NRL 2021

@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.

Some impressive defense by the Warriors in the 1st half.

6 - 0 to the Warriors at HT.

The garbage Kayo app on my Samsung wont get out of 480p for me (and you can't manually change it).

I can't even complain to them because it's my mate's account.

60 minutes in and the Warriors have kept the Titans scoreless.

@dice said in NRL 2021:

60 minutes in and the Warriors have kept the Titans scoreless.

Crazy considering the pack are dead on their feet.

Warriors seal the deal with a good win against the Titans. Only saw the second 40 but the forwards seemed to set a great platform and CTH and Kodi profited. If they can play like that more times than not we will be in most games

Fonua-Blake ran for 202m. Been a while since we had a forward who got those sort of numbers.

RTS was doing the kicks to touch in the 2nd half. He's getting some in-game practice for his switch to rugby.:thumbs_up:

Dominant display but my Panthers team they did well upfront especially after losing a number of forwards this year.

@dice said in NRL 2021:

Fonua-Blake ran for 202m. Been a while since we had a forward who got those sort of numbers.

I still miss those head first charges by Hitro Okesene! He must have recorded some reasonable yardage numbers way back then.

Big result for the warriors. Big for the titans as well, just not in a positive way.

Real haves and haves not weekend. You can put lines through St George, the Tigers, and Manly after only 1 week. The bulldogs as well probably. And quite possibly the cowboys.

Fans of Melbourne, the bunnies, the roosters, the panthers and Canberra can start booking finals tickets. 3 spots in the 8 look available.

Probably not how the warriors wanted to win, sure they will be happy with the points but it proved costly.

New signing Aitken out for 3-4 months (after making 16 tackles no misses). BSiro and Egan will miss a week each for failing their HIA. Just to make the hooking dilemma more complicated, they just released Lawton to move to a new club.

Great defensive effort for sure, but 5th tackle options from CHT were terrible. When he runs he looks ok, but his kicking game was woeful and still may face the judiciary for a leg trip. Kodi needs to demand the ball more if CHT is going to serve up that sh*t. Still against a Gold Coast team on the rise it was a good result.

Like @mariner4life says, looks like the top teams already split with the bottom with just a couple of spots up for grabs.

The end of season standings:

1. Rabbitohs a lethal attack will give them the minor prem
2. Panthers lost a little this year but still great
3. Storm still the storm
4. Roosters an aging team but with teddy
5. Raiders could be better that 5th
6. Knights a decent team
7. Eels not sure about these guys
8. Warriors this will be the best year in a long time
9. Broncos look like a changed team so far
10. Titans the brilliance countered out by rubbish
11. Sharks Utter garbage that some how win games
12. Sea eagles could be better if Tom stays fit
13. Bulldogs A team on the up
14. Cowboys Payten is a good coach but that's about it for them
15. West tigers rubbish bar Nofoaluma
16. Dragons Utter garbage

Panthers win grand final

NRL has lost the plot trying to show they care about women. Toby Rudolf issued a formal warning for showing a sense of humour in post-match interview. His comments about what he planned after winning:

"Probably about 1000 beers. Go to Northies [pub], try and pull something. Anything will do," Rudolf said. "No, honestly, it's all about recovery these days. I'll be going straight home, straight to the ice bath and staying very, very quiet."

The world is fucked if a young single bloke can’t say he wants to go to the pub and get lucky.

Jeeez, what’s next.

Toby just needs to proclaim "who said anything about women?"

The "NRL rampant with systemic homophobia" headlines should then ensue. Checkmate

@siam I'd go the 'pulling' of a beer, any beer will do defence.

@antipodean said in NRL 2021:

NRL has lost the plot trying to show they care about women. Toby Rudolf issued a formal warning for showing a sense of humour in post-match interview. His comments about what he planned after winning:

"Probably about 1000 beers. Go to Northies [pub], try and pull something. Anything will do," Rudolf said. "No, honestly, it's all about recovery these days. I'll be going straight home, straight to the ice bath and staying very, very quiet."

I saw the interview, it was unremarkable yet the official reaction is laughable.

Australia is in the grip of an epidemic of vapid hysteria at the moment, with wymminses determined to demonstrate that it is not a good idea to consider employing or promoting them beyond custodian of the Olivetti and a stenographer's pad, as part time casuals only.

The dopes are over-represented in the dying media, without the wit for alternative employment, and are conducting a last ditch newspaper campaign to bring down a government because it has blokes in it. Which is pretty much the same as the mob they want to install as its replacement, members of the same Uniparty. Brainless.

Just tonight the most prominent ABC current affairs donkey, on about half a million a year, complained about the r-eight-cism throughout her career against wymminses, with:

*"As an example, she said wireless microphones often used during public speaking engagements were designed for men’s clothes, and required a sturdy lapel, a heavy belt and a coat to cover it up.

“I’m always made to feel a little bit inconvenient,” she said.

There were other examples as well — such as being made to feel annoying for needing to use the toilet and being told her male counterpart never had that need; and male colleagues setting up windy filming locations suitable for men with short hair, but not women with long hair."*

That's it. That is all she had.

They are ever so amusing - with average luck in time the barren old witches will breed themselves out of the gene pool.

Not sure if this interests anyone but the Warriors are the third most followed 'footy' sports team in Oz on social media.

well this is interesting, young star on the rise, was meant to be promised fullback for the broncos in 2022 replacing Jamayne Isaako, however he will be in Warriors colours. Donkeys are filthy, stolen by Gus

@bayimports the reported $400k is a decent wedge for a bloke who has played a game of Grade

Good game last night (the bits i watched) in terrible conditions. Handling was better than it should have been.

Kaufusi should have been sent for that elbow, he absolutely meant that. The Storm are realising that Cameron Smith played hooker and halfback at the same time last year, and now there is no one to organise the side.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2021:

@bayimports the reported $400k is a decent wedge for a bloke who has played a game of Grade

Good game last night (the bits i watched) in terrible conditions. Handling was better than it should have been.

Kaufusi should have been sent for that elbow, he absolutely meant that. The Storm are realising that Cameron Smith played hooker and halfback at the same time last year, and now there is no one to organise the side.

If he turns out to be as good as what they're talking about then its a good price for a starting fullback. I am not saying he is Papenhuyzen or is going to be him, but it is the risk reward all clubs are trying to secure. Papenhuyzen couldnt be offloaded from the tigs a couple of years ago when they were shopping him around and now he is a million dollar player. Its probably easier to run the risk with a 18 back than a young forward too..unless your name is Haas.

The low price allows warriors to stay in the hunt for a hooker or half too which will be very big money.

At worst kaufusi should have been in the bin and on report, league has a long way to go if they want to get serious about head injuries. Mattterson has a history of concussion and I expect him t be out for weeks as well. The storm never looked out of it to their credit, but definitely lost Smiths composure, as any team would have if they had that legend playing. They will still be thereabouts near the pointy end of the comp.

Papali'i looking fit and hungry at his new club too. Pretty good accuracy all round for sh*t weather. Anyone betting on any game in Sydney today watch out, more weather like that supposedly later today