Favourite NRL Teams

[Snaggletooth]

I guess think what team you would most enjoy beating in a grand final.
Manly GF would be so nerve-wracking, but the winning amazing.
then maybe pleasure in beating Roosters, Broncos, Dragons

 

[Sparkles]

I guess think what team you would most enjoy beating in a grand final.
Manly GF would be so nerve-wracking, but the winning amazing.
then maybe pleasure in beating Roosters, Broncos, Dragons

Now this list I'd have Melbourne at the top. And when Smith is still playing, thanks. The incredulous look on his self righteous face and the ensuing tanty would almost be better than the first win.

 

[Snaggletooth]

Now this list I'd have Melbourne at the top. And when Smith is still playing, thanks. The incredulous look on his self righteous face and the ensuing tanty would almost be better than the first win.

fair call Sparks, would be amazing to beat them again

 

[BurgoShark]

If I had a list they’d be mid to second half of the table for me. Hard not to admire their consistent success. Every year people reckon they’ll slide because they lose *insert player/s here* but every year they prove everyone wrong and kick everyone’s arses. I mean I want to slap Smith in his smug face every now and then, but again, it’s hard not to somewhat admire that they can stay on top.

Well they did get propped up by New Ltd for years, got caught cheating massively, and then even after that were allowed to operate by paying their squad up to $1.5m more than most other teams. From an NRL point of view they deserve the hate/resentment imo.

But...

From a rugby league point of view they are the standard for how other teams should build their system. They have the best coach, the best player, the best feeder system and one of the best player development records. It is very impressive when you watch a random Storm game without emotion and take note of how much better their players are at making those 1% plays.

We all complain about the wrestling. What we are really complaining about is that Melbourne are just better at it.

 

[HaroldBishop]

We all complain about the wrestling. What we are really complaining about is that Melbourne are just better at it.

Can't agree with you on this, it's a massive blight on the game.

Horrible to watch.

 

[puma1355]

Struggling with the Storm being so high on people's lists... I mean it's your list, you go girl, but is there something to like about them that I'm missing?

I don't know any storm fans so not fazed with them winning...too many mates that go for manly, parra and roosters so they on my bottom

 

[CrazyMatt]

Well they did get propped up by New Ltd for years, got caught cheating massively, and then even after that were allowed to operate by paying their squad up to $1.5m more than most other teams. From an NRL point of view they deserve the hate/resentment imo.

But...

From a rugby league point of view they are the standard for how other teams should build their system. They have the best coach, the best player, the best feeder system and one of the best player development records. It is very impressive when you watch a random Storm game without emotion and take note of how much better their players are at making those 1% plays.

We all complain about the wrestling. What we are really complaining about is that Melbourne are just better at it.

So one of the main reasons we hate them is because they cheated the cap? So did we remember, are we hypocrites now?

You left out one key reason why they are hated. Jealousy. Fans are jealous that every year they find a way to be better then just about everyone else. Geez I wish the Sharks did that, I don’t like Melbourne but I admire their success. I respect them as worthy rivals. Our rivalry with them was one of the best in the game in the mid to late 2010’s. It’s a respectful hatred I suppose you could call it. I feel similarly about Canberra, also worthy rivals, although I did like them enough for them to be my second team in the mid 90’s when I was a kid so they’d be much higher on my list.

 

[CrazyMatt]

If their success were down to smarts, ability and hard work, I'd agree. There just too many question marks over your they achieve that success that I can't rate then equally alongside most other teams, especially the battlers.

Elaborate please.

 

[Thresher]

So one of the main reasons we hate them is because they cheated the cap? So did we remember, are we hypocrites now?

You left out one key reason why they are hated. Jealousy. Fans are jealous that every year they find a way to be better then just about everyone else. Geez I wish the Sharks did that, I don’t like Melbourne but I admire their success. I respect them as worthy rivals. Our rivalry with them was one of the best in the game in the mid to late 2010’s. It’s a respectful hatred I suppose you could call it. I feel similarly about Canberra, also worthy rivals, although I did like them enough for them to be my second team in the mid 90’s when I was a kid so they’d be much higher on my list.

They cheated the cap like they were 'made men' who couldn't get caught. The closest we've seen are the current mafia playing golf games.

Our stuff was ridiculously amateur, trying to match the other corrupt teams so that we remained competitive. Either that or our boss was taking coke.

 

[HaroldBishop]

They cheated the cap like they were 'made men' who couldn't get caught. The closest we've seen are the current mafia playing golf games.

Our stuff was ridiculously amateur, trying to match the other corrupt teams so that we remained competitive. Either that or our boss was taking coke.

Correct. You can't compare there cheating to ours.

 

[slide rule]

I also don't like them for their tackling techniques. They started screwing heads around etc.

Planned dog acts.

 

[CrazyMatt]

They cheated the cap like they were 'made men' who couldn't get caught. The closest we've seen are the current mafia playing golf games.

Our stuff was ridiculously amateur, trying to match the other corrupt teams so that we remained competitive. Either that or our boss was taking coke.

Correct. You can't compare there cheating to ours.

The intention from both was to cheat the system. I still say it’s hypocritical of us to make fun of them these days. I hate saying that, but it is what it is. Cheating is cheating my friends, no matter how rubbish one was at it, so I don’t buy the “they were organised, we were a chicken raffle” excuse.

Regardless, it’s done now. Both clubs have moved on.

 

[Sparkles]

Elaborate please.

It's pretty well covered in the comments here.

Buuut, basically....
They're the NRL's darlings, but some of the **** they pull is even too much for the NRL... they have been stripped of two premierships, three minor premierships, played a season for no points and fined a total of $1.6 million for massive breaches of the NRL's salary cap rules. Plus that ring to Cam Smith's missus...

And that's just their managerial ****tiness.

As a squad... They play like they are entitled to the win, personified by Slater (thank **** he's gone) and Smith. This mindset is only encouraged by their golden child status within the NRL... they expect favourism because they get it. When they look like losing, they try to injure players with cheap tactics like knee wrenches, dropped elbows and other bull**** (that gets especially bad when they're losing) that's totally against the tough but fair spirit of the game. That's the main thing that gets me.

Cameron Smith, without doubt, has gotten away with more than other captains. And knows it. He hates it when they actually act, as we've seen recently, like he's above the game. Likely due to his 'status' in the game.

That leads into territory about the underpants smear of a rugby league administration, which we'll leave for another time.

**** the Storm. They're objectively worse than any team ever. Manly were just rich in a time when the game didn't care. Souths have Walkers as a fanbase, but I'm glad they came back. The Dragqueens are our rivals. I love seeing them beat but prefer a good natured rivalry.

I think that sums it up.

 

[CrazyMatt]

It's pretty well covered in the comments here.

Buuut, basically....
They're the NRL's darlings, but some of the **** they pull is even too much for the NRL... they have been stripped of two premierships, three minor premierships, played a season for no points and fined a total of $1.6 million for massive breaches of the NRL's salary cap rules. Plus that ring to Cam Smith's missus...

And that's just their managerial ****tiness.

As a squad... They play like they are entitled to the win, personified by Slater (thank **** he's gone) and Smith. This mindset is only encouraged by their golden child status within the NRL... they expect favourism because they get it. When they look like losing, they try to injure players with cheap tactics like knee wrenches, dropped elbows and other bull**** (that gets especially bad when they're losing) that's totally against the tough but fair spirit of the game. That's the main thing that gets me.

Cameron Smith, without doubt, has gotten away with more than other captains. And knows it. He hates it when they actually act, as we've seen recently, like he's above the game. Likely due to his 'status' in the game.

That leads into territory about the underpants smear of a rugby league administration, which we'll leave for another time.

**** the Storm. They're objectively worse than any team ever. Manly were just rich in a time when the game didn't care. Souths have Walkers as a fanbase, but I'm glad they came back. The Dragqueens are our rivals. I love seeing them beat but prefer a good natured rivalry.

I think that sums it up.

Salary Cap: As covered above, we’re not in a position to judge them for that.
“Entitled to win”: What even the ****? All clubs should have that mentality. You expect to win, that’s how you win.
Golden Child: They are definitely not the only club the NRL have looked after. They’ve saved our arse plenty of times too over the years
Dirty tactics: Only fair point you’ve made. But they’re not alone with this.
Smith: All captains try to play the referees, especially Gal when he was around. Smith’s just much better at it.

I think that about sums it up.

 

[Sparkles]

Salary Cap: As covered above, we’re not in a position to judge them for that.
“Entitled to win”: What even the ****? All clubs should have that mentality. You expect to win, that’s how you win.
Golden Child: They are definitely not the only club the NRL have looked after. They’ve saved our arse plenty of times too over the years
Dirty tactics: Only fair point you’ve made. But they’re not alone with this.
Smith: All captains try to play the referees, especially Gal when he was around. Smith’s just much better at it.

I think that about sums it up.

A little selective on the quote plucked there, CM. Entitled to win... only encouraged by their golden child status within the NRL. They're attitute is plainly above everyones general competiveness. You see that manifest through their dirty tactics.
Not alone on the dirty tactics - but by far the worst overall as a team. It's a culture that I see as against the spirit of the game. Most other clubs don't step that far over the boundary. So many, so consistently for so long. And with the least amount of recourse.
Smith isn't better at the captaincy thing now, is he? Surely such an amazing 'ref whisperer' would have been able to work a way around the atttention he receives now, but he hasn't. I'll admit he had it once, but he's lost his cool.

 

[CrazyMatt]

A little selective on the quote plucked there, CM. Entitled to win... only encouraged by their golden child status within the NRL. They're attitute is plainly above everyones general competiveness. You see that manifest through their dirty tactics.
Not alone on the dirty tactics - but by far the worst overall as a team. It's a culture that I see as against the spirit of the game. Most other clubs don't step that far over the boundary. So many, so consistently for so long. And with the least amount of recourse.
Smith isn't better at the captaincy thing now, is he? Surely such an amazing 'ref whisperer' would have been able to work a way around the atttention he receives now, but he hasn't. I'll admit he had it once, but he's lost his cool.

Selective quote picking? I addressed everything you said LOL.
Your angry that they’ve “got an attitude above everyone else’s competitiveness”? Really?!?!?!?!?! It’s a big part of what keeps them on top. I WISH Cronulla had that attitude! Instead, for a lot of games the past two years, our blokes have thought they were entitled to win simply by showing up, that’s an entitled culture. Melbourne have the attitude that they are better then everyone else and nobody can touch them, providing they work for it. That’s called a winning culture, not an entitled culture

The golden child stuff is a cop out considering the favourable treatment the NRL give other clubs too.

The worst at dirty tactics? That’s debatable. It’s highlighted with them due to their success and that they started the wrestle (if they didn’t start it, someone else would of). Again, the dirty tactics is a fair point but don’t act like that they are much worse than everyone else.

As for Smith, it doesn’t matter if people are spotting it, the refs are still influenced by him more than anyone else, despite how much other captains try to match him.

I wish people would just admit that jealousy plays the key part in why people hate the Storm so much. It annoys me a little bit that people aren’t willing to be honest about it.

 

[snowman]

if you hate melbourne because they think they deserve to win, you have it wrong

that is an elite mentality - look at GSW in their incredible run, they didnt care, belittled everyone and copped grief on the way - thats how you win

if you hate them because they are grubs, good reason, but you also cheered gal and bird

the cap cheating as covered, every team does it, its just who gets caught and who doesnt

there are so many reasons to hate melbourne and so many to admire them as well

brisbane told smith and cronk they werent good enough, slater was a discard, G I was an afl player who was overlooked by the knights a few times

they won comps with jermain lowe and were belting people with bryan norrie in the team ffs

 

[Spanner shark]

I don't know any storm fans so not fazed with them winning...too many mates that go for manly, parra and roosters so they on my bottom

They must be close if they are on your bottom

 

[Sparkles]

Selective quote picking? I addressed everything you said LOL.
Your angry that they’ve “got an attitude above everyone else’s competitiveness”? Really?!?!?!?!?! It’s a big part of what keeps them on top. I WISH Cronulla had that attitude! Instead, for a lot of games the past two years, our blokes have thought they were entitled to win simply by showing up, that’s an entitled culture. Melbourne have the attitude that they are better then everyone else and nobody can touch them, providing they work for it. That’s called a winning culture, not an entitled culture

The golden child stuff is a cop out considering the favourable treatment the NRL give other clubs too.

The worst at dirty tactics? That’s debatable. It’s highlighted with them due to their success and that they started the wrestle (if they didn’t start it, someone else would of). Again, the dirty tactics is a fair point but don’t act like that they are much worse than everyone else.

As for Smith, it doesn’t matter if people are spotting it, the refs are still influenced by him more than anyone else, despite how much other captains try to match him.

I wish people would just admit that jealousy plays the key part in why people hate the Storm so much. It annoys me a little bit that people aren’t willing to be honest about it.

I did say it was selective on just that first point. Which I think is fair.

Their attitude to win manifests differently. That's really the point. Having an elite athlete/organisation striving for the very best, pushing the interpretation of the rulebook is one thing, but I think it's fair to say that their record of working outside of the games ordinance is the worst in Rugby League based on their penalty record. I'd be interested in the example that proves me wrong.

Golden child - covered it enough

See above re record of dirty tactics. So far as players setting out to injure others, that's definitely subjective. But their non-subjectively totally dirty pricks, and most would agree. I also didn't bring up wrestling, so if that's your counter-point it's not relevent here.

Refs were more influenced. And I'm happy to admit it gives me a little tingle in the nethers every time he throws his arms up in exhasperation at the sheer hide of a dissenting referee penalising him.

You can be frustrated at people who are jealous of them. I just don't happen to be one of them. My utter contempt for them springs from what I've said above, pure and simple. They **** with this great game by disrespecting the wellbeing of other players and not abiding by the rules that help teams to compete on as level a playing field as the game allows.

 

[BurgoShark]

if you hate melbourne because they think they deserve to win, you have it wrong

that is an elite mentality - look at GSW in their incredible run, they didnt care, belittled everyone and copped grief on the way - thats how you win

if you hate them because they are grubs, good reason, but you also cheered gal and bird

the cap cheating as covered, every team does it, its just who gets caught and who doesnt

there are so many reasons to hate melbourne and so many to admire them as well

brisbane told smith and cronk they werent good enough, slater was a discard, G I was an afl player who was overlooked by the knights a few times

they won comps with jermain lowe and were belting people with bryan norrie in the team ffs

None of this is true, other than maybe the Knights missing out on a 15 year old Inglis when he was at HSH
- Smith was offered contracts by both Brisbane and Melbourne at 17, and chose Melbourne. So what if he didn't get identified until then. Being a late bloomer is not the same as being told you are not good enough.
- Cronk was mainly a Rugby Union player who didn't really start playing serious club Rugby League until Melbourne signed him and put him at Norths Colts; he played league at school but had only played one or two years of junior club RL
- Slater was being scouted by Brisbane prior to Melbourne signing him
- Inglis was in demand by 16 and was carving up the Q Cup by 18. If he was off contract at every NRL team and probably some RU/AFL clubs would have chased him

This is all great recruitment and player development by Melbourne. However all of these players had multiple teams/codes chasing them.