beat Scotland to make it, whike the loser would need to beat Australia.

If you think NZ were foxing against Australia last time, and what great sports psychology at work if they were, then $4 to take the title is nice value.

The other thing that can't be discounted is the crowd support. Think about it. Do you think the Poms will be cheering for Australia should Great Britain not be there? Or do you think they be vehemently cheering against them? Yeah, I think so too.

$4 huh.

Like their own huh?

Like it was the Rest Of The World v Australia?
Dontcha think that would be an exhibition event to savour maybe once every couple of years?

A team made up of the best Great Britain, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and PNG. Let's see if anyone with any push wants to steal my idea.

The US don't always have the top ranked golfer, but that neither stops, nor detracts from the holding of Ryder Cup or President's Cup events now does it?

The best indigenous players in any one year are never the best team ever put together, neither do they claim to be, but they annually challenge the best of the rest in the NRL don't they?

Who said you need to be the best to lay down the challenge.

# Super League Finals need an overhaul Gary, what about this :
Top 6. Top 2 teams get a week off. Other four teams p!ay for a place in the Prelim eg 3 v 5, 4 v 6. Both top 2 teams guaranteed a home Prelim. Then the Grand Final. Only a three week finals series, but anything's better than a ten week finals series. Where did they get the thought that this would be good for anyone?

# right again Gary. Broncos trip to England at the NRL's expense and at the expense of Storm's playing instead may give you a clue as to how much pull this club has. Others on this page will no doubt disagree 100% but we know who they support.

# Thanks Gary, one vote for the Aussie v World game, one vote against.

# Sam Burgess is the biggest clue as to the English playing ranks. He's been the most out of form forward of 2016. James Graham hasn't done a thing either. Too bad you have to ditch the Brit tag for a month. The combined English /Scottish team aka Great Britain would have been a better chance. England on their own? I think the bloody Scots will give them a test. I think the Aussies are in for a shock. I think they have some key players who don't cope so well with the crowd against them.

# Don't forget the Melbourne Cup Gary. Final field and barrier draw would be out by Saturday breakfast your time.

Storm and Bulldogs aren't the Boss. None of the teams are the Boss.

The problem is the NRL who doesn't want to show who is.

What did I say Maloney?
15 forward passes through the finals helped Cronulla win the title.
1 forward pass wasn't allowed on the international stage.

Thank God for that.

Kick em from anywhere in Australia, our James, but the Pommie ball appearing slightly rounder, and he can't even fluke one from the sideline, and only scrapes it in from any closer in.

I think the ref tonight (Not a bad ref one of the best over here) Was lenient and allowing Scotland to hold on too long in the tackle, I often think this is the case where the team have no chance of winning.

As easy as Aus liked but still worth watching. I still think England will nick it tomorrow, looking forward to catching it should be a good crowd in.

As for the super league finals, I agree it needs a change of format, not sure how best to do it but your suggestion would be better than what we currently have.

I'm afraid the Melbourne Cup is a bit boring for me! I prefer jumps racing, though we have a course in Chester which is the oldest in country - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh8JCSeev5k - They have been racing horses there since 1539. A hell of a day out in the summer!!

*Oldest racecourse in the world

Bernard Sutton in the video ref box, takes 8 slow mo's to overturn a suspected shoulder charge from the Poms where the contact was from his two hands. The Pommie crowd must be thinking 'who is this idiot?'
The Aussies and Kiwis in the crowd must be replying 'You don't want to know Pom but at least you know his name.'

Again refreshing to see the Pommy ref take no rubbish from the NRL players. Isaac Luke pretending he was stripped was rewarded with a simple scrum - lost ball.

The one time he referred one to Bernard Sutton - the easiest of calls took 5 minutes. No doubt they'll think twice of needing a bozo's help next time.

Man of the Match playing for your country but no doubt he will not leave the bench against the Kiwis next week.

Granted it wasn't Australia's best side, but think about this. There were plenty of first choice players amongst them, Smith and Cronk included, and this guy got Man of the Match over all of them. Logic dictates that you fit him into the backline somewhere. Anywhere. Even a bench warmer would be ok. Sadly backs are not high on the list for interchange selection these days. You would think the Bulldogs Panthers semi this year would have taught selectors far and wide, a lesson. Morris goes off injured but they only have forwards on the bench. One injury to a winger, and they were stuffed. How embarrassing if we see Kangaroo forwards having to replace backs. How embarrassing if Jake Friend is the utility player picked instead. He is hardly the best dummy half, and doubt he could replace a single other position on the field.

http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2016/10/31/moylan_riding_high_o.html

Looks like the top8 was no good.

Looks like the next few on the list went ok.
Maybe the dotted line was where I was meant to start.

Aus will win

Yes I must have abnesia too.

There was one Australia (ARL only) v Rest of World game played back in 1997.

Played at Lang Park and Brisbane players not qualified to take part. No wonder it didn't take off.

Surely worth more than a tainted one year trial by angry jury.

Here is 27 minutes of highlights for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywHRkyl1krs

Australia (ARL) v Australia (Super League).

Or Newcastle (ARL) v Broncos (Super League)

Why didn't these ones ever happen?
-No doubt would have involved parties speaking to each other to organise.
-Maybe neither prepared to accept loss.
-Neither group were overly concerned about the fans.
-Maybe A, B, and C.

Got to say the cricket is a bit underwhelming, bringing back memories of that Ashes a few years back where we lost 3 by an innings and plenty