NRL 2024

@bayimports said in NRL 2024:

Dolphins probably biggest disappointment

nah, Wayne can only do so much. their halves are awful. Very similar to the Bulldogs really, guns everywhere except where it is most important. Hammer having a stinker just added to it.

I think the Titans. Even with a couple of high profile outs that was a drubbing. Statistically worse than last year when Des was supposed to sort so many of their problems.

One other pleasing aspect of Round 1 was how a couple of clubs who have been down for so long in the Roosters and the Storm look on course to finish top 4 for a change. The equalisation measures of the NRL are really working when a couple of clubs with a history of producing so many local juniors can rebuild from the bottom.

lol Roosters and the Storm yes well. I am not convinced about the depth at the Storm but certainly started the season strong. Bellamy does have knack of turning journey men and unknowns into strong first graders though

Roosters are a strange one, largely same team as last year especially with Leniu about to have long sit down. The cheese actually played like a hooker in round 1, which helped their shape. Not sure that continues, also not sure how long all ball players can go before getting in each others way.

Both are a wait and see for me

@bayimports said in NRL 2024:

Both are a wait and see for me

ah, did you miss the "Rd 1 Hot Takes" part? This is no time for nuance and considered thinking

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

Fold the Titans and send them to Perth

The NRL will just try another team on the GC. Clearly not smart enough to accept the truism that the Goldie is where teams go to die.

Leniu gets 8 weeks

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

Leniu gets 8 weeks

Looks like he copped a Vegas loading.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:

Leniu gets 8 weeks

From Stuff:

NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles told the panel they had an opportunity to “draw a line in the sand and send a very clear and unambiguous message that there is no place for racism in our game”.
Gyles, who started proceedings referring to Leniu as “Spencer Luai”, and the Samoan international as “Tongan” – said it was also wrong to assume it was not a racist slur if the comment came from a “dark-skinned person”.

Sounds like Mr Gyles is a wealth of knowledge on all things race.

Think getting called Luai is probably more insulting irrespective of the obvious cultural heritage aspect.

slightly different handling

game of dick fingers last night as two highly regarded teams repeatedly lost the ball in increasingly embarrassing ways.

In the end, messy games are won by flair players, and Brisbane have lots of them. Reece Walsh continued his balanced ledger, by making a bunch of dumb fucking errors but then pulling off some bullshit to score. He's the NRL's golden retriever.
Selwyn Cobbo looks like he is going to be an absolute menace as a centre.

Reynolds limped off with a knee injury which will have Kevvie sweating.

It felt like someone was constantly watering the ball. Souths could be in for a long season though if Ilias is their half. Latrell did a lot of defence but to be honest injected himself far too late into the attack to have a difference on the game. Played into the criticism that he has always had about not getting involved enough.

Piakura looks like a young SBW v2 with late light footwork on the edge, Mariner looks like a star, Walsh still only 21. Broncos look good

Riki, Piakura and Carrigan is a hell of a back row

@bayimports In Latrell's defence, it's hard to inject yourself when Souths continually kept dropping the ball on tackle 1/2. Their forwards ball control has a lot to answer for.

You're right on Ilias, he'd have to be the worst halfback in the comp. His family friend Braith Anasta did a great job securing him a long term deal at Souths as he is not NRL standard. Cody Walker may as well just shove him out of first receiver and take over.

The bunnies were lucky Brisbane were off colour too, otherwise it would have been about a 30 point margin.

Also, it's a bit ironic that Deine Mariner is playing at the Broncs after his father used to sing the Warriors anthem back in the early 2000s haha.

Will be interesting to see how long the refs keep with some of the new law interpretations. I know some of the commentators don't like them, but I don't mind players moving in front of kickers getting pulled up. They will need to be consistent though when it comes down to drop kick time

Well if "bud" Sullivan is the seven for the Tigers, then the Tigers should start their end of season holiday now.

Prediction for the rest of the day. Next two games today sees two teams in Newcastle and the Warriors who haven't beaten their opposition in Townsville and Melbourne respectively since 2015. Don't buy into hope, both these teams will be 0-2

Newcastle were tough but ultimately couldn't hang on and lose in golden point

@mariner4life Cows were awful and still found a way.. thats impressive

Worst possible start for the Warriors, letting the kickoff go out. Fortunately the bunker saves us from a try to Melbourne

And now Hughes runs up the middle through nonexistent warriors defence and the Storm score off a kick to the corner. I might be switching over by half time....

Wait a minute..... The warriors claw back into the game, get a penalty after SJ is hit after a kick, and DWZ dots over to give the Melbourne based kiwis something to cheer about

Hughes cuts us up the middle again, and the Storm score from inside their own 25. That's fucken soft

Now the bunker fucked us by denying a try to Montoya

Classic Melbourne stitch up

The Storm get away with so much at the ruck it’s not even funny

We lose a captain's challenge after Hughes sells an obstruction. Fucken Melbourne and fucken Bunker

bunker as dodgy as a 5 day old fish sandwich.

It's a small sample size, but RTS has made a couple of big runs tonight. Hopefully a sign of things to come. And now DWZ, who can be a defensive liability, scores in the corner to close the gap to 8 with kick to come

That shot on Rocco Berry would be a straight red in union

Great leap and regatger by Roger, and a magical pass from the ground, but I think Jackson Ford comes up short of the line. Justice would see us get the try here

Ref sends Harris off for a bloody bin after getting hit in a high shot. That's a new one

YESSSSSSSE

SJ peppered Coates all game and he finally coughs one up. Montoya finishes off the resultant possession and Warriors lead by 4....

great call

need to stamp that shit out in union too...main offenders being IRE

Shit bag move by Grant suitably punished

Storm are teetering it feels like

Need another try with all this dominance

I've got too much scar tissue. Against these guys, 8 points up with 8 minutes to play is not enough

Roger looking great now. And just as I type, RTS stuffs up

One mistake from Roger and the Storm turn that into 3 minutes of intense goal line pressure. We have to hold out