NRL 2020

It would feel wrong to have great expectations about a warriors season. “Keeping the faith” is a long forgotten mantra or at least any unbelievable type of one. I think, that a quarter of a century of following this c@nt of a team we can be honest with our pre season assessments now.

It’s going to suck. If its better than sucking it’s a bonus. I think we are good for 8-10 games. I expect some players will be released and go on to teams where they are challenged to be better. They’ll be better and win accolades for great lay if not premierships.

We’ll pin our hopes to RTS. He’ll deliver what he can. He will pull us over the line like only he can. When he eventually submits to the pressure of carrying 8-10 useless over paid and under coached players on his back by either leaving or injuring himself we’ll pin our hopes to some kid that is underdone but has an amazing goosie.

We’ll wonder if there maybe are too many islanders. Maybe we need more aussies. Maybe we need a more Polynesian, Polynesian coach than the one we have. One that wears a lava lava. Maybe we need Wayne Bennett or Craig Bellamy. Maybe both. Maybe we need Ardie or even Julian. Fuck knows really, what’s needed at this club but I’m pretty sure we don’t need Kearney.

Shared a flight with the Warriors a few days ago, have to say they were physically prettyul unimpressive. Not unfit, just not that imposing.
Seemed very polite chaps though, so I'm sure they'll go well...

As an aside, I love the strict weight restrictions on cabin baggage when they then go and book all the seats bar 4 to a bunch of 100kg dudes. Guess we were balanced at least

The new NRL ad is really good, i like it.

Darius Boyd is retiring at the end of the year

Reckons he had a lightbulb moment when a mate asked him if this was it.

I reckon the lightbulb moment should have been when it was clear how few fucks he gave early last season. Two seasons too late for Broncos fans.

One of the more over-rated players of recent times.

@mariner4life Darius Boyd. What a fucking average player. I am dead serious.

look at his career highlights

On the Rugby League PS4 game I have he's rated higher than Billy Slater so gets selected in the Oz and QLD teams ahead of him.

an entire career built on being on the end of the Qld backline where far superior players handed him the ball to score.

And following the ultimate chequebook coach Bennett around and jagging a premiership or two.

Can't, and won't tackle, isn't quick, isn't a ball player. Just a bog average back. Most Bronco fans were ecstatic to hear he was retiring, and then gutted it's not with immediate effect.

NRL players do pre-season regional school visit. NRL players meet school girls. NRL players take said school girls back to their hotel.

NRL players are in a lot of trouble. Mainly because they are idiots.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

NRL players do pre-season regional school visit. NRL players meet school girls. NRL players take said school girls back to their hotel.

NRL players are in a lot of trouble. Mainly because they are idiots.

What part of your brain thinks that's a good idea?

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

NRL players do pre-season regional school visit. NRL players meet school girls. NRL players take said school girls back to their hotel.

NRL players are in a lot of trouble. Mainly because they are idiots.

Even if you're straight outta school into an NRL team and you still feel 'part' of school life, surely you give it a massive sidestep??

Just incredible the lack of brains

has sneak given up the ghost?

@raznomore said in NRL 2020:

has sneak given up the ghost?

He's just sitting, fingers poised over the key board, eyes closed, slowly shaking his head, wondering what to do.

Yeah, I can't start watching the Warriors without his season preview.

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

NRL players do pre-season regional school visit. NRL players meet school girls. NRL players take said school girls back to their hotel.

NRL players are in a lot of trouble. Mainly because they are idiots.

Even if you're straight outta school into an NRL team and you still feel 'part' of school life, surely you give it a massive sidestep??

Just incredible the lack of brains

there is just no "honest mistake" you can pull for this one. It's so fucking dumb

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@raznomore said in NRL 2020:

has sneak given up the ghost?

He's just sitting, fingers poised over the key board, eyes closed, slowly shaking his head, wondering what to do.

it would be the worst preview ever

Among the pundits, we are overwhelming favourites for the spoon

No props. Adam Blair. Shit halves. The overpaid Nikorima to the bench already. Kearney. We are proper fucked.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@raznomore said in NRL 2020:

has sneak given up the ghost?

He's just sitting, fingers poised over the key board, eyes closed, slowly shaking his head, wondering what to do.

it would be the worst preview ever

Among the pundits, we are overwhelming favourites for the spoon

No props. Adam Blair. Shit halves. The overpaid Nikorima to the bench already. Kearney. We are proper fucked.

I think they will win their first game and set expectations soaring.

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@raznomore said in NRL 2020:

has sneak given up the ghost?

He's just sitting, fingers poised over the key board, eyes closed, slowly shaking his head, wondering what to do.

it would be the worst preview ever

Among the pundits, we are overwhelming favourites for the spoon

No props. Adam Blair. Shit halves. The overpaid Nikorima to the bench already. Kearney. We are proper fucked.

I think they will win their first game and set expectations soaring.

Knights away? If they do there will be massive alarm bells in Newcastle.

Good grief. Consensual, legal sex leads to the Bulldogs losing two million in sponsorship. What has the world come to?

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

Good grief. Consensual, legal sex leads to the Bulldogs losing two million in sponsorship. What has the world come to?

wait, what?

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

Good grief. Consensual, legal sex leads to the Bulldogs losing two million in sponsorship. What has the world come to?

wait, what?

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

Good grief. Consensual, legal sex leads to the Bulldogs losing two million in sponsorship. What has the world come to?

wait, what?

View embedded content

i just read that. i am astounded.

that's got to be an excuse for a company pulling out of a deal due to changed economic conditions surely.

@antipodean

It’s a family restaurant. I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I would imagine even if the deal had been done and underway, they could choose to pull out, which would be their right.

I do think it’s silly to expect NRL players to not be idiots, but just because they didn’t do anything illegal doesn’t make them creeps, and this ridiculously stupid behavior will influence and reflect on the team’s value as a sponsorship target - I mean you won’t send their players to schools or other kid-friendly events to try to promo your restaurant chain/brands now, right?

The brand value association is far less valuable. I think this is a simple business decision.

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I should imagine any sponsor involved with the NRL has that clause automatically inserted by the NRL these days.

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I should imagine any sponsor involved with the NRL has that clause automatically inserted by the NRL these days.

Yep, exactly.

I should add that I don't really see why a company that promotes this:

is going to the NRL with sponsorship and not expecting trouble, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that from a branding perspective for the restaurant, it's kind of a win-win or at least there is some risk hedge, because if there are no problems the sponsorship deal puts your brand in front of people all over, but if it does go wrong, you can pull out, recoup some investment if you structure the contract the right way, and get lots of free press about being on the right side of things - strengthening your brand positioning.

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I should imagine any sponsor involved with the NRL has that clause automatically inserted by the NRL these days.

Yep, exactly.

I should add that I don't really see why a company that promotes this:

View embedded content

is going to the NRL with sponsorship and not expecting trouble, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that from a branding perspective for the restaurant, it's kind of a win-win or at least there is some risk hedge, because if there are no problems the sponsorship deal puts your brand in front of people all over, but if it does go wrong, you can pull out, recoup some investment if you structure the contract the right way, and get lots of free press about being on the right side of things - strengthening your brand positioning.

Although they had been their sponsor for quite some time now(hadn't they?) This was all about renewal??

@gt12 well I certainly hope there was some pulling out!! but hopefully they wrapped it up!!

Turns out these guys gave that company an opening too and they did the same!

This is already good marketing for Rashays. I didn't know they were a chain (have walked past their Darling Harbour restaurant) and thought they were Indian place. Now I know they're a chain and they're not an Indian restaurant.

@Nepia said in NRL 2020:

This is already good marketing for Rashays. I didn't know they were a chain (have walked past their Darling Harbour restaurant) and thought they were Indian place. Now I know they're a chain and they're not an Indian restaurant.

I'd never heard of them before this. They've certainly got their money's worth.

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@Nepia said in NRL 2020:

This is already good marketing for Rashays. I didn't know they were a chain (have walked past their Darling Harbour restaurant) and thought they were Indian place. Now I know they're a chain and they're not an Indian restaurant.

I'd never heard of them before this. They've certainly got their money's worth.

If not for the Darling Harbour one I would be the same and to be quite frank I only noticed it because they had a pretty maitre' D.

I went to Rashays at Dee Why. Fucken shit.

how good. one of the blokes also plowed a teacher from another school he met on a separate visit. loves Port Maquarrie!

@mariner4life just loves giving back and is passionate about education sex ed that is!

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I should imagine any sponsor involved with the NRL has that clause automatically inserted by the NRL these days.

Yep, exactly.

I should add that I don't really see why a company that promotes this:

View embedded content

is going to the NRL with sponsorship and not expecting trouble, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that from a branding perspective for the restaurant, it's kind of a win-win or at least there is some risk hedge, because if there are no problems the sponsorship deal puts your brand in front of people all over, but if it does go wrong, you can pull out, recoup some investment if you structure the contract the right way, and get lots of free press about being on the right side of things - strengthening your brand positioning.

Although they had been their sponsor for quite some time now(hadn't they?) This was all about renewal??

From the link above:

The Bulldogs were on the verge of announcing the two-year deal on Tuesday night, having agreed to terms with Rashays after long-time sponsor Kia left the club for the Brisbane Broncos this year.

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

@Hooroo said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

@antipodean said in NRL 2020:

@gt12 said in NRL 2020:

I don’t see why any reasonable contract wouldn’t have a clause about behavior that negatively reflects on the brand (association) that led to them sponsoring the club.

I should imagine any sponsor involved with the NRL has that clause automatically inserted by the NRL these days.

Yep, exactly.

I should add that I don't really see why a company that promotes this:

View embedded content

is going to the NRL with sponsorship and not expecting trouble, but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that from a branding perspective for the restaurant, it's kind of a win-win or at least there is some risk hedge, because if there are no problems the sponsorship deal puts your brand in front of people all over, but if it does go wrong, you can pull out, recoup some investment if you structure the contract the right way, and get lots of free press about being on the right side of things - strengthening your brand positioning.

Although they had been their sponsor for quite some time now(hadn't they?) This was all about renewal??

From the link above:

View embedded content

The Bulldogs were on the verge of announcing the two-year deal on Tuesday night, having agreed to terms with Rashays after long-time sponsor Kia left the club for the Brisbane Broncos this year.

Sweet

Just not main sponsor. Been with the club since 2014

Rashays had first joined the Bulldogs as a sponsor in 2014 under Raelene Castle and Ray Dib's leadership.

@Hooroo

Ha, I missed that!

not guilty your honour!!! she flat out told me what was up, with a wink! my penis can't fight that kind of mind control!

@mariner4life :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes:

After the hilarity of yesterday, the season begins tonight with the Eels and the Dogs

In a great piece of news for the Warriors, RTS is actually still in doubt. FML

Any predictions for the year?

I would love for a breakup of the Roosters/Storm stranglehold. My problem is the teams best placed to do that are the Raiders (fuck Ricky Stuart) and Manly (fuck Manly, and fuck Des Hasler). I also hope Bennett and the Rabbits fall in a heap. And the Sharks collapse.

I think i could handle the Eels doing well. And the Tigers (pffft hahaha). Obviously the Cowboys (i will actually make an effort and go down to check out their new stadium). Pretty much everyone else can die in a fire.

Oh, and in the first real shock, guess which club doesn't have a single 5-day turnaround? One of only 2?

@mariner4life said in NRL 2020:

Oh, and in the first real shock, guess which club doesn't have a single 5-day turnaround? One of only 2?

Broncos and Warriors?