NRL 2024
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Best rugby team I have ever seen.
In the cap era, to lose the elite players they have, and still win 4 in a row? In a comp that proved 2 in a row was a unicorn? Unbelievable.
And tonight all they did was defend like demons and wait for someone to make a play. And today that was Liam Martin. What a performance.
Seriously how are they still so good? How is their linespeed and hard shoulders still so good? How are they so accurate? What a team
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For Melbourne they got swamped. They couldn't break the shackles that Penrith put them in
Grant and Munster were enormous but no one else could do anything against that swarming defence.
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@antipodean said in NRL 2024:
Five final appearances and four titles in a row is an impressive feat in
the modernany era and any sporting comp.FIFY
St George won 11 in a row mid 50s to 60s , you would think that will never get beaten
My old man played against that team, Sydney premiers played the Auckland premiers ( ellerslie) in 59, st George won 11-10
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:
For Melbourne they got swamped. They couldn't break the shackles that Penrith put them in
Grant and Munster were enormous but no one else could do anything against that swarming defence.
I actually thought storms defense was enormous given penriths possession and field position , but yeah couldn’t get their usual attack going ,
also made a few but not too many crucial eras at times when it felt like they were getting back into it . And then handed back momentum .
5 in a row for a reason , just so bloody good .
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Hangover just easing, fun night watching grand final. Don’t really need to add much that hasn’t been said, just well done Penrith what a beast of a team.
I wasn’t sure they could maintain dominance last time they lost key squad members but are still delivering. They do get shaken next year with a few more outs, can they keep this up?
Think Melbourne still beats everyone else in the league with that performance, these two teams just at a different level
Anyway on to the internationals -
@bayimports said in NRL 2024:
They do get shaken next year with a few more outs, can they keep this up
As long as they still have the best fullback in the league, the best winger in the league, the best lock in the league and most importantly the best halfback in the league, then they are pretty much nailed on for the top 4. Throw in high quality rep players like Martin and Leota, and that is an unbelievable core.
JFH is a pretty big loss i think, he suits their structure down to the ground. And even though Luai isn't quite as good as he's made out to be, he is exactly what they want in their 6, and i reckon is a huge culture guy. To lose another two rep players should kill them, but i feel like i have said that every year (incidentally, can you imagine this team with Crichton, Burton, Kikau, Leniu and Korisau in it?).
They have signed Blaize Talagi who could play that running 6 role.
Really interesting to read that Ivan gave them a bit of serve a couple of weeks ago. They had cruised the regular season, and then were a bit too complacent in their first finals game. That's actually a terrifying thought for the rest of the comp that they really only turned up in the last couple of weeks, and dominated the GF.
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Also interesting they took a Bulldogs reject in Alamoti and did what Melbourne have done to average players and made him a star in the GF.
Casey Maclean will only get better (as will his younger brother), so more youngsters coming through.
They should be top 4, but doing 5? wow, not sure -
Luai is a huge loss, an extremely underrated player who people just hate because of his antics. If Cleary's gonna have his usual 10 weeks off next year, then Penrith won't be winning as many games during the season without Luai guiding them round.
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Luai is a big pick up by the Tigers. Starting to find his way this year on his own, but as mariner says culturally he is massive.
From what I have heard about JFH, he was similar and could help motivate the on and off warriors hopefully -
Luia is good, but because of the way Penrtih use him, i think he is replaceable. With the ball playing of Yeo, and then Cleary, Luia gets to play like 3rd receiver and just run the ball.
Do agree on the part about Nathan taking half the season off, he probably can't do that next year.
I reckon Luia will be big at the Tigers if he and Benji gel. He'll set a standard, and that's what they desperately need.
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Luai has a great kicking game. He never gives away set restarts and always jams teams into corners, forcing teams to work their way out of their own end, allowing Penrith's famous defence to take over and tire sides out. Does Luai ever give away set restarts? He showed that he can also play 7 very well and what's their winning percentage with out Cleary? Well into the 80s percentage wise I think I heard?
It's a great signing. Like Crichton at the Dogs, he'll lift standards and will take a lot of pressure off Galvin, whilst putting the Tigers in the right end of the field, and the young kids they have there will benefit having a world class half in his prime there.
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Montoya released. Absolutely no loss.
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Just hope this doesn’t mean we just put Kosi in that spot, for what ever reason we have had a recent history of rocks and diamonds type of players.
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The biggest trade news of the week was Clint Gutherson being given permission to speak to other players. Officially it's for the 2026 season, but that is just code for "if someone wants you next year you have our blessing".
Now i find him infuriating as a player, constantly whinging at refs., and carrying on like a dickhead. And his body is absolutely cooked, certainly too far gone to be a fullback in the modern game. And he's on massive money. But, he's the heart and soul of that Parramatta side, he fucking loves the joint, and the fans love him. It's one of those horrible decisions that clubs that are serious have to make.
I can't see him playing at the Eels next year. Someone will pick him up on the "experience is invaluable" excuse. I guess Parra will have to eat some of his salary though
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:
The biggest trade news of the week was Clint Gutherson being given permission to speak to other players. Officially it's for the 2026 season, but that is just code for "if someone wants you next year you have our blessing".
Now i find him infuriating as a player, constantly whinging at refs., and carrying on like a dickhead. And his body is absolutely cooked, certainly too far gone to be a fullback in the modern game. And he's on massive money. But, he's the heart and soul of that Parramatta side, he fucking loves the joint, and the fans love him. It's one of those horrible decisions that clubs that are serious have to make.
I can't see him playing at the Eels next year. Someone will pick him up on the "experience is invaluable" excuse. I guess Parra will have to eat some of his salary though
900k and won't be playing fullback next year, they want to keep him, but not at that money. pretty good pick up for someone though as a utility at reduced price, even busted. Parra surely have to contribute money somewhere
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