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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Ladder-leading Cronulla is aiming to continue its derby domination against a St George Illawarra side reeling from a 10-try thrashing on Anzac Day. The Sharks have enjoyed an...
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Plenty has changed for Newcastle Knights and the Warriors since the clubs squared off in Auckland in Round 4. The Warriors ultimately made hard work of a 20-12 win over …...
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After edging into the Top 8 courtesy of last weekends bye, Canterbury is now searching for its first back-to-back wins since March last year taking on a Wests Tigers …...
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North Queensland Cowboys and the Dolphins square off for the second time in 2024, with Wayne Bennetts side eager to reverse a dismal 43-18 result at Suncorp Stadium in Round...
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Gold Coast Titans delivered Des Hasler his first win as coach in spectacular style on Anzac Day, but netting their first home win of the season shapes as a taller … The post...
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Eight weeks on from an explosive Las Vegas blockbuster, Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters look every bit the premiership contenders ahead of this Suncorp Stadium showdown. The...
Comments
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Thinker, you should have seen the BOYS first game. 30 odd seconds in and we are a try down, that young kid from the Dragons is electric, and then we go 34 straight points, it was really good to see the link that is there between the backs and the forwards this year. We then held the Warriors to nil and Bevan French scored a blinder, but apart from that only saw the Broncos vs Knights where the Broncos weren't as good as the scoreline made out and the Knights were competitive. Shame some of the pools are all over in the first day though, Warriors and Dragons are out without a hope as they play each other today, same as Tigers, which while robbing the fan to see the stars of the respective teams, allows coaches to rest the big players for the upcoming season.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Good stuff Baggy...I was tossing up between the Eels and the Tigers in the 'a' comp.....clearly I cut the wrong wire and it's blown up on me.
Submitted by christine on
Since when can they have glass beer bottles at the 9's ?
Submitted by a on
I thought you could never have glass bottles at the football
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
The trophy cabinet remalns empty at penrith some things make me happy.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Glad you made it back off the semifinal floor , Bronco Buckhead.
Hey, $250,000 cash is whole lot more than the Broncos get. Can't bloody count to 10. Who would have thought ?
As for the final, most would agree that the Panthers should have been crowned. Penalties given in the final that were never awarded all tournament. But taking the cake was Cleary's try under the posts at the end which was somehow awarded out wide.Apparently you can now ground the ball with the elbow carrying the ball !? Would have made it 10-9 with a conversion from in front. Then just chip it over but don't forget to count to 10. Absolute howler and all people here want to mention is where are the plastic cups? What a sad sorry panel of footy analysts we have compiled.
'A' wants to run a comp to create interest which is fair enough, but where are his posts about the footy? There are none. How do you expect to generate interest when you show none yourself ?
Baggy, what happened to your posts about how good Parra are?
Did 13-0 have anything to do with it? Strange coincidence then if your answer is no. BTW, Is Semi due back in court yet? No couldn't be yet, of course not. He's still in the country. We'll all know when the big court day is, because his desperately sick father will summon him home the day before. Bloody genius that Semi. Old True Blue Semi.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Will be interesting to see how the Sharks go against the Pommy champs without Barba.
You might think 'just fine', but then based on season 2016, you would never know because he played all 24 regular season games , and the three finals. The Sharks were never without him and I have he feeling he was the master key to their success.
Ben Barba.
He was their X-Factor, and now he is their Ex-Factor.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hey Baggy, some light reading for you.
Totally innocent until proven I say.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/former-eels-manager-jason-irvi...
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Congratulations Darius best fullback in the comp now Captain of the best club.
Submitted by a on
Well done Darius
Submitted by The Thinker on
This is the dawning of the age of a Darius
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Well I missed the final game of the tournament, but there were some very strange calls involving tackles and forwards passes. A few times I called tackled as the arm carrying the ball hit the ground with a players in contact but they were allowed to play on. Think I saw a try or two from those ones, and the forward pass nonsense has started early. Flat is forward and if the player is in front of the passer then he is off side. But honestly Coach we got touched up in that last game as we changed our style to try and defend, lost out with the go forward and flair. We stepped away from what we were doing well and got found out. But we found some good players for the coming year, now to see if they will shine in the 13 man game and not just 9's show ponies.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hey Bronco Buckhead, if he leads by example, milking penalties every second time he gets tackled, then what a horrible team to watch they will become.
To choose a player for Captain who would take winning by deceit every day of the week, is a sad day for all Rugby League purists. Even sadder to think there are those who claim it to be such a great day.
I grant he is a damn good player but, Captain or not, it will be impossible for him to go down as a Champion of the game. Champions all have one common trait - they never laid down in a tackle. Compare Hodges and Boyd to Lockyer and Lewis when it comes to laying down. Chalk and bloody cheese.
I'm also here to question his mental resolve when the going gets tough, someone we will just have to wait and see about, eg what he might produce for the public at the press conference if he is on a losing streak of a few games or more. Even moreso than Parker, I think he is a head-dropper which when combined with captaincy, turns small losing streaks into bigger ones.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
The trouble with you coach your antibronco side overshadows your normally shrewd view of rugby league I stand by my statement he is a champion of this game and my club we would not swap him for your man
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I feel how I feel. If you love all teams equally you are not a true footy fan. Furthermore, It's not your job to change me or anyone else. I don't ask that you change your views. I don't say what other people should think or feel. I only offer my opinion. Last time I checked, this wasn't Communist North Korea, and one's own thoughts were allowed to be aired.
Further-furthermore, just because I don 't have time for the Broncos doesn't automatically mean that my comments must be made up rubbish. They are my opinions but they are not baseless. What I say about Darius is completely valid, in my opinion.
To be fair and true to yourself, shouldn't you also be puting everyone back in their box who has a bad opinion of a player, eg Paul Gallen, and not just me ?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Round 9, Thursday night, Panthers return to once more bring Lang Park to it's knees, bring Darius back to his post Grand Final kneeling position, and send ol' Bronco Buckhead back under the bed, a place he knows so well. Rounds 1 through 8 can't pass quick enough.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Jarrod Mullen officially gone.
Shame ASADA weren't more stringent with their testing of the Sharks and Manly. Noone will ever know now.
It's been made perfectly clear to the man in the street, that Essendon players are guilty as hell regards their association with Stephen Dank. Draw a line and wonder how Cronulla got to lift a trophy 4 months back.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
.. I mean to say, players were suspended, coach was suspended, Jobe Watson lost his Brownlow. The AFL seemed pretty convinced.
Submitted by nola todd on
need to change my email also when will you all be back for footy 17
Submitted by nola todd on
need to change my email how do I do this?
when will the thinker be back on board for year 17
Submitted by a on
Good to have to alone Nola
Submitted by a on
Have you along Nola
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I guess the next post will be post game when it reads ' hey how come noone told me the All-stars game was on'.
Simply pathetic NRL. Your marketing team all need the friggin sack. Not so much as an ad on TV, newspaper, radio,p, anything. Bloody incompetent.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
World All Stars. Gotta be joking. Only two who have even played Origin and that includes the bumbling Uate along with Gavin Cooper.
How the hell are they All Stars?
What a huge disrespect shown to the indigenous by saying bugger ya's, we are going to send out a dozen or more untried at rep level. We repeat. Bugger ya's.
Sad.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
.. and mostly disrespect to a whole teamful of the World's Best players from Australia, NZ, England /UK, PNG, and Fiji.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hi All
Apologies for my absence. Been fishing!
Just logged on and the indigenous boys are giving it to the white fellas.
Rocket I'm surprised you let a fool like Coach get under your skin.
Darius will be a defining captain for Bris in the same league as Lockyer.
Coach thinks he is the be all and end all of sports commentary. Just feel a little sorry for him and enjoy your Broncos support.
Coach with all your knowledge how is it you are not on #9 or Fox?
Perhaps I could put in a word for you.
Can't wait for the season to start!
Submitted by The Thinker on
Entertaining first half tonight. Keep it coming lads.
Nola,
Welcome back. I'm here already....occasionally. If you send me an email from your new email address I will update your account details for you.
Submitted by a on
Well done on JT getting the man of the match
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Hi mark dont worry about coach we need some comedy relief i am looking only forward to supporting the broncos and of course anyone who is playing penrith.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Wow Thurston got man of the match? In a rep game? No you have to be kidding.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Your kidding well deserved.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Next your kidding joke will be when Broncos take on the Poms. Good luck aclimatising to below zero and then a week later back to the tropics.
Submitted by a on
No Thruston deserved it
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Good to have you alone, Nola ..... Thrust-on ...
Your keyboard slips are classic, 'a'.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
So Broncos put up two players with first grade experience against the Ipswich Jets and run out winners 36 - 24.
Pretty good you say?
Don't think it could be any more the opposite.
What does it say about Broncos depth being only of 2nd division standard? If these are the troops to be called upon when injuries or form slumps hit the 1st team, it doesn't look great.
It is of course, Wayne's 3rd year at a change of club.
History tells it's the year he cares less about coaching, and more about his next million dollar venture.
Submitted by Parra on
You're a grumpy bastard aren't you coach, try taking life a little less serious hey
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yeah people like yourself, Parra, probably have more right to be, - (hey)
Submitted by Coach Potato on
World Club Series - add lots of salt to your popcorn.
Sunday morning 7am Sydney time - Live on GEM (9-2)
Warrington (H) $5.... v.......Brisbane (A) $1.17
Monday morning 2am Sydney time - Live on 9
Wigan (H) $3.25.......v.......Cronulla (A) 1.33
Pretty good value for the Poms.
Records show the lesser club series starting in 2015 has not produced a win for the locals.
Although the big game, the World Club Challenge stands at 12 wins a piece, UK and Australia.
The Aussies aren't exactly the dominant force they think they are.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
.... A top of 8 degrees in the UK today....
Submitted by GaryChesterUK on
Happy new season.
I intend on going to warrington - broncos on Saturday and intend on broncos -12 (10/11) financing my day. Backing the NRL teams on the handicap has been buying money over the last couple of years Men against boys again?!
Just caught up on some of the chat over the last few months, I really like Jet - Are they still going? Granted they are no Arctic Monkeys or the libertines but as far as Aussie bands go they're pretty special!
Also wasn't it great to see Federer win your tennis comp, love that man!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hmmmmm not to bad Coach, I like the money on Wigan to do the Sharks, what a disrupted pre season will do to a club is gut it. Not sure about Warrington though, don't get/make the time to follow the SL to have a clue what they will be able to produce against a team yet to get match fitness in stride.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Baggy, Warrington were runner-up in Super League 2016 after finishing their funny finals series at the top of the table. (The finals games add to their regular season points. Weird). Their half back at the time was one Chris Sandow. He wanted out post-season and debate still goes on as to whether he will be allowed to go. In his place this week is one Kurt Gidley. Not really a half back but I guess utility means plays anywhere. Also in the team are Ashton Sims and Mike Cooper. The other thing about these two games is that they are played at the home grounds. Imagine a Pommy team playing Cowboys @ Townsville, or a Pommy team playing Melbourne @ AAMI.
To me is feels like the same strong advantage to Warrington and Wigan, and $16 for the double is just a bit tasty.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Must say to have your replacement half as Kurt isn't to bad. Loved Chris when he was one of the BOYS, he gave us that x-factor in attack, and caught some opponents out with deliberately shanked drop outs and kick offs. It is a shame he has the Foran problem of gambling. He was also a good foil to Corey. I wish him well, but think Warrington is better off without him, as is any team who have players in the mind set of "I want out", cut them and promote players who are stable. Didn't know Warrington were so stacked with talent, (Aussie talent at that), Cold English weather, no travelling, I think you have a point there Coach.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Top of 12 degrees for tomorrow's game, and Wigan on Sunday will be a top of 11.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Battle of the West.
Full-Time.
PANTHERS 18 - Eels 6.
C'mon Pommies.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
For the those of you that truthfully know nothing about Warrington, here is a brief history.
http://www.localhistories.org/warrington.html
.. and likewise for those short on knowledge of Wigan -
http://www.localhistories.org/wigan.html
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