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Ghost Crayfish

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Joined February 2012

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A man of few words and fewer actions.

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Super League is hot and cold about competent administration, if you ask me.

France World Cup squad: Robinson on board, but can he fire French to victory?

It’s great that France can field such a competitive squad, just a bit unfortunate they’re in a group with two pretty tricky games ahead of them. More unfortunate still is the fact that Super League puts Toulouse at huge threat of relegation, rather than learning from the success of Les Catalans and letting them build, and thus this French renaissance may be unfortunately short lived. Clearly England don’t plan on France continuing to improve, given their continued insistence on playing the ‘International All Stars’ instead of them.

France World Cup squad: Robinson on board, but can he fire French to victory?

Samoa usually take to the field looking fat and disinterested, regardless of who is in the team. Things have gone downhill alarmingly since they played so well in 2013-14. I think it might be time for Matt Parish to move on.

Samoa to approach Sonny Bill Williams for international league return

Yeah this is a perfect comparison. Brisbane (under Bennett) chose to pay Milford a million dollars a year, chose to sign Darius Boyd onto a long and expensive contract, and chose to let forward leaders like Blair and McGuire leave so they could invest in all their raw young forwards, even as guys like Parker and Thaidau were retiring. In each case, you could argue Brisbane chose how to spend their money poorly. The Roosters (like Melbourne) seem to make the right choices in retention and recruitment. I say all of this as a Broncos supporter too, by the way.

Trent Robinson is one of the great coaches of the modern era

I’ve always found it funny NSW supporters are so keen to claim him all the time. We all know he’s from NSW… the fact that he chose to play for QLD instead is pretty telling!

Greg Inglis announces immediate retirement from NRL

I think you’re close, but one all-rounder too many for me. I think the West Indies can afford one or even two more genuine front line bowlers in their team. Quality bowling under pressure is going to be important, because batsmen will be very severe on anything else. Cottrell is an accurate left-arm pace bowler and needs to play. Then I think the final place in the XI comes down to conditions. If the pitch favours spin, I’d play Nurse. If there’s something in it for the quicks, Thomas/Gabriel/Paul should play. If it’s just a hopelessly flat deck, go the extra hitting of Braithwaite in the lower order.

My West Indies World Cup squad

True legend. Aside from having a truly great career – in his prime he was undoubtedly the best player in the game. Maybe not week in week out (aside from at Souths in 2014), but in a big game, he was always the one guy I would’ve wanted in my team. Such a matchwinner. Through the late 00s all Queensland had to do was get ascendancy in the middle, then throw two good long passes out to Inglis with some room to move. He did the rest. As sad is it is, he’s made the right call. He has battled on with courage, but he’s obviously done now. Retiring is a brave call but the right one. Good on him. Congrats on an unbelievable career big fella! All that potential he showed as a brilliant 18-year-old winger with the Melbourne Storm has been well and truly fulfilled.

Greg Inglis announces immediate retirement from NRL

Given one our wingers is a Kiwi international, the representation may be even lower than you’re suggesting…

Something has to change at the Brisbane Broncos

Darius Boyd has been absolutely woeful – to have a fullback and captain producing the limp efforts he is putting out there puts us at a massive disadvantage. Combine that with Nikorima’s rubbish kicking game and our forward pack being an inconsistent group of young front runners, and we are never going to challenge the top teams. There is a lot of talent in the squad so I think we can improve, but expectations need to be a bit more realistic. We are nowhere near the Roosters and Storm, so need to set our sights on matching the clubs below them, pushing for the 4, and building into a real premiership squad for coming years. Dropping Boyd would help…

Something has to change at the Brisbane Broncos

Dave Smith had the ability to carry the game forward and all the usual self-interested Sydney footy personalities (including journos, ex-players and administrators) forced him out. But that said, I think some of the talk around the game in Australia right now is ridiculously pessimistic. At the top level at least, we’re actually back to an early 90s level of health, and in a good position to explore expansion and everything else right now – which they are doing! With the improved strength of the Pacific Islands and the World 9s emerging as another big event, Test footy is also at a point where it could become quite strong. I think the game here is in a great position to take the next step – just as it was pre Super League war.

The game in the UK is another matter…the RFL are an embarrassment, and the game seems to be struggling. That can easily be turned around though – the England team is stronger than ever in my lifetime, and a big Ashes series in 2020, followed by a big RLWC in 2021 will generate huge momentum. At SL level, Toronto presents enormous opportunity – if they go to 14 clubs, guarantee expansion licences in London, France (x2) and Toronto, they’ll have a good footprint for international sponsors, and the chance to build up even modest TV deals from France and North America. Of course, this stuff requires good admin – the RFL do not provide it, but the new SL CEO seems to offer more hope.

Rugby league is ill-equipped to capitalise on new opportunities

Rubbish. He’s been a good workhorse, but is also fairly limited, prone to dumb penalties and taking the ball when he shouldn’t be involved in the play. He’s racked up good numbers at times and had a good caree, but one of the best forwards to play the game? Nonsense. All of that is even before going into what a grub he is, and how likely it seems that his career has been at least partly boosted by illegal substances.

Paul Gallen to hang up the boots at the end of the year

Erm… “There is truth in Mal’s sentiment but it seems simplistic and uncaring to say, ‘Let’s just get on with the footy’ given the nature of the allegations and in some cases criminal charges surrounding a number of NRL players.”

Is it just me, or have you actually simplified Mal’s statement into something less caring, purely to criticise it for those reasons?

Struggling to get with the program on 'team list Tuesday'

He’s still getting paid… so he should just sit down and shut up. For his own good, as well as that of his club, the game, and most importantly, his partner (!) he should just get out of the spotlight for a while.

De Belin and NRL set for Federal Court showdown yet the Dragons must make the call

Bravo!

The NRL has enough problems without media-manufactured crises

I’d love to know why a Pacific Championship shedule still isn’t announced, why we refused to host at least a single Test against the proposed touring Great Britain side, and what role the ARLC has had in otherwise holding up GB being able to finalise a tour schedule. There may be good reasons for all of it, but the silence has been deafening!

What should the ARLC be focusing on right now?

I agree with what you’re saying, but to be pedantic, how would GB touring the southern hemisphere get them on the BBC in the afternoon?

The RFL is so broke they can’t afford to promote their own games, and have to charge teams a bond to enter their only top level competition. As such, wouldn’t the prudent thing be to host a series that might make money and promote the sport at home, rather than go on an almost guaranteed loss making tour of the Pacific?

Given that organisation’s proven inability to promote anything at all, ever, why put so much emphasis on their desire to host the Ashes in 2020 to promote the RLWC? I would argue building on the momentum of a competitive 2017 RLWC final, and a series win against NZ in 2018, this is the perfect time for an Ashes series. Announcing RLWC venues this year only adds to the momentum – if an Ashes series was being played this year, at the three biggest venues on the list, wouldn’t that be a great promo vehicle?? Then next year host a 4 Nations with France, NZ and Tonga at other RLWC venues to keep the ball rolling on and off the field.

Is the North American sports model the right one for the NRL to pursue?

Brisbane beat Wigan in 1992, Wigan beat Brisbane in the return fixture.

As for this year’s game, it’s unfortunate that the Roosters are playing Wigan team that has been weakened since their premiership win last year. Wigan will really miss forwards John Bateman and Ryan Sutton, who they haven’t replaced, and Sam Tomkins. I hope they can put on a good show, but it’s hard to see them winning!

History of the World Club Challenge

The fact Newcastle’s success 1997 success is so celebrated, and Brisbane’s so ignored, is ridiculous. 26-6 in 1998 (before a number of the Newcastle premiership team’s drug cheats had been caught) says it all. Th 97 ARL Grand Final was a great game, but those teams were playing off for second when you factor in both competitions…

Knights vs Broncos: The grand final that never was

So you’re suggesting Elstone should stop being ambitious because Super League is still part of the RFL?

Why the NRL hurting the feelings of Americans and Brits with those billboards is okay

I think it might be Widdop to 7 and Hunt to 9, with Norman slotting in at five-eighth. The Dragons play best when they go direct through the middle, and this mix would be the best way to go about it.The other option would be shifting Widdop to fullback, and while that would give the Dragons more playmaking from no. 1 and some width to their game, they’re better off with Dufty’s speed sniffing around the rucks. I think in part this recruitment is designed to give the Dragons another fullback option in case Dufty gets a bit lazy and goes off the boil, but ideally he’d respond well and lock himself in at 1.

The Dragons' conundrum of what to do with Corey Norman?

I’m cautiously optimistic. Our forward pack lacks experience and work rate in the middle, but Fensom is a good signing to help address that. In our other questionable areas, I think Darius Boyd looked better late last year and with a full injury-free pre-season, hopefully he’ll be better again this year. In the halves, Milford and Nikorima are both classy and experienced players now, with plenty of rep footy under their belts. If they can get their combination working properly, they could be as good as any halves pairing around (a big IF but it is possible). Similarly, Bird is a quality footballer. Fit and motivated, he could be brilliant. So here’s hoping… The coaching change was hamdled incredibly poorly, but in the end, I think we needed a change. Bennett had the team playing like talented strangers at times last year – disorganised but occasionally brilliant. With better defense and more coordinated attack, we can beat anyone.

Can the Brisbane Broncos make the finals in 2019?

Totally agree.

Can we just wait and see before we whine about Nines?

Yeah fair enough, that maye be true. I was thinking more about since the ARL Commission was set up. The game definitely has a clearer direction now than it did under Gallop, who largely seemed to make it up as he went along, stumbling his way through unconvincing press conferences.

NRL CEO balks at adding fourth Queensland team

Exactly. It’s been fans, journos and people interested in joining who have been talking about it before Beattie’s comments this year. It’s been frustrating that it hasn’t happened, but I do understand where the NRL is coming from. Five years ago, this competition was underachieving incredibly – you could argue it still is. But in that time, the NRL has focused on lifting broadcast deals, lifting membership numbers, growing participation, growing sponsorship, building its own media arm, creating things like the bunker, Sydney stadium negotiations, and otherwise, things like progressing rugby league in the Pacific. In all those areas, the game has taken a lot of positive steps. If we keep heading in that direction, then the game will be in a strong position for expansion in a few years. I like to hear Greenberg using words like “methodical” and “professional”. Compare the approach to Super League, who leave decisions about expansion to places like France and Canada up to chance through promotion and relegation! That’s just doomed to fail insanity.

NRL CEO balks at adding fourth Queensland team

Oh yeah don’t get me wrong, Bateman is quality and along with being a good back rower, can also cover centre (which they do need cover for, going on last year’s selection of Soliola out there after Croker got hurt). I just think they maybe could have thrown the dollars elsewhere – the back row isn’t really their biggest issue, halfback is… So yes, if they can somehow grab Shaun Johnson it’d be a brilliant thing. Even Ricky Stuart would struggle to find excuses if he has Johnson at 7 next to Seizer – they’d surely be a serious premiership threat if they can grab him.

2019 through the looking glass: Broncos and Raiders

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