Big watch is the contest for the backup hooker/utility role between Roache, Lawton and Cook because Luke isn't an 80 minute player anymore in the second half of the season.
So, lets talk about the NRL's latest retarded idea.
Apparently fans lose engagement when their teams are out of the finals race (shocking i know), so the NRL want to find ways to keep those fans' eyeballs on TV screens.
So, their (completely retarded) idea is to give the top 6 a week off before finals, while 7 plays 10, and 8 plays 9 in a "wildcard" round to see who plays in week one of the finals.
Fucking idiotic.
Last year 9th was the Tigers at 12-12. 10th was the Raiders at 10-14!! yep, that's make the comp better, give a team with a significant losing record a shot at finals.
I for one don't think this goes far enough. If we really want teams engaged, let all 16 teams be eligible for finals. 24 rounds, then a knockout until you get to the GF. More games, all fans engaged for longer. You know it makes sense Greenberg.
Oh, and more sexy time videos coming out too. There won't be a player available for round 1 at this point.
So the top two seeds will go final round/bye/play off/bye/play off/play off?
So the top two seeds will go final round/bye/play off/bye/play off/play off?
you think they have thought that far ahead?
But yea, pretty much.
Depending on your thoughts around rest/momentum, it's either a huge advantage, or a huge disadvantage.
It's not gone too badly for the AFL top seeds so far i don't think.
To really maintain interest they should give one of the wildcards out based on a fan vote and the other one to the 'most deserving team' as judged by a panel of experts.
I'd have thought if they wanted to keep the players busy in order to avoid the "off season" debacles, they'd not give them weeks off and the season would be 52 weeks long.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2019:
To really maintain interest they should give one of the wildcards out based on a fan vote and the other one to the 'most deserving team' as judged by a panel of experts.
Yes! Phil Gould; Joey Johns; Mark Geyer; Ray Hadley; Justin Hodges; and Daryl Halligan!
Ooooh, how about the origin winning coach and captain is on that panel too!
@mariner4life said in NRL 2019:
To really maintain interest they should give one of the wildcards out based on a fan vote and the other one to the 'most deserving team' as judged by a panel of experts.
Yes! Phil Gould; Joey Johns; Mark Geyer; Ray Hadley; Justin Hodges; and Daryl Halligan!
Ooooh, how about the origin winning coach and captain is on that panel too!
now you're thinking!
and Todd Carney
7 days later
Season begins this week with Team Naming Tuesday.
Another mini-scandal, this time with the Warriors. Isaiah Papali'i is stood down for round one due to something away from the pitch.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
Season begins this week with Team Naming Tuesday.
Another mini-scandal, this time with the Warriors. Isaiah Papali'i is stood down for round one due to something away from the pitch.
What time does Team Naming Tuesday happen ... do I have time to sharpen my knives?
ah yes, Round 1 of the season after the Warriors performed reasonably well.
This should get nice and ugly nice and early.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Nepia Around 5pm. You'll have to get in line because word is Solomone Kata will be paired with David Fusitua on the right edge in round one.
Apparently Luke is out as well.
Anyway, I always thought I was the head of the anti Kata-Kearney Jnr queue.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Nepia Around 5pm. You'll have to get in line because word is Solomone Kata will be paired with David Fusitua on the right edge in round one.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
Season begins this week with Team Naming Tuesday.
Another mini-scandal, this time with the Warriors. Isaiah Papali'i is stood down for round one due to something away from the pitch.
Drink-driving offence is the "mini-scandal". Pales in comparison to the Aussie clubs.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
Season begins this week with Team Naming Tuesday.
Another mini-scandal, this time with the Warriors. Isaiah Papali'i is stood down for round one due to something away from the pitch.
Drink-driving offence is the "mini-scandal". Pales in comparison to the Aussie clubs.
will Greenberg write him a character reference?
Former Cowboys legend Ben Barba having a meltdown on Aussie news:
ouch, I'm sure it's made for great copy but it does feel a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. Wonder how close Barba came to actually popping him?
@Sneakdefreak Worth noting ( video is geoblocked) that those journalists often hound people well beyond what is considered normal discourse. They bait people to an unacceptable to get their soundbite.
Look, Barba has got what he deserved after his behaviour. He's lost his career, and he's back to just being an average nobody.
But in this instance he's getting stitched up and Ch9 got exactly what they want. Look at that photo, the journalist is between Barba and the drivers seat of his car. He would have badgered him, asked him "do you feel lucky your missus isn't pressing charges" and then when a guy that has lost everything explodes, it's a "gotcha" and you can spin it how you want.
For all their "tut tutting" and "won't someone think of the children" the media would have been laughing their asses off over this offseason. High 5s all round in the editing room. Look at those sweet sweet clicks just rolling in.
Agree 100%
I had missed that the reporter was blocking him getting into his own vehicle. Reckon they must have sent out the reporter with the most punchable face aye.
@mariner4life The Aussie media are far more ruthless in their baiting tactics. I'm surprised though that more media haven't hounded Barba for the past few weeks.
Isaac Luke is out, Roache to start at hooker in the first team of the season. Adam Keighran to start at standoff, Green moves to halfback.
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 David Fusitu’a
3 Peta Hiku
4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Adam Keighran
7 Blake Green
8 Agnatius Paasi
9 Nathaniel Roache
10 Bunty Afoa
11 Adam Blair
12 Tohu Harris
13 Lachlan Burr
Interchange:
14 Jazz Tevaga
15 Sam Lisone
16 Leeson Ah Mau
17 Blake Ayshford
18 Gerard Beale
20 Ligi Sao
21 Karl Lawton
22 Chanel Harris-Tavita
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
Isaac Luke is out, Roache to start at hooker in the first team of the season. Adam Keighran to start at standoff, Green moves to halfback.
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 David Fusitu’a
3 Peta Hiku
> 4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Adam Keighran
7 Blake Green
8 Agnatius Paasi
9 Nathaniel Roache
10 Bunty Afoa
11 Adam Blair
12 Tohu Harris
13 Lachlan BurrInterchange:
14 Jazz Tevaga
15 Sam Lisone
16 Leeson Ah Mau
17 Blake Ayshford
18 Gerard Beale
20 Ligi Sao
21 Karl Lawton
22 Chanel Harris-Tavita
My brain can't compute that.
That line up will change come game day. See Burr dropping to the bench, Tevaga into lock with Lawton coming in as the back up hooker/utility and Ayshford dropping out of the 17.
All teams named for round one of the 2019 NRL season: https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/03/12/round-1-nrl-team-lists/
Team I think will beat Melbourne in the 2019 GF: Penrith Panthers
Dark horse pick: North Queensland Cowboys (now the Thurston lovefest is over)
Rookie of the year: Adam Keighran (Warriors)
Player of the year (Dally M): Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
All teams named for round one of the 2019 NRL season: https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/03/12/round-1-nrl-team-lists/
Team I think will beat Melbourne in the 2019 GF: Penrith Panthers
Dark horse pick: North Queensland Cowboys (now the Thurston lovefest is over)
Rookie of the year: Adam Keighran (Warriors)
Player of the year (Dally M): Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
Penrith are getting so much love. Their coach is a dud. And their roster is okay but no more.
I can't see past the Roosters still, they are fucking stacked. And yea if the Cowboys have a good run with injuries they have a top 4 squad.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2019:
Penrith are getting so much love. Their coach is a dud. And their roster is okay but no more.
Imagine what their roster will look like once the NRL has banned half of them.
Meanwhile, not only are Aussie league players a bunch of thick scumbags, their league media also keep going out of their way to prove they're thick as fuck as well. Some of the shit that rolls out of Buzz what-his-fucking-names' gob and down his chin sounds like it was dreamed up by a 5 year old. The hosts on 360 are generally pretty good and that show is about the only thing I enjoy about the NRL season, but they seem intent on dumbing it down by having that miserable old git as a guest.
Meanwhile, not only are Aussie league players a bunch of thick scumbags, their league media also keep going out of their way to prove they're thick as fuck as well. Some of the shit that rolls out of Buzz what-his-fucking-names' gob and down his chin sounds like it was dreamed up by a 5 year old. The hosts on 360 are generally pretty good and that show is about the only thing I enjoy about the NRL season, but they seem intent on dumbing it down by having that miserable old git as a guest.
i can't stand that fucking show. Ikin is a deadshit. Kent is a massively arrogant fuckwit. Buzz is just a bitter drunk. Who else do they have? Luke Lewis used to be on there, who is okay.
The NRL media appear to exist to run the game down at every opportunity, and then express surprise that their constant attacks sway public opinion (see their constant attacks on refereeing).
The best league stuff I hear is on radio sport breakie with Vossy. I know he can be a bit much at times, but he's got great oil and is very up front with his biases. Unlike other commentators who don't even know that word exists!!
Warriors winger Patrick Herbert, who showed promise in the preseason games, is now accused of assaulting a 19 year old. It's claimed his mom helped out too.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
Warriors winger Patrick Herbert, who showed promise in the preseason games, is now accused of assaulting a 19 year old. It's claimed his mom helped out too.
I saw a screenshot of the Facebook post on a league forum the other day - but I can't remember where now and the article says its been removed.
I'll admit I don't know much about him, he really only popped up one people's radars because he got more game time than other wingers in the preseason (Fusitua and Maumalo got limited time since they're starters).
Could come down to a management decision of "is he worth the hassle?".
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
I'll admit I don't know much about him, he really only popped up one people's radars because he got more game time than other wingers in the preseason (Fusitua and Maumalo got limited time since they're starters).
Could come down to a management decision of "is he worth the hassle?".
From the article looks like the Warriors seem ok with the situation, he approached them to let them know what happened straight away - and I guess no one knows any facts (e.g. and I'm just speculating here, the 19 year old could have been drunk and acting a dick head so Herbert and his Mum kicked him out and it got a little heated through to Herbert assaulted him).
I thought Herbert might have been one of your favourites actually. Apparently he's had raps on him for a few years now.
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Nepia He was at St George up until this season and I don't really follow their development system.
Wasn't he with the Warriors before that? Or did I miss-remember reading that somewhere?
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
@Nepia He was at St George up until this season and I don't really follow their development system.
Wasn't he with the Warriors before that? Or did I miss-remember reading that somewhere?
You're thinking of Leeson Ah Mau.
All brown people look the same to me.