The World of Rugby Thread

[Queenslander]

Tonga World Cup squad: Andrew Fifita, Mahe Fonua, David Fusitu’a, Siliva Havili, Ata Hingano, Will Hopoate, Konrad Hurrell, Michael Jennings, Solomone Kata, Sione Katoa, Samisoni Langi, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sika Manu, Manu Ma’u, Sam Moa, Ben Murdoch Masila, Joe Ofahengaue, Tevita Pangai junior, Ukuma Ta’ai, Sio Siua Taukieaho, Jason Taumalolo, Peni Terepo, Daniel Tupou, Manu Vatuvei.



That is a serious side, and New Zealand (without Kieran Foran, Issac Luke, and the cocaine idiots) look as weak as they have been in ten years. Having said that, they will still find a way to beat us. Especially now that our best full-back appears to have finally ruined his career.

I hope any one of Tonga, Samao or Fiji beat the Meningaroos.

[Lewis]

The other two won't be much stronger than normal, and Fiji will have to put up with Jarryd Hayne not helping out and ruining the 'culture'.

[Queenslander]

I hope Radradra plays for Fiji so I feel justified in thinking Mal Meninga is just another bullshit artist Kangaroos coach.

[Queenslander]

SAMOA SQUAD: Frank Pritchard (capt), Bunty Afoa, Leeson Ah Mau, Fa'amanu Brown, Herman Ese'ese, Pita Godinet, Joey Leilua, Ricky Leutele, Sam Lisone, Jarome Luai, Suaia Matagi, Peter Mata'utia, Sione Mata'utia, Ken Maumalo, Tautau Moga, Zane Musgrove, Josh Papalii, Joseph Paulo, Junior Paulo, Ben Roberts, Sam Tagataese, Jazz Tevaga, Young Tonumaipea, Matthew Wright

[ItalAussie]

I think I remember being impressed with Ese'ese once.

[Lewis]

Was Josh Papalii another victim of the 'No Dickheads' policy that keeps losing Josh Dugan's paperwork?

[ScousePig]

Castleford haven't woke up yet.

[Lewis]

It's a giant BOTTLE JOB at the moment, but if anyone can turn it around (then again - if anyone can hold on).

[Lewis]

It's also an absolutely vintage Greg Eden performance. If he scores an unbelievable consolation it will be the career-definer.

[Lewis]

Nothing will ever surpass the 2008 World Cup final, because that was just a joke (the Australia side was literally a World XIII), but this has definitely topped the 2001 NRL Grand Final as the biggest BOTTLE JOB I've seen at club level.

[Giggles]

Don't Leeds always win this or are they shit now? Haven't paid attention for a few years.

[Lewis]

Leeds have won loads over the past decade, but they were toilet last year after a few key players retired, and Castleford have been battering everybody this season (they beat Leeds four times, including a 66-10 in back in March). If they had turned up tonight Castleford would have won without breaking sweat.

[ScousePig]

How much of an influence do you think the Zak Hardaker situation had Lewis?

[Lewis]

He is obviously ten times the full-back Greg Eden is, but every Castleford player went missing, so probably not a lot.

[Queenslander]

Was Josh Papalii another victim of the 'No Dickheads' policy that keeps losing Josh Dugan's paperwork?

I just think he isnt in his list of favorites.

[Queenslander]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/mat...93af90d5081f4b

Matty Johns speaks the truth. Also he is being kind about Meninga not being involved that cunt got Semi to write a bullshit letter to somehow justify his rancid poach selection.

[niko_cee]

It’ll be coke.

Ding ding ding, we have a wiener.

[Lewis]

He's such a retard. The England squad is announced at twelve, and if more than one Burgess brother is in it then the form vs reputation debate is closed forever.

[Baz]

Roby in?

[Jimmy Floyd]

How do you test positive for cocaine in a grand final/World Cup selection week? Must be one of the thickest blokes on these isles.

[Lewis]

Roby in?

Mark Percival and Alex Walmsley should be in as well.

How do you test positive for cocaine in a grand final/World Cup selection week? Must be one of the thickest blokes on these isles.

It was a month ago, and the drug test people only got round to telling the RFL the day before the Grand Final teams were announced; but yes he is from the Featherstone-Pontefract wasteland and doesn't have a brain.

[Lewis]

Jonny Lomax too.

Overwhelming negativity from Rugby League Twitter (not that you would expect anything less) when, really, there are only a couple of duff selections (Chris Heighington again for...), and picking Tom instead of George Burgess is actually quite funny. We will obviously lose the opener to Australia, but then we should beat New Zealand in the semi-final, so losing heavily in the final is the benchmark.

[Lewis]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41631148

Plans for a New York rugby league team to follow Toronto Wolfpack into the English game have been submitted to the Rugby Football League. The consortium for the New York club hopes to get the go-ahead in time to enter the competition in 2019 at Championship level. They are confident of building a fan base of 10,000 in the first year.

[Queenslander]

And the want Hayne.

[Lewis]

He would be all over it, and they would turn Sir Cameron Smith back at the airport for not being athletic.

[Queenslander]

Dave Taylor would also be a walk up start.

[Lewis]

Toronto got there first.

[Queenslander]

Has he played yet?

[Lewis]

They have signed him for next season along with Ashton Sims and Josh McCrone. They also bought Joe Westerman from Warrington for six figures, which is the sort of thing that is beyond all but about seven or eight Super League sides (and most of them wouldn't spend that much on him).

[Queenslander]

Are they that wealthy?

Ashton Sims is a good pick up.

[Lewis]

They seem to have pretty decent backing behind them, and the geezer that runs it reckons their shirt sponsorship is the biggest in Anglo-Canadian (lol) rugby league. In theory they could have such a massive recruitment advantage in a few years time, but the other clubs will just have to live with it.

[ItalAussie]

That was pretty heroic. Folau is in some kind of outrageous touch this season.

Also, a kicker who can slot 55m penalties. Yes please.

Thoughts, @Queenslander?

[Disco]

Enjoyed that, well deserved win for the Aussies, AI's will be far more interesting if they can play like that.

[hfswjyr]

We really miss some attacking spark when Beauden's not on the field these days. Quite a sloppy performance, and the Wallabies have stepped up their skills massively, so well deserved.

I understand it was slippery out there, but we kicked away a crazy amount of ball.

[Queenslander]

That was pretty heroic. Folau is in some kind of outrageous touch this season.

Also, a kicker who can slot 55m penalties. Yes please.

Thoughts, @Queenslander?

I havent seen the game yet unfortunately.

We didnt play a full strength All Black team so I am bit cynical that this performance isnt just a one off.

Edit: Foley needs to be sent to Manus Island. Put Beale at 10 untill Lealiifano is back to full fitness. Id put Billy Meaks at 12 because he can actually defend that channel.

Edit: Beauden Barret not playing brings the All Blacks down to earth.

[ItalAussie]

I havent seen the game yet unfortunately.

We didnt play a full strength All Black team so I am bit cynical that this performance isnt just a one off.

Edit: Foley needs to be sent to Manus Island. Put Beale at 10 untill Lealiifano is back to full fitness. Id put Billy Meaks at 12 because he can actually defend that channel.

Edit: Beauden Barret not playing brings the All Blacks down to earth.

Yeah, we're not beating the first XV any time soon. Take the wins you can get.

[Queenslander]

Yeah, we're not beating the first XV any time soon. Take the wins you can get.

It would be nice if the ARU gave Brisbane the 1st Test for a change instead dead rubbers ever 2 years.

[Lewis]

What is this?

[Lewis]

This is horrendous. You can't make someone like Sir Cameron Smith do this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm going to guess they had the thing where they thank the spirit gods for blessing this land, and someone warble on a digeridoo? Always sets the tone for each Ashes thrashing.

[Lewis]

They seem to be overly desperate for their own haka. The indigenous team put on a decent 'war dance' (which was probably invented in the nineties to intimidate social workers) in the All Stars match, but that was tragic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Am I the only person in the world who thinks the haka is shite?

Not that the Welsh don't continually disgrace themselves by failing to sing 'Men of Harlech' as it goes on.

[Lewis]

It seems to work better in league. The team is almost wholly indigenous, so they don't look like wallies doing it, and it probably benefits from knowing that there isn't an Adidas executive in the broadcasting van demanding the right angles during it.

[ItalAussie]

England have been utterly useless outside of their 20, and impenetrable inside it. Australia have been utterly useless inside the England 20, and miles ahead everywhere else (even the England try was a comical end to a fairly average set).

Oh, there it is. That's been coming, as soon as someone decided to hold the ball and run, rather than kicking the ball dead.

[Lewis]

At least we had those twenty minutes. Costly Tom Burgess handling error incoming.

[Lewis]

This is like watching State of Origin. We're not a million miles away across the pitch, but the 'Big Three' are so much better and smarter than what we have, so we're just banging our heads against a wall.

[ItalAussie]

I think you are a million miles away on the pitch, to be honest. Our players are breaking tackles like they're playing a team of U-12s.

It's your performance in your own 20 that's keeping you in this.

[Lewis]

It is, but we're only stuck in there because our kicking game is bollocks and Smith is killing us.

[ItalAussie]

Not many penalties so far. And that's about right - both teams have been really clean.

[Lewis]

It's pretty lol how Jermaine McGillvary is somehow even more effective at international level. Skill is clearly overrated.