NRL 2017

[Sneakdefreak]

Rugby League World Cup starts this weekend with NZ taking on Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night. Kiwis should win easily against a surprisingly weak Samoa team.

Kiwis: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Gerard Beale, Brad Takairangi, Jordan Rapana Kodi Nikorima, Shaun Johnson, Martin Taupau, Thomas Leuluai, Adam Blair, Kenny Bromwich, Joseph Tapine, Simon Mannering. Interchange: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Russell Packer, Isaac Liu, Danny Levi. Reserves: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Peta Hiku, Te Maire Martin, Addin Fonua-Blake.

TOA SAMOA: Young Tonumaipea, Peter Mata'utia, Tim Lafai, Joey Leilua, Ken Maumalo, Joseph Paulo, Ben Roberts, Junior Paulo, Jazz Tevaga, Sam Lisone, Josh Papalii, Frank Pritchard (c), Leeson Ah Mau. Interchange: Pita Godinet, Herman Ese'ese, Suaia Matagi, Bunty Afoa, Zane Musgrove, Ricky Leutele, Frank Winterstein, Fa'amanu Brown

[Nepia]

That's an even more surprisingly week Kiwi team than I expected TBH.

What time is kick off?

[No Quarter]

I think a WC at least deserves its own thread...

I don't have a lot of time to watch League anymore but looking forward to this. From what I can tell there's been a pretty piss poor marketing campaign, I've bearly heard a whisper!

Should be fun, hoping PNG make it to the quarter as expected and cause an upset in he knockout stages.

[canefan]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11936792

[Sneakdefreak]

@canefan I wonder if the club operates as normal or waits until this is finalised in December? Because it is looking likely that Cronk will sign with the Roosters and Pearce will move to Manly which means Blake Green will be available to the Warriors.

[canefan]

@sneakdefreak I don't know, but if we're guessing about the Warriors everything grinds to a halt and we miss out

[hydro11]

This is the worst opening ceremony since the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

[JK]

@hydro11 said in NRL 2017:

This is the worst opening ceremony since the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

At least someone tipped the public off as the crowd looks pretty lacking

[JK]

And wtf what that all about

[Crazy Horse]

@jk it looked teally awkward whatever it was.

[antipodean]

30 mins of this crap and England look unfit and inept. Australia can only throw forward passes the blind refs can't see.

[SammyC]

The Australian haka/dance was one of the gayest things ive ever seen

[Sneakdefreak]

@sammyc Was it a haka? I thought it was a poem. Whatever it was it was terrible.

[ACT Crusader]

JT came up with the indigenous tribute opening. When I saw a news report during the week about it and some of the Kangaroo players getting instructions, I had visions of early 80s AB hakas and the overwhelming feeling that it was going to be awkward. It didn’t disappoint in that regard.

It was awkward, but good on them for embracing something like that.

[NTA]

@act-crusader said in NRL 2017:

It was awkward, but good on them for embracing something like that.

Had to. Wallabies left them behind with the indigenous jersey, according to some. Whatever - neither game probably does enough for the ATSI community. Particularly when you compare them to AFL.

[kiwiinmelb]

The Aussie team looks beatable ...... if there was a team capable of beating them 😄,

The short lived good kiwi team from a few years back would beat them I reckon ,

Not this one though .

[Higgins]

Goodness some pretty passionate haka and siva tau by the Kiwis and Toa Samoa

[Gunner]

Love the Kiwis haka, they all looked like they literally wanted to kill someone by the end of it.

Samoa’s was pretty good too.

[Gunner]

Rapana in early.
Good try, running on the last from our own half

[Gunner]

Ummm excuse me, I thought I was watching a game of league?

Where the fuck did that scrum penalty come from?