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Yesterday I counted down the first 25 of my 50 random NRL thoughts. Here is the much anticipated second instalment.
26. You couldn’t pay me enough to be an NRL winger. Semi Radradra, Manu Vatuvei – no thanks.
27. How does a team under a salary cap investigation sign a marquee player without shedding players first?
28. Is the NRL talent pool deep enough to justify talk of expansion? The last thing the league needs is a North Queensland Fury type situation.
29. If the game were to expand, surely Perth would be favourites for a spot based purely on the television friendly timeslot games in WA would present.
30. I could name at least five NRL players who would walk straight into the Wallabies backline. I can name only one Wallaby who would make the Kangaroo’s squad – Israel Folau.
31. If I could pick any side to avoid when they’re ‘on their day’ it is the Warriors. If I could play any side when they are not on their day, it would also be the Warriors.
32. Jamie Lyon’s refusal to play State Of Origin sums up why it took NSW nearly a decade to dethrone Queensland. Players born and raised in NSW fight to be ruled eligible for Queensland. Meanwhile, our best centre fights to not represent his state.
33. Although I am sick of Channel Nine’s obsession with Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess, if I were running the station, I’d probably be doing the same thing. They’re internationally marketable stars.
34. The Raiders are currently $1001 to win the competition. Those odds are still too short.
35. The Cowboys should treat every game as though it was being played in the second half of the season. They sure know how to time their run. Too bad they’ll be eliminated via another refereeing shocker come September.
36. I hope the Titans pull through their current troubles and return to the form they showed earlier in the season. They’re an exciting team to watch when at full flight, and there’s no better away trip for fans than visiting the Gold Coast.
37. Greg Inglis could very well be the best fullback in the game, however there’s the very real chance he may never play fullback regularly for Queensland. Anthony Milford’s rapid rise could see him take over when Slater retires. Given Inglis’ record at centre, he might stay there.
38. I fully understand that NRL players have no obligation to talk to the media, but if they did there’d be a lot less false reports printed. Players are the best promoters of the game. For the money they get paid, surely a two minute interview here and there is no big deal.
39. I believe the NRL grand final should always be played at ANZ Stadium, and in an afternoon time slot. Can you imagine the AFL shifting the time or venue of their grand final so suit broadcasters?
40. Next year’s Melbourne Origin at the MCG will be a massive event, but NSW deserve a chance to defend the shield with two genuine home games. Melbourne games are basically Queensland home games, due to the Storm’s big three and a bit of Victorian jealousy.
41. The NRL should look at moving an entire week’s fixtures to the bush each season. Each team would have to move one home game every two years into the bush. This would promote league and bring in new fans.
42. The World Club Challenge is a great one off event, but in the fair dinkum stakes, any NRL side in the top eight would handsomely beat the top side in England if the game was played on even terms. Right now, Manly would put 40 on St Helens.
43. If you ever need proof that the broadcasters run the game, why don’t the Warriors have to host their fair share of Monday Night fixtures? Without consulting Google, I challenge any non-Warriors fan to tell me the last Monday Night game they hosted. Hint – never.
44. I have no idea how the second-tier salary cap works. For mine, if a player stands out in the Holden Cup and earns a first grade position, they should be able to play first grade.
45. The current NRL finals system makes about five times more sense than the old McIntyre system and rewards the top four sides. I don’t think we’ll see an NRL winner from outside the top four for a fair while
46. Any chance we could get a Friday night that doesn’t involve the Broncos on Channel Nine? I understand their value, but the constant seven-day turn around and free-to-air coverage is surely a massive advantage that no one else receives
47. The fact Darren Lockyer never won a Dally M medal slightly devalues the award for mine.
48. I support the introduction of a marquee player system, similar to that of the A-League. This allows one player’s earnings to be salary cap exempt. It would surely stop players considering French rugby. This may disadvantage the poorer clubs, but the NRL should not penalise success.
49. Should points records achieved by the Storm players stand considering the side they partly secured them with were way above the salary cap? One could argue that Cam Smith would not have secured as many conversions had his backline not been stacked with above the cap stars.
50. The best player I’ve ever seen was Andrew Johns. Of the current era, Darren Lockyer would have to be at the top of a very talented group, just in front of Cam Smith.
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