The World of Rugby Thread

[Lewis]

It doesn't look like either code does, but the NRL can afford to build one.

[Queenslander]

Just move the Titans.

From my understanding the Club Rugby scene in Perth is very healthy.

[ItalAussie]

Im not sure how much of the Western Force v ARU shambles has made it out of Australia but we are at the point where a flood of players will be heading to Europe soon.

RiP Corporate Rugby Union

Utter lunacy to bin the west and keep Melbourne, a city with more than a dozen major sporting teams and no interest in rugby.

[Queenslander]

Rebels merging with the Brumbies was the sensible option. Victorian players have moved north for 100 years.

WA Government is apparently planning to sue the ARU for 100 Million dollars because they built a Stadium thinking the Force would use it.

EDIT: And now a Senate inquiry has been approved into the ARU's process.

[Baz]

Terrible try. Wtf is Richardson doing?

Also why is Barba in charge of kicking on the last tackle? They've all been crap. He doesn't seem to be able to catch kicks either. Probably off his head.

And why does Lomax play a different position every game?

Saints are in turmoil. We don't deserve to make the semis.

[Lewis]

I thought they would play Ben Barba in the halves when they signed him because shunting Jonny Lomax out of position would have been stupid. But there you go.

And as if Rovers sacked Chris Chester instead of every single player.

[Baz]

http://i.imgur.com/EZ1Homc.png

[Lewis]

Scott Grix is such a brainless pleb at times. Just kick it out mate.

[niko_cee]

Ouch.

[Lewis]

Manly look quite well placed to win one in the next few years (if they get Matt Moylan it is ON), but the prospect of a Roosters vs Storm final is a real turn-off so long as one of them has to win.

[Lewis]

Going up. :cool:

[Lewis]

Toronto got promoted just now in front of 7972 people, which is only a couple of hundred less than watched Rovers do likewise. Transatlantic rugby league. :cool:

[Lewis]

The man behind the launch of Toronto Wolfpack has revealed plans are already advanced for a second Canadian team to enter the Rugby Football League in two years’ time. Hamilton is understood to be a likely destination for the new venture and the Toronto chief executive, Eric Perez, said: “Within six months, the world will know about the next Canadian side coming in for 2019, so get ready.” Perez also revealed his desire for a northern hemisphere league to be created within the next 10 years, allowing the best rugby league sides on both sides of the Atlantic to combine forces.

Steady on mate (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/15/second-canadian-team-rugby-league-eric-perez-toronto-wolfpack#comment-105283926). Won't somebody think of Halifax?

[ItalAussie]

After seeing what the All-Blacks did to South Africa, I'm less appalled by our performances against them.

57-0 isn't the kind of scoreline that has any positives whatsoever to draw.

[Queenslander]

Untill the Boks belt us in South Africa.

[Lewis]

Manly look quite well placed to win one in the next few years (if they get Matt Moylan it is ON), but the prospect of a Roosters vs Storm final is a real turn-off so long as one of them has to win.

Oh yeah. Mitchell Pearce. I can get behind North Queensland, but I think them getting bummed 40-0 is probably more likely.

[Queenslander]

At this point I should feel sorry for Mitch Pearce.

[Lewis]

Michael Morgan though. :cool:

[Lewis]

The Catalans are the most useless twats imaginable (other than the Warriors obviously). Super League should just step in now and relegate Leigh.

[Baz]

Wigan. :roflol:

[Lewis]

I think they had to win 120-0 today to leapfrog Saints. Between them being rubbish and Tony Smith being FOUND OUT it's been an alright season.

[Queenslander]

PNG won the Queensland Cup. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

PNG are getting good at cricket as well. Have they strengthened economic ties or something?

[Queenslander]

Im pretty sure the mining up there has given them some cash. There are also a few rich Queenslanders involved in League up there as well. Historically they have always been close to QLD sporting wise as their best League and Union players have played in the State for as long as I can remember.

[Queenslander]

https://youtu.be/ys6xHYBS8AQ

[Lewis]

If they had an NRL team it would be pretty amazing, Nobody in their right mind would move there (maybe Todd Carney), so it would have to be entirely indigenous, and they would lose every game 40-12 (all three tries being length of the field efforts) but take out at least four opposition players doing so. Stanley Gene is probably still fit enough for a game as well. :cool:

[Lewis]

Baz! It's happening!

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was going to have a bet on St Helens for this at 9/4 - not because I know anything about rugby league, but because I know 'Cas' are a crap club having their best ever season and St Helens are the opposite, so obviously because this is sport the latter will win a semi-final.

I didn't though, because I'm a mug.

[Mike]

It’s because I’ve tuned in for a change.

[Lewis]

Not just their best ever season. They have been hammering everybody. You could almost excuse them losing the Grand Final to Leeds, but muffing it up at this stage will be the biggest BOTTLE JOB in years.

[Lewis]

Luke 'Hairline' Gale though. :cool:

[Mike]

Picked a good match to watch eh

[niko_cee]

Fuck off Sunt Elens.

[Lewis]

He's going to win us the World Cup. :drool:

[ScousePig]

At least Castleford should be more likely to beat Leeds in the final.

[Lewis]

913509638297014273

Just beat 'em mate.

[Queenslander]

Brad Thorn is now head coach at the Reds. :drool:

[Baz]

Baz! It's happening!:moop:

We might have won if Percy had remembered his contact lenses. His kicking was worse than ever.

[Lewis]

You would think Matty Smith would be on kicking, especially when he offers so little else, so that is an odd one.

[Disco]

Who the hell writes this headline without using 'mauled'?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41449164

[Queenslander]

Are the South African teams a popular addition?

[Lewis]

lol get lost Leigh. Come back in 2019 when they go [back] to fourteen teams.

[Lewis]

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

:cab:

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

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm going to assume 'Lebanon' and 'Italy' are just Australian E and F teams.

[Lewis]

Essentially. The Italy squad is pretty great. In amongst all of the eighteen year olds with foreign grandparents and reserve grade nobodies you have Wigan (and future England) centre Oliver Gildart, Matty Johns' son, the best full-back in the world James Tedesco, knackered legend Terry Campese, and Mirco Bergamasco moonlighting as a goal-kicking centre for a free holiday.

[Disco]

Bergamasco is in the Italy squad? What a don. :cool:

[niko_cee]

What's Hardaker done then?

Must be fairly serious to get bunted from the Grand Final.

[Lewis]

Whatever it is is meant to have happened a few weeks ago, so he will have either failed a drug test or got into another 'incident' on the town.

[Baz]

It’ll be coke.

[Queenslander]

I'm going to assume 'Lebanon' and 'Italy' are just Australian E and F teams.

It is always the way.

[Queenslander]

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

:cab:

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

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

[Lewis]

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

[Queenslander]

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

[Queenslander]

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

:drool:

[ItalAussie]

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

[Lewis]

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

[ScousePig]

Castleford haven't woke up yet.

[Lewis]

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

[Lewis]

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

[Lewis]

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

[Giggles]

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

[Lewis]

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

[ScousePig]

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

[Lewis]

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

[Queenslander]

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

I just think he isnt in his list of favorites.

[Queenslander]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/matthew-johns-international-eligibility-fix-amid-jason-taumalolo-and-andrew-fifita-switch/news-story/19f555d0c739c0545393af90d5081f4b

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

[niko_cee]

It’ll be coke.

Ding ding ding, we have a wiener.

[Lewis]

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

[Baz]

Roby in? :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

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

[Lewis]

Roby in? :cool:

Mark Percival and Alex Walmsley should be in as well.


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

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

[Lewis]

Jonny Lomax too.

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

[Lewis]

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


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

:cool:

[Queenslander]

And the want Hayne.

[Lewis]

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

[Queenslander]

Dave Taylor would also be a walk up start.

[Lewis]

Toronto got there first.

[Queenslander]

Has he played yet?

[Lewis]

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

[Queenslander]

Are they that wealthy?

Ashton Sims is a good pick up.

[Lewis]

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

[ItalAussie]

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

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

Thoughts, Queenslander?

[Disco]

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

[hfswjyr]

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

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

[Queenslander]

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

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

Thoughts, Queenslander?

I havent seen the game yet unfortunately.

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

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

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

[ItalAussie]

I havent seen the game yet unfortunately.

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

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

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

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

[Queenslander]

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

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

[Lewis]

What is this?

[Lewis]

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

[Jimmy Floyd]

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

[Lewis]

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

[Jimmy Floyd]

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

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

[Lewis]

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

[ItalAussie]

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

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

[Lewis]

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

[Lewis]

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

[ItalAussie]

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

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

[Lewis]

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

[ItalAussie]

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

[Lewis]

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

[Lewis]

I really can't stand Josh Dugan. Meh. This was always a write-off, but it was alright enough to think we can beat the worst New Zealand team in ages and come back for a proper hammering in the final.

[ItalAussie]

Even though England shaded the second half, except maybe for the set where the player got held up, you never really thought they were going to score a try.

[Lewis]

I agree in terms of putting a move together or doing anything good, because our halves were typically rubbish and Jonny Lomax was having an off day; but I would back our wingers in the air, and James Roby is never not amazing, so - in theory at least - there was scope for something to happen. As I said, like watching New South Wales.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hang on, do you really have home refs in a World Cup?

[Baz]

Caught about five minutes of the game at 10-4 in someone’s house but couldn’t really watch.

Did Roby, Walmsley, Lomax or Percival do good?

[Lewis]

Hang on, do you really have home refs in a World Cup?

It's a bit of a farce, but I think they do it to keep the WHINGING Australians on side and stop them pushing for their useless two referees system.


Caught about five minutes of the game at 10-4 in someone’s house but couldn’t really watch.

Did Roby, Walmsley, Lomax or Percival do good?

Roby was our best player after the wingers, Walmsley pulled out with a virus, Lomax was hit and miss, and Wayne Bennett inexplicably prefers John Bateman at left centre over Mark Percival.

[Disco]

It could be worse than having to watch the haka, the drivers at the US GP were introduced by Michael Buffer off the boxing.

[Queenslander]

Australia E defeated France for their first World Cup win. Does Lebanon even own a single goal post?

http://lebanonrl.com/National-Teams/311114338

I assume these blokes are all born and raised in the Western Suburbs of Sydney.

[ItalAussie]

I reckon New Zealand still have the edge over England thanks the their halves. The England halves looked like their weakest point against us, and Shaun Johnson is better than anyone they've got, by the looks of things.

[Shindig]

It always surprises me in a rugby nation like Wales how League gets swamped by Union.

[Queenslander]

I reckon New Zealand still have the edge over England thanks the their halves. The England halves looked like their weakest point against us, and Shaun Johnson is better than anyone they've got, by the looks of things.

Shaun Johnson could tear apart the Kangaroos defence on his best day I reckon.

[Disco]

It always surprises me in a rugby nation like Wales how League gets swamped by Union.

Well there's about seven people south of Sheffield who care about League.

[Lewis]

It is odd how Scotland and Wales never followed the Northern clubs into professionalism and ultimately rugby league. I suppose if they were only going from valley to valley and doing it for a sing song there was little need for wages, but you would have thought the Jocks would have liked the extra money.

Shaun Johnson is as good as anyone when he is on it, but he has had one decent game in two years (admittedly against us), so we should have them covered elsewhere with their absences.

[Disco]

I have very little knowledge of the split but (at the risk of going all Giggles) I do know that new ideas from over in that England are not often popular in the valleys.

[Sam]

It always surprises me in a rugby nation like Wales how League gets swamped by Union.

Apart from that ‘belt’ across the north, no one really gives a shit about League.

[Lewis]

I have very little knowledge of the split but (at the risk of going all Giggles) I do know that new ideas from over in that England are not often popular in the valleys.

The famous Welsh 'shamamateurism' is supposed to have come into play very early on as well. It all strikes me as the great sporting counter-factual, and which probably just ends with us having lost seventeen consecutive World Cup finals to Australia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cricket developed in the same way as rugby, in the sense that we didn't even introduce club leagues down here until the 1960s-70s, whereas up there there were flat caps being passed around to collect 50 run/5 wicket bonuses for people as early as Edwardian times, and in the 1930s-50s the best contract you could get as a pro cricketer would be with a Lancashire league club (despite the 'standard' being well down). Even now the club scene up there is massively mercenary compared to anything down here. It must be a cultural thing.

[Giggles]

No 2023 :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think South Africa is about the smallest TV market they'd ever put it in. You should be safe.

[Lewis]

They must have been spooked by the prospect of a HARD BORDER.

[Giggles]

They must have been spooked by the prospect of a HARD BORDER.

The rugby always brings that 'hands across the border' bullshite because of the representative side instead of a national one at international level. It would have hit massive levels if this had gone ahead and such thinking is better buried along with the bid.

[Lewis]

I thought that stuff was why they would get the nod, but I don't suppose even you lot can compete with the chance to endorse quotas for black people.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think one of the ultimates in sporting bliss would be to see the Boks get knocked out of their own World Cup in the group stage by someone like Tonga.

[Lewis]

They could lose the first game to somebody shit, 'suspend' the quota policy for the duration of the tournament, go on to win it, and then throw the entire country into reverse-1995 and have race laws back in place by the New Year.

[Queenslander]

Fiji is an Australian State now so anyone who disagrees can fark off.

EDIT: Kerevi is fair game though.

[Queenslander]

This bloke is our project poach No. 8 for the 2019 World Cup

https://www.westernforce.com.au/sites/default/files/team-member/images/Isireli%20Naisarani%20.jpg

[Queenslander]

Our backline for Japan. We also have another 2 Fijian wingers.

15 Kurtley Beale
14 Marika Koroibete (rancid poach)
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Broncos brought him to Queensland in his late teens)
12 Samu Kerevi (fair game came to Queensland as a toddler.
11 Henry Speight (rancid poach)
10 Reece Hodge
9 Nick Phipps

[Disco]

Got my tickets for the Argie game today, although at this rate even I might get a game on the wing.

[hfswjyr]

Our backline for Japan. We also have another 2 Fijian wingers.

15 Kurtley Beale
14 Marika Koroibete (rancid poach)
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Broncos brought him to Queensland in his late teens)
12 Samu Kerevi (fair game came to Queensland as a toddler.
11 Henry Speight (rancid poach)
10 Reece Hodge
9 Nick Phipps

I think Hodge is great, but Australia must have a better 10 somewhere??
And Phipps still at 9...

Have yet to see Speight do anything of note in the gold jersey either.

[Queenslander]

I think Hodge is great, but Australia must have a better 10 somewhere??
And Phipps still at 9...

Have yet to see Speight do anything of note in the gold jersey either.

We dont unfortunately. I think Hodge deserves at least a go at 10 because we arent winning a World Cup or a Bledisloe with Foley fucking up all the time. Coopers time has well and truly passed. I would be all for Beale playing 10 up North for a game because he is awful under the highball for a 15.

Our current up and coming 10's would all be demoralised playing Test Rugby atm.

[niko_cee]

So who have the Yagoona Schooners got turning out for them? El Masri? Did he ever represent Australia?

I realise he's a bit past it in age terms.

[Queenslander]

Robbie Farrah is captain whonhas played for Australia. El Masri also played for Australia while beating his with on the side.

[niko_cee]

Could probably do with banking some dodgy TMO calls rather than wasting them here.

[Lewis]

They should have booked this for Belmore Oval or another suburban ground in a kebab-heavy area. In 2013 they mostly got the ground booking right, but this one is probably subject to the NRL drive to having everyone play out of three KFC big screen-friendly stadiums.

There is a whiff of 'not an international player' about my mate Luke Gale.

[Lewis]

Robbie Farah whinging nah mate.

[Lewis]

Tonga. :cool:

We avoid New Zealand now. They get Fiji (who look good) and then Australia, so won't make the final; whilst we get Papau New Guinea and then Tonga, so won't have any players fit for the final.

[Queenslander]

Tonga :drool:

[niko_cee]

That's fairly funny.

Now to inexplicably fuck things up against the French.

[Ian]

England's Autumn internationals series schedule is a bit uninspiring.

Are the Aussies any good at the moment?

[Ian]

This kicking from Argentina is quite something.

[Giggles]

When is 'lets change our jersies into one that looks more like the oppositions' ever a good idea?

[Disco]

The old man insisted on stopping for food twenty miles from home. Seething.

[Disco]

This kicking from Argentina is quite something.

They hit at least one post and the bar from easy positions, made us look a lot better than we were. Their flankers put in a hell of a shift today, we were very lucky not to have lost and unfortunately it the midfield that lacked any real creative spark. Henry Slade may have just blown his big chance to impress. Slight silver lining was seeing people like Genge, George, WIlliams, and Lozowski coming on and looking good. When the team is full strength there's a hell of a lot of power to come off the bench for the last twenty minutes.

[Queenslander]

England's Autumn internationals series schedule is a bit uninspiring.

Are the Aussies any good at the moment?

Depends who plays 10. Cheika has thrown another fuck boy Waratah a shot at 6 who is pointless as as Tom Robertson who England should target if he plays.

Our scrummagings is better but the French refs are still livin in the past.


Wobbly win over England would be a huge upset.

[Ian]

Is Genge as much of a beast as Sky were building him up to be yesterday?


They hit at least one post and the bar from easy positions, made us look a lot better than we were. Their flankers put in a hell of a shift today, we were very lucky not to have lost and unfortunately it the midfield that lacked any real creative spark. Henry Slade may have just blown his big chance to impress. Slight silver lining was seeing people like Genge, George, WIlliams, and Lozowski coming on and looking good. When the team is full strength there's a hell of a lot of power to come off the bench for the last twenty minutes.

I didn't think much of Slade either. Neither centre really got going to be honest.

Really liked what I saw of Underhill though.

[ItalAussie]

Genia's one of the few Australians that people outside of Australia have really heard of.

He's not at the peak of his powers, but he makes things happen.

[Lewis]

'Lachlan Lam, son of Adrian Lam...'

Well, I'm old.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is there anyone in Australia who doesn't have a son called Lachlan?

[Disco]

Is Genge as much of a beast as Sky were building him up to be yesterday?



I didn't think much of Slade either. Neither centre really got going to be honest.

Really liked what I saw of Underhill though.

I don't know about the hype but I would expect him to be in contention for a starting spot soon, World Cup might be a bit too soon but the 6N after that and I reckon he'll be in there.

[ItalAussie]

Is there anyone in Australia who doesn't have a son called Lachlan?

"Hi, Macca. Locky can't come to the phone, he's out with his mates, the Hemsworths".

[Lewis]

lol France got the World Cup.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That makes no sense, they only just had it.

[Lewis]

God we donned that World Cup.

[Henry]

Corrupt as fuck, this world cup selection process. As bad as the soccer one perhaps.

[Disco]

They had it what, 10 years ago? Given there's only a few places that both play the game and have the facility to host it it's not ridiculous.

[Henry]

Probably not, but before they changed their minds to give it to the french, South Africa's score for security was dodgy as fuck, as was their score for political and economic stability.

[Disco]

France seems eminently sensible in that case. South Africa was the WRU recommendation but I'd imagine that was based on them thinking it was a better market for developing the game, there's certainly no shortage of money in French rugby after all.

[Queenslander]

Hopefully South America gets the next one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surprised they haven't attempted USA yet like every other sport.

[Queenslander]

California and Canada maybe?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd say a NE/Canada share with venues of New York, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Phillie and some run down dump in Detroit. Nice and close together (as America goes). You'd have to do it in June though as the silly rugger ball is on in September.

[Queenslander]

Yeah makes sense. I was more thinking the California weather.

[Giggles]

The seething over Wales and Scotland not voting for 'Ireland' is providing massive lols.

[Queenslander]

Here's the team to play England

1. Scott Sio (41 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (80 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (89 Tests)
4. Rob Simmons (80 Tests) Powder puff
5. Adam Coleman (20 Tests)
6. Ned Hanigan (11 Tests) Hopeless Waratah fuck boy
7. Michael Hooper (c) (77 Tests) Seagull
8. Sean McMahon (24 Tests)
9. Will Genia (vc) (86 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (vc) (53 Tests) Fuck boy who cant kick from hand or off a tee
11. Reece Hodge (22 Tests) Best 10 we have atm
12. Samu Kerevi (16 Tests) Will be a beast
13. Tevita Kuridrani (56 Tests)
14. Marika Koroibete (6 Tests) Beast!
15. Kurtley Beale (69 Tests)

Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (127 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (17 Tests) Penalty magnet at the scrum
18. Allan Alaalatoa (21 Tests)
19. Matt Philip (2 Tests)
20. Ben McCalman (51 Tests)
21. Lopeti Timani (10 Tests)
22. Nick Phipps (60 Tests)
23. Karmichael Hunt (4 Tests) :cool:
24. Henry Speight (19 Tests)
^one to be omitted

[Lewis]

Marika Koroibete must be passing the residency test by the skin of his teeth. Is he good? I don't remember him being particularly amazing in league.

[Queenslander]

Marika Koroibete must be passing the residency test by the skin of his teeth. Is he good? I don't remember him being particularly amazing in league.

Passed it just recently. He is easily the best winger we have cant really kick the ball out of hand that well though.

[Lewis]

Turns out I missed Curtis Rona getting some caps as well. That is some decline from being able to poach Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri over. Suliasi Vunivalu will have a load of union money thrown at him at some point, but hopefully by then the brainless cunts in the NRL can offer him something to stick with league and Fiji like they should have done Semi Radradra.

[Queenslander]

I have zero faith in the NRL doing the right thing in regards to Fiji.

[Lewis]

I've just read Josh Dugan claiming to have been *this close* to signing for Japanese rugby. He would be absolutely terrible in union.

[Queenslander]

There would be 1000s of unknown Polynesian fellas better Dugan.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are the NRL like Indian cricket in terms of trying to kill everyone else for their own insular gain, or do they want to expand the sport?

[Queenslander]

Insular as fark. The Rugby League World Cup.is a prime example eg people only put their hands up for Island Nations after they have missed out on the Kangaroos.

Semi Radradra's letter on why he wantwd to Represent the Maningaroos and Mal's blatant bullshit response is the perfect example.

[Lewis]

They have a massive complex about the AFL, so everything is put into becoming a 'national sport' instead of doing what they should be doing and throwing money at Fiji and the obesity islands. The Radradra bollocks just fell through those cracks because there was nothing in place to make playing for Fiji worthwhile.

[Queenslander]

The AFL complex is the reason most Sydney games are played in an empty Olympic Stadium and not back in the Suburbs where the Leagues Clubs are based.

90's League will forever be the peak. :(

[Lewis]

Is that where that comes from? It's mental, and then they sit there wondering why crowd numbers are static (at best).

[Queenslander]

That and probably corporate facilities.

Edit: Im pretty sure I read that somewhere.

[Lewis]

Yeah, that could be part of it, but you wonder how much corporate money Canterbury (say) are getting in the empty stadium to makes leaving Belmore worthwhile and ceding a load of potentially important home comforts.

[Disco]

Kerevi and Kuridrani is a fairly meaty midfield, you haven't secretly appointed Gatland have you?

[hfswjyr]

Foley is hardly going to be breaking the line, so gotta play some warrenball.

England should have this though.

[Queenslander]

Kerevi does have some ball handling skills and he is a natural 12. Obviously NRC isnt the same level but he runs good 10/12 lines.

[niko_cee]

Don't often see a try-less game of league.

[hfswjyr]

A new low!

[Queenslander]

Hopefully the Kangaroos are next

[Lewis]

The kick-off times are off-putting enough, but the thought of having to get up at six and then find a Premier Sports stream seals the deal, so I've missed all the good stuff this time round. It might be better for everybody if Stephen Kearney goes back to international coaching and the Warriors get one of the proper coaches currently without a job (Michael Maguire would be ideal).

[Ian]

Nice hit from Lawes, that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Foley is the worst player on the pitch already, and then he does that.

[Lewis]

Does Bernard Foley live on touching us up in 2015? He isn't really good enough to be a 'mercurial' pain in the arse of the Frederic Michalak/Carlos Spencer type.

[Ian]

Didn't he miss about 20 kicks against us in another game?

[Disco]

Once again we're handing out easy opportunities that the other side aren't taking, how on earth are we still ahead?

[Lewis]

Take the penalty. Stop pissing about.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Every time the camera cuts to a seething Cheika, another baby lamb is born.

[Disco]

Every time the camera cuts to a seething Cheika, another baby lamb is born.

Him clapping the disallowed try was glorious, suck it up cobber.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What a gloriously shit first half.

Kurtley Beale a disgrace arguing that decision in the way he did and Hooper not much better.

[Disco]

That was ridiculous in about five different ways.

[Lewis]

The point keeps it off the line.

[Disco]

I'd give the grounding but disallow it for the obstruction. The salt over this could be amazing. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol and then that happens. The rain is Ned Kelly's tears.

[Lewis]

That was pretty funny. I wonder what set matey off coming through the crowd.

[Disco]

Jesus, what the hell went on in Cardiff?

[Disco]

Ditto Murrayfield, Scotland should have won that which is an insane thing to be saying.

[Queenslander]

Can we please have Eddie back?

[Ian]

Ditto Murrayfield, Scotland should have won that which is an insane thing to be saying.

Was it a strong All Blacks side? Looks a great result for Scotland at face value, even though they lost.

EDIT: Just finished some really shit highlights which ended on Scotland's last try (the hands / speed of handling on the last pass was wonderful) but didn't show Barrett apparently ruining Hogg's life at the last knockings.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can we please have Eddie back?

The ref had cross of St George pants on (which makes a change tbf) but Cheika comes across really badly and generally seems to be a prick.

[Queenslander]

It us hard to know if his whinging is valid or not these days.

[hfswjyr]

Was it a strong All Blacks side? Looks a great result for Scotland at face value, even though they lost.

EDIT: Just finished some really shit highlights which ended on Scotland's last try (the hands / speed of handling on the last pass was wonderful) but didn't show Barrett apparently ruining Hogg's life at the last knockings.

It was the strongest side we could put on the field today, but no, plenty out injured or on sabbatical.

Full game replays are always on youtube if you filter the search by date and length of video.

[hfswjyr]

Was it a strong All Blacks side? Looks a great result for Scotland at face value, even though they lost.

EDIT: Just finished some really shit highlights which ended on Scotland's last try (the hands / speed of handling on the last pass was wonderful) but didn't show Barrett apparently ruining Hogg's life at the last knockings.

It was the strongest side we could put on the field today, but no, plenty out injured or on sabbatical.

Full game replays are always on youtube if you filter the search by date and length of video.

[Baz]

Walmsley’s gonna have dementia by the time he’s 30 if he carries on. Saints use him as a human wrecking ball but for England it’s even worse - they just expect him to cannonball headfirst into opposition defences every single time he gets the ball. :drunk:

[Lewis]

My alarm never went off. :moop:

[Baz]

My alarm never went off. :moop:Was on BBC so it recorded automatically cos I record the highlight shows. Was a nice surprise when I went to watch MOTD on the planner this morning.

Why’ve they taken shameful lustage queen Tanya Arnold off, in favour of “Chappers”?

[Lewis]

The highlights have just been on, and lol at Alex Walmsley rolling through defenders like an Islamic lorry. He'll have signed for an NRL team by the middle of the season.

Plus one for Tanya Arnold.

[Lewis]

My alarm never went off. :moop:

I decided just to stay up this time, and now I'm on my arse. Still got a lol out of the BBC report on Australia vs Fiji that contains the following line though:


Key half-back Jarryd Hayne had a rare off night and they just could not exert any measure of control on the match.

Right. I bet New Zealand threw that quarter-final to get the coach sacked, since, provided he made the right noises about CULTURE, he could have conceivably have kept going off the back of an unavoidable semi-final defeat to Australia. Then again, the entire tournament was set up for them to beat us today in Auckland, so maybe not.

[leedsrevolution]

I decided just to stay up this time, and now I'm on my arse. Still got a lol out of the BBC report on Australia vs Fiji that contains the following line though:



Right. I bet New Zealand threw that quarter-final to get the coach sacked, since, provided he made the right noises about CULTURE, he could have conceivably have kept going off the back of an unavoidable semi-final defeat to Australia. Then again, the entire tournament was set up for them to beat us today in Auckland, so maybe not.

Yeah I'm up for this as well. Decent start.

[hfswjyr]

Just got home after driving by the stadium. Wasn't sure if I'd been teleported to Tonga. Houses were covered in flags and cars/flag-mobiles hooning around honking in the streets.

Madness.

[Baz]

Who was Fiji’s number 4 against Australia? Man’s a machine. :cool:

[Lewis]

This is a great match. Scenes in the coaches box as well:

https://s7.postimg.org/u70xbn3wb/Untitled88.png

[Lewis]

Fucking hell. What a finish.

[Lewis]

lol nobody knows what to do. Mental.

[leedsrevolution]

Fucking hell. What a finish.

Jesus fuckin Christ. That was incredible.

[Lewis]

I don't think I would have even been seething if they had managed it.

[Mike]

Watched the last two minutes, so that wins down to me. You’re welcome boys.

[Giggles]

What was it? The start of the BBC report doesn't mention what stage.

[Lewis]

Semi-final. Winner gets to lose to Australia.

[Giggles]

That went by quick. Pity everything was on at stupid o'clock or I'd have watched some of the tournament.

[Queenslander]

Filolta

[Baz]

What does everyone make of that last-second knock on” then? :uhoh:

[Lewis]

It was just a lazy carry, like McGillvary losing it in the previous phase. I thought we were getting away with a lot of 'flat' passes all game as well, courtesy of the NRL officiating, but the second Tongan try was off the forwardest pass you'll ever see so maybe not.

[Ian]

Scotland game has perked up a bit in the last chunk of that half.

Missed all of Australia's points and the red card while seeing if England were going to be worth watching.

EDIT: Seen the red now, what a daft thing to do.

[Disco]

The Lollabies have been great value on this tour, Hoopers expression every time they do something idiotic is priceless.

[Lewis]

His face being a couple of sizes too small for his head helps there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The haka really is absolute nonsense. High time for it to be consigned to the dustbin of history.

I'd just laugh at them and say what on earth are you doing?

[The Merse]

Lewis myself and Toonsend told you this was golden generation and ou chose to use it as a stick to beat me with. I’ll take my prize of pie with the 4th in the world ranking now, cheers.

Navies is having a hell of a game. Been such a big players for Blues for a long time and I’ve been one of many doubting his international credentials but he was also one of the few bright spots vs Georgia. Shame he’s vying for a spot with Tipuric and Warburton.

[Lewis]

Fair play. Fourth in a world of three decent teams is pretty good.

[Lewis]

What does everyone make of that last-second knock on” then? :uhoh:

Sign the petition (https://www.change.org/p/national-rugby-tonga-v-england-look-into-the-final-try) (it would at least bring the average weight of the signatories right down).


Referees need to be held accountable for their choices, and there needs to be a legal process to ensure games are scored with fairness and integrity - like the old days.

I don't know about that mate. Graeme Langlands is still seething somewhere.

[Lewis]

And having had to Google 'Graeme Langlands' to make sure I had the right spelling, I think he might actually have other things on his mind these days.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Held accountable? So if one makes a bad call you fire him and promote someone who is even worse?

[Lewis]

The picture I posted this morning covers the Tongan accountability process.

[Queenslander]

It really is just a bunch on Australians and Kiwis crying over this from what i can tell.

[Disco]

And having had to Google 'Graeme Langlands' to make sure I had the right spelling, I think he might actually have other things on his mind these days.


People Also Searched For:

Johnny Raper.

:|

[Lewis]

They should have known.


It really is just a bunch on Australians and Kiwis crying over this from what i can tell.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXA5KbcNzuo

Well some of us (Ryan Hall, me) are still 'filthy' about that, so... Touched it as the ball is rising. What?

[Queenslander]

You know what we are like though especially the League mob.

[Lewis]

In the extremely unlikely event that we win next week I reckon Mal Meninga will actually burst.

[Queenslander]

Rugby League needs England to win I reckon.

The fallout if the Kangaroos lose will provide at least a summers worth of shit slinging in all directions. :drool:

[Lewis]

True, although they would probably just blame Wayne Bennett and/or Andrew Fifita and then send weakened teams to the Four Nations for ten years in a sulk.

[Queenslander]

Im a Wayne man so an England win feels pretty special. Then his trolling for the rest of time will be perfect.

They will probably just double down on the poaching tbh.

[Baz]

lol at that petition.

I’m sure The Reid Jon Wilkin is partly to blame for his comments on punditry immediately after; ‘that would definitely be a try in Super League.’

What times the final? EDIT: 9am. Is it on BBC or did Premier Sports nab it?

[Lewis]

Josh Hodgson is out, so James Roby is going to win it for us. :drool:

[Queenslander]

Tongan players claimed Fifita was stripped of the ball and pleaded with Cecchin to send it to the video referee, but their requests were denied.

Kiwi sportswriter and broadcaster Phil Gifford said there was an “unconscious racist element” in not sending the play upstairs.


:lol:

[Lewis]

I'm all for a bit of rugby league conspiracy, because Australia clearly used to go easy on us in those post-2000 World Cup Ashes series, and Cameron Smith does referee matches himself, but what exactly does the sport gain from fixing it for us to get to the final over Tonga? Putting Tonga through would have made for a miles better NARRATIVE (especially in those circumstances), and would have had tangible benefits for the island strategy they pretend to have.

[Jimmy Floyd]

TV money is always the truest conspiracy theory.

[Lewis]

All of which is in Australia where the Tongans are.