NRL 2024

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

News: Val Holmes to the Dragons now a done deal.

Biggest Story. Les Boyd inducted to the NRL Hall of Fame. Who you ask? 80s thug who got rubbed out for like 27 weeks for firstly a filthy elbow that broke Daryl Browman's jaw, and then an eye gouge. It's a weird selection all round, his career in Aus wasn't exactly amazing, and those two acts alone should be enough to keep him out.
Browman called it out too, and good on him. An astoundingly bad call by who ever voted Boyd in.

Who wasn't a thug in the 80s? It was a kill or be killed mentality back then. Artie Beetson gets lauded as a hero for his 'thuggery' in the first ever Origin game in 1980. Don't see the NSW players from that match crying foul over it.

Boyd, like Blocker, get talked about more for their thuggery, but they were fucken dynamos who could teach this new generation a thing or 2 on how to punch through a hole. Some of the best line runners you'll see, and they also had a Great ability to link too, back before athletes more or less became more prominent in the game.

@African-Monkey
yes
different game back then
Boyd was a good player but did have an insane streak in him
he got called the baby faced assassin i think
never thought of Roach as a thug, bit of a pussy in comparison
personally would never have felt the slightest bit intimidated by Roach, but Boyd.....

@mohikamo Yeah, Boyd was next level in fairness, my point though is more about how they're remembered for their 'thuggery' than their play.

I remember my dad getting me a video of the Kangaroos 1982 invincibles side that toured Europe which I watched over and over again as a kid - a side Boyd was a part of, and I was blown away by the skill of that Kangaroos side, Boyd included with his hard lines he ran.

Oh, and if course, Laurie Nicholls shadow boxing in sub zero degree conditions in shorts and a singlet.

Unlike the AFL, the NRL season is just waiting for finals to start. The shit teams start pretty high on the ladder, and the only September questions are which of the Dolphins or the Dragons will get to go out in the first week.

The Cowboys were the eye openers of the weekend, as they showed another example of an improved kicking game makes your defense look better. Chad should probably just pack his bags for Sydney already, while the Pride can kiss the Q-Cup goodbye.

The Bulldogs are starting to be talked about as the smokeys. Shows what can happen if you buy enough players from Penrith and Melbourne (and the Eels when they were good).

If Canberra were cared about, or coached by anyone else, then the drums would be beating. They got flogged, again (that's a combined 28-88 in the last 2 weeks alone), sit 12 on the ladder, and have the same for-and-against as the Bunnies, who the media already managed to get their coach fired.

Even without his fluffer in chief Paul Kent defending him, the chat around his current contract is almost non-existent. The Raiders lost a GF 5 years ago, and that seems to be the defense used. Jason Demetriou lost one 3 years ago and is gone. Brad Arthur lost one 2 years ago and he is already gone as well. You can't unpeel sticky though.

@mariner4life He's one of Canberra's favourite sons and apparently is unsackable. Or at least that's the impression.

Its funny even after watching some demolitions it still appears a Melbourne v Penrith comp.

All other teams have had their moments but the consistency there is incredible.

Cant see Bulldogs being a threat deep with their front row crisis, but certainly confidence is high. Manly are a treat although just like most of the year, go missing, similarly the Cowboys. Roosters although having tried to buy the comp still go missing when playing Melbourne and Penrith. Cant seeing anyone else make a significant dent.

As for Ricky, probably got a leave pass when his main half got injured early on and had kids running both half roles. Interesting though, if Fogarty played throughout and they still delivered those results would he get the free pass? He is playing now, but the team has clocked off.

A few teams now just playing for pride. Only hope is for Tigers and Parra to finish on same points for Round 27, then we can have the spoon bowl

good moments for the weekend

Hammer running down the fox in a really quick chase. An NRL sprint would be awesome, there are some quick blokes around at the moment.

The amount of Manly players who were there to congratulate Foran on somehow making 300 games.

@bayimports said in NRL 2024:

Its funny even after watching some demolitions it still appears a Melbourne v Penrith comp.

All other teams have had their moments but the consistency there is incredible.

Cant see Bulldogs being a threat deep with their front row crisis, but certainly confidence is high. Manly are a treat although just like most of the year, go missing, similarly the Cowboys. Roosters although having tried to buy the comp still go missing when playing Melbourne and Penrith. Cant seeing anyone else make a significant dent.

As for Ricky, probably got a leave pass when his main half got injured early on and had kids running both half roles. Interesting though, if Fogarty played throughout and they still delivered those results would he get the free pass? He is playing now, but the team has clocked off.

A few teams now just playing for pride. Only hope is for Tigers and Parra to finish on same points for Round 27, then we can have the spoon bowl

If you listened to certain media you’d think the Bulldogs were on level pegging with the Storm and Panthers for the flag.

Their once overconfident, unbearable fans have found their voice again. Their spine is still a little flaky for me.

@ACT-Crusader Billy Slater said it best on teh short i saw somewhere. they lack the top end spine talent to win, but their defense needs to be respected.

i think everyone is looking for a story that isn't Melbourne and Penrith again

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

@ACT-Crusader Billy Slater said it best on teh short i saw somewhere. they lack the top end spine talent to win, but their defense needs to be respected.

i think everyone is looking for a story that isn't Melbourne and Penrith again

Billy has most of it in a nutshell, but there is also an element where at this end of the season their recruiting of players who can play multiple roles becomes valuable.

Lack of genuine half hasn't really hampered them, but against the tops teams where defence is also strong, they are unlikely move forward without it.

Critta has to be one of the most complete players at the moment though, Canterbury did well to steal him

yeah he and Gordon went straight in to Cup grade and scored early

I think I could have scored Marky Mark's try, those defenders made Aaron Mauger look like a good tackler.

@Nepia said in NRL 2024:

I think I could have scored Marky Mark's try, those defenders made Aaron Mauger look like a good tackler.

Comically inept. Almost disinterested. Of course a former Test winger is going to look good against that rabble.

@antipodean said in NRL 2024:

@Nepia said in NRL 2024:

I think I could have scored Marky Mark's try, those defenders made Aaron Mauger look like a good tackler.

Comically inept. Almost disinterested. Of course a former Test winger is going to look good against that rabble.

Was so bad that it wouldn't surprise me if all those "defenders" got done in a betting scandal. Surely the standard of NSW Cup isn't that bad?

Erin Clarke coming back to the Warriors from 25

@bayimports said in NRL 2024:

Erin Clarke coming back to the Warriors from 25

Is he good?

@canefan said in NRL 2024:

@bayimports said in NRL 2024:

Erin Clarke coming back to the Warriors from 25

Is he good?

Ez isn’t anything flashy, just gets through his work particularly on defence. Has been a mainstay on the Titans lineup the last few years.. I’ll be interested where we play him as he’s played mainly at lock for the Titans.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

If Canberra were cared about, or coached by anyone else, then the drums would be beating. They got flogged, again (that's a combined 28-88 in the last 2 weeks alone), sit 12 on the ladder, and have the same for-and-against as the Bunnies, who the media already managed to get their coach fired.

Even without his fluffer in chief Paul Kent defending him, the chat around his current contract is almost non-existent. The Raiders lost a GF 5 years ago, and that seems to be the defense used. Jason Demetriou lost one 3 years ago and is gone. Brad Arthur lost one 2 years ago and he is already gone as well. You can't unpeel sticky though.

I agree with most of this post, but Demetriou didn't take Souths to the GF, Bennett did. Demetriou took over in 2022, where they made the last 4, before being knocked over by Penrith (of course).