2022 NRL General discussion

[apezza]

how so? not wanting to wear a jersey doesn't mean you want to speak ill of the dead and call them a dog. Brain dead comment.

I was more talking about how the NRL punish differently depending on the political correctness at the time.

Put it this way - if 7 caucasian players refused to wear the rainbow jerseys they probably would have been condemned by the NRL.

 

[Sparkles]

Yeah OK. Look not a very intelligent thing to say but calling it "the most reprehensible thing ever seen connected to rugby league" tells you how moronic Hadley is.

Hadley's getting a tad carried away, for sure. I'd say a lot of his listeners are around the Queen's age, so this probably plays well to them.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

I was more talking about how the NRL punish differently depending on the political correctness at the time.

Put it this way - if 7 caucasian players refused to wear the rainbow jerseys they probably would have been condemned by the NRL.

I get what you are saying. Wokeness gone made.

 

[Capital_Shark]

I couldn't care less about the queen but what sorta dumb **** feels the need to put that opinion on social media like some edgy teenager? Suck **** to her, too dumb for social media let alone a modicum of "fame" (I'd never heard of her) to go with it.

 

[HaroldBishop]

It was something along the lines of "happy friday, the dumb dog is dead".

Silly thing to do really, not very intelligent. I'm OK with her punishment.

In saying that, Uncle Ray has lived a very sheltered life or has Alzheimer's if it's one of the most reprehensible things he's seen in rugby league.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Everything Ray doesn't like is the worst thing ever ... until his kid is caught doing it

 

[HaroldBishop]

Everything Ray doesn't like is the worst thing ever ... until his kid is caught doing it

True that

 

[MrDravid]

BHU named alongside Ronnie and Nikora in the extended NZ World Cup Squad.

Raiders rookies in Kiwis sights for World Cup

In form Raiders rookies Matthew Timoko and Sebastian Kris have been named in an extended Kiwis squad for the World Cup

www.nrl.com

 

[egg]

The Roar

The NRL finals format is always questioned at this time of year but with the competition moving to 17 teams next year, is it time to tweak the system?

For the first time since 1994, there will be more teams missing the playoffs than qualifying.

This means the NRL is not rewarding mediocrity with a side unlikley to be sneaking into eighth spot with a losing record.

In the 2022 season, the Broncos missed the cut despite having a 13-11 record while St George Illawarra’s three late wins meant they went 12-12 but finished 10th.

The NRL has considered the possibility of a 10-team finals system where the top six teams automatically qualify and the teams ranked 7-10 playoff for the last two spots.

There has also been plenty of conjecture about stadium hosting rights in the finals following the controversial decision to allow Penrith and Cronulla to host week-one matches at their suburban stadiums instead of larger venues in Sydney.

Experts Roar – Finals format​

Michael Hagan (premiership-winning player and coach)​

I would leave the current top-eight system as it is apart from one small alteration.

The current set-up rewards teams enough if they finish in the top four with a home-ground advantage and then a week off for the two highest-placed winners.

What I would consider would be rewarding the winning teams from the first round with hosting rights in the second week so Raiders vs Parramatta would be at Canberra and Rabbitohs vs Sharks would be at Accor Stadium.

Canberra Raiders (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Paul Suttor (Roar expert)​

When the NRL expands to 18 teams, hopefully by 2026 or ’27 at the latest, the NRL should revive the wildcard weekend idea. Give the top six teams the week off to freshen up the best talent for the playoffs and let the next four teams battle it out for the last two finals berths.

The naysayers will say nay, as they do, because it rewards mediocrity but that’s missing the point – those four teams would have little to no chance of going all the way to the Grand Final by winning five straight matches, particularly if they’re facing rested opponents in an Elimination Final.

It would also create more interest in the final month of the season for the teams in the middle to lower end of the table, boosting crowds and TV ratings, which in theory should make the NRL a more valuable product, if administered professionally.

Mike Meehall Wood (Roar expert)​

The top eight system is pretty decent in that it’s designed to create a month’s worth of fixtures and does that well. The old system didn’t really make any regard between finishing 1st and 4th, so that wasn’t great, and this one affords the double chance.

My major gripe would be that it rewards mediocrity: this top eight is the first one in a long time where all teams have actually been good, and usually someone with a losing or even record makes it.

 

[BurgoShark]

BHU named alongside Ronnie and Nikora in the extended NZ World Cup Squad.

Raiders rookies in Kiwis sights for World Cup

In form Raiders rookies Matthew Timoko and Sebastian Kris have been named in an extended Kiwis squad for the World Cup

www.nrl.com

Good for him. A worthy call up. He’s had a good year.

 

[BurgoShark]

The Roar

The NRL finals format is always questioned at this time of year but with the competition moving to 17 teams next year, is it time to tweak the system?

For the first time since 1994, there will be more teams missing the playoffs than qualifying.

This means the NRL is not rewarding mediocrity with a side unlikley to be sneaking into eighth spot with a losing record.

In the 2022 season, the Broncos missed the cut despite having a 13-11 record while St George Illawarra’s three late wins meant they went 12-12 but finished 10th.

The NRL has considered the possibility of a 10-team finals system where the top six teams automatically qualify and the teams ranked 7-10 playoff for the last two spots.

There has also been plenty of conjecture about stadium hosting rights in the finals following the controversial decision to allow Penrith and Cronulla to host week-one matches at their suburban stadiums instead of larger venues in Sydney.

Experts Roar – Finals format​

Michael Hagan (premiership-winning player and coach)​

I would leave the current top-eight system as it is apart from one small alteration.

The current set-up rewards teams enough if they finish in the top four with a home-ground advantage and then a week off for the two highest-placed winners.

What I would consider would be rewarding the winning teams from the first round with hosting rights in the second week so Raiders vs Parramatta would be at Canberra and Rabbitohs vs Sharks would be at Accor Stadium.

Canberra Raiders (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Paul Suttor (Roar expert)​

When the NRL expands to 18 teams, hopefully by 2026 or ’27 at the latest, the NRL should revive the wildcard weekend idea. Give the top six teams the week off to freshen up the best talent for the playoffs and let the next four teams battle it out for the last two finals berths.

The naysayers will say nay, as they do, because it rewards mediocrity but that’s missing the point – those four teams would have little to no chance of going all the way to the Grand Final by winning five straight matches, particularly if they’re facing rested opponents in an Elimination Final.

It would also create more interest in the final month of the season for the teams in the middle to lower end of the table, boosting crowds and TV ratings, which in theory should make the NRL a more valuable product, if administered professionally.

Mike Meehall Wood (Roar expert)​

The top eight system is pretty decent in that it’s designed to create a month’s worth of fixtures and does that well. The old system didn’t really make any regard between finishing 1st and 4th, so that wasn’t great, and this one affords the double chance.

My major gripe would be that it rewards mediocrity: this top eight is the first one in a long time where all teams have actually been good, and usually someone with a losing or even record makes it.

Wildcard or top 10 might be viable once we see more expansion. Top 10 out of 16 is awful. Top 10 out of 20 is not so bad.

I still want them to adopt my system. Way better than current setup. Just takes an extra week.

 

[HaroldBishop]

The Roar

The NRL finals format is always questioned at this time of year but with the competition moving to 17 teams next year, is it time to tweak the system?

For the first time since 1994, there will be more teams missing the playoffs than qualifying.

This means the NRL is not rewarding mediocrity with a side unlikley to be sneaking into eighth spot with a losing record.

In the 2022 season, the Broncos missed the cut despite having a 13-11 record while St George Illawarra’s three late wins meant they went 12-12 but finished 10th.

The NRL has considered the possibility of a 10-team finals system where the top six teams automatically qualify and the teams ranked 7-10 playoff for the last two spots.

There has also been plenty of conjecture about stadium hosting rights in the finals following the controversial decision to allow Penrith and Cronulla to host week-one matches at their suburban stadiums instead of larger venues in Sydney.

Experts Roar – Finals format​

Michael Hagan (premiership-winning player and coach)​

I would leave the current top-eight system as it is apart from one small alteration.

The current set-up rewards teams enough if they finish in the top four with a home-ground advantage and then a week off for the two highest-placed winners.

What I would consider would be rewarding the winning teams from the first round with hosting rights in the second week so Raiders vs Parramatta would be at Canberra and Rabbitohs vs Sharks would be at Accor Stadium.

Canberra Raiders (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Paul Suttor (Roar expert)​

When the NRL expands to 18 teams, hopefully by 2026 or ’27 at the latest, the NRL should revive the wildcard weekend idea. Give the top six teams the week off to freshen up the best talent for the playoffs and let the next four teams battle it out for the last two finals berths.

The naysayers will say nay, as they do, because it rewards mediocrity but that’s missing the point – those four teams would have little to no chance of going all the way to the Grand Final by winning five straight matches, particularly if they’re facing rested opponents in an Elimination Final.

It would also create more interest in the final month of the season for the teams in the middle to lower end of the table, boosting crowds and TV ratings, which in theory should make the NRL a more valuable product, if administered professionally.

Mike Meehall Wood (Roar expert)​

The top eight system is pretty decent in that it’s designed to create a month’s worth of fixtures and does that well. The old system didn’t really make any regard between finishing 1st and 4th, so that wasn’t great, and this one affords the double chance.

My major gripe would be that it rewards mediocrity: this top eight is the first one in a long time where all teams have actually been good, and usually someone with a losing or even record makes it.

Jesus there are some terrible ideas in there.

 

[Gumby]

Kiwis squad looks strong.

 

[Milkshark]

 

[bort]

Billy Mags has made the greek side
Unsurprisingly

 

[bort]

Maroon deserves to be bullied for this take

 

[egg]

FOX

NRL star admits lying to police about statement in Curtis Scott assault case

‘I lied’: Smith’s admission in ex-teammate’s assault case as Storm star hits back at ‘ridiculous’ claim

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[apezza]

FOX

NRL star admits lying to police about statement in Curtis Scott assault case

‘I lied’: Smith’s admission in ex-teammate’s assault case as Storm star hits back at ‘ridiculous’ claim

www.foxsports.com.au

Top bloke. whatever the actual truth is he previously has issues.

Did find it funny that in this day and age there is a charge of choking a person without consent.

 

[Gumby]

David Fifita named in powerful Tonga squad ahead of World Cup

Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Felise Kaufusi, Siosifa Talakai and David Fifita headline a strong Mate Ma'a Tonga squad.

www.nrl.com

Tonga’s squad imo is very one dimensional. Forwards are all too similar and not enough mobility amongst them. Going to be a huge ****ing pack but

 

[MrDravid]

David Fifita named in powerful Tonga squad ahead of World Cup

Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Felise Kaufusi, Siosifa Talakai and David Fifita headline a strong Mate Ma'a Tonga squad.

www.nrl.com

Tonga’s squad imo is very one dimensional. Forwards are all too similar and not enough mobility amongst them. Going to be a huge ****ing pack but

How different are International Rules these days? A monster pack might be a good thing.