The NRL Season of 2016

aucklandwarlord

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="603796" data-time="1470561899">
First Leicester City win the EPL, the Cavs win the NBA championship to end a 50 year drought, now the Hurricanes break the super rugby duck after 21 years. What about the Warriors next? Yeah nah</blockquote>
 
The Warriors and Raiders would be the two teams you wouldn't want to come up against early in the finals. I don't think either will win it, but they certainly have the potential to upset teams. This weekend showed the Sharks, Cowboys and Storm are fellible.

raznomore

Was at the game today and it was a great atmosphere. Excellent game too IMO. Hayne is worth every penny to the Titans. He was good for about 10000-15000 extra seats and was easily the Titans best player today. 
Not a fan of Kata but he was impressive today. 
I sat behind the posts and the Titans defense had gaping holes that we could have exploited a bit more. 
Koni is a legend and an a problem. He stayed out for close to 1/2 an hour to sign autographs. Had a poor guy come out to try and coax him into the sheds and was repeatedly ignored by Hurrell. Hes a legend because the fans matter but his team lost and he should have returned to the shed especially on a new team. It took a second person, an angry looking women, to come out and order him to the sheds and he sprinted off like his life depended on it. 
I loved what he did post game but you can understand in a losing effort shit needs to be said by the coach and he needs all of the team there to hear it. 
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aucklandwarlord

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="603820" data-time="1470566094">
Was at the game today and it was a great atmosphere. Excellent game too IMO. Hayne is worth every penny to the Titans. He was good for about 10000-15000 extra seats and was easily the Titans best player today. 
Not a fan of Kata but he was impressive today. 
I sat behind the posts and the Titans defense had gaping holes that we could have exploited a bit more. 
Koni is a legend and an a problem. He stayed out for close to 1/2 an hour to sign autographs. Had a poor guy come out to try and coax him into the sheds and was repeatedly ignored by Hurrell. Hes a legend because the fans matter but his team lost and he should have returned to the shed especially on a new team. It took a second person, an angry looking women, to come out and order him to the sheds and he sprinted off like his life depended on it. 
I loved what he did post game but you can understand in a losing effort shit needs to be said by the coach and he needs all of the team there to hear it. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk</blockquote>
 
Titans/Warriors is always a big game given how many Kiwis live on the GC, but yeah the crowd looked massive today and Hayne turned up to play. 
I've never really been a fan of Kata until the last couple of games. I originally thought he was a selfish player who believed his own hype. His defence has certainly improved out of sight this season. Not too many soft tries come his way anymore. 
I'm sure Hurrell is a good guy and a fan favourite, but by all accounts it looked like he had given up this season at the Warriors. I get that McFadden is not everyone's cup of tea, but I have enough faith in him that he wouldn't leave a decent player out unless for good reason. I hope it comes out one day, because it'd be interesting to know. I had heard rumblings that Kony was having a negative influence on some of the younger guys in the team

mariner4life

NRL judiciary a joke. Hayne touches a ref and (rightly) gets off. However if I was Frizell i would be ropable

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="604059" data-time="1470646192">
NRL judiciary a joke. Hayne touches a ref and (rightly) gets off. However if I was Frizell i would be ropable</blockquote>Who will the media/commentators pull their puds over this weekend if they went and banned the almighty one?

JK

Roosters are getting smoked tonight! They looked like a team on the improve over the last few weeks but that team is no where to be seen tonight

Siam

The NRL really don't give a fuck about the game's integrity do they? (well duh - you just worked that out Siam?)
 
Origin spear tackles, Grand final conversions that hold the game up for 10 minutes, bunker controversies, touching refs, drugs, and all the publicity crap, good and bad.
 
they just don't care. They have no shame
 
But, the finals each year are bloody good so.... fuck em

ACT Crusader

To me Hayne looked well short of a gallop, but the skills are certainly there. I'm a fan, but I couldn't stop laughing after that pass got intercepted. And what a run by Kata. He's on fire this season and he's still young. Loved his fend. 
Mannering was superb. Not a fan of Lolohea having the ball on the 5th tackle. Whilst he is a decent creator, he has next to no kicking game. 
I live in hope that we will make the finals and play the Storm and upset them again! 
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Sneakdefreak

Some NRL retirement news:
 
Bulldogs and Kiwis wing Sam Perrett is hanging up the boots at the end of the season. Not a bad career (250+ NRL games, 21 NZ games, one World Cup trophy).

mariner4life

Real handy player Sam, just a solid, dependable pro who has carved out an excellent career.

Paekakboyz

On par or better than Nightingale? Maybe a bit quicker but not quite as skillful? He's had a great career and you fullas are spot on that he was reliable. 250+ games is nothing to sneeze at and pretty sure he's been a stand up guy throughout.

mariner4life

Better. The same safety-wise, but surely Sam was the better attacking player? Has to be faster than square wheels Jason anyway

Paekakboyz

I'd agree with that - ha ha Jase isn't that slow is he?? Always thought Jason had a touch of Cory Jane about him, in that he could make things happen down the tram lines.
 
Missed the fact that Hayne got off for touching a ref (he he read that again). 'Consistency' is obviously too big a word or concept for the NRL judiciary to cope with!!

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="604093" data-time="1470658833">
<div>

I live in hope that we will make the finals and play the Storm and upset them again! 

</div>
</blockquote>
 
Just had a look at the draw for the last four rounds - lots of games among Penrith, Warriors, Wests, Titans. Penrith look to have the easiest draw. Broncos have a tough run in.
 
In theory, the Warriors have the form to make it, but it may depend on them being able to beat Parramatta in Auckland in the final round. Otherwise they should be favourites to beat both Souths and Wests at home and to lose to the Cowboys away.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="604933" data-time="1470879317">Better. The same safety-wise, but surely Sam was the better attacking player? Has to be faster than square wheels Jason anyway</blockquote>
 
Agree. Sam the better attacking player. Jason an excellent defensive player that has that reckless abandon about him.

Sneakdefreak

Curtis Rona decides to ruin his career, signs a rugby union deal with Western Force.

Gunner

An article in the herald, speculating as to who the Warriors might sign for next season.
Can you offer any insight on any of these possibilities Sneak?
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11692385'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11692385</a>
 
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (good chance)
Kenny Bromwich (fair chance)
Thomas Burgess (little chance)
Greg Eastwood (little chance) 
Robbie Farah (no chance)
Aiden Guerra (fair chance)
Ben Hannant (little chance)
Josh Hoffman (good chance)
Josh Jackson (little chance)
Benji Marshall (no chance)
David Mead (fair chance)
Sam Moa (good chance)
Jack Reed (fair chance) 
Sam Tagataese (fair chance) 
Paul Vaughan (little chance)
Sam Williams (no chance)
Tony Williams (fair chance) 
Will Smith

mariner4life

Guerra is an interesting one. Origin player for a few years who has had a poor year at every level. Roosters will probably want rid, but he is a good player if he can turn his form around. 
 
If that's Bulldogs Tony Williams they better not sign him, that fluffybunny is deadset useless except for about 20 minutes every 6 weeks that has commentators purring about what might be. 
 
Hoffman would be a good pick up to bolster the outside backs, a good centre, wing and fullback. David Mead for some real wheels as well. 
 
Kenny Bromwich looks a good idea until you look at the history of Melbourne players elsewhere. Most of them turn out to be duds away from Melbourne. 
 
Don't buy Jack Reed

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sneakdefreak" data-cid="605315" data-time="1470968716">
<div>
Curtis Rona decides to ruin his career, signs a rugby union deal with Western Force.
</div>
</blockquote>
Yeah, I think you need to thank Kearney for that!

Sneakdefreak

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
 
Can you offer any insight on any of these possibilities Sneak?</blockquote>
 
Unless they can't sign with any other clubs I doubt any of those players sign with the Warriors.
I would target Greg Eastwood but I think the Doggies will resign him (unless Foran signs there in which case the Warriors will have a shot if they throw money his way).
Josh Hoffman is an option for the outside backs but the Warriors have Fusitua, Kata, Maumalo, Lolohea and RTS.
I suspect Bunji will try and convince the Warriors to sign him but they seem intent on trying Lolohea or Roache in the halves with SJ next season. Most likely Bunji retires and works for Fox Sports.
One player I'm expecting the Warriors to sign (and wasn't named in the above list) is Elijah Taylor. Need more hard-working forwards and ET played his best footy when with the Warriors.

The Silver Fern

The NRL Season of 2016