NRL 2024
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Magic Round delivers. For all the bullshit chat before the weekend about the lack of marque games, nearly every game delivered.
Started with the game no one cared about, and Canberra scoring the first 12 and last 12 points of the game to just get over the Bulldogs
Then Brisbane beat Manly with a late field goal
Gold Coast were absolutely robbed by the bunker to deny them the win over the Knights.
Sharks v Roosters was quality, some unreal tries scored
Cowboys got a much needed win over the lowly Bunnies
Melbourne with the only blow out of the weekend as they torched Parra in the 2nd half with some great long range attacking rugby league
Finally the Dolphins did enough to get over the Tigers, who at least tried hard. -
And the Warriors with the classic ambush. Huge number of first graders out so everyone gets pumped up, the kids have a go, and the other team doesn't see it coming.
Penrith have actually been ordinary for a month, but had been doing enough to win. They were there for the taking. But i never expected us to actually take them. Huge enthusiasm, CNK was hyped up all game. They actually defended with some pride (mostly) and, with new halves, remembered the left hand side of the field existed.
Awesome gutsy win. I listened to the last 15 mins in the car on MMM, and the commentators were hilariously going for us. Ginnane's roar when we scored the last try was funny as.We're not back, but Webster has some thinking to do i reckon.
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In Origin news, Munster looked he seriously hurt his groin. Hammer came back and looked a million bucks. NSW are going to have a weird halves combination.
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:
Magic Round delivers. For all the bullshit chat before the weekend about the lack of marque games, nearly every game delivered.
Started with the game no one cared about, and Canberra scoring the first 12 and last 12 points of the game to just get over the Bulldogs
Then Brisbane beat Manly with a late field goal
Gold Coast were absolutely robbed by the bunker to deny them the win over the Knights.
Sharks v Roosters was quality, some unreal tries scored
Cowboys got a much needed win over the lowly Bunnies
Melbourne with the only blow out of the weekend as they torched Parra in the 2nd half with some great long range attacking rugby league
Finally the Dolphins did enough to get over the Tigers, who at least tried hard.149k through the gates.. massive weekend and some amazingly close games
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Warriors match was weird, lose Egan and Ford to HIAs early, Ford comes back at least. All tries scored by the Warriors when AFB was off the field, which this time was a significant time.
It was almost like the remaining players thought they finally had to step up and mainly did so. Of the core team, Barnett and Walker were huge, TMM floated in and out of the game again but finished strong, all the young kids stepped up massively. Roache surely surpassed Lussick.
Luckily Penrith were off their game as well, Edwards still huge, but kicking was off and they made more errors yesterday than probably they have in their last 4 matches. They will be angry and the match with Sharks this week will be a belter.
This comp is incredibly even this year, doesn't take much to go off the boil or go on a run. Big test for the Warriors this week against the Dolphins, who are incredibly consistent and know how to stay in the fight. If we get out in front early and switch off, we're likely to get rolled. But if we win here we go into the bye with 2 wins on the bounce and a decent rest
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:
In Origin news, Munster looked he seriously hurt his groin. Hammer came back and looked a million bucks. NSW are going to have a weird halves combination.
Even QLD will look interesting, Mam or Deardon?, surely Deardon on defence, but we all know what Mam can do
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i would have both of them in the 17 (even if Munster was available)
Qld will be interesting actually. Heaps of backline options, but who gets picked? For instance i wouldn't pick Walsh, but i know Slater will. Cobbo and Hammer the centres or does Val retain his spot?
Does Hunt get his hooker/half cover spot in the 17? Who replaces Tino? -
Slater I imagine will keep as many similar as possible, only changing out the ones he needs to, I don't think Val is in danger and think Hunt retains his spot for sure. Front row club will be interesting though especially looking at replacements for Tino. Cobbo can easily play wing and centre. Coates is a lock on one wing.
Hammer in the squad, but don't know where he plays (hard to say that), mind you we say the same thing with Edwards with Teddy the incumbent for NSW -
in that case it'll be
Walsh
Coates and Cobbo on the wings
Hammer and Val the centresMeaning Tulagi is the one that misses out
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@mariner4life can’t see Val missing out. The hype alone is enough. He’s pretty reliable in his link play plus the dependable goal kicking
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The Qld way is to pick them and back them to play good. Works far more than it doesn't
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The Arthur sacking was coming. Been there a long time, team seemingly quitting on him. I don't see what doing it now buys them, especially when the interim will be Trent fucking Barrett
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@mariner4life surely there is a twist as I agree, what does announcing this now bring them?, especially when Barrett is the stand in
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On the QLD side, I'd have Max Plath there. A proper workhorse who compliments Kaufusi really well and allows others to focus on their main roles. I think he's a 20+ origin player.
Bennett to Parra? They have been talked about as a destination for him for a couple of months now. Could they get him from under Souths noses?
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Haha never mind, Bennett is confirmed to Souths.
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Just in case you need a laugh for today
https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/comments/18wlgof/the_master_list_of_stupid_nrl_scandals/
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those brought back some funny memories
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The Gasnier text message is a joke i still use to this day
"Toey humans" and "FFS fire up!"
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So, with Arthur gone, and Bennett off the table, the Eels gig becomes a pretty big deal.
Re-tread a previously sacked coach (Holbrook?). take a punt on an up and coming assistant (Hannay? Morris?). Someone from England?
Read NRL social media and wait to see how many times Geoff Toovey's name gets brought up despite not coaching in the NRL for a decade, or coaching at all since a shit season at Bradford 8 years ago.
A name to watch is Jason Ryles, who was going to the Dragons but then said no in order to get the Melbourne gig. Except now Bellamy is having another year, so does he get sick of waiting?
