2023 NRL General Discussion

Sparkles

Jaws
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That's a good point, with lower participation rates here we have joint U15/16 and U17/18

I played hooker until around U15 when I started playing edge or lock even though I was still one of the smallest kids playing (skinny in particular)
Being a late birthday didn't help either
But Defence was no issue, I was completely used to tackling

The size discrepancy between some Islander 16 year olds (and one big ginger) and scrawny 14 year old me feels like it would have mattered a lot more the later tackling was introduced
Yeah, I kinda feel the same way. Tough to learn when you're a speedbump.
That's because I never fully stop talking ****
You should start a podcast
 

Tatus

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Let’s be fair. Touch football is by far the better sport. If the NRL dies you just bring in a mixed touch football comp. at least 2 chicks on the field at all times, you can’t lose.

This game is basically dead anyway. The panthers suspensions almost nailed the coffin shut on the sport. Letting a player serve suspensions the next year so he can play finals? That’s a dangerous precedent

Kids not being able to tackle is the least of our worries, but it might allow more skilful players to come of age before being bashed out of the game
 

SF

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I can understand it, but I think it's a shame. How many kids will never get the chance to win a grand final now (or even technically win a game), given a lot will drop out around U13s regardless. Most of us probably hold those memories forever, even from U7s or U8s. I'd prefer to see them tackle over-competitiveness in other ways.

All the research is good, but I don't think they consider the alternatives either. Kids who've never built up that mental resilience that (tackle) rugby league gives you... I'm sure there's plenty of kids whose parents stopped them playing footy who ended up on worse paths.
 
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bort

Jaws
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Kids not being able to tackle is the least of our worries, but it might allow more skilful players to come of age before being bashed out of the game
Of contact from another 9 year old is bashing them out of the game the NRL is a stretch
 

Tatus

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Of contact from another 9 year old is bashing them out of the game the NRL is a stretch
Not sure what you mean, but a small 8 year old quitting the game because a poly kid twice his size with a beard would cripple him in a tackle doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

Maybe the beard part would be. It would be at least another year and a half before he started growing a beard tbf
 

bort

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Not sure what you mean, but a small 8 year old quitting the game because a poly kid twice his size with a beard would cripple him in a tackle doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

Maybe the beard part would be. It would be at least another year and a half before he started growing a beard tbf
If they are scared of an 8 year old at 8 a few extra years of touch won’t make that guy any less scary at 16 when his own 8 year old has a beard.

I expect the vast majority of kids who are scared at 8 are scared at any other age they start tackling too, and thus unlikely to make the NRL
 
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Gards

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I didn't start filling out until my early to mid 20's so in the school boy days I learnt the grass cutter tackle technique to bring down a charging ball carrier and it worked a treat but there was a lot of 1 on 1 tackles back in those days and not much of the wrestling

As for Todd Payten, well Ricky Stuart has stuck the knife into the refs for well over a decade and has it stopped his team getting dud calls? No - it's just cost his club a bucket of money in fines. A couple complaining coaches isn't going to drastically change the referee system and whatever sytem or staff are in place mistakes are always going to be apart of it
 
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If they are scared if an 8 year at 8 a few extra years of touch won’t make that guy any less scary at 16 when his own 8 year has a beard.

I expect the vast majority of kids who are scared at 8 are scared at any other age they start tackling too, and thus unlikely to make the NRL
I don't know a lot about how it relates to junior league, but kids being scared of stuff when young and growing out of it when older is a pretty staple part of life.
 

egg

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Not sure what you mean, but a small 8 year old quitting the game because a poly kid twice his size with a beard would cripple him in a tackle doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

Maybe the beard part would be. It would be at least another year and a half before he started growing a beard tbf
Talakai said he didn't get his beard until 10 .
Mustn't of been him ;)
That rule still won't help Garrick.
Maybe if he learned how to tackle big boppers at 9 , he'd be OK now ?
 

MrDravid

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I can understand it, but I think it's a shame. How many kids will never get the chance to win a grand final now (or even technically win a game), given a lot will drop out around U13s regardless. Most of us probably hold those memories forever, even from U7s or U8s. I'd prefer to see them tackle over-competitiveness in other ways.

All the research is good, but I don't think they consider the alternatives either. Kids who've never built up that mental resilience that (tackle) rugby league gives you... I'm sure there's plenty of kids whose parents stopped them playing footy who ended up on worse paths.
My kids play soccer and they "don't keep score". Sure they know the actual score, but it means there's no ladder/finals for parents who won their u7 comp to vicariously live through their 7 yo.

Also means junior refs cop way less abuse.
 

Sparkles

Jaws
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I can understand it, but I think it's a shame. How many kids will never get the chance to win a grand final now (or even technically win a game), given a lot will drop out around U13s. Most of us probably hold those memories forever, even from U7s or U8s. I'd prefer to see them tackle over-competitiveness in other ways.

All the research is good, but I don't think they consider the alternatives either. Kids who've never built up that mental resilience that rugby league gives you... I'm sure there's plenty of kids whose parents stopped them playing footy who ended up on worse paths.
I've come to thinking the NRL is the boxing of ball sports.
My kids play soccer and they "don't keep score". Sure they know the actual score, but it means there's no ladder/finals for parents who won their u7 comp to vicariously live through their 7 yo.

Also means junior refs cop way less abuse.
Anything that helps with ******** parents had to be done. They totally ruin it for everyone
 

Sparkles

Jaws
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If you're getting beaten out by Simonsson then you'd be dreaming about how you thew away your chance
 

Pishposh46

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If you're getting beaten out by Simonsson then you'd be dreaming about how you thew away your chance
If that's true, when does Brad Arthur bring him into the game? Hey may now have two subs that won't get much game time.
 

Super Impose

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I heard on radio that he could be starting on the bench. Simonsson going to the wing, Niukore to centre. Not sure how true that is.
If that’s true then BA must be really worried about Waqa under the bombs ( understandably ).
Just play him in the centres - his best position ..
 

Capital_Shark

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Waqa could lose them a GF. If 16/17 Parra players have 10/10 games you know Waqa is is odds on to be that 1/17. Nothing in his career gives me any confidence.
 

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I dunno about Waqa, like his finishing is good in the corners but the rest is a dice roll.
 

Sparkles

Jaws
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If that's true, when does Brad Arthur bring him into the game? Hey may now have two subs that won't get much game time.
Not sure what you mean PP. Just saying Waqa should be having a good look at himself is Simonsson is replacing him
 
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