The NRL Season of 2016

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="aucklandwarlord" data-cid="573247" data-time="1460960756">
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It's pretty hard to come back from an ACL isn't it? Even once it's rehealed don't you lose a fair chunk of explosiveness? It looked like such an innocuous tackle as well. 
 
How does that make our backline look? Fusitua to fullback and then the next cab off the rank into wing until we can get Manu back? Fusitua looked very safe under the high ball on Saturday. 
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I think advances in surgery etc in recent years has improved things somewhat. Adrian Petersen in the NFL lead the league in rushing yards after needing an ACL reconstruction.

Sneakdefreak

Bandwagon last seen heading towards the cliff of another lost season....
 
It was always going to happen. Warriors sign star only for star to do their acl is part and parcel of this franchise.
 
Tui Lolohea and David Fusitua will be the replacements at the back although Henare Wells has been carving it up in the NSW Cup. Huge dent to their playoff chances but this team still has the depth to go to the Grand Final.... if it can pull its shit together.
 
Kiwis should be able to get past this too. Hiku, Hoffman, Lolohea will fight it out for the fullback position. Rona, Nightingale, Watene-Zelezniak, Perrett, Kahu are other options too.

aucklandwarlord

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sneakdefreak" data-cid="573271" data-time="1460964810">
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Bandwagon last seen heading towards the cliff of another lost season....
 
It was always going to happen. Warriors sign star only for star to do their acl is part and parcel of this franchise.
 
Tui Lolohea and David Fusitua will be the replacements at the back although Henare Wells has been carving it up in the NSW Cup. Huge dent to their playoff chances but this team still has the depth to go to the Grand Final.... if it can pull its shit together.
 
Kiwis should be able to get past this too. Hiku, Hoffman, Lolohea will fight it out for the fullback position. Rona, Nightingale, Watene-Zelezniak, Perrett, Kahu are other options too.
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I've personally thought RTS has been pretty quiet this season anyway so I think it's not necessarily fatal for the Warriors season provided we don't lose anyone else. 
 
I'd far prefer Johnson/Luke/Lolohea to be at the top of their game, than have RTS at the top of his and the others playing poorly.
 
As an aside, I see Shaun Johnson is offering his services via his facebook page to run the water for a yet to be decided Auckland league side this Saturday if any of the ferners have kids who play league - worth throwing your name in the hat. Good bastard...

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sneakdefreak" data-cid="573271" data-time="1460964810">
<div>
Bandwagon last seen heading towards the cliff of another lost season....
 
It was always going to happen. Warriors sign star only for star to do their acl is part and parcel of this franchise.
 
Tui Lolohea and David Fusitua will be the replacements at the back although Henare Wells has been carving it up in the NSW Cup. Huge dent to their playoff chances but this team still has the depth to go to the Grand Final.... if it can pull its shit together.
 
Kiwis should be able to get past this too. Hiku, Hoffman, Lolohea will fight it out for the fullback position. Rona, Nightingale, Watene-Zelezniak, Perrett, Kahu are other options too.
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ABH (anyone but Hiku) but it will likely be Hiku.
 
I do hope that Thomas moves into the halves for the Warriors.

Sneakdefreak

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
 
ABH (anyone but Hiku) but it will likely be Hiku.</blockquote>
 
Depends how Lolohea goes this round against Melbourne.
 
Players in contention for the Kiwis are:
 
Outside backs: Jordan Kahu (Broncos), Bryson Goodwin (Souths), Curtis Rona (Bulldogs), Sam Perrett (Bulldogs), Josh Hoffman (Gold Coast), Sosaia Feki (Cronulla), Peta Hiku (Panthers), Dallin Watene Zelezniak (Panthers), Dean Whare (Panthers), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters), Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors).
 
Halves: Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Kieran Foran (Parramatta), Te Maire Martin (Panthers), Thomas Leuluai (Warriors).
 
Forwards: Adam Blair (Broncos), Alex Glenn (Broncos), Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Raiders), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Manu Ma'u (Eels), Kenny Edwards (Eels), Suaia Matagi (Panthers), Sam McKendry (Panthers), Martin Taupau (Manly), Sam Moa (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Storm), Kenny Bromwich (Storm), Tohu Harris (Storm), Kevin Proctor (Storm), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Bodene Thompson (Warriors).
 
Hooker: Isaac Luke (Warriors), Lewis Brown (Manly), Siliva Havili (St George), Kodi Nikorima (Broncos).
 
Not bad, not bad at all.

Sneakdefreak

Speaking of Melbourne, hipster hellhole that it is, the Warriors have named their team to play the ANZAC fixture:
 
1 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
2 DAVID FUSITUâ€™A
<div style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
3 BLAKE AYSHFORD
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 THOMAS LEULUAI
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 SAM LISONE
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 BEN MATULINO
11 BODENE THOMPSON
12 RYAN HOFFMAN (c)
13 SIMON MANNERING
Interchange:
14 JONATHAN WRIGHT
15 JACOB LILLYMAN
16 CHARLIE GUBB
17 LIGI SAO
 
I'm assuming that Wright is cover for Vatuvei and the team will probably have Jazz Tevaga to replace Wright come kick-off. 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nrl.com/news/weeklyfeatures/teamlists/tabid/11656/default.aspx'>http://www.nrl.com/news/weeklyfeatures/teamlists/tabid/11656/default.aspx</a>
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kiwiinmelb

Storm are very vulnerable right now , have lost their first choice FB and both centres for the season, rookie looking backline ,

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="573551" data-time="1461091022">Storm are very vulnerable right now , have lost their first choice FB and both centres for the season, rookie looking backline ,</blockquote>
 
Nice try kiwiinmelb :) 
Next minute you'll be telling us you have a couple of no names at halfback and hooker and a set of 'brown guys' in the forwards that aren't that good.......

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="573647" data-time="1461133805">
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Nice try kiwiinmelb :) 
Next minute you'll be telling us you have a couple of no names at halfback and hooker and a set of 'brown guys' in the forwards that aren't that good.......
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 In all honesty , they are not playing that well by their usual standards , defense is good , but their attack has been average 
 
Speaking of the forwards I reckon Jesse will go back to back best and fairest this year though , what a gun forward that man is

kiwiinmelb

Rumor doing the rounds over here, Marika Koroibete could be playing for the Rebels and fast tracked into the Wallabies

mariner4life

Haha hilarious

kiwiinmelb

I'm hearing it could be very soon , 
Could even be within weeks

Sneakdefreak

Have they confused him with Semi Radradra?

Gunner

Wests get rogered by the Raiders 60-6. 
The NRL obstruction rules are a joke. 
The shit they look for when reviewing a try is crazy. 
Some of the obstruction plays they're calling probably happen 55 million times a game and the refs don't pick it up, why is it suddenly not ok just because a try is scored?

Dice

<div>I'm tired of people who think swinging arms and shoulders to players lying on the ground in a vulnerable position is OK. I know you're allowed to tackle players on the ground, but there's just too much excessive force being used on players. You see a lot players coming out hurt after getting hit on the ground.</div>
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<div>Here's an example from Friday's game by Sam Burgess.</div>
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<div>That is ugly, but it happens every week and nothing gets done about it most times. This is one of the few times that I've actually seen it being penalized.</div>
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<div>There might need to be some sort of rule change or clarity on what is deemed OK and what isn't for tackling players on the ground, because until then, we're just going to keep seeing this.</div>

Nepia

The NRL has lost the plot. Burgess came smashed a guy on the ground with a swinging arm and stayed on the field.
 
They're too scared of 'ruining' a contest now that the game is becoming a free for all. It's like they've decided everyone loves Origin where we throw out any semblance of a rule book so lets just do it with the normal season as well.
 
They let the players abuse the hell out of refs, they let in cheap shots and all they do is put things on report.
 
They're actually ruining contests by a lack of officiating.

kiwiinmelb

While it's a cheap shot , is there anything in the rule book to say it's illegal ? Serious question . 
But like slaters foot slide years ago to prevent the ball being put down, while everyone could see it was dangerous , they had to make a new rule to outlaw it .

Dice

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="574462" data-time="1461457669">
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While it's a cheap shot , is there anything in the rule book to say it's illegal ? Serious question . 
But like slaters foot slide years ago to prevent the ball being put down, while everyone could see it was dangerous , they had to make a new rule to outlaw it .
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I'm unsure, but one of the commentators was saying that he thinks there's a rule about excessive contact on the ground. I really don't know to be honest, because people get away with it all the time, yet I've seen this sort of stuff get penalized a couple of times this year, so it's a bit confusing.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="574462" data-time="1461457669">
<div>
While it's a cheap shot , is there anything in the rule book to say it's illegal ? Serious question . 
But like slaters foot slide years ago to prevent the ball being put down, while everyone could see it was dangerous , they had to make a new rule to outlaw it .
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Stockholm Syndrome Kiwiinmelb? ;)
 
He went in with a swinging arm for one - that's clearly illegal. Furthermore, the ref penalised him and warned him so I assume there's something in there.

kiwiinmelb

I need to see that particular tackle again , just saw a snippet , 
But was talking more about the aggressive tackle of someone already on the ground. 
It's a grey area that needs to be looked at , interesting the voluntary tackle used to be illegal, in the past the guy on the ground could be penalised for submitting

The Silver Fern

The NRL Season of 2016