Cowboys claim second NRL Nines title

They did win 2 of the last 3 games last year. It will probably be 5 changes from round 24 or 25. In terms of personal changes experience and average points, Holmes (105g, 66tries) for Kahu (117g, 49tries) and Masters (61g, 17tries) for J. Bowen (36g, 10tries) is huge IMO. Morgan can be partnered by either Drinkwater or Clifford which will allow Asiata to come off the bench which is significantly different to what was happening last year. In 2015 the addition of Granville in combination with Kostjaysn made a massive difference. The addition of Robson will also now allow for Granville to be a much more dynamic dummy half runner of the ball IMO. A few changes in key position can turn any team into a 10point better side. intern it's the difference between 14th and a top 6 finish. If it all goes to pot like last year and we have Hess playing at centre at least he looks leaner and meaner with a much better hair cut.

"Do you still share juniors with Easts?" Yes. Souths develop them and then the Roosters steal them. They do the same thing with premierships.

Yes we had a chook. A neighbour threw it over the back fence and fortunately we were in between dogs. With the chook came huge eggs and then rats and then an owl came to take the rats. Do you still share juniors with Easts?

Yeah but only 2 new faces ( Val and Marsters) guaranteed a run on role in the starting 13..Reece Robson gets onto the bench, so four changes (Bolton’s gone) makes them ‘ a totally different side’ compared to their Round 24 or 25 17 from last year ?

There's a rumour Fidow was running just over 10 seconds for the 100m a year ago. That sort of speed is very hard to defend especially if he finds space. Well it's actually impossible IMO.

They are a completely different Team to 2018 with only 6 players in Taumalolo, Morgan, McLean, Hess, Asiata and Feldt probably being guaranteed to be in the starting 17. Also the reason they finished 14th last year was because of the atrocious injury toll that had a massive effect on results, not to mention Annesely apologises for officials incompetence costing them a couple of wins.

Sorry but I completely disagree. The Nines was an opportunity for Perth to show its passion for Rugby League and it failed. Perth can be considered little more than a casual observer of the game.

A team in Perth would attract new fans as well as the existing Rugby League competition's followers. It is to their credit that they didn't turn up in large numbers to a mickey mouse event that very nearly had the current holders of the wooden spoon playing the 2nd last placed Dragons. What a final that would've been. .

OK, the Mickey Mouse footy is over & the fast kids who can run across field & around the defence have had their moment in the sun. Love it if you like but it's not translatable to the 13 a side contest. Now the real stuff starts & how many fast 18 year olds will actually win premierships? If that cowboy kid kicked through for himself in an NRL fixture he'd be banished because the good players would clean it up, not many rugby union 7's players transition to the 15 man game so likely the same in league. He, like many before him, has a long way to go.

Must be premiership favourites now surely? ????

I'm all for a team in Perth. I've been a clear advocate of Perth getting a team and started posting about warning that this was coming 2 - 3 years ago when I was posting as SSTID_1970. I just want to see a local side properly supported instead of becoming a laughing stock and undermining the argument for expansions of the game into other geographical areas. That's not too much to ask, surely?

"he was outshone by the boom fullback that looks like Jesus" I wouldn't be expecting the kid to work miracles in turning the Dragons fortunes around Adam. Even Mary couldn't manage that. ;-)

Sounds good to me. I wouldn't want the Roosters to move into my neighbourhood either. It's bad enough the Rabbitohs share a fence with them. Have you ever had to smell chicken manure? It's fowl. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

The lack of success of the Gold Coast is no reason to ignore Perth, the 4th largest city in Australia. Canberra was a VFL town before the Raiders came to take-over from the Sydney Swans. The NRL should have some confidence in the game they control and start expanding the market. What are they doing and have they done anything to grow the game?

That fan base had the perfect opportunity to sell Perth as the next team. 24,0000 or thereabouts across 2 days didn't do it. The crowd was noticably sparse.

He wasn't complaining about the format but was frustrated about injuries particular as it's a make or break year for him. He was happy that his club showed promise but was also annoyed at the injuries. You can't blame him

And he showed again on the weekend. Looked very good out of dummy half

I don't know if Dufty had a great Nines, he was outshone by the boom fullback that looks like Jesus. He is they type of player that can come in to fullback and do a job but he's not good enough to be first choice, even fully fit. His shortcomings have been badly exposed. Depth could be an issue, certainly in the outside backs. We have decent forward depth but a lot of quantity without quality out wide

It was a bunch of east coast teams playing a cut-down version of the game so why would anyone go? They would get a good crowd for a Perth team playing in the NRL. The Central Coast Bears could join with Perth and Adelaide could join with a 2nd Brisbane team in a few years time.

After a 13th and 14th ladder finish the past 2 years and zero imagination in attack when does the overly cautious coach walking the line finally move. Holmes alone won’t save this side.