Too many assumptions in this article. Even the final sentence basically implies Penrith only won the game because of that stoppage.

Parramatta couldn’t breach the Penrith line for 75minutes before hand save for one dodgy bounce and had opportunity in the final five minutes but fluffed their lines.

Article also implies that the NRL fine indicates deceptive intention. It does no such thing and if you read the breach notice, the penalty and suspension is for failing to adhere to the NRL operations manual. Who knew the NRL had such a manual. This season wouldn’t indicate they do. But anyway… that’s what the NRL ruling was in regards too. Breach of operational policy.

Is that in the rules or it’s just an ‘initial assessment’ must be made. I mean,some obviously serious injuries I can diagnose that from the grandstand. Not suggesting Kenny’s was that serious but a) the guy is in pain and b) he cant stand unassisted. So what’s the rule book definition of a serious injury. Oh that’s right, we are playing rugba leagueh under Vlandy’s “rules are but a temporary state of mind vision”
NRL brought in this not for headknocks but in response to exactly this type of lower leg injury anyway. Nene Macdonald’s broken ankle and subsequent outcry. Fortunately Kenny’s isnt a break. But again, what is the definition of serious?
I am also yet to see footage the trainer was not on the field. If he’s one step inside the sideline and has a word to the touchie, that’s on the field.
You need to accept the better team won and the main issue is with the NRL rulebook and the ref/touch judge potentially not knowing it. All teams game the system. Players and coaching staff. Parra provided a number of examples. Moses knew what he was doing when he took a flailing dive having been bumped on his outside shoulder. And that wasnt the most obvious Parra one. At the end of the day you are upset the Eels were denied a chance to score playing 13 on 12.

Immense. The race of his life for 9750m went to hell in the last 250m. He was beaten by others but in the end not by the race itself. Magnificent.

Speaking of getting things right. Applause for the judiciary last night. Now next step is having a quiet word to French management about their otherwise impressive young skipper and sending out a directive to Southern Hemispheres officials ( in simple language because it’s mainly directed at Kiwis ) around the role and position of the TMO and sideline officials. Something along the lines of ‘back in your box’ and ‘if the referee wants your opinion he’ll ask’.

Agree on Swain very impressive. Likewise Swinton and it’s good that some non-NSW are starting to see past the brainless thug narrative

Cmon Cat. He wasn’t training with the Kings 1st XV like he should have been. Nor has he been playing with kids, yeah that’s right kids, his own age.

If you don’t think there’s at least a good chance his training injury is linked to either or the greater intensity of NRL training and / or competing against the best adult league players in the world the last two months then I’d suggest you need to open your mind a little.

Mmmm I don’t know about a few things here. No need to start to put players on report RL style. World Rugby already have that mechanism through the citing process. This decision was a hatchet job where the man in the middle with the best real time view and having seen multiple inconclusive / contradictory angles yet failed to recognise a significant drop in height by the ball carrier, allowed himself to be coerced by the twin ghosts of Ben Skeen aka Pickerill and Fraser.

Also red cards in the first half of matches invariably do ruin the contest especially if the side down to 14 is the underdog. Wallabies got lucky to an extent that it as a winger, thus they focused on set piece, France’s lineout was dodgy and Danty wasn’t playing.

That said I didn’t “switch off in disgust” – it was a great series and a fantastic win. What a great French try but the McDermott one was almost as good in it’s simplicity and execution. Woki and the hooker Bardot look like future stars, Vincent and Danty could be a great centre pairing for two WCup cycles and Jaminet reminds me of another unlikely footballer, Michalak.

Nic I know BPA scored off the lineout eventually but when the Wallabies had four penalties in a row and used Banks to kick for touch basically from 5-10m out in the middle of the field I kept thinking ‘scrum or tap’. In that situation would most northern hemisphere sides have taken a tap and set up a ruck rather than slowing the game and creating risk around losing a lineout or the kick going awry?

Thanks Peter, Surely one of Timani, Thrush, Kahui or Holmes are 37 though ? ????

Maybe I read Timani will be 37 at next RWC….

Yeah I think you are looking at resumes not context Bluesfan. I mean Kahui was effectively retired before Force picked him up. Timani is 37. Kearney still decent but well past his best. Olowofela they took a punt on and I think would be very pleased but being a “lightweight former Eng U20 star” is not a guarantee of success in Super Rugby.

They recruited very intelligently no doubt, Robertson was an astute signing as example but I think Nic’s point is correct. They used limited resources very wisely. You mention Anstee as example – Force signed him off the back of one season of 15 a side rugby playing second row for Eastwood. Again hardly a sure fire home run for success at this level.

Swinton can play second row however. Has done so for Tahs. Not as tall as Salakia-Loto but could argue he’s as good a lineout option. I mean you’d never start him there at national level but he can play there. So he covers 4-6 as does Lee Warner. Wilson 6 and 8. But Isi really only an 8.

Isi though is a pure 8. So not quite the all rounder that the other three are.

He was fantastic on Sunday but I think Rennie would like to see at the very least that backed up this week before considering him again. Seems to have fallen a fair way out of favour and probably justified.

I’m glad you and Bodger mention FLW here Nic. He’s been very good after a slightly up-down Super AU campaign. That was partly due to the rise of Anstee and also the Force having the best back row and second row depth in the comp and Sampson mixing things up.

FLW, LSL and Swinton should all be in the mix as squad depth and a possible spot on the bench for match day. Lee Warner has also got some niggle in him – which is a plus against the Kiwis but not quite Swinton’s short fuse.

What about Nic Frost? Do you see him purely as a second rower or some potential if we wanted a tall mobile 6 rather than a bash n barge 6?

It’s a bit ugly isn’t it ? Tuala as been outstanding for Sthn District at hooker and has a work rate that defies his physique. But yeah pitched in at loose head start for the Tahs ?

Had a quick look at the Shute teams named this week and there’s no obvious right head candidate to get a call across. Maybe Matt Sandell at Uni ? Max Ma’a at Norths is a big unit. And Rory Oconner is back at Warringah.

Huge test for Darcy Breen against Tokolahi too.

He played for Sthn Dist on the weekend and scored a try. Looked pretty fit and lean. Must be close though Dempsey and Gamble have stepped up in recent weeks.

Nic in the clip where you highlight Zander being slow to roll around the maul to defend you can also see a Chiefs player in the ruck who is on the ground, clearly tackle Wilson in the red head gear, around the legs. Wilson would have been ahead of Zander and may have stopped that Tiatia break.

Classic kiwi ruck skull-duggery

Thanks Nic for deciphering my question despite some grammatical errors on my post !! Yeah that Hegarty ball rip looked well and truly play on to me.

Cheers Nick – the usual suspects have been on here blaming Nic Berry for kit policing the ruck properly during Super Rugby AU and that’s causing us to now getting well outplayed by the Kiwis in that aspect. Would be interested in your thoughts on this and given you twice mentioned about the need to have Aussie refs in charge of games in Aus, can you elaborate on what Mike Fraser did or didn’t do to contribute to the result on Saturday ?
Personally thought he was ok, I mean you can blame the ref when you lose by 30+ however he did punish the Reds hard early on.

Really interesting stats Jez and spot on comment re what having a poor Tahs team playing in front of poor crowds ( not helped by being homeless and playing a bunch of games at the SCG ) does to junior numbers.

I wonder if those stats hold up say if applied to players in Japan. I feel like there is a heap of Qlders up there; Lucas, Kerevi, Hockings, McMahon, Cornelson, Heenan, off the top of my head more so than NSW but it doesn’t affect the point you are making. Tahs being if not strong at least competitive is necessary for Aus rugby.

Yes those two were poor at times in defence but was also some huge Canes runs through the middle. So the Tahs outside backs weren’t alone but for sure Savea and Rayasi were given too much room.

Although worse one on one mis of the weekend might just have been Stander in the Force game. He wouldn’t have liked the video review on Monday.

Fair enough, I mis-read your original message and I was focusing on development of young 10s into starting players as per Brett’s point about there not being much beneath JOC at the Reds.

But I’m sure you didn’t mind the chance to rehash all your old fave Foley chestnuts.

Emu agree Donaldson has proved me wrong as I hadn’t seen much to really impress in his cameos last year or games for Randwick but he’s been very good. However as GP pointed out yesterday, Donaldson has had Gordon playing at scrum half. Harrison had been making do with Jack Grant, a feisty competitive player but not Jake Gordon.

Say what you want about him but the Tahs brought Foley through pretty well. Out of school, a season of Aus 7s then some starts off the bench and at fullback before securing the 10 spot.

Missed the Force game in real time but no problem watching the Stan 20minute mini match yesterday. Seemed like Lee Warner and Anstee had good games. Never rated Prior too highly but that was a rainbow he threw to Kahui.

Coming on to read the Tahs Canes blog after the match and what a train wreck of whingeing, sarcastic, “Super Rugby TT is rubbish” hot takes it was. Yes there was some bad misses, Savea effectively waved Gordon through for the Tahs first try and Rayasi ran through tackles like he was covered in industrial lubricant but there was some really nice attack from both sides.

Also good to hear Reuben Love is ok.

Yes Donaldson had a very reasonable game, Gordon might not be out of Wallabies reckoning just yet and I was enthused by the running and off loading of our forwards especially Bell, Porecki, Swinton, Gamble and Sinclair.

But some one on one defense was terrible and marking up out wide just not good enough. I’m not sure where I stand on Nawaqantiwase and Will Harris. Both looked a bit deer in the headlights to me tonight.

Morning Jez, yeah my rocks and diamonds quote was me having a bet each way on Moeroa. The ‘rocks’ applies to both how he and Perese combine in attack but very much in defence as well. Nic Bishop pointed out some defensive issues with Perese the other week too.

I’ve caught a few highlights of Two Blues games where Moeroa has been playing in the last few weeks and can’t say he’s been very noticeable. Still doesn’t look very fit too me.

I guess carrying Edmed and Harrison on the bench would be a luxury although given Foketi, Maddocks, Funky Mark and Newsome are all very adaptable you could afford to effectively have two 10/12s on the bench.

RWV must either be a little down on fitness or maybe some quarantine issue? For me he’s a straight inclusion in the 23 when ready.