Haven’t seen the game yet but I wouldn’t be too concerned over early form , we do have history of building through a tournament.
haven’t studied the draw either but heard brandy Alexander on the radio saying Nz and aus are drawn to meet in one of the semis , and he thinks that’s the final right there .
Sounds like a kind draw to England, particularly if Nz and aus play a tough game the week before .
massive lol at Samoa. What the fuck happened there? That's actually, on paper, a good side.
Problem is, a lot of those guys are names, but if you watch their club side, they are along for the ride. Luai gets carried at Penrith as he isn't responsible for anything. Yeo and Cleary and Edwards do all the heavy lifting. Suaali'i is a winger at the Roosters. Milford has been trash for years. Levi is very average. That's a shit spine
Still that pack should have done better than it did. Damning result.
@mariner4life With CHT as their other halves option they don't have anyone who can organise, I don't know what sort of form Mason Lino is in up norf but he could probably move a team around the park at 7 better than the three they have in the squad (while not being as good a player). Although this would require their forwards to actually put in some work.
@Crucial said in Rugby League World Cup:
grab Cheika as a coach and represent Lebanon.
The Lebanon players do like a whinge on the park.
@ACT-Crusader said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Crucial said in Rugby League World Cup:
grab Cheika as a coach and represent Lebanon.
The Lebanon players do like a
whingekebab on the park.
FIFY
Not a bad little side hustle for Cheika. Coaching a team with little expectation on the world stage.
@ACT-Crusader said in Rugby League World Cup:
Not a bad little side hustle for Cheika. Coaching a team with little expectation on the world stage.
Like he always does.
@Crucial said in Rugby League World Cup:
League world cup cracks me up. A team of Sydney players that can't crack the Oz side grab Cheika as a coach and represent Lebanon.
Sounds like Japan now and Wales not that long ago
@Crucial said in Rugby League World Cup:
@ACT-Crusader said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Crucial said in Rugby League World Cup:
grab Cheika as a coach and represent Lebanon.
The Lebanon players do like a
whingekebab on the park.FIFY
Kofte or kibbeh would be better.
@Nepia said in Rugby League World Cup:
@mariner4life With CHT as their other halves option they don't have anyone who can organise, I don't know what sort of form Mason Lino is in up norf but he could probably move a team around the park at 7 better than the three they have in the squad (while not being as good a player). Although this would require their forwards to actually put in some work.
Don't know if he got injured at Wakefield, but it does seem strange you effectively pick three supporting halves in your squad and not one that steers the team around by themselves well.
NZ were pretty average but did enough, if we were to play Joey Manu over the next two games, I would limit his time. We need him fit for the big ones and hopefully Hughes fit by then too.
I've never heard of Joey Manu before, not even seen his name in a headline (if i was scrolling down stuff etc).
He was involved in literally figuratively everything in the 3 min mini highlights package in youtube. Looks a good player.
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I've never heard of Joey Manu before, not even seen his name in a headline (if i was scrolling down stuff etc).
He was involved in
literallyfiguratively everything in the 3 min mini highlights package in youtube. Looks a good player.
The Aussie league commentators love him. And because he plays for the Roosters he gets even more Sydney centric love.
There was a little noise about him changing to rugby but I think that was smoke and mirrors. He’s a big unit that has a bit of vision and isn’t afraid to make a play. He’s a good kid as well. No hotel lobby or nightclub cubicle or nose candy incidents (yet), so here’s hoping it goes well for a long career
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I've never heard of Joey Manu before, not even seen his name in a headline (if i was scrolling down stuff etc).
He was involved in
literallyfiguratively everything in the 3 min mini highlights package in youtube. Looks a good player.
Really? That's nuts. He's a rare NZer that the Aussies actually rate as high as they should.
He's technically playing out of position too - he's usually a centre.
@Nepia said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I've never heard of Joey Manu before, not even seen his name in a headline (if i was scrolling down stuff etc).
He was involved in
literallyfiguratively everything in the 3 min mini highlights package in youtube. Looks a good player.Really? That's nuts. He's a rare NZer that the Aussies actually rate as high as they should.
He's technically playing out of position too - he's usually a centre.
I guess that would have been my next question. If he was a genuine NZ product, or an Aussie with kiwi parentage (which would be more likely to not causally hear the name).
I'm also a little surprised. Probably a sign of the lack of cutover in the fragmented media / broadcasting times we live in now. No equivalent of 1990s Sprtscenter. I can be down a Plunket Shield rabbit hole and know the names (and these days seen plenty of video coverage )of all obscure domestic cricketers, but have never heard of an NRL kiwi star over in Sydney.
@Bovidae said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido Manu is from Tokoroa, and does a lot for the local community when back in NZ. He'd go well on the wing for the Chiefs though!
Hopefully one day he will represent some obscure nation in union (that he may have heritage for) , like Croatia or something, and add to the incredible talent dispersal that the beautiful Tokoroan attoll has exported to the world.
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Bovidae said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido Manu is from Tokoroa, and does a lot for the local community when back in NZ. He'd go well on the wing for the Chiefs though!
Hopefully one day he will represent some obscure nation in union (that he may have heritage for) , like Croatia or something, and add to the incredible talent dispersal that the beautiful Tokoroan attoll has exported to the world.
He has weirdly represented Australia for an U19 9s league team at the Commonwealth Games. I assume that was an attempt by them to poach him.
He could probably get a run for the Cooks in rugby when he retires from league.
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I've never heard of Joey Manu before
what. the fuck?
the best centre in the NRL who also happens to be the most beautiful
and was sorta in a few articles last year when someone with a decent profile caved his beautiful face in
@Rapido This article, for example.
I don’t mind him at fullback, getting his hands on the ball with room to move is great to watch .
Let’s hope Hughes injury isn’t too bad .
Getting that spine of smith , Hughes , brown and manu is key to giving us a chance of beating the Aussie’s
Have we had a better spine ?
@Nepia said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Bovidae said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido Manu is from Tokoroa, and does a lot for the local community when back in NZ. He'd go well on the wing for the Chiefs though!
Hopefully one day he will represent some obscure nation in union (that he may have heritage for) , like Croatia or something, and add to the incredible talent dispersal that the beautiful Tokoroan attoll has exported to the world.
He could probably get a run for the Cooks in rugby when he retires from league.
While that would add to the Tokoroans legacy. It wouldn't add variety. Tommy Hayes has already beaten him to this feat.
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I'm also a little surprised. Probably a sign of the lack of cutover in the fragmented media / broadcasting times we live in now. No equivalent of 1990s Sprtscenter. I can be down a Plunket Shield rabbit hole and know the names (and these days seen plenty of video coverage )of all obscure domestic cricketers, but have never heard of an NRL kiwi star over in Sydney.
Yup. This thread is the first time I've heard his name.
I follow 3-4 sports closely and don't seek out news about other sports. The NRL is a black hole to me.
I'll sometimes watch representative RL. Which is why I'm in this thread. I'll probably watch the last couple of matches in this tournament
@mariner4life said in Rugby League World Cup:
@Rapido said in Rugby League World Cup:
I've never heard of Joey Manu before
what. the fuck?
the best centre in the NRL who also happens to be the most beautiful
and was sorta in a few articles last year when someone with a decent profile caved his beautiful face in
If you look at attacking metres from FB in 2022, you could loosely argue best FB as well, with more metres gained than Teddy or Edwards. He dominates all play when he is playing in that role which can work against him and the team, but if your halves are average you just let him dominate. To be fair the more times he plays there, the better he will read the situation.
Personally I think he should have left the Roosters to play FB elsewhere, but alas he will stay under the sombrero
Anyone watching Tonga v PNG?
How the fuck wasn’t that a penalty try and sin bin on the PNG attack?
Yep, watching and agree.
So many neck rolls and head highs you can't help thinking the spotlight should be on league rather than union.
Also the intercepts. PNG with all the hustle and when spreading the ball wide look dangerous down that left flank, but Tonga's muscle and sheer power should see them pull away this half.
PNG have blown one chance and had two denied
Tonga committing fouls on the last pass and the tackle
Reffing / League rules are fucking shit
@MiketheSnow said in Rugby League World Cup:
PNG have blown one chance and had two denied
Tonga committing fouls on the last pass and the tackle
Reffing / League rules are fucking shit
Even the biff after the last try was shit.
@MiketheSnow said in Rugby League World Cup:
Fucking great match
Amazing last try. 71 passes and 4 bounce-passes.
Tonga definitely a Tier 1 team in the eyes of the officials - all the 50/50 calls going their way.
But was a fun match to watch.
PNG a little screwed by the refs.
Sheesh hasn’t Lolohea packed it on and still playing halfback.
Deserved hard fought 18-12 win for the Cooks over Wales. Fitness levels and speed of ruck ball told in the last quarter. Tonga look out!
@Jailbreak7 said in Rugby League World Cup:
Deserved hard fought 18-12 win for the Cooks over Wales. Fitness levels and speed of ruck ball told in the last quarter. Tonga look out!
Great defending and heart from Wales, but second best in the second half
Could have nicked it but not to be
Wales captain was in the same class in school as Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale
3 national captains!
@MiketheSnow said in Rugby League World Cup:
Wales captain was in the same class in school as Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale
3 national captains!
That’s quite something. Kear is a decent fullback. Not the biggest player going around, but is pretty fearless.
@Mackerzzzz said in Rugby League World Cup:
Had only just looked at nrl website now... was expecting a win... but not that!
