NRL 2021

The Warriors don't expect to have any home games this season.

The NZ Warriors won't be playing at home this season, even if a trans- Ta$man bubble is in place.

The club had hoped to return to Mount Smart Stadium in April for their round five clash with Manly, but unless there is clear certainty around borders remaining open, that won't happen.

The club says even if a bubble does open, it doesn't mean the team will be able to come home straight away. 

Club CEO Cameron George has told Newshub it's too risky for the competition to have the team travel back and forth, if there's no certainty the borders will stay open. 

Newshub ubderstands George and head coach Nathan Brown will discuss the situation with the team and their families this weekend, with an announcement expected in the coming days.

And we're almost underway, comp kicks off on Thursday with Souths v Melbourne.

One assumes Cam Smith is still playing for Melbourne.

Warriors have i think a home game against the Titans. It's actually a pretty big game for both clubs. The Titans have made a lot of good moves and are expected to push hard for finals. If they continue being the Gold Coast Titans, then people will be pissed. The Warriors obviously have a new coach, a bit of a new look side, are still based in Australia. What sort of a season are we looking at?

Storm v Roosters GF then?

Also a question, if i may. Is there a sport with a worse set of "high profile journalists" than Rugby League? And why do these fucking goons continue to get extended air time on Fox League? Rothfield is a sour old drunk who copped a clip from Cooper Cronk last night. Paul Kent just hates everything about the NRL (but desperately wants to be best mates with the names of the sport). That bald flog Hooper is just a dropkick. And yet these guys are nearly the faces of the Fox League channel.

Who is signing off on this shit?

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

Storm v Roosters GF then?

I heard that Souths are the favourites to win it all based on a poll.

The majority expect the Warriors to miss the playoffs - again.

@bovidae said in NRL 2021:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

Storm v Roosters GF then?

I heard that Souths are the favourites to win it all based on a poll.

The majority expect the Warriors to miss the playoffs - again.

Souths look bloody good. I just wonder about their halves come the real pointy end, and if a pack built around the lessor Burgess's is actually good enough.

The Roosters, provided a couple of key guys stay fit (radley a prime example) are hard to go past. wait, who is their halfback?

I don't expect the Warriors to finish higher than 10th.

wait, it appears Cam Smith has just sort of wandered off in to the sunset?

Storm out.

@Sneakdefreak must still be scarred from the 2019 season.

@donsteppa said in NRL 2021:

@Sneakdefreak must still be scarred from the 2019 season.

our NRL chat is very hollow without him

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

@bovidae said in NRL 2021:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

Storm v Roosters GF then?

I heard that Souths are the favourites to win it all based on a poll.

The majority expect the Warriors to miss the playoffs - again.

Souths look bloody good. I just wonder about their halves come the real pointy end, and if a pack built around the lessor Burgess's is actually good enough.

The Roosters, provided a couple of key guys stay fit (radley a prime example) are hard to go past. wait, who is their halfback?

I don't expect the Warriors to finish higher than 10th.

TAB and polls are like NZ cricket supporters who call for Kane's head. They look at games in isolation and to be fair, Souths played one of the worst looking sides in St George last start. You need a lot of luck also to win a comp, mainly surrounding injuries and staying injury free. Reynolds is a great half back but is an injury magnet. You have Benchi (Benji on the bench) who could pull a hammy any second too. Latrell when interested is a game breaker and also has vision but also has a history of injuries. Cody is probably the only one who doesnt go down consistently. A great 5/8 and has been given license this year to play both sides, so this should help Souths and if all of this magically occurs they will have a good chance.

Lam (Adrian's son) is the first up half back for the roosters partnering with Keary, Sam Walker is a player of the future and may get a shot later in the year, but wont be named later today.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

@donsteppa said in NRL 2021:

@Sneakdefreak must still be scarred from the 2019 season.

our NRL chat is very hollow without him

I remember sneak, he used to have far too much time to do write ups and they were good too. Good on him, I never have time

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

wait, it appears Cam Smith has just sort of wandered off in to the sunset?

Storm out.

He will appear later this year either at the Titans or Broncos

@bayimports said in NRL 2021:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

@donsteppa said in NRL 2021:

@Sneakdefreak must still be scarred from the 2019 season.

our NRL chat is very hollow without him

I remember sneak, he used to have far too much time to do write ups and they were good too. Good on him, I never have time

I think he is/was an actual journo.

@nepia said in NRL 2021:

@bayimports said in NRL 2021:

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

@donsteppa said in NRL 2021:

@Sneakdefreak must still be scarred from the 2019 season.

our NRL chat is very hollow without him

I remember sneak, he used to have far too much time to do write ups and they were good too. Good on him, I never have time

I think he is/was an actual journo.

that explains the impressive effort, wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't the one running the warriors fans insta page nzwarriorsfaithful, they always have some really good inside info.. more so than the warriors real website

First team named for 2021 and its the warriors.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), David Fusitu'a, Euan Aitken, Peta Hiku, Ken Maumalo, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Eliesa Katoa, Bayley Sironen, Tohu Harris. Interchange: Jazz Tevaga, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Adam Pompey, Sean O'Sullivan, Tom Ale, Josh Curran

A couple of unexpected ins including Egan and Katoa.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

Also a question, if i may. Is there a sport with a worse set of "high profile journalists" than Rugby League? And why do these fucking goons continue to get extended air time on Fox League? Rothfield is a sour old drunk who copped a clip from Cooper Cronk last night. Paul Kent just hates everything about the NRL (but desperately wants to be best mates with the names of the sport). That bald flog Hooper is just a dropkick. And yet these guys are nearly the faces of the Fox League channel.

Who is signing off on this shit?

Haha very true, and why does James Hooper put on that stupid accent lol.

@bayimports said in NRL 2021:

First team named for 2021 and its the warriors.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), David Fusitu'a, Euan Aitken, Peta Hiku, Ken Maumalo, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Eliesa Katoa, Bayley Sironen, Tohu Harris. Interchange: Jazz Tevaga, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Adam Pompey, Sean O'Sullivan, Tom Ale, Josh Curran

A couple of unexpected ins including Egan and Katoa.

Better looking and more Kiwi looking team than I thought they would put out this year.

I hope Egan lives up to the hype this year, looked mostly average and often ponderous last year but the diehard Warriors fanbois were raving about him.

@nepia I think Egan will go ok behind a big pack (which he has now). Is he is the same league as Smith, Cheese or Grant ...hell no ha ha. Im more worried about our halves. CHT showed promise at the end of last year, Kodi is a bit rocks and diamonds too. I guess if the team can stay injury free, they will have a shot for the eight, but they need a few things to go there way.

Tevaga as the backup hooker.

@Nepia The Warriors seem to be all in with Egan as they weren't interested in trying to lure Smith back to Auckland.

@bayimports said in NRL 2021:

@nepia I think Egan will go ok behind a big pack (which he has now). Is he is the same league as Smith, Cheese or Grant ...hell no ha ha. Im more worried about our halves. CHT showed promise at the end of last year, Kodi is a bit rocks and diamonds too. I guess if the team can stay injury free, they will have a shot for the eight, but they need a few things to go there way.

Being in Oz for the season is a decided disadvantage. They will need to get off to a strong start to get everyone up. I'm not holding my breath

@canefan said in NRL 2021:

@bayimports said in NRL 2021:

@nepia I think Egan will go ok behind a big pack (which he has now). Is he is the same league as Smith, Cheese or Grant ...hell no ha ha. Im more worried about our halves. CHT showed promise at the end of last year, Kodi is a bit rocks and diamonds too. I guess if the team can stay injury free, they will have a shot for the eight, but they need a few things to go there way.

Being in Oz for the season is a decided disadvantage. They will need to get off to a strong start to get everyone up. I'm not holding my breath

TBH, I don't know if it is as big a disadvantage to the playing. A siege mentality due to adverse conditions can take a team pretty far.

@bayimports Kodi was often times our only attacking spark at times last year. And, to go back to Egan, he was having to create everything because he was getting ponderous ball from a hooker who wasn't a threat.

@Bovidae Yep, and that's why their fanbois fluff him regardless of his actual performances. I reckon Kodi is probably the potential best 9 in the team but we need him in the halves.

There was a game last year when her reminded me of Townsend when he was at the Warriors. If he comes good like Townsend did I hope it's at the Warriors and not after he leaves for another club.

@nepia Actually I agree with you on all these points. Kodi was often our most dangerous half, the problem for Kodi too was when he had an off day it was really noticeable as often others didn't stand up. CHT really has to step up consistently this year and time will tell if he is good enough. If there is a significant threat coming from both halves then that should create more gaps.

I also agree and think the team will bond well over here, I don't think that will be a big playing group distraction, clearly a mega huge negative financial impact for the club, but not necessarily a playing group one.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

Also a question, if i may. Is there a sport with a worse set of "high profile journalists" than Rugby League? And why do these fucking goons continue to get extended air time on Fox League? Rothfield is a sour old drunk who copped a clip from Cooper Cronk last night. Paul Kent just hates everything about the NRL (but desperately wants to be best mates with the names of the sport). That bald flog Hooper is just a dropkick. And yet these guys are nearly the faces of the Fox League channel.

Who is signing off on this shit?

At a guess you're talking about this?

If there's anything worse than the players and administrators in league, it's the "journalists".

@bovidae said in NRL 2021:

I heard that Souths are the favourites to win it all based on a poll.

I heard that Warriors fans think "this our year" based on absolutely nothing.

They will also be fitter than they have ever been.

Smith retires

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-great-cameron-smith-retires-from-rugby-league-20210310-p579e3.html#:~:text=Melbourne Storm great Cameron Smith announced on Wednesday that he,be remembered in Melbourne forever”.

I admire Cameron Smith for many things

He's really really fucking good at rugby league.
His prep is obviously meticulous because he's played more games than anyone else
He wins. A lot.
He plays the game with as clear a head as any rugby player i have ever seen
He winds up New South Welshmen like nothing i have ever seen
He winds up NSW-centric NRL journos just by existing

Now you can add laying out the bitter hypocrisy of the journalism industry for all to see. The major whinge from them seems to be "oh, you selfish fluffybunny, you just wanted to have us talk about you and not the season launch". this from the same bunch of shameless fluffybunnies that will sit on a dirt-dishing story that will make the league look bad until the time when it will get the most clicks, like the week of the first game, or GF week. Cam nicked your spot didn't he fuckheads? I reckon it was supposed to be the Victor Radley non-story, but Cam stole all their thunder. jam it in your ass.

That deadshit James Hooper still got to hit publish on his whiney "cam smith is a shit bloke because he won't talk to me" article he clearly penned last year, so what's his fucking problem?

Onya Cam, you do you.

@mariner4life I was reading that expecting the “but” that never came.

Listening to this comms team specially Gould pleasure themselves over Benji Marshall doing sweet fuck all reminds me why I prefer pay TV coverage.

Benji has been given credit for the 2 tries the very poor rabbits have scored. It's been all fucking Cody Walker but because Benji got his old hands on the ball somewhere on the lead up it's time for Gus and to a slightly lesser extent John's to give each other a reach around on air.

Adam Reynolds is a hell of a goal kicker.

I imagine, as no one is commenting it's because one wanky team is playing another.

@raznomore said in NRL 2021:

Listening to this comms team specially Gould pleasure themselves over Benji Marshall doing sweet fuck all reminds me why I prefer pay TV coverage.

Benji has been given credit for the 2 tries the very poor rabbits have scored. It's been all fucking Cody Walker but because Benji got his old hands on the ball somewhere on the lead up it's time for Gus and to a slightly lesser extent John's to give each other a reach around on air.

Jesus, is that tired old flog still on TV ? Fuck me days he should have been put out to pasture years ago.

@mn5 he's part of the furniture. Aussie loves an over dramatic pompous "expert". Alan Jones has managed to make a lifetime career out of it.

Gould "I would never let a winger pass to another winger" after a mistake. Fuck that's an almighty nugget of wisdom.

@raznomore said in NRL 2021:

@mn5 he's part of the furniture. Aussie loves an over dramatic pompous "expert". Alan Jones has managed to make a lifetime career out of it.

Well yeah but I thought that ghastly old fuck woulda been given the boot years ago.

Good game that. Few errors but some pretty tries

Both teams will be there at the business end of the season. The Bunnies looked good once they cut out the errors and gave Reimis Smith and Jennings a very hard time. Jai Arrow is also a very good pick up who did a lot of work. Marshall did do a decent enough job out there in a situation that suited him as it gave the Bunnies an extra option on attack. Cook's passing was horrendous at crucial times sadly, and I think Jaxon Paulo would be better served out wide than Mansour who looked very average out there. Mitchell, Gagai and Arrow were the best for Souths.

Will be interesting to see what Bellamy does with Smith and Grant. Smiths made no secret that he wants to play at 9,but might have to settle for a utility spot with Grant starting.

@african-monkey I thought Walker was good

@raznomore Yeah he was, threw a beautiful face ball to Alex Johnston for his try. Maybe I'm letting that knock on be fore halftime cloud my judgement of him but yeah, ound it interesting when Greg Alexander criticised the Bunnies of having too many playmakers on when it bought them back in it and Walker was part of that.

i thought Melbourne looked out of ideas for most of the 2nd half. Yes they were losing the territory battle, but they didn't fire too many shots at a team that was coming hard for them. It looks like it all comes down to Munster and Papenhauzen doing something awesome.

Souths will go a long way this year, i forgot they picked up Arrow, he's a gun. What the hell has happened to Cook's pass? is was ordinary last year as well.

@mariner4life Yeah his all round game is still a work in progress. Shut down Cam Murray and don't allow him to play the ball quickly and Cook runs out of ideas a bit as he doesn't have any real kicking game and his passing has always been a bit iffy out of dummy half.

Great entertaining first game. I don't think you can analyze too much out of this as it is a long season. Some players looked short of a gallop, while others definitely hit the ground running. Bunnies defense definitely improved when Arrow came on, time will tell how they try and manage his body, for me unlike the comms, he was their best player last night. Latrell and Walker look set to create a few problems too if they can stay fit.

Still, great game to kick off the season.