2023 NRL General Discussion

[CrazyMatt]

Just a heads up I’ve created a bit of a “hub” thread for the International football this year, it has scheduling and the teams will be posted as they come in. I’ll pop in results when they happen as well.

Just in case people wanted to know what was on and when.

Official - International Football 2023

Well another NRL season is done and dusted its time for a bit of international football to finish the year. I know International football is not everyones cup of tea, but it’s something I do enjoy and I genuinely believe the quality of opposition for Australia gets better and better every year...

sharksforever.com

 

[andrew's_sharks]

No Dylan Edwards again is probably a kick in the teeth for him, I think they said ‘not enough versatility’. So basically he wont get a look in until Tedesco gives it away.

Other then that, yeah no real issues with the team.

Picking Val’s a bit yuck, but he’ll serve his one game ban in the first test so no reason why he cant play the rest of the series.

Given Val's rep experience and his ability to perform in big games, I personally would have picked him. His versatility is an added bonus

 

[benxpomeroy]

How does holmes, brandon smith and ponga keep playing with a wet lettuce leaf punishment while ben barba gets kicked to the curb and out of the league?

 

[Vichyssoise]

How does holmes, brandon smith and ponga keep playing with a wet lettuce leaf punishment while ben barba gets kicked to the curb and out of the league?

I don't know the whole story about Barba obviously besides the fact he was supposedly on his 2nd or 3rd strike (and let's not forget later allegations of domestic violence albeit irrelevant at the time), but the more I look at this, the more I think the then NRL administration tried to get back at us after the whole Fifita fiasco earlier that season.
I might be way off on this, but this is the only thing that makes sense to me given my limited knowledge on the matter.

*Edit* Carney didn't bring the game into disrepute any more than these guys, although getting rid of him might have been a blessing in disguise, because no Barba and no Maloney had he stayed.

 

[Wiz]

I don't the whole story about Barba obviously besides the fact he was supposedly on his 2nd or 3rd strike (and let's not forget later allegations of domestic violence albeit irrelevant at the time), but the more I look at this, the more I think the then NRL administration tried to get back at us after the whole Fifita fiasco earlier that season.
I might way off on this, but this is the only thing that makes sense to me given my limited knowledge on the matter.

NRL being Todd Greenturd definitely wanted to get back at us

We weren’t supposed to win that game

Todd did not look happy after the GF, seen him at the ground

 

[bort]

How does holmes, brandon smith and ponga keep playing with a wet lettuce leaf punishment while ben barba gets kicked to the curb and out of the league?

For one he tested positive to ASADA where they were all just seen with or 'suspect'

 

[Vichyssoise]

NRL being Todd Greenturd definitely wanted to get back at us

We weren’t supposed to win that game

Todd did not look happy after the GF, seen him at the ground

Well he definitely had something against us. Was it because he couldn't relocate us, because Fifita had reneged on a deal with the Dogs?

 

[Vichyssoise]

For one he tested positive to ASADA where they were all just seen with or 'suspect'

That's true. Certainly didn't help his cause.

 

[bort]

Just seen Thurston was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame
(alongside 6 athletes from other sports Cahill, Brennan, Fearnley, Lassila, Peris & McLaren)

Do we think Gallen has a case?
Thurston played 323 NRL games, retiring after 2018
Gallen played 348, retiring after 2019

Thurston played 37 SOO games and 38 times for Australia
Gallen played 24 SOO and 32 times for Australia, however was an Origin captain far more (did Thurston captain any?), and Aus Vice Captain (don't remember Gal ever getting full gig?)

Thurston obviously had a much more successful Origin career and more top individual accolades - Thurston a 4 time Dally M winner, 3 time Golden Boot winner and was involved in two Premiership wins (including a Clive Churchill). He was however just co-captain for Cows win, not individual Captain as Gal was.

Gal falls short due to the top personal accolades Thurston got?
There is also the ASADA concerns angle which I think would make it very difficult for them to induct Gal

There are 26 League players inducted https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/athlete-members/ (can search by sport)

Slater retired same year as JT, Smith 2 years later. Smith obviously a shoe in and should probably join Gasnier, Lewis and Raper in the more selected 'Legends' category.

 

[MrDravid]

Cleary out... Ponga, Edwards or some spud named Hynes to come in.

 

[BurgoShark]

Just seen Thurston was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame
(alongside 6 athletes from other sports Cahill, Brennan, Fearnley, Lassila, Peris & McLaren)

Do we think Gallen has a case?
Thurston played 323 NRL games, retiring after 2018
Gallen played 348, retiring after 2019

Thurston played 37 SOO games and 38 times for Australia
Gallen played 24 SOO and 32 times for Australia, however was an Origin captain far more (did Thurston captain any?), and Aus Vice Captain (don't remember Gal ever getting full gig?)

Thurston obviously had a much more successful Origin career and more top individual accolades - Thurston a 4 time Dally M winner, 3 time Golden Boot winner and was involved in two Premiership wins (including a Clive Churchill). He was however just co-captain for Cows win, not individual Captain as Gal was.

Gal falls short due to the top personal accolades Thurston got?
There is also the ASADA concerns angle which I think would make it very difficult for them to induct Gal

There are 26 League players inducted https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/athlete-members/ (can search by sport)

Slater retired same year as JT, Smith 2 years later. Smith obviously a shoe in and should probably join Gasnier, Lewis and Raper in the more selected 'Legends' category.

I think he has a case, especially if it is based on Aussie reps.

More importantly, searching by sport I believe it is a travesty that Cheetah from Aerobics Oz Style isn't in there.

 

[bort]

Cleary out... Ponga, Edwards or some spud named Hynes to come in.

Elevates DCE to starter and they kind of a need a half so if it's between them it'd presumably be Hynes.
They do also have Hunt although then they'd probably want a second hooker

 

[BurgoShark]

Elevates DCE to starter and they kind of a need a half so if it's between them it'd presumably be Hynes.
They do also have Hunt although then they'd probably want a second hooker

Yeah - replacing a halfback with a fullback seems doesn't seem like the best way to go.

Hynes seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[BurgoShark]

... and on queue.

Hynes, Edwards called in as Kangaroos update squad

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards have been added to the Gallagher Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.

www.nrl.com

 

[MrDravid]

... and on queue.

Hynes, Edwards called in as Kangaroos update squad

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards have been added to the Gallagher Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.

www.nrl.com

Surprised they replaced a half back with a running 5/8

 

[Gards]

Filter already set the framework - all Mal has to do is follow it

Hynes @ right centre for 10 mins

After this, Mal will never have to worry about where to squeeze Nicho in again

 

[bort]

Yeah agree... Trell "injured" so wasn't considered (didn't he play on the weekend?), Graham presumably injured, Crichton presumably playing for Samoa.

‘Don’t get it twisted’: Latrell, Souths respond to Kangaroos confusion

‘Don’t get it twisted’: Latrell, Souths respond to Kangaroos confusion

www.foxsports.com.au

Answers this question

• Latrell has an injury which wouldn't have held up to 6 weeks extra training PM13 and 4 internationals but club gave him permission to cameo at the Knockout (which had not training requirements). That's probably fair enough.
• He also has a court date on same date as Pacific Cup final for his wrastlin with Wighton 8 months ago. Can also see how that'd be distracting and problematic.

 

[Proud Shark]

Also, if he wants to play Koori knock out and not for Aus, that's all the justification he needs. Ridiculous that he's had to say anything.

 

[bort]

Also, if he wants to play Koori knock out and not for Aus, that's all the justification he needs. Ridiculous that he's had to say anything.

If he wants to do that, sure. No indication he doesn’t want to play for Aus though

 

[HaroldBishop]

Also, if he wants to play Koori knock out and not for Aus, that's all the justification he needs. Ridiculous that he's had to say anything.

Agree. Maybe playing for Australia isn't everyones' number one ambition.