The World of Rugby Thread

[Queenslander]

Yeah, I'd imagine it's a bit of a perfect storm.

BilL GAtEs iS TryINg TO pOISoN eVReYoNE!

What's the logic behind compulsory flu jabs though - so flu symptoms don't become confused with coronavirus symptoms?

Probably something to do with herd immunity.

This is the latest.


NRL agrees to amend waiver as anti-vaxxers get permission to continue playing

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/the-sentences-nrl-anti-vaxxers-are-crossing-out-of-the-waiver-20200507-p54qqc.html

[niko_cee]

On the subject of anti-vaxxers, the wife has been 'invited' to join a local anti-vax facebook group and I'm considering taking my first foray into the world of facebook with a fake Ed Jenner profile to join.

[Queenslander]

On the subject of anti-vaxxers, the wife has been 'invited' to join a local anti-vax facebook group and I'm considering taking my first foray into the world of facebook with a fake Ed Jenner profile to join.

:D

Im in the Byron Bay community group and it is wild.

[Lewis]

I liked all the jokes about Bryce Cartwright not believing in defending.

[Queenslander]

:lol:


BREAKING: QLD Govt stands down three players over anti-vax debacle... more may follow
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-2020-may-28-restart-peter-vlandys-bryce-cartwright-brad-fittler-antivaxxers-albury/news-story/8cbd45fee776e5a7bc251ac811c858e9

[Queenslander]

I liked all the jokes about Bryce Cartwright not believing in defending.

Yeah that got me good as well.

[Queenslander]

:roflol:




Paul Kent has revealed an NRL staffer made changes to a document after it had been given government approval, which has led to the anti-vax furore engulfing the game.

“Someone needs to walk into the joint tomorrow with a machete and just start hacking some of the abscesses out of that place,” Kent said


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/walk-in-there-with-a-machete-kent-reveals-nrl-staffers-sly-move-started-vax-furore/news-story/3ce8d45d64b7a5ccd0f8cd9ac17f1dcf

[Lewis]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/titans/nrl-2020-gold-coast-titans-antivaxxers-bryce-cartwright-mal-meninga-flu-shot-compensation/news-story/9745ec8b315e953f4320aa88fcf3db77

I hadn't considered that angle. Fair play. They should try working it.

[Queenslander]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/titans/nrl-2020-gold-coast-titans-antivaxxers-bryce-cartwright-mal-meninga-flu-shot-compensation/news-story/9745ec8b315e953f4320aa88fcf3db77

I hadn't considered that angle. Fair play. They should try working it.

I reckon there will be players in the State Competitions that have been isolating incase of injuries. But big Mal makes an interesting point

[Queenslander]

:cool:

Interstate NRL players who have refused a flu shot for ethical or religious reasons will not be allowed to play in Queensland


https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/nrl/queensland-bans-nrl-players-who-refuse-flu-jab-on-non-medical-grounds-20200512-p54s6g.html

[Queenslander]

No article yet but it seems that all the Union players have recieved the flu jab. Even the religious Island blokes have all said yes.

[Queenslander]

Good read. Lewis


1978 loss to France that the Kangaroos had been defeated by a side that wasn’t England, Great Britain or New Zealand.

Alternatively, you can look at it another way, and say it was the first time Australia had fallen to a “new nation” since falling to France in 1951.

Put more bluntly, it was a 68-year first. The result itself, and Tonga’s rise in general, has not, however, been straightforward.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/how-a-3000-year-old-code-explains-the-most-important-rugby-league-event-in-the-21st-century-the-inside-story-of-tongas-rise/news-story/f411305f4e2fd5152fb6d03a04be312f

[Lewis]

There are lots of tall tales about Fifita, whether it was his drinking, his command of the English language, or his success with the ladies. One story goes that when he turned up for a flight from Sydney airport to play a season with Castleford, he was met by two women, one he termed his “black wife”, the other his “white wife”. Neither was aware of the other’s existence up until that point, and they proceeded to throw haymakers at each other in the departure lounge.

:lol:

That England vs Tonga semi-final is one of the best games ever played. Interesting read. Watch the NRL find a way to balls it up.

[Queenslander]

It needs to he split in 2. QLD, the QLD based teams, Tongan/Samoan team based in Logan half games at Robina half in Tonga and Somoa, Fiji,PNG, NZ teams and I suppose Melbourne. Add in Redcliffe Dophlins, Western Corrider playing out of Suncorp and I reckon Toowoomba/ Darling Downs backed by Clive Palmer or similar.

Same with Union there is too much Sydney politicing.

[Lewis]

I think they just need to make choosing the island teams reasonably rewarding, and Australia should use a bit of common sense in not picking the likes of Semi Radradra just because they technically could.

[Queenslander]

I think they just need to make choosing the island teams reasonably rewarding, and Australia should use a bit of common sense in not picking the likes of Semi Radradra just because they technically could.

Im sure you will remember but I wanted the WARCHEST to benefit the likes of Semi Radradra. Lost all respect for Meninga when read this out...

https://amp.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-semi-radradra-believes-playing-for-australia-will-make-him-a-hero-in-fiji-20160502-gokaj0.html#aoh=15895503303097&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s

[Queenslander]

Lets bring back this for my QLD league the 1997 World Cup Championship format!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_World_Club_Championship

[Queenslander]

Paul Gallen, Billy Slater and Sam Thaiday have all put thier hands up to play for the Warriors due to injury.

[Lewis]

The first two might be worth a go.

[Lewis]

I'm not sure how Warrington plan to fit Greg Inglis under their salary cap, or how much use he expects to be at thirty-four after almost two years out, but whatever.

[Queenslander]

That is a strange one he must be the size of a house the fat fuck.

[Lewis]

Apparently he isn't taking up one of the 'marquee' slots, which means that he won't be earning mega money unless they bring back the old paying his wife eighty grand to work in the club shop scam. He'll probably do the business at centre. Konrad Hurrell does and he's still fat.

[Queenslander]

That's fair. Im sure he would still be sharp around the ruck running support lines.

[Lewis]

It's pretty interesting however it pans out. It's already got everyone moaning because there has been talk of reducing the salary cap when all this pandemic shit is over. Not in Warrington obviously(!).

[Queenslander]

Shares in the club?

[Lewis]

I wouldn't have thought so. He's probably just bored out of his mind and wants a holiday.

[niko_cee]

In Warrington?

[Baz]

Plenty of good pubs.

[Lewis]

He could live in the footballer areas south east of it with all of that money they let Souths write off the salary cap.

[Queenslander]

He could live in the footballer areas south east of it with all of that money they let Souths write off the salary cap.

I forgot about that he doesnt need the money at all.

If he can keep the weight off he will be incredible surely.

[Lewis]

The Ashes are off because Australia are running scared of George Williams, and lol at this (https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/poor-taste-completely-inappropriate-an-apology-from-matty-johns/news-story/6ea9340c18a5b7eec5980fedfc8d5705). :harold:

[Queenslander]

Just good banter.

3 Origin games in Sydney is not gonna go down well up here.

[Queenslander]

Handbags at noon! :lol:

He’s a coward’: Spudd declares war on Gal
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-mark-spudd-carroll-vs-paul-gallen-bronson-xerri-drug-scandal-cronulla-sharks/news-story/cdd96bc54d02a655aa3be188bc492052

[Lewis]

There is something weird about the NRL media. It's very Americanized. Is the AFL coverage (and I suppose the rest of your news) as bollocks?

[niko_cee]

Australian culture, particularly their media, is much more Americanized than you'd think. I always assumed it was some sort of misguided anti-colonial thing.

[Lewis]

Australia seems to be America done properly, tending more towards them since we vacated the scene, so that would make sense. That said, Sky Sports are slowly catching up. Roy Keane has a HEATED debate with... It possibly just seems a bit more small-time and confrontational having Spud Carroll ringing in from home and barely making sense than how football presents the same content.

[Queenslander]

Yeah I think the AFL is just petty as the NRL I just dont get much of it in my news feed.

Fox Sports ran a pretty nasty campaign to drive former ARU CEO Raelene Castle out of the game down here.

[Queenslander]

Chris Seibold is a horrible coach and Matt Lodge is an awful captain. They need to bring in a Meninga type figure

[Lewis]

He does seem a bit clueless, but that side they put out earlier was pretty atrocious. Darius Boyd at centre against that lot. Jesus. I'm surprised they kept it under sixty.

[Queenslander]

Boyd needs to be dropped indefinitely. There is clearly no forward leader and having 2 speed bumps in the halves must end. Letting Josh McGuire go was such a shit decision.

[Lewis]

Wayne Bennett should be lolling his head off right now but he's had bollocks luck at South Sydney.

[Queenslander]

Yeah the bastard. That Boyd contract was some 4d chess brilliance.

[Lewis]

Jack Bird on a million a year is the real killer. Whoever sanctioned that wants hanging.

[Queenslander]

Yeah good point. Bird, Boyd, Milford :sick:

[Queenslander]

The locals keep saying we have heaps of promising talented halves in the system though.

[Lewis]

Don't they always?

[Queenslander]

Yep. I just treat it as nonsense untill I see it these days.

Paul Gallen joining the squad for the rest of the year would be nice.

[Baz]

Ben Barba wishes he’d stayed at Saints (https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/18494456.ben-barba-st-helens-departure-incidents-nrl-career/). Duh, of course.

[Lewis]

Clubs seem to be having a bit of success these days pushing the lifestyle angle and offering Australian players a more 'normal', bullshit-free life. That said, he could have just met himself halfway and not filled his other half in.

[niko_cee]

"Ref Howler Costs Manly"

I had no idea the NRL was up and running again.

[Lewis]

The third Parramatta try was a loose carry as well. Elsewhere, good to see the Warriors lasting a week before reverting to type.

[Lewis]

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has reignited his bitter feud with the Broncos by suggesting they should have picked Jason Demetriou as head coach over Anthony Seibold after Seibold’s men were thrashed 59-nil on Thursday. Demetriou, Brisbane’s assistant coach at the time, interviewed for the role, along with Michael Maguire, Kevin Walters and Seibold after the club rejected Bennett’s proposal, which included a Demetriou succession plan.

Okay, don't pick the assistant. But they overlooked the other blokes? :cab:

[Queenslander]

Kevin Walters is my choice.

[Lewis]

St. Helens getting a fee for Luke Thompson and throwing him under the bus for refusing to take a wage cut is beautiful business. Eamonn McManus for Man of Steel.

[Baz]

:D

Is a bit of a shitter whichever way you look at it.

[Queenslander]

The Broncos should be offering a big back ended deal to get James Graham up here.

[Queenslander]

Only caught glimpse but this Broncos pack is the biggest I have ever seen.

[Lewis]

He's a legend but he's finished (in the NRL at least), and the last thing Brisbane need is another forward struggling with his defensive workload.

[Queenslander]

Fair enough.

[Lewis]

A couple of the tries they shipped earlier have a definite whiff of 'lost the dressing room' about them. People aren't even doing basic stuff.

[niko_cee]

The singing of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by England fans is under review for its 'historical context' and inappropriateness.

Never been a massive fan myself but fucking lol at that.

Hopefully Rogers and Hammerstein weren't massive slave owning racists.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They could always replace it with another rugby club classic such as: 'Get 'em down, you Zulu warrior, get 'em down, you Zulu chief chief chief'

Probably less 'racist' on the contemporary batshit-ometer than Swing Low is.

[Shindig]

Hopefully Rogers and Hammerstein weren't massive slave owning racists.

I swear there's a Mitchell and Webb sketch where they resort to racist musicals because their other stuff isn't selling.

[Queenslander]

A couple of the tries they shipped earlier have a definite whiff of 'lost the dressing room' about them. People aren't even doing basic stuff.

I dont understand how he can survive the season.

[Baz]

How good is this Joel Thompson, then?

[Queenslander]

Never heard of him.

[Baz]

Hmm.

I read he quit drinking because he got so drunk he smashed his head on a rock, so at least he’s got a tenuous link to my boy Ben Barba.

[Queenslander]

:D

[Lewis]

I dont understand how he can survive the season.

He can probably hide behind the shit recruitment for a while yet.

[Queenslander]

James Graham to Baz's mob?

[Lewis]

James Graham is my favourite rugby league player. That time the referee audio caught him calling [Sir] Cameron Smith a 'cheating cunt' is right up there.

[Baz]

Is he still awesome?

[Lewis]

He should be for Saints in a dominant side.

[Lewis]

1276488599169413122

Super League is back on 2 August. :cool:

[Queenslander]

I read today that the AFL might need to move all Victorian teams to Sydney for the rest of the season. Grand Final might be moved to Perth.

Lolol

[Queenslander]

John Bateman is the hottest free agent of 2020

[Lewis]

I don't think he would be as effective at somewhere like Canterbury. The way Canberra play suits him perfectly, and the other teams that would won't pay him the money he wants. Wigan offering that much is a bit bold as well with Super League probably looking at a real terms reductions over the coming years.

He's a bit dense really.

[Queenslander]

The player agents power needs to be dealt with they are running team lists by the look of it.

[Lewis]

If contracts were set in stone the clubs would start moaning before the players because it would be impossible to juggle the salary cap. Canberra were happy to let Joey Leilua 'explore his options' because they wanted his wages off the books to re-sign Jack Wighton, so can they really complain about players initiating it?

[Queenslander]

Nah it is all the agents black mailing clubs to sign a couple of the less talented blokes to longer contracts so they get access to the blue chip players. The Broncos have the coach anf half of their list under 1 bloke lol.

They need to make a rule that they cant sign teenagers to long term deals with an agent it should be a year to year deal or something.

[Queenslander]

Apparently Fifita will ditch his agent at the end of the year so he can sign a big 5 year deal with the Titans or Broncos and doesnt want to pay 5 years worth of commission.

I think it is Issac Moses who is in eveything.

[niko_cee]

Top quality TMO work there. DCE patting someone on the arse in the first half is a professional foul, but completely cleaning out a winger without the ball as he's about to score the match winning try is A-OK. Joke.

[Lewis]

Addin Fonua-Blake calling the referee a 'fucking retard' is what we want to see.

[Lewis]

Addin Fonua-Blake calling the referee a 'fucking retard' is what we want to see.

He went on to ask 'Are your eyes painted on you bunch of spastics?' as they went to the 'sheds', so the NRL, right... The NRL wants him to go and help out in a special needs school, because obviously Crocodile Dundee is running the disciplinary.

The Greatest Game.

[Queenslander]

:lol: spastic

Billion dollar kings!

[Queenslander]

The QLD Reds are on a roll.

Lord Brad Thorn has built a program from Reds to under 20's.

https://www.facebook.com/282471695235/posts/10158144957840236/

[Queenslander]

Will Skelton playing for the wobblies while playIing in Europe is smart for everyone.

[Queenslander]

Lewis

Would the Roosters go undefeated in the Super League?

[Lewis]

Probably. Not sure how they would get it all under the salary cap though.

[Baz]

Nobody goes undefeated in Super League.

[Lewis]

Most of their teams would piss the league (and would probably all win it easily enough), but you would expect them to get mugged in the odd Friday night away game. The Roosters though. I don't know. They're pretty incredible across the board.

[niko_cee]

lol at 'The Bunker' again, thinking the Storm winger hasn't just intentionally run into the guy who's meant to have taken him out there (and gone down with a swan dive).

It's so predictable which way the TMO swings in almost every game.

[Lewis]

Poor old Canberra are probably out of it now, so let's go Penrith, nine years into Phil Gould's Five Year Plan. :cool:

[Queenslander]

The NRL are considering moving all 16 teams to QLD. :drool:

#godscountry

[Queenslander]

All ten Victorian AFL teams will be based in QLD for 10 weeks.

The final nail in the coffin will be when the relocate the Melbourne Cup to either the Gold Coast or Brisbane.

https://i.ibb.co/xYvTCN1/FB-IMG-1594805445473.jpg (https://ibb.co/JqLJB9v)

[Lewis]

Who is this Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (cheers Google) that killed the nines for North Queensland the other week? Apparently they got him from union for pennies.

This guy looks shit hot, and they will probably lose him at some point because Valentine Holmes is hoovering up loads of their salary cap. :harold:

[Queenslander]

I just realised today that Geoff Toovey is available to couch. Get that man to Red Hill!

[Baz]

Toronto have 14 players and 16 games to play in 15 weeks.

I fear for Jon Wilkin's life.

[Lewis]

They've pulled out of the season, which means somebody has hinted to them that there won't be any relegation this year. MONEY BILL must be loving it.

[Lewis]

Sure enough, no promotion and relegation this season, and loads of SEETHING 'Fev' supporters. It's not happening lads. You had a hundred year run up as well.

[Queenslander]

Bronco Bill Williams would be pretty funny.

[Lewis]

He might just have been feeling his way back into things (or phoning it in), but he looked finished in his Toronto outings. The Roosters could probably carry him for old times sake, but I wouldn't have expected him to add anything to anyone else.

Speaking of throwing money around, where have union found the cash to out-bid league for this giant sixteen year old freak, and isn't it a bit of a gamble on their part?

[Queenslander]

I think the Olympics is a big carrot. There will always be corporate money in Sydney for the best of the best young blokes but I doubt he will get massive money straight away. Id be spewing if I were one of the Waratahs who took a haircut financially to keep the squad together.


I just assumed SBW would still have something to offer because he has always been a model professional who doesnt drink.

[Queenslander]

Here we go...



Peter V’landys vows NRL will help Roosters land Sonny Bill Williams ‘any way we can’

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/roosters/nrl-2020-sonny-bill-williams-to-the-sydney-roosters-trent-robinson-toronto-wolfpack-peter-vlandys/news-story/84a6d13b6f26293f15343882535b7332

[Queenslander]

Those Kiwis are top blokes.


When we played the All Blacks Maori in Fiji, last
year, we had to pay a match fee of NZ$250k, flights and accommodation which in the end meant a financial burden on the home hosting Pacific Union.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fiji-had-to-pay-250000-match-fee-to-new-zealand-maori-all-blacks/

[Queenslander]

What the Storm v Broncos Lewis?

Pretty sure the Broncos CEO and board (Darren Lockyer) know what they are doing. A lot of good stuff going on at Red Hill

[Lewis]

Some of their defending these past couple of rounds has been tragic. They're either not fit or can't be arsed.

[Lewis]

That David Fifita contract is crazy money, and there must be all sorts of third party extras in it as well if Brisbane couldn't/wouldn't make up the difference.

[Queenslander]

I dont see the value.

[Queenslander]

Gold Coasts finest.

https://i.ibb.co/7rmJr1z/FB-IMG-1595768149413.jpg (https://ibb.co/bN9gNK3)

[Manc]

Superb effort.

[Baz]

I might do that.

[Mellberg]

Rugby's shit, but we love the Villa :rave:

[Queenslander]

Speaking of throwing money around, where have union found the cash to out-bid league for this giant sixteen year old freak, and isn't it a bit of a gamble on their part?

Staying with Souths now for more money than the original Souths offer and and chin wag with Russell Crow. Well played to that kids player manager. Lol

[Queenslander]

Filthy

https://i.ibb.co/r5t9SZs/Screenshot-20200729-132842-Instagram.jpg (https://ibb.co/P1Ykn5Q)

[Queenslander]

Loud AFL horns every 3 days is again hilarious fuck you Melbourne.

Brisbane is the home of AFL.

[Lewis]

Poor old Canberra are probably out of it now, so let's go Penrith, nine years into Phil Gould's Five Year Plan. :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/nQiiYhS.png

Mental. Stephen Crichton has a bit of young Greg Inglis about him.

[Queenslander]

That game was good fun. I caught some of th Titans and they look real hungry next year could be very interesting.

[Lewis]

https://i.imgur.com/nTqj5Sd.jpg?1

He's got the nonces fuming again. :happycry:

[Queenslander]

Is he playing well? Id give him half the property on Caxton St to finish his career off for the Broncos.

[Queenslander]

Melbourne Storm playing Knights on the Sunshine Coast. Time to move one of the Sydney Teams to Mooloolaba or Kawana I reckon.

https://i.ibb.co/P1SZ5LB/FB-IMG-1596426166732.jpg (https://ibb.co/tYdMbGy)

[Lewis]

Is he playing well? Id give him half the property on Caxton St to finish his career off for the Broncos.

He was looking good before the lockdown even at half-fitness/interest, so you have to think he would still kill it with NRL money motivating him.

[Queenslander]

Nathan Brown to the Warriors is a positive for the NRL

[Lewis]

Wayne Bennett shrugging his quarantine suspension off and not giving them a story is hilarious to me.

[Queenslander]

Classic Wayne Bennett. The memes flying around with his head on the succulent chinese meal bloke got me good.

Edit: Found it.

https://i.ibb.co/YDw2GmX/FB-IMG-1596764830673.jpg (https://ibb.co/tZFB5gz)

[Queenslander]

Will Genia playing Brisbane Club Rugby tomorrow should draw a nice covid crowd

[Lewis]

Nathan Brown and Phil Gould running the Warriors sounds good. If they could develop half the junior system Penrith have got they would be a serious outfit.

[Queenslander]

So much talent available in Auckland.

[Queenslander]

Im going balls deep on the Titans for the top 4 next year. Will support them at Suncorp V the current state of the Donkeys.

[Queenslander]

Lewis

What's the go at the Wolfpack currently? From this side of the world it appears the players arent being paid or supported at the moment.

[Lewis]

They're not covered by the bailout/loan that the English clubs got off the government (Catalans presumably got something from France), and they can't play, so I think they're a bit stuck for retaining people. Their main money man wants out, which has made a few people predict/hope for their imminent demise, but they should be fine once things get back to normal.

Elsewhere, lol at Brisbane [reportedly] trying to shuffle Tevita Pangai Junior on for a virus breach because they regret giving him a massive contract.

[Queenslander]

The breach and hanging out with bikies. Hopefully Ben Ikin gets in there and tosses everyone behind the scenes out.

[Lewis]

If the rumours around Seibold turn out to be true then rugby league might finally get its global break.

[Baz]

What are the rumours? I couldn't find em.

Oh the coke addiction/trying it on with players' missus'?

[Queenslander]

I just read that he was in a Staggs video being a bit naughty?

Paul White and the board, especially Lockyer, should all be ashamed of themselves.

[Queenslander]

Police are investigating 10 Broncos over covid breaches.

It would be perfect if this incident forced both State and Federal govenments hand to cancel the rest of the NRL season.

[Ian]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sale-sharks-south-africans-make-their-own-stand-509vm9d0z

Why the fuck do Sale have so many South Africans? Is that not an unusual amount of players from one foreign nation for one team to have?

[Queenslander]

Saracens have had Saffers on the books for years from memory.

I would assume it is because there isnt any Rugby being played in SA atm.

Club Rugby in Western Australia is full of Afrikaans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

South Africa churns out rugby players (and cricketers) by the dozen, and the white ones all end up playing elsewhere as there's no money in SA and often the transformation targets work against them.

In cricket they all end up as Kolpaks (i.e. count as domestic players under EU law) which is now closing, but in rugby I'm not aware of there being any foreigner limits in English or French rugby so it's a free for all. Almost all the northern hemisphere nations have naturalised saffers in their ranks.

[Queenslander]

Brisbane winning the right to host the first AFL grand final outside Melbourne ahead of Perth and Adelaide is forever funny.

[Queenslander]

Sir Brad Thorn. :cool:


https://youtu.be/Y6z4tCQZWMQ

[Baz]

Saints were ruthless against Huddersfield. :drool:

You can tell James Graham is loving it.

[Queenslander]

Covid has really super charged the entitlement and whinging over the ditch.

Direct quote from the All Blacks coach and fully grown man Ian Foster.


“What’s upset me the most, is, we have created an amazing environment in New Zealand. Even this last lockdown was only in Auckland. Our Prime Minister said the other day it can happen, so I don’t know why the tournament is not here. How can Fiji go to London?,” Kirwan said.

“So why aren’t we having this competition in New Zealand? With England, with whoever it is. We’ve made all this sacrifice to make it the safest country in the world and what is happening? I’ve heard it’s going to be in Brisbane. Fiji is going north. What is happening?”

[hfswjyr]

That quote clearly says it's from John Kirwin?

But yes, how what a ridiculous statement.

[Queenslander]

Fuck I am a retard.

Im just precious about rugby atm.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Presumably they can't have it there because they're not letting anyone in.

[Queenslander]

They can easily hold it if all the teams do the 2 week quarantine. It makes no sense to miss out on money involved around live sports.

East Brisbane is thriving since the AFL relocated to QLD. Pubs, resturants and hotels are packed every weekend and sometimes during the week.

[Baz]

Genuinely reckon Saints might get 100 points tomorrow. :lol:

[Lewis]

Against the most exciting side in the division? Probably yeah. Saints are a bit too good at the minute. They need to lose a couple to the NRL.

[Queenslander]

It is hard not to laugh at New Zealand Rugby bosses atm after the way they have behaved this year in their dealings with the ARU and SARU.

The flow on affect from this tournament is great news for the hospitality industry and for tourism.


Rugby Championship tournament to be hosted by Australia


The tournament will comprise 12 round-robin matches between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina, played as six double-headers.

The ABC understands all the matches will be played in New South Wales, apart from one double-header, which will be played in Brisbane.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-11/rugby-championship-to-be-hosted-by-australia/12654100

[Lewis]

The Most Exiciting Side in the Division. :cool:

[Queenslander]

Brad Thorn will kick the dick head out of him as he is the best coach of young talent in the country atm.

There is enough corporate money in Brisbane atm.


South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has all but accepted highly sought-after teen Joseph Suaalii won’t be at the club next season... but the super coach has left the door ajar should anything change as the Rabbitohs prepare to offer him a new deal in a final attempt.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-joseph-suaalii-contract-getout-clause-south-sydney-rabbitohs-wayne-bennett-rugby-union/news-story/96070887d414d6b1e098c3cfb5f2307c

[Lewis]

Penrith are looking a bit too slick now, to the point where you could see a 2001 Parramatta/2017 Castleford style collapse when it matters most.

[Queenslander]

A Penrith Premiership would be good to see.

What are your thoughts on the South East Queensland Titans making the top 4 next year?
Lewis

[Lewis]

Justin Holbrook has done a great job, but you wonder whether they will ever have the juniors/pull to build an actual winning roster.

Penrith beat the Roosters, get mugged by Canberra, lose to Melbourne in the preliminary final. That or they put forty on everybody and piss it from here. We'll see.

[Baz]

Get dead, Wigan. :harold:

[Lewis]

Wigan under-fifteens. Ellery Hanley's son is meant to be something, but then you would be with the strongest genes in the sport.

[Lewis]

Regan Grace is far too good to be a Super League winger. He needs to move to full-back or to Australia.

[Lewis]

These Sam Burgess allegations are wild, and not entirely unbelievable. There will be some major fallout if they are even half-true. :cab:

[Queenslander]

Yeah he is fucked and Souths have to be in trouble. Cocaine has been a huge problem for what feels like 15 years now.

The wife beaters hall of fame would field a pretty good team

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why do Australian NRL and American NFL (it seems) have a massive skew towards woman-beating compared to other oval ball codes? Or is it just that they are more in the media spotlight than the others?

[Queenslander]

Why do Australian NRL and American NFL (it seems) have a massive skew towards woman-beating compared to other oval ball codes? Or is it just that they are more in the media spotlight than the others?

Australia in general has domestc violence problem.

NRL clubs have a history of turning a blind eye to almost everything as long as the blokes do the business on the weekend.


This cunt still earns huge money playing for the Broncos.

https://youtu.be/7zayp7wVW4s

[Baz]

Yeah he is fucked and Souths have to be in trouble. Cocaine has been a huge problem for what feels like 15 years now.

The wife beaters hall of fame would field a pretty good team

Captain Barba :cool:

[Queenslander]

:D

[Lewis]

Given the demographics involved the sports probably have similar rates to, maybe even lower rates than, wider society. But then you would expect more of it in football on that reasoning, so who knows? Maybe they hush it up more effectively due to the money involved.

[Lewis]

Ben Barba

Blake Ferguson
Greg Inglis
Jarryd Hayne
James Roberts

Robert Lui
Scrum half

Matt Lodge
Hooker
Addin Fonua-Blake
Jack de Belin
Sam Burgess
Greg Bird

That is a serious side, but you will note that, unless I am missing some obvious candidates, the two missing positions - seven and nine - are the ones that require the most intelligence to play. You could maybe shift Lui to seven, Inglis to six, and draft Kirisome Auva'a in.

[Queenslander]

Jack De Belin, Jarryd Hayne, Dylan Walker off the top of my head.

[Lewis]

Dylan Walker was an iffy one, and he isn't getting near that side anyway. Inglis is the weird one in that, not only does it never get brought up, but there seems to have been a deliberate sport-wide attempt to forget about it.

[Queenslander]

Yeah fair enough.

Inglis is a definite scrubbing by not only the sport but Australia as well.

[Lewis]

I have a theory that anyone the commentators refer to by their first name will always be wanked off regardless, even though there seems to be no real logic to any of it. They all love 'Latrell', but none of the other Roosters got it, even when they were carrying him, and nobody at Souths does either. 'Tom' and 'Jake' get it, but poor old Daly Cherry-Evans toils away, single-handedly preventing them from running last under his full legal name.

'Greg'/'GI' was a very good example of this, but then so is 'Sammy', so there will probably be no comeback whatsoever for him lest it disturb the system. He will have to be completely erased from history, and they should start by giving his Clive Churchill to George Burgess who was actually the best player on the pitch that day.

[Queenslander]

There is definitely something to that first name/nickname.

What I would give for Daly Cherry-Evans to join the Broncos. A halfback that can tackle is something I can only dream of... :drool:

[Lewis]

Hopefully he finally gets some credit when he leads the shittest Queensland side in twenty years to a whitewash of Wayne Bennett masterclasses. :drool:

[Queenslander]

Pull the other one Wayne!


'I know nothing': Bennett denies any knowledge of Burgess allegations

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/i-know-nothing-bennett-denies-any-knowledge-of-burgess-allegations-20201003-p561o6.html

[Lewis]

You could see it either way. On the one hand, half his coaching philosophy is supposedly about off the field stuff, like nursing Darius Boyd through life without a spine, so he would have taken an interest; on the other, you could imagine him going out of his way to avoid any bullshit and rumours around the club as long as he was still performing. It will be worth pursuing anyway just to see him doing his shirty interview gimmick under police caution.

[Queenslander]

:lol:

Bennett under pressure will be great fun.

[Lewis]

Wayne Bennett. :cool:

[Lewis]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54491179

What sort of licence fee death wish framing is that? Stonewall dismay at protections for women. The obvious 'flexibility' would just be to rule people out on a case-by-case basis, but obvious reasons stop that being a goer, so what do they want?

[niko_cee]

Thought Parra were going well at halftime yesterday (after a bad start) but didn't watch the rest after I saw your Bennett comment.

Also, Wendell Sailor having a 22 year old son has somewhat taken me aback. I'm not sure if it's cultural insensitivity on my part, or just being old. I guess he hung up his boots quite a long time ago now.

[Queenslander]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54491179

What sort of licence fee death wish framing is that? Stonewall dismay at protections for women. The obvious 'flexibility' would just be to rule people out on a case-by-case basis, but obvious reasons stop that being a goer, so what do they want?

https://www.afl.com.au/news/124278/transgender-player-withdraws-from-aflw-draft


https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/afl/afl-still-determing-aflw-transgender-policy-leaving-hannah-mounceys-draft-eligibility-in-doubt/news-story/394f61a019cb3cd6b288201bf6d46ef7

No comment :cab:

[Queenslander]

Wobs earning a 16 all draw in Wellington was some of the guttiest play from an Australian team in 5 years.

Only 1 Waratah in the starting line up is a record as well. Funny how picking players in form helps with team petformance.

We play NZ 4 times in a row. :drool:

[hfswjyr]

Both teams had many opportunities to win the game, but didn't take them, so a draw is really the right result. It's strange seeing the All Blacks so unpolished and making simple errors under pressure. Hopefully just first-game nerves.

[Queenslander]

Both teams had many opportunities to win the game, but didn't take them, so a draw is really the right result. It's strange seeing the All Blacks so unpolished and making simple errors under pressure. Hopefully just first-game nerves.

Draw was the right result. I feel very sorry for the 13 ypu blokes Im sure are tearing shreds off him atm.

Dave Rennie is the man.

[Lewis]

You can hear the massive sigh of relief from those no longer having to put a Souths retrospective together without mentioning Sam Burgess. It would have been ace had they won, but Penrith probably stand a better chance of knocking Melbourne off, so win/win.

[Lewis]

Gutted Salford, losing in front of all their fans. Luke Gale. :cool:

[Manc]

Entertaining stuff.

[Baz]

What a performance this is. :eek:

If Josh Simm doesn’t break some try scoring records, I’ll get James Roby’s sisters face tattooed on my arse.

[Lewis]

Leeds have got half a side out, and they're probably still hammered.

[Lewis]

I see the [Sir] Cameron Smith blaming Alex McKinnon for paralysing himself stuff has come up again. Well he did, and he was right to question the penalty count.

[Lewis]

I don't know about that one, so hopefully this isn't the fall to bits.

[Lewis]

16-0 and they haven't done anything. Well in lads.

[Lewis]

This is a bit embarrassing up to now.

[Lewis]

If they come back off this blatant obstruction sympathy try. :drool:

[Lewis]

They've done a Castleford. Rubbish.

[Queenslander]

Paul Gallen v Mark Hunt in a pro boxing bout leads me to believe that Gallen doesnt have any friends.

[Queenslander]

Cameron Munster is a super hero.

https://m.betootaadvocate.com/sports/report-talk-about-the-grog-horrors/

[Queenslander]

:lol:


https://i.ibb.co/Cw8d0VT/FB-IMG-1604014237163.jpg (https://ibb.co/3TdXhSL)

[Lewis]

I saw the teams earlier. Jesus. Queensland probably have a better halves combination (not necessarily better halves), and Josh Papalii is easily the best prop in the game, but New South Wales are miles ahead in every other position. Miles ahead. I bet you could get down to about a New South Wales third string before Queensland had more quality overall.

2-1 Queensland. :cool:

[Queenslander]

I saw the teams earlier. Jesus. Queensland probably have a better halves combination (not necessarily better halves), and Josh Papalii is easily the best prop in the game, but New South Wales are miles ahead in every other position. Miles ahead. I bet you could get down to about a New South Wales third string before Queensland had more quality overall.

2-1 Queensland. :cool:


:cool:

I like your prediction as I have no clue who most of the new players are.

It is time for DCE to earn his statue outside Suncorp.

[Lewis]

My faith is in Wayne Bennett. Anyone else coaching and I would be putting my life on New South Wales sweeping it by a hundred points.

[Queenslander]

That coaching team is once in a lifetime with Neil Henry doing tactics and Meninga just being big and scary.

[Baz]

Joe Greenwood fucking prick

[Lewis]

It's a weird zombie league at the minute so I never bothered watching it. Gutted.

[Lewis]

Andy 'Andrew Farrell' Farrell doing us a solid here. :cool:

[Ian]

I thought there was another round where it'd still be on the line so the headline staying we'd won it came as a nice surprise.

[Disco]

I had a good laugh at Wales losing at home to the Scotch.

[Queenslander]

Manly star Dylan Walker charged with assault after ‘entering car’ of unknown woman

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-dylan-walker-arrested-assault-charges-manly-sea-eagles/news-story/296878cd4d0d9ecf974518ed7cac8477


Huge signing/re-signing for the Wife Beaters Hall of Fame

Also this is completely fucked.


It is understood the charges do not trigger the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, as they carry a sentence of less than 11 years.

[hfswjyr]

I assume there is much more to it, but 'entering car' is probably the lightest crime ever described.

[Queenslander]

Hopefully it is nothing and the media is just filling pages. Online Manly fans seem to be hinting at some sort of history with women.

[Baz]

Less than 11 years. :D

[Queenslander]

I would love to know how they landed on 11 years. :D

[Lewis]

The Wife Beater XIII is still weak at seven and nine unfortunately.

[Queenslander]

Robert Lui?

[Queenslander]

:cool:


https://i.ibb.co/fxk6Gm1/FB-IMG-1604445023668.jpg (https://ibb.co/3Cp6Ytr)

[Lewis]

:cool:

Meanwhile, Toronto have been chucked out of Super League. It's a weird one. Having a side there is clearly good for the game, but the pandemic just made it unviable with the game potentially on its arse for the foreseeable future. Plus the bloke trying to save them as a means of promoting his grooming product business seems like an absolute chancer. As well as refusing to prove he has the money, he apparently made his very thin presentation to the other clubs whilst driving.

The ridiculous part is that the clubs and the governing body got to vote on it, and only Leeds, Saints, Catalans (the two best run clubs and the other expansion side) and the governing body voted to keep them. Everyone else, other than Warrington who abstained, voted to throw them out. Since voting yesterday to deem them financially unviable, Hull KR have unilaterally withdrawn from the competition due to covid cases, and Salford have defaulted on a financial agreement made with the league years ago relating to their own solvency, knowing full well that having points deducted is irrelevant for them now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Presumably it is somewhat similar to maybe League One football and therefore lives and dies on crowds? Well, it lives and dies on Sky I guess but so does everything.

[Lewis]

The Sky money probably keeps a couple of sides in business, but overall it is probably something like 80/20 crowds to television money. It's a pretty bad ratio really because it paints them into a corner as far as the league structure goes. The absolute best thing for Super League would be a simple home and away fixture system to promote less games with more intensity, which, in the medium to longer-term would increase crowds; but there isn't enough telly money to bridge the gap, so half the league insists on a certain amount of home fixtures every year to sustain themselves, which means a shit fixture list with two many pointless derbies.

[Lewis]

In hindsight Super League should have just admitted Toronto from the off instead of making them waste three years and millions of pounds trying to get there. They were getting better crowds than half of Super League against semi-professional sides, which provides a bit of hope for someone picking it up once we're back to normal.

[Baz]

Sneaky of Salford, that.

Who’s coming in then? Presumably a toss up between Leigh, London Broncos and Toulouse?

[Queenslander]

Are there many decent French players?

[Baz]

There’s one. Theooooooooooo Farjjjjjjjhjhjh.

[Queenslander]

Bennett :cool:

[Lewis]

:cool:

[Queenslander]

Did you watch any of it?

[Lewis]

I had three different live feeds on the go, and I might take the morning off for the next one.

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmLjEX3Pd64

Mal Meninga awkwardly avoiding a handshake. :lol:

[Queenslander]

Such a weird coaching team.

[Queenslander]

Queenlander! :lol:


NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hit out at her Queensland counterpart for "rubbing in" the Maroons' State of Origin win via text message instead of taking the state border issue seriously.


"On Sunday evening I texted her and congratulated her on her election win and said I was keen to talk about borders. I did not hear from her until last night when she sent me a text about the State of Origin. I didn't know whether to be shocked or confused."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-05/berejiklian-hits-out-at-qld-premier-for-state-of-origin-text/12852610?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf239635635&utm_campaign=fb_abc_news&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf239635635=1

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54820652

Not sure if I'm being dim, they've over complicated what they're writing about or both: but what would this actually mean in practice? Are we basically just talking about sponsoring or something more than that?

[Jimmy Floyd]

CVC (the example mooted at the bottom of the article) are the people who used to own F1, what they do is buy the asset and take the profits out as it grows. It's basically selling your soul for a cash grab now, and then potentially being stuck with these vampires sucking money out of you forever.

Wullie can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that is what happened to Coventry City all those years ago.

I would have thought the All Blacks would be a pretty safe bet for an investor, unless New Zealand suddenly become bad at rugby or something.

[Ian]

Right, that makes sense.

I think that's pretty much what SISU did at Coventry having bailed them out of admin at the last knockings so they basically had no choice in the matter.

[Queenslander]

Benji Marshall to the Bulldogs sounds like an awful idea.

[Lewis]

It's probably not a bad move to balance out Kyle Flanagan for a season, but he would probably have been Super League bound in normal times by now. Canterbury never seem to produce any players of their own. Have the Greeks and Lebanese switched to football, or have they just moved out to better areas?

[Queenslander]

Probably branched out. Is Benji even up to it anymore?

[Lewis]

He has been a good foil for Luke Brooks, but Brooks is class and Trent Barrett wasn't coaching, so let's assume not.

[Baz]

You put in for any WC tickets, Lewis?

Just one game for me:

AUSTRALIA V ITALY
Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Sat, 06/11/2021 19:30
Cat D - Standing / Adult 3 @ £ 15.00

[Lewis]

I assumed it would be another semi-final double header in London, and would have gone to that, but the fixtures say one is at the Emirates and another is in Leeds. The likely semi-finals are Australia vs New Zealand and England vs Tonga, which would be an amazing day out, so lol out loud if they have actually split them over two days with only one in London.

Tonga vs Papua New Guinea is round your way as well. That might be worth a go.

[Lewis]

Also it might not even be on yet. I paid for a derby ticket about seven months ago and still haven't had my money back.

[Queenslander]

:drool:



Ex-Melbourne Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu set for shock Wallabies call-up

https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/wallabies-rugby-news-tri-nations-series-suliasi-vunivalu-to-join-australia-squad-melbourne-storm-nrl/news-story/a749303011bdfcb937b1db3733a768d6

Will play for the Reds next year.

[Lewis]

That sounds like they were worried about him staying in league. Will he stay on the wing in union or move to full-back?

[Queenslander]

If he can pass both ways, kick under pressure and is safe under the high ball then he would be a walk up start for fullback. Could be a 13 if his defending is up to scratch.

I must admit having a back 3 or Koroibete,Vunivalu and Daugunu is a bit on the nose.

[Lewis]

Stick him at the back, Maika Sivo outside centre, Viliame Kikau at four or five, Api Koroisau scrum-half...

[Queenslander]

At this stage whatever it takes to win the Bledisloe.

Also Naisarani at 6 or 8. :cab:

[Lewis]

Tyson Frizell caused that head injury and nobody said anything.

[Lewis]

I'll give this until the hour and then go to work. :moop:

[Lewis]

I left at I think 28-4. Once Munster went off they lacked the extra playmaker that AJ Brimson might have provided, but looking at the rotation stats you could be forgiven for thinking that the SUPERCOACH threw it on purpose for the decider. :cool:

[Lewis]

lol at Warrington. Relative to the reputation he came over with, and the marquee money he is on, Gareth Widdop might be one of the worst signings of the era. lol also at Super League booking the final in Hull because they figured they were the least likely to get to it.

[Queenslander]

7 of those names are foreign to me.


QUEENSLAND MAROONS

1. Val Holmes 2. Xavier Coates 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Dane Gagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Christian Welch 9. Jake Friend 10. Josh Papalii 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Jaydn Su’a 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Jai Arrow 17. Dunamis Lui 18. Ben Hunt 19. Edrick Lee 20. Moeaki Fotuaika 21. Brenko Lee

[Queenslander]

https://i.ibb.co/Brkc8Sf/FB-IMG-1605248886279.jpg (https://ibb.co/Brkc8Sf)

[Baz]

lol also at Super League booking the final in Hull because they figured they were the least likely to get to it.:D

[Lewis]

https://i.ibb.co/Brkc8Sf/FB-IMG-1605248886279.jpg (https://ibb.co/Brkc8Sf)

This is so good.