The World of Rugby Thread

[Queenslander]

Michael Cheika is coaching Lebanon at the League World Cup while under contract with the Argentinian Rugby Team.

Surely that's a first.

[Lewis]

I had to turn it off at 22-0 (missed the football as well wahey), but Penrith are winning it again next year unless somebody can annihilate Nathan Cleary before the finals. I think they won all of the junior/reserve competitions as well this year, so it's hard to see anything other than a severe salary cap squeeze de-railing them any time soon. South Sydney look best placed to be their nearest challenger next year, but even that depends on a career year from Latrell Mitchell, which the inevitable injuries and suspensions make difficult.

[Queenslander]

I couldn't last more than 20 minutes.

Last nights Grand Final had the smallest TV audience of all time barely registered outside of NSW and QLD.

[Queenslander]

Cheika has managed to put together a decent squad.

Lebanon


Jalal Bazzaz (Wests Illawarra)

Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)

Hanna El-Nachar (Penrith Panthers)

Toufic El-Hajj (American University of Beirut)

Elie El-Zakhem (Parramatta Eels)

Atef Hamdan (Wolves, Lebanon

Kayne Kalache (Newtown Jets)

Andrew Kazzi (Western Suburbs Magpies)

Jacob Kiraz (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Bilaal Maarbani (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)

Anthony Layoun (St Marys Saints)

Josh Mansour (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Jaxson Rahme (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Josh Maree (Wentworthville United)

Tony Maroun (Ryde-Eastwood Hawks)

Abbas Miski (Wigan Warriors)

Brad Morkos (Canberra Raiders)

Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

Khalil Rahme (Mt Pritchard Mounties)

Khaled Rajab (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Reece Robinson (unattached)

James Roumanos (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)

Mikey Tannous (Wests Tigers)

Charbel Tasipale (Newtown Jets).


How do you think they will go against Jamaica? Lewis

[Lewis]

That lot should flatten Jamaica. Jason Robinson is their operations manager (whatever that does), and he could probably get a game.

[Queenslander]

Damn I hoped it might've been closer.

[Lewis]

Ireland could give Lebanon a game. Luke Keary; Richie Myler was unlucky not to make England squad; James Bentley would have done if he wasn't a liability with his discipline; the Senior twins are handy; and then you have some solid jobbers all around them. No supercoach though.

The Kangaroos look light enough in the forwards that this might not be a foregone conclusion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does everyone who doesn't make England/Australia just tool around for a new country on the eve of the tournament? Makes a game of it, I suppose.

[Lewis]

It is with the likes of Ireland and Lebanon, but half of the Samoa and Tonga teams could have made the Australia and New Zealand squads if they hadn't Tebbit Tested themselves out of contention to make their grandmothers proud. I think the only team without an Australian in is Jamaica, since otherwise fully-French France called up Samisoni Langi (Australia/Tonga) on residency, and we picked Victor Radley whose dad is from Sheffield.

[Queenslander]

Meninga is such a dickhead.


Cameron Munster – not Nathan Cleary or Daly Cherry-Evans – will wear the Kangaroos’ No.7 jersey at the World Cup.

But before league fans wonder if Australia coach Mal Meninga has outsmarted himself when it comes to the halfback debate, the Herald can reveal the number allocation relates to a new rule by Cup organisers.

Rather than wear a number based on position, players have been given squad numbers for the duration of the Cup.

The easiest option would have been to allocate numbers based on the likely starting 17.

But Kangaroos assistant Michael Hagan devised a system that acknowledged players who had worn the green and gold jersey longest.

James Tedesco is an exception to that rule and will wear the No.1 jersey, not because he is fullback but because he is captain.

Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans. Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS

Cherry-Evans received No.2 based on when he made his Kangaroos debut. Ben Hunt will wear No.3 and Valentine Holmes No.4.

Winger Josh Addo-Carr said he would channel his inner-Cameron Smith as the No.9 and tipped Latrell Mitchell to “cop some shit” for wearing the No.8.

Those yet to debut for Australia were allocated numbers in alphabetical order, with Cleary to wear No.14, and starting lock forward Isaah Yeo in No.24.

Cherry-Evans remained hopeful he would challenge Cleary to start at halfback for the first Cup game, and was not prepared to concede defeat to the premiership-winning Panther. The Manly star was worried he would miss out on the Kangaroos squad altogether after the Sea Eagles’ season ended before the finals.

The NSW and Queensland No.7s are in a ding-dong battle for the Kangaroos’ role. The NSW and Queensland No.7s are in a ding-dong battle for the Kangaroos’ role.CREDIT:GETTY

“It was a really long four weeks watching the NRL finals unfold, and until your name is called out, you just never know,” Cherry-Evans told the Herald.

“The Cup was something I had earmarked for such a long time.

“I honestly don’t know [who will start at halfback in the first game]. Mal has been really open about how close this battle will be.

“We’re going over with no preconceived idea around the halfback situation, and we’ll have to earn our spot in that side.”

Kangaroos Squad Numbers James Tedesco Daly Cherry-Evans Ben Hunt Valentine Holmes Jake Trbojevic Reagan Campbell-Gillard Cameron Munster Latrell Mitchell Josh Addo-Carr Jack Wighton Cameron Murray Matt Burton Pat Carrigan Nathan Cleary Lindsay Collins Reuben Cotter Angus Crichton Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Campbell Graham Harry Grant Liam Martin Jeremiah Nanai Murray Tuilagi Isaah Yeo

Asked how tough it was watching Cleary shine in September, Cherry-Evans said: “Knowing what was on the line, it did make it harder to watch him play so well. But I also know how strong that Panthers side was, and he was always going to be a big part of it.”

Cherry-Evans heads to England on Thursday night knowing there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding Manly and the immediate future of coach Des Hasler.

“I don’t know what’s going on, and as a playing group we’ve understood all we can do is rock up to preseason training and work hard to bring it all back together,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I’ve been in constant contact with Des. I don’t have any special updates. I’m actually trying to distance myself a little bit from it because the more I talk about it, the more people want to have a go at me about it.”

Cherry-Evans said there were no issues with him and Jake Trbojevic, and they had caught up for “a couple of coffee dates” along with fellow Sea Eagle Tom Trbojevic.

“We’ve put together a few ideas about how we want the team to look next year, on the field and off the field,” Cherry-Evans said.

“The three of us are gutted about how last season finished, and we’ve been really proactive about how we can help the team come together and play better footy.”

[Baz]

England 50 - 0 Fiji

It’s coming home.

[Queenslander]

Bennett has lost the plot. :lol:



“It is pretty ordinary stuff mate, it is pretty ordinary stuff, that’s the part, I understand managers and all that, and there is a need for them,” Bennett said on Triple M’s Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo.

“But what I can’t get and what I don’t relate to is the fact that the players, in all the tough conversations that have got to be had, are missing.


“They don’t ring you up and tell you they are not coming, they don’t have to make that phone call, that is a tough phone call, it’s a phone call none of us want to make but you want to be a man, you have got to behave like one.

“Don’t have your manager ring up and tell them you aren’t coming.”


“I think they miss out on a very important learning phase in their life, how to say no and how to say no by you saying no, decently,” Bennett said.

“Not having someone else go ‘here I’ll message for you’.

“I remember I got my mother to ring up my little friend when I wanted to go to the football… I didn’t have the courage to ring up and ask him could I go, I’d get my mother and I hated myself for it.

“I taught myself not to ask my mother anymore for it because I knew I should have been doing it, if I was the one that wanted to go.

“It is tough telling someone you aren’t going to come when there is a lot of effort, but that’s the price you have got to pay so you can grow into the man that you can be proud of.”



https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-wayne-bennett-responds-cameron-munster-signs-with-storm-dolphins-snubbed-dolphins-contracts-melbourne-storm-roster-transfer-news/news-story/1b700cf910bec6078fa4bfe01e577479?fbclid=IwAR1ZVKNz WS9LeIBhfQqYASKLg-5gR0fYTI9sNBffU-C-9mJVAvPQ0-2KFGY

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63232043

This isn't my area, not sure if anyone on here knows - why has this happened to two clubs in a month? I know Wasps have mitigating factors, but are there replacement clubs who draw a crowd or is rugby going to have to shrink down to 8 or 10?

[Queenslander]

From my understanding the gap between the Premiership and the Championship is massive so no one is capable of stepping up.

They should let the Bloemfontein Cheetahs join as they are currently without a league and let them play out of London.

[Lewis]

Wasps sounds like they based their Coventry business model on the stadium facilities paying the bills which meant the pandemic hit them twice as hard. No idea about Worcester, but presumably it's just a crap area for a professional rugby team.

There was a comment under a Telegraph article I read that reckons the sport (at club level at least) is simply living beyond its means, with wages well in excess of what a lot of clubs are actually capable of paying. It sounds a bit like Super League in that of the twelve clubs only about four are run soundly, another couple get by with idiots paying the bills, another few are just about getting by, and then you have a couple who are three bad seasons off completely falling to bits.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Same as cricket then. Football has eaten all three.

[Manc]

Possibly the worst opening ceremony of all time.

[niko_cee]

Booing some of this dickhead haka.

:cool:

Pretty aggressive for a friendly welcome or whatever it is they try to pretend it is [other than an attempt to intimidate].

[Lewis]

I went to Hull FC vs New Zealand in 2002 (the last ever match at the Boulevard), and the haka was lolled and booed out of the county. You would probably get a three game stadium ban for it these days after Adidas threatened to leave the sport.

[Lewis]

Maybe speaking too soon, but Samoa needed to splat us early before they start having heart attacks. Their two halves are too similar (and overrated), and we've got Jack fucking Welsby mate.

[niko_cee]

Couple of cracking cut out passes [or whatever they are called] but the Samoan winger should probably try covering Young at some point rather than stepping inside every time.

This is unlike England though.

[Lewis]

Nice one Welsby you spaz.

[Lewis]

That didn't look forward.

[niko_cee]

At the same time that looked like a try to me on the replay.

[Lewis]

I think if the referee sends it up as a try he gets it, so he's done himself by not celebrating.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that was it. Didn't look like a try in real time precisely because of the player's reaction.

[Lewis]

Superstar at full-back has had a honking game. His 'mentor' was telling the Roosters to move James Tedesco on earlier in the season as well. :harold:

[Lewis]

That did look forward.

[niko_cee]

This is some meltdown from Samoa.

[niko_cee]

May have peaked too soon here.

[Lewis]

Matt Parish sat there in his massive gold watch as well.

[Manc]

May have peaked too soon here.

I was thinking this.

Is anyone going to a game?

[Lewis]

I have a ticket for the London semi-final and Australia vs Scotland on Friday in Coventry, which my friend bought somebody by accident thinking it was union.

[Giggles]

Never realised it was a World Cup that was on. BBC?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, BBC have all 61 games [as they frequently mentioned in the game today]. Australia up soon on BBC2.

[Lewis]

Fiji managed the elusive successful eleven metre drop-out. They should get a point for that.

[Baz]

Yeah, BBC have all 61 games [as they frequently mentioned in the game today]. Australia up soon on BBC2.Unfortunately.

Channel 4 would have definitely been preferable.

I’ve tickets for Italy vs Australia. Was also invited to Tonga vs PNG but cba going on a Tuesday.

Will have to dig my WORLD CUP WALLCHART out the loft today. :cool:

[Lewis]

I thought Jamaica would be crap, but not that crap. New Zealand could put a hundred on them.

[Lewis]

The crowds are a bit worrying up to now. New Zealand vs Samoa sold Warrington out in 2013, but this looks a third full at best. People have been saying for ages that the ticket prices are a joke (I paid £55 for a Cat D semi-final ticket), and it looks like they were right. Typical.

[Baz]

The crowds are a bit worrying up to now. New Zealand vs Samoa sold Warrington out in 2013, but this looks a third full at best. People have been saying for ages that the ticket prices are a joke (I paid £55 for a Cat D semi-final ticket), and it looks like they were right. Typical.

https://www.totalrl.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2022_10/E2503550-1D26-40C3-A98A-BB2E6F5D4C38.jpeg.301a576e523315c40ad9ebe71fde1c41 .jpeg
[source] (https://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php?/topic/373364-rlwc-attendance-o-meter/page/7/)

Embarrassing.

Hopefully my games a bit busier with it being a Saturday, but at least the queue for the bar will be short and I might get on TV.

[Queenslander]

I had no idea about this game did you Lewis?

https://i.ibb.co/41pwm98/Ff-Cisk-UXk-AEty-RM.jpg (https://ibb.co/y4qmfG6)




https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Queensland_rugby_league_tour_of_Papua_New_Gui nea_and_England?fbclid=IwAR2L4QRGlXq1gepK5aN7F6TE9 RwoR3pXyzA_M5iUsRLHgpuVxWti2E_mbiY

[Lewis]

Yeah. Mark Broadhurst knocked whoever the Queensland hooker was spark out, and the club, arguably the most smalltime club in Super League, still celebrates it (https://mobile.twitter.com/hullkrofficial/status/1581721643960999936). In the longer footage you see the referee lolling as he awards the penalty.

[Baz]

Yeah. Mark Broadhurst knocked whoever the Queensland hooker was spark out, and the club, arguably the most smalltime club in Super League, still celebrates it (https://mobile.twitter.com/hullkrofficial/status/1581721643960999936). In the longer footage you see the referee lolling as he awards the penalty.That's amazing. :D

[Shindig]

Damn, that's the speed of a champion. :D

[Queenslander]

Yeah. Mark Broadhurst knocked whoever the Queensland hooker was spark out, and the club, arguably the most smalltime club in Super League, still celebrates it (https://mobile.twitter.com/hullkrofficial/status/1581721643960999936). In the longer footage you see the referee lolling as he awards the penalty.

:D

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62XSX_w8aQk

In awe of that refereeing. Get up son.

[Queenslander]

It's perfect I cant believe I didn't know.

[Lewis]

1583140804188508166

It's like an April Fools joke but real.

[Manc]

1583115149728063489?

[Lewis]

That was the worst game I've ever seen live. If you're going to have shit contests like that at least have them in Scotland and make the tickets cheap enough to fill it with seethe.

[Queenslander]

I always forgot how many small time retards their are down here who celebrate flogging the likes of Scotland like it matters the same as beating them in Union.


They all need to be thrown in a pit.

[Lewis]

There were a few of them in the ground going mental for every try. There was also an Australian bloke with a moustache wearing a Scotland union shirt trying to put Nathan Cleary off his kicks for reasons only he knows.

'NAAAATHAAAAAN! NAAAAAAATHAAAAN! LET'S TALK ABOUT QUEENSLAND NATHAN!'

[Queenslander]

That's just good banter. :D

[Queenslander]

That one off Origin game in Vegas back in the 80's has really deluded these freaks into thinking that it is still an option.


NRL seriously considering taking a game to USA in 2023, reviving Ashes series

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/plans-confirmed-for-game-in-usa-manly-sea-eagles-ashes-tour/ba938161-66b7-4722-b989-ac6d751d09b4?ocid=Social-NRLFS&fbclid=IwAR3vrlGsc21vLhFohkCNdDoJxuxC4nNwTPI7yLrX_ PgnW77Ey4hMM5jUWew

[Lewis]

They should take it to Japan. Invade union turf.

[Queenslander]

Indigenous All Stars v Maori All Stars in Japan would be fun.

[Lewis]

94-4, but Greece having Jordan Meads 'pulling the strings' a good four stone overweight (and playing Lachlan Ilias out of position to accommodate it) gives them the moral victory.

[Boydy]

I've heard it on the news twice now today that Rugby League was illegal in Greece until a few months ago. Why?

[Lewis]

The sport itself wasn't illegal. The original governing body, the Hellenic Federation of Rugby League, was thrown out of the European Federation for financial mismanagement, but the crook running it just absorbed it into another sport he was running rather than hand over control of it. The Greek Rugby League Association was formed to do it properly, and the European Federation recognised it as the new governing body, but the Greek government refused to, which apparently made them unable to play any matches in Greece for reasons that sound a bit more like Greeks being useless than the government actually preventing them. Tonga had a similar episode a while back and briefly competed as the 'Tonga Invitational XIII', and Samoa threaten to do likewise every tournament over pay and bonuses.

[Lewis]

1588256074209058831

This is Jonathan Pearce commentary away from five million weekly viewers.

[niko_cee]

I was reading this morning that Australia are playing the winner of NZ/Fiji in the semis, I thought England were on course to meet them [Australia] in the semis. Was I wrong or has something gone on in the groups to make that the case?

[Lewis]

I thought that originally reading the format, but we seem to have subsequently fixed it so that we have to play the London semi-final (for the good of the game) which just so happens to avoid Australia.

[niko_cee]

Did they just sing God Save the Queen?

[Lewis]

It sounded like half the ground is a bit behind. Papua New Guinea are doing their usual lets go for the biggest hit possible in every collision and lose all defensive structure doing it, and it seems to be going about as well as it usually does against a competent side.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, this is a bit silly. Sort of the type of nightmare game I imagine happens in junior games where one team is just leagues ahead of the other, so the pattern of the game is kick-off, team gets ball and goes down the field and scores. Kick-off, same again. Repeat.

[Baz]

"Job half done" says Tommy Mak, 38-0 up at half time. :D

[Baz]

"Job half done" says Tommy Mak, 38-0 up at half time. :D

And five tries. :cool:

[Manc]

Fiji turning up in a big way.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching the proper code, Australia just scored one of the best tries I've ever seen. Full length of the pitch.

[Manc]

Video ref on the take.

[Lewis]

That's the best Fiji have ever played. The New Zealand they beat in 2017 were rubbish, and they had Jarryd Hayne at six so you'll never see footage of it ever again anyway.

[Lewis]

The Obesity Derby was a great game. I'm not sure that Samoa have suddenly 'clicked' so much as Tonga don't have much beyond bashing people to bits, and Samoa are the best placed team to handle that, so their little bit of extra skill paid off.

[Lewis]

This is the best half of test match rugby in twenty years.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, mega stuff.

Not sure how not sin binning a couple of Aussies was the 'fair' way to sort that scuffle but whatever. Shame the Hiku try was chalked off, probably a defining moment.

[Queenslander]

Meninga is such a fraud.

[Lewis]

I'm not sure how that Jack Wighton tackle wasn't complete, but the writing was on the wall a bit when they didn't capitalise early on.

[Queenslander]

Yeah I agree it was a completed tackle.

[Lewis]

The BBC report describing Mal Meninga as 'former St Helens centre' is the opening final MIND GAME.

[Queenslander]

Hopefully your media gets Mal to spazz out.

[niko_cee]

Lol at the size of the trophy for the Women's World Cup.

[Baz]

Lol at the size of the trophy for the Women's World Cup.

So bad :D

[niko_cee]

Bill Beaumont looked like he couldn't get out of there fast enough when handing it over. All very odd.

[Ian]

Italy. :cool:

[Manc]

Some bottle job this.

[niko_cee]

May have peaked too soon here.

Yup.

Shame as the final becomes [even more of] a non-event now.

[Lewis]

We absolutey BOTTLED IT, and yet still should have won comfortably. Australia will beat them by forty, which is exactly what the rubbish organisation deserves.

[Lewis]

The union ladies were a bit unfortunate to fall victim to the old forward passes are allowed in finals try, and that red card looked like a joke, so I'm guessing the officials were from the Home Nations seethe patrol. How come the set piece is so effective in their game? My assumption would be that women are (say) 60% as heavy as the men but 40% as strong, so once the mass gets moving they find it relatively much harder to stop it.

[Queenslander]

Half of Samoa is driving around Brisbane today with their wee flags flying out the car windows. Hopefully someone offers them a pride flag for their collection.


In saying that I do hope they make a fool of Meninga next week.

[Lewis]

The handful in the ground almost caused a diplomatic incident when they thought the end of the Last Post was the end of the minute silence and started chee-hooing prematurely.

[Queenslander]

Yeah they're a keen mob.

[Disco]

I just saw Italy beat Australia yesterday, tier two nation lads.

[Queenslander]

Tier 2 is generous.

[Queenslander]

You blokes should probably deport any remaining Australian NRL stragglers ASAP.


Manchester: England and Roosters star Victor Radley is being investigated for allegedly brawling with a fellow World Cup star in Manchester.

Radley allegedly headbutted Ireland forward James Bentley at a hotel on Sunday following England’s semi-final loss to Samoa.

It is understood Bentley had been invited back to the team hotel by a member of England’s squad.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/world-cup/rugby-league-world-cup-2022-victor-radley-fight-brawl-details-james-bentley-updates-england/news-story/b5e553eaa1c056e1bf6701a319aa80fe?fbclid=IwAR2tbKsS 0xAdFIHYSrGhQBh-koHpr8sBX0xScaMpoCiQ5YcoEN17o20Y6nE

[Lewis]

James Bentley is a complete prick so this has won any remaining Radley-sceptics over.

[Queenslander]

Fair enough I didn't know that part.

[Baz]

He’s a loveable prick if it’s your team he’s being a knob on though.

[Queenslander]

:cool:


"Glory to Hong Kong" (the protest anthem) was played instead of the Chinese national anthem at the Asian Rugby Seven Series in South Korea


https://twitter.com/krislc/status/1591900003773329409?s=20&t=3QKvZQiDkSf8lbwzLyjDwA

[Lewis]

At least we won the Robot Wars.

[Manc]

Enjoyed that. The referee meltdown was superb.

[Lewis]

The first ladies team to find somebody who can routinely kick it fifty yards up the pitch like a man will never lose a game.

[Lewis]

Enjoyed that. The referee meltdown was superb.

1593714389856751619

Apparently he was swearing at the fans and offering them out. :lol:

[Lewis]

The men's final will pretty much go like this. The mutton flap massive will give it a good fifteen minutes and then start getting pulled to bits.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I read something (probably on the beeb) that said England weren't due to play Aus again for two years or more. How can the sport be that short-sighted?

[Lewis]

The NRL is solely focussed on being bigger than the AFL, which means that things like internationals and no-brainer Pacific expansion are unwanted short-term distractions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What's the point? I thought AFL was strong in Vic and NRL in NSW/Qld. Surely they can't tip that balance any further.

There must be more hearts and minds to be won in expansion markets than there are in Aussies who like AFL.

[Lewis]

They want to keep each other out of their respective heartlands, which for the NRL means saturation coverage (hence an extra Brisbane team for weekly Thursday night games) and making State of Origin all-consuming, to the point where they would happily prevent any Australian-born Polynesians playing for their ancestral nations lest it re-open the eligibility issue.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well that's a long term death strategy if ever there was one.

[Lewis]

The long-term NRL dream is two conferences of ten teams along NFL lines, no AFL in Queensland, and Australian rugby union flushed out of the private schools. If the rest of the sport was dead beyond a token New Zealand outpost they wouldn't care.

[Lewis]

He should be off for that the nine-fingered wank.

[niko_cee]

Cracking 'set piece move' by England there, couldn't have played it any better for the New Zealand guy to intercept it. Passer probably needed to get his head up.

[Ian]

This is going swimmingly.

[niko_cee]

Watching with the sound off, and I'm sure 'The Merse' will be along shortly to say how he's spot on about everything, but this ref seems pretty lol.

[niko_cee]

I've never really understood the rules of union but it seems to have completely jumped the shark now. You can nail the half-back as he puts his hands on the ball at the back of whatever it is you call the big pile of people [is that not offside of some sort?], but a minor headlock is an absolute :nono:?

[Manc]

1593714389856751619

Apparently he was swearing at the fans and offering them out. :lol:

1593982136599674880?s=20&t=4OZWwhrpKGLk2ml5fdF9SQ

He must have lost a small fortune on the result.

[Ian]

Well, that was an entertaining end to the game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All Blacks are rubbish. Out in the group stage next year.

[Lewis]

Eddie Jones mate never in doubt.

[Manc]

Smith booting it into the crowd. :harold:

[Queenslander]

The long-term NRL dream is two conferences of ten teams along NFL lines, no AFL in Queensland, and Australian rugby union flushed out of the private schools. If the rest of the sport was dead beyond a token New Zealand outpost they wouldn't care.

100%

[Ian]

Smith booting it into the crowd. :harold:

Got a proper boo from the home crowd too.

[Lewis]

1594045013607981057

[Queenslander]

:D

[Ben]

The slip worked out brilliantly in the end. :D

[Queenslander]

Now that's a new one.



Teens ride camels 2900km to play Rugby League


Both boys play for the Under 16s Taree Red Rovers Junior Rugby League Club.

The trip of a lifetime took six months.



“We had 100 litres of water, clothes, food,” Tyler told nswrl.com.au.

“We ate damper, porridge and shot kangaroos for some meat. At some stops we bought egg and bacon rolls.

“We started with 10 camels but when we got to Taree we only had four. Some ran away and some passed away and we sold two along the way.”



https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/11/29/teens-incredible-camel-trip-to-play-rugby-league/?fbclid=IwAR2VXR-g3MLfoSC9MRvokzkHqFGYnCAo7fUf48brd1BLcWggX0Rye9kR4 fk

[Lewis]

Am I reading that wrong, or does it say that those two in the main picture are fifteen?

[Disco]

Did they leave in 1995?

[Lewis]

I wouldn't have sacked Eddie Jones unless somebody very, very, very good was available, and that doesn't appear to be the case. What am I missing?

[Manc]

The timing is horrendous. Hopefully we get lolled out of France.

[Queenslander]

I wouldn't have sacked Eddie Jones unless somebody very, very, very good was available, and that doesn't appear to be the case. What am I missing?

It sounds like the players had had enough of his management style.

[Queenslander]

Pinched from reddit.

He really did a number on us.


https://i.ibb.co/bB4K9bK/19ffw67v8a4a1.webp (https://ibb.co/85y7ZY7)

[hfswjyr]

That table reads much better for him than I would have thought. Even stevens against NZ and SA, and positive points difference against everyone except SA.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Presumably the fruits that run English rugby (or ragby, as he would say) have just had enough of him.

[niko_cee]

Not too clever against the Scotch.

[Lewis]

1601518826419408896

I had never seen this. Apparently it was outlawed shortly afterwards.

[Queenslander]

:cab:

Never seen that before either.

What a game it could have been with 5m defensive lines, unlimited tackle count, contested scrums and the header. :drool:

[Lewis]

Throw in unlimited interchange as well to really make it terrible.

[Lewis]

That's Australia putting us out the World Cup. The NARRATIVE is undefeated.

[Queenslander]

Eddie will burn the place down on his way out like last time.

[hfswjyr]

Did anyone see that one coming? Some huge coaching calls being made recently.

[Queenslander]

I just assumed we couldn't afford Eddie's wages. Im gutted for Rennie as he had bugger all players to work with he deserved better from the scum who fired him.

[Baz]

Fancy trying to win me a season ticket lads? Lewis

1. Who played in the last Saints side to beat Australia – and achieved the same feat five years later with Warrington?
2. Which team ended Saints’ 30-game unbeaten home run in 1974?
3. Which legendary Saint called time on his playing career at the age of 28 in 1975?
4. Who did Saints play in the first ever World Club Challenge in 1976?
5. Which Saints player was sent off for fighting in the 1977 Premiership Final?
6. Why did Saints not reach the 1978 Premiership Final despite beating Bradford 14-10 at Knowsley Road in the semi?
7. Peter Glynn, George Nicholls, Mel James, Roy Mathias and which other player joined the 1979 Great Britain Ashes tour?
8. Who did Saints play on Boxing Day, 1980?
9. Name the player, second only to Tom van Vollenhoven in the try scoring charts, who retired in 1981?
10. The father of which current Super League coach played at Saints on loan in 1982?
11. Who appeared on the bench for Saints’ 1983 Challenge Cup first round opponents and then played a part in knocking Saints out in the quarter final?
12. Who kicked a record number of drop goals in a Saints game in 1984?
13. On which football ground did Saints play their opening game of the 1985/86 season?
14. Who scored the late try on Good Friday 1986 to beat Wigan – and help Halifax pip our neigbours to the title.
15. What 1987 feat does Paul Round share with Peter Glynn and Ian Pickavance?
16. What did Shane Cooper do in 1988 to go in the record books alongside Myler, Llewellyn, Vollenhoven and Ellaby?
17. Who was sent off when Saints beat Widnes to reach the 1989 Challenge Cup Final?
18. On which ground did Saints lose a pulsating Challenge Cup semi-final in 1990?
19. Who lost his second Wembley final in as many years in 1991?
20. What did Saints win for the first and only time in 1992?
21. Which international played his very last game of rugby league on Good Friday 1993?
22. Vila Matautia helped which team inflict a shock opening day defeat on Saints in 1994?
23. What score did Saints beat Warrington in the 1995 Regal Trophy Semi final?
24. Who scored a try in Saints’ first ever Super League game – in his last appearance for the club?
25. Who played in three of Saints’ 1997 Challenge Cup rounds – but left the club before Wembley?
26. At which ground did Saints play their 'On the road' clash with Wigan in 1998?
27. Which stadium hosted Wakefield’s one-point win over Saints in 1999?
28. What do Scott Barrow in 2000 and Kyle Amor in 2021 have in common?
29. Which Saint had a six-month ban replaced by a nine-match suspension on appeal in 2001?
30. Which two players scored hat-tricks in Saints’ 2002 Challenge Cup semi-final win over Leeds?
31. Saints lost to which team in 2003 after trailing 41-0 at half time, but winning the second half 39-0?
32. What did Saints do in 2004 for the first time since 1966 after three previous failures?
33. Fans staged a protest against the sacking of Ian Millward in the Saints game against which team in 2005?
34. Who was the only team to beat Saints at Knowsley Road in 2006?
35. What happened at the 2007 Challenge Cup Final that had only previously happened in 1965?
36. How many matches – league and cup – had Saints gone unbeaten ahead of the 2008 Grand Final?
37. What feat did Saints achieve against Celtic Crusaders that they had not done since 1953-54?
38. Who scored Saints’ last ever try at Knowsley Road?
39. On which ground did Saints kick off the 2011 Super League season?
40. Who scored the opening try in the first ever match of any kind at Langtree Park?
41. Who signed off in the 2013 play-off defeat after 145 tries in 224 appearances in the Red Vee?
42. Name the two teenagers who featured in Saints’ 2014 Grand Final win?
43. Which Saint scored a hat-trick on debut during the 2015 Super League season?
44. Who scored his first tries for the club in the 2016 World Series game against Sydney Roosters?
45. Who did Saints play in Justin Holbrook’s first game in charge?
46. Who signed off a 424-game Saints career at the end of the 2018 season?
47. Who scored the opening try of the 2019 Grand Final?
48. Which team did Saints play at Warrington in 2020 for the first and last time?
49. Who did Saints play in their first game in front of fans post Covid lockdown in 2021?
50. Including last year’s Challenge Cup triple header, name the last four teams the St Helens club has played against at Elland Road?


The winner will be drawn from any all correct (or most correct answers) and notified before the home season starts.

Deadline for entries is 29 January, 2023.

[Lewis]

Those are proper anorak questions. Soz. Elsewhere (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64353316):


The Rugby Football Union says it will soon provide "clarity for the game" regarding the radical new tackle laws amid fears of a mass player exodus. The tackle height will be lowered to the waist from next season for all levels apart from the Premiership and Championship... The RFU says its decision has been taken after six years of studies, and insists there is strong data-led evidence to show that lowering the height of the tackle reduces the risk of 'head acceleration events'.

:cab:

Netball, but with a load of people knocking themselves out against knees and hips.

[Queenslander]

Does that mean the choke tackle is banned as well? No more defensive mauls?

[Ben]

I nearly posted about this yesterday but I’m only a casual fan at best so thought I was missing something. Obviously not.

[niko_cee]

No decent sport is going to survive all the head injury arseholes in the long run, all that will be left is gimpy non-events like athletics and tennis, and the glorified games like golf.

[Waffdon]

He’s just donned the nation of England there

[Lewis]

The only thing donned there was the obstruction rule.

[Waffdon]

And the Scottish defence, which is absolutely tragic

Both defences are.

[Waffdon]

Get Finn Russell off immediately. He’s been fucking dreadful

[Manc]

Scotland leagues ahead of England with ball in hand.

[Lewis]

In league you aren't allowed to pass it forwards like that.

[Waffdon]

This has England last minute try to win all over it

[niko_cee]

England should probably just give up with this.

[Waffdon]

Scotland really do own England at this game these days.

[Manc]

France and Ireland will wipe the floor with us.

[Waffdon]

Marcus Smith btw :D

[Lewis]

He's Scottish.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Losing to Scotland several times in a row should be root and branch review stuff. The only people that play it there are a few weirdo farmers in the borders.

[Ian]

I blame all this on that awful England shirt.

[Waffdon]

Losing to Scotland several times in a row should be root and branch review stuff. The only people that play it there are a few weirdo farmers in the borders.

You’re not even joking. I’ve just went through the current squad and more than half weren’t even born here. Somehow Dundee and Perthshire seem to have the most Scottish born players though they all went to private or boarding schools.

[niko_cee]

Scotland really do own England at this game these days.

Used to feel like losing to Scotland was once in a blue moon [looking it up, 6 Calcutta wins in 40 years between '77 and 2017], but 5[4] in the 6 years since. Good grief.

[Giggles]

Kearney should probably have waited until after his TV appearance to go on the gear.


1621961023291809792

[Ian]

You’re not even joking. I’ve just went through the current squad and more than half weren’t even born here. Somehow Dundee and Perthshire seem to have the most Scottish born players though they all went to private or boarding schools.

I had a look at that out of curiosity. You're not wrong, though half of the ones who weren't born here have a Scottish parent so whatever.

However it has taught me that rugby union doesn't give a shit about nationality if you've had three years residence in the country in question (4 of those, on top of the 7 who have one Scottish grandparent) but the real eye-opener is the fella in the Scotland squad who's played FOURTEEN TIMES for Australia.

[Lewis]

The residency selection stuff ought to be seen as a real embarrassment for the sport. You have to wonder about the players who go for it as well.

[Ian]

Are they any stricter in League? And if so is the pool of competent teams notably any smaller?

[Manc]

England's best player in the RLWC was Australian.

[niko_cee]

I see 'relative velocity' and 'backwards out of the hands' are at play again with that Scotland try.

They probably need to just bin the forward pass rule [seeing as it broadly doesn't exist] in favour of something akin to offside [ie the catcher has to be behind the passer on release].

[Waffdon]

England played a forward pass for their 2nd try as well. I watch 5 games a year and there’s multiple in every game. It’s not even hard to spot or clamp down on.

[Disco]

You won't get rid of it because the All Blacks would never win another game.

[Lewis]

Are they any stricter in League? And if so is the pool of competent teams notably any smaller?

I was under the impression that union was still three years. Five years isn't all that lol considering you can get British citizenship in the same timeframe, and that has presumably shaken out the more ridiculous cases that prompted the rule change. It's pretty much the same set of rules for league, but the difference in the player pool and finances means that it isn't really worth anybody exploiting it other than the 'secondary' nations like Samoa, Tonga, etc. whose players are mainly first and second generation Australians.

[Disco]

Is it worse than the previous system where the big teams would cap anyone with a pulse to stop them playing anywhere else?

[Ian]

I think it is still three years unless Wikipedia has lied to me, which is surely unpossible.


England played a forward pass for their 2nd try as well. I watch 5 games a year and there’s multiple in every game. It’s not even hard to spot or clamp down on.

Probably second least enforced rule after basically anything related to scrums which may as well be abolished at this point from what little I see.

[Baz]

So, Saints are in Australia and have a friendly against St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday morning before the big one: the World Club Challenge against Penrith Panthers next Saturday evening. What are the chances of Saints not getting battered?

[Lewis]

If Penrith have a weakness - and they don't really - then it's teams who are willing to compete and shithouse them, which is what Saints are very good at. My guess would be keeping it tight for until half-time and then falling to pieces.

The top story at the minute is Josh McGuire potentially missing the first six games of his debut season for calling somebody a 'fucking spastic' in a pre-season friendly because the other bloke, also facing a potential six game ban, mocked him for being blind in one eye. The new slogan is 'There's Nothing Like League', and there really isn't. I Love This Game.

[Baz]

Sounds like they should be a good game, at least.

Sky Sports Mix this morning btw :nod:

[Lewis]

Lewis Dodd's two week NRL audition.

[Baz]

So, Tee Ritson eh. :alan:

[Lewis]

I had missed that signing, but him getting a chance with Saints is a great story. I hope the commentators constantly refer to him as the 'Thailand international'.

[Lewis]

I haven't heard 'compressed onto the line' before. They really, really wanted to give that try.

[Lewis]

Nothing wrong with that. He's not looking and he has his chin dipped like a wally.

[Waffdon]

A referee born in Wales in charge? FIX

[Waffdon]

Another year of Scotland bottling it against Wales is coming up. Bottling bastards.

[Waffdon]

Never mind, Wales are fucking tragic.

[niko_cee]

:D

Contrast that TMO intervention with the Irish try yesterday.

[Andrew]

There’s a whole generation of Welsh fans about to find out what it was like supporting the Welsh rugby team during the 90’s.

France and England will put a combined 100 points on us and I’m not even convinced we will get anything from the Italy game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Something needs to be done about the impending Irish World Cup win.

[Waffdon]

South Africa and Scotland will see to them in the Groups.

[Lewis]

It's hard to see past South Africa retaining it.

[Lofty]

Meanwhile in League Joe Westerman has been caught on video tonguing some birds fart pipe in a back alley.

[Lewis]

The top story at the minute is Josh McGuire potentially missing the first six games of his debut season for calling somebody a 'fucking spastic' in a pre-season friendly because the other bloke, also facing a potential six game ban, mocked him for being blind in one eye. The new slogan is 'There's Nothing Like League', and there really isn't. I Love This Game.

He got seven games (a quarter of the regular season), and the other bloke got away with it. Warrington's Year. :harold:

[Baz]

:harold:

Also Saints have been moved from 6PM to 7AM because of heat concerns, which honestly suits me down to the ground.

[Lewis]

Sky Sports Mix again as well. :cool:

[Baz]

Loving the amount of people saying McGuire should have just twatted Tom Amone and got a shorter consequence. :D

Leigh’s kits are so bad

[Lewis]

Their whole re-brand is a genuine embarrassment, right down to the owner arguing with people on Twitter about it.

[Baz]

Welsby already at it. :cool:

[Lewis]

He will be coming home with a dozen contract offers.

[Baz]

Makes Ben Barba look like Alfie Seeley.

[Baz]

I take that back. Barba was the man.

[Baz]

:(

[Lewis]

That is gutting considering the drop goal opportunities.

[Lewis]

I've never been so happy to see Saints win something.

[Baz]

:rave:

[Lewis]

This is MASSIVE for them and Super League. When Wigan did it in 1994 their team was stacked and there wasn't a lol financial disparity. The NRL might seethe itself into an Ashes tour now.

[Lewis]

I feel like they put this presentation together for a Penrith win. :harold:

[Baz]

There’s a Leigh player (Keanan Brand) on Love Island. :cab:

[Waffdon]

Another game another forward pass by about a metre. It wasn’t even remotely close :D

[Ian]

I was reading a thing in the Guardian about a previous game.


Around the country of England, though, supporters were yelling at their TV screens: did their eyes deceive them? Surely Matt Fagerson’s pass to his teammate Van der Merwe, lurking on the wing, had gone forward?

The answer was that indeed it had, by one measure, although not the one that actually – mostly – matters when officials apply Law 11, concerning the “Knock on or throw forward”. Fagerson released the ball almost exactly on England’s 22, and Van der Merwe caught it a couple of metres in front of that point, judging by the pitch markings.

The deciding factor as to the legality of a pass, as the referee Wayne Barnes explained on World Rugby’s website during the last World Cup, is the direction of the ball from the hands, rather than the position of passer relative to receiver. “It’s not about the direction that the ball eventually ends up, it’s about the direction it’s travelling in as it leaves the hands,” Barnes said.

It comes down to something called relative velocity. The momentum of a player moving forward will also take the ball forward, even if the pass leaves their hands going backwards. The case of Fagerson’s try-creating pass to Van der Merwe was complicated by the camera angle, which did not conclusively demonstrate the ball going backwards out of the back-rower’s hands.

Not sure that makes sense to me as you'd have thought if it clearly doesn't pass the eyeball test it must be forward but what do I know.

Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/10/when-is-a-forward-pass-not-a-forward-pass-its-all-about-relative-velocity

[Waffdon]

This Wales attack is hilariously bad.

[Waffdon]

The standard of both teams is absolutely hilarious. Bang average, England slightly the better.

[Ian]

Yeah neither are up to much are they. Borthwick's got a bit of a job on if the World Cup isn't to be a bit lol.

[Disco]

If Owen Farrell is missing ten points off the tee (again) then what really is the point of him being there?

[niko_cee]

I was reading a thing in the Guardian about a previous game.



Not sure that makes sense to me as you'd have thought if it clearly doesn't pass the eyeball test it must be forward but what do I know.

Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/10/when-is-a-forward-pass-not-a-forward-pass-its-all-about-relative-velocity

Relative velocity is absolute nonsense, concocted to essentially allow forward passes. The speeds you actually need to be travelling to see the sort of deviations, 1 or 2 metre differentials [over the course of a 5 metre pass] are mad [and most passes are made from a fairly 'low speed' situation, very rarely being made whilst running as fast as the receiver].

[Ian]

Relative velocity is absolute nonsense, concocted to essentially allow forward passes.

That was my gut reaction to it as well. Twist the rules in the name of attacking play.

[Manc]

If Owen Farrell is missing ten points off the tee (again) then what really is the point of him being there?

Fulfilling the northern quota.

[Waffdon]

Ahhhh, nice to see Scotland are back. Try conceded after a few minutes and now a red card after 6. Fuck me.

[Ian]

So much for this being a good game.

[Disco]

I turn on ten minutes late and the game is already over.

[Waffdon]

Well that’s a clear red card.

This should be open as fuck now if nothing else

[Ian]

12 down in France is tough but still, game back on perhaps.

[Disco]

Never change France. :D

[Ian]

Or.... not.

[Waffdon]

Jesus. He’s been fucking awful in the first half 3 matches running. Brilliant in the 2nd half but not going to matter here.

[Waffdon]

Russell does my head in sometimes. Stop fackin kicking it

[Waffdon]

Bottled the fuck out of that. So many wasted opportunities, France didn’t have a clue what to do all 2nd half until the overshot line up.

No bonus points either which means they’re gonna have to beat Ireland with 4+ tries I’m fairly sure to have a chance overall.

[Baz]

Not sure there's any Leeds fans in. :lol: Great noise.

[Lewis]

Leeds appear to have put stickers of a different sponsor over their original sleeve sponsors, and Saints have a big white strip over their original back sponsor. What is happening there?

[Baz]

We’ve had that for all four games, I presumed it was related to the tracker box thing but idk

Also that was a shambles.

[Lewis]

Wayne Bennett at it again. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always liked brie.

[Spikey M]

Are we going to be good again at some point soon?

[Waffdon]

England’s defence is special.

Smith is also tragic.

Oh my days :lol:

[Spikey M]

Fuck me :happycry:

[Manc]

Get this useless cunt sacked.

[Waffdon]

This is amazing. Can’t be we bottled beating these french the other week as well.

Ireland will feel the wrath tomorrow instead.

[Spikey M]

Thank christ that wasn't in a proper sport.

[niko_cee]

*insert montage of Eddie Jones laughing images here* (https://www.google.com/search?q=eddie+jones+laughing&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwis27CQwdT9AhXdvCcCHfjBBhkQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=eddie+jones+laughing&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIHCAAQgAQQGDIHCAAQgAQQGDoECCMQJzo FCAAQgAQ6BggAEAgQHjoECAAQHlCMCViiEmCxE2gAcAB4AIABU YgBlwWSAQE5mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=vcgMZOyIGd35nsEP-IObyAE&bih=714&biw=1536&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGG897GG897)

[Lewis]

There was the possibility that some of these players weren't as good as Eddie Jones was making them look. In similar England sacking news, Wayne Bennett is still at it. :cool:

[Waffdon]

I’ve got money on a Scottish red card. Seems inevitable as it was the other week. Probably gonna be about 8+ tries in this game.

Wtf are these two line ups from Scotland. Jesus

[Manc]

Great game this.

[Waffdon]

Scotland doing the opposite of usual. Defending really well but not taking advantage of the opportunities in the Ireland 22. Think Ireland might batter them in this 2nd half with the wind behind them.

Playing too frantic when they get there. It does work most of the time but should have slowed it down a couple of times. The only hope is scotland have started well in 2nd halves over the tournament

[Manc]

Hansen having the game of his life.

[Waffdon]

Scotland’s line out has been utterly pathetic today. Absolutely dreadful 2nd half as well. Ah well

Jesus. They’re just clueless how to break down this Ireland defence. Absolute monsters

[Baz]

Saints are back.

[Waffdon]

They might be winning but Scotland have been an absolute mess here.

Clearly been figured out as the tournament went on. They were scoring what felt like half the time they were in the 22 for the first 2.5 games. Ever since their their try against France in the 2nd half they look like they don’t know what to do every time they are presented with an opportunity

[Waffdon]

What a game. Scotland going for the 4th try from their own try line in the 80th minute when in the 80th min :D

[Lewis]

Never a red. Game's gone.

[niko_cee]

Why don't they just get everyone to wear [amateur boxing] crash helmets rather than entirely immolate the game? Only just saw a replay as was watching something else, but hasn't the Irish guy just ducked into his elbow there?

[Lewis]

I think the expectation is for the England player to open himself up at take a head to the chest/chin, otherwise somebody might get hurt.

[niko_cee]

Just seems a bit mad. It's an inherently dangerous game from a head injury perspective, I don't really see what you can realistically do about it and keep it as a fair contact sport. It is interesting though that the proliferation of red cards does seem to have made the man-advantage a much less formidable thing than in days gone by. England are obviously going to get done here, but that was probably going to happen anyway. Dunno if the Irish should be pleased to have been playing shite and coming through games, or worried that they're going to fluff their lines/be on the wrong end of a red card when crunch comes in the autumn.

[Manc]

Never a red. Game's gone.

Just catching the highlights. Baffling decision.