Roar Rookie
Joined May 2014
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Love my League, support the Penrith Panthers and QLD in Origin, enjoy UFC and Cricket. Coming around to enjoy some AFL now I\'m living in Adelaide.
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With all the speculation surrounding Origin selection, I wonder what a team would look like if the only eligibility rule was 'plays in the…
As an NRL fan in South Australia, I thought I'd weigh in about the NRL's expansion options and also throw in my two bob's…
Basing everything on stats isn’t always going to pay off with results. In picking a team, you also have to look at who is going to work well with the others in the team. Ware is a good support player from the Centres, his runs in the World Cup showed that, and he outplayed the Morris boys in both that and the Sevens. He is strong under the high ball, too. Pritchard often plays at Prop, and did so a lot at Penrith and currently at the Dogs, though he may not always have the 8 or 10 on his back.
Guerra not good? Did you watch last season, or the SOO? He’s one of the best 2nd rowers around. Also, Hayne struggles on the wing, he is either a fullback or a centre, nothing else, and your beloved stats show that, clearly. Slater’s career is wrapping up, and Inglis, while good, could easily be beaten out for Fullback by Hayne, especially this season. Anyone who doesn’t rate SBW doesn’t understand what he can do for a team. He may not always be anything more than consistent, but his morale-boosting talking, support play and defense make him a must have.
A team of the best players in the NRL
I just don’t rate Sam Burgess, which is why I’d never have him in any team I pick, and his brothers just aren’t quite good enough compared to others. Sure, Graham is better than Pritchard, but I want a team who can mesh, break open a game, and create something from nothing… basically, a “super team”. I would also pick the following, though;
1. Slater
2. B Morris
3. Hayne
4. Inglis
5. Mansour
6. Thurston
7. DCE/Cronk
8. Woods
9. Smith
10. Graham
11. SBW
12. Guerra
13. Gallen
14. JWH
15. Cordner
16. Bird
17. M Scott
A team of the best players in the NRL
Not at all. In fact, some of my favorite players missed out. I picked a team I think could beat anyone, any day.
A team of the best players in the NRL
If you actually read it, it’s purpose was to pick a team that could mesh well and beat anyone, with the only rule being they had to be current NRL players, think you’ve got a better team list? Name them.
A team of the best players in the NRL
Brett is fine, Josh is gone. Watmough, too. Cam is touch and go, as is Billy.
Inglis to fullback, Hodges, Tate and Tupou out for Game 2
He supports QLD, and you’re rght, he can be a bit silly picking teams. I should know, he’s my cousin, although I agree with switching out Tupou and Hoffman for NSW, though my sides would look more like this:
NSW
1. Jarry Hayne
2. Brett Morris
3. Will Hopoate
4. Michael Jennings
5. Josh Mansour
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah
10. James Tamou
11. Greg Bird
12. Beau Scott
13. Paul Gallen
14. Andrew Fitifa
15. Luke Lewis
16. Trent Merrin
17. John Sutton
QLD
1. Billy Slater/Greg Ingis is slater is unfit still.
2. Darius Boyd
3. Justin Hodges/ Will Chambers
4. Greg Inglis/Brent Tate
5. Will Chambers/Anthony Milford
6. Jonothan Thurston
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith/Jake Friend
10. Nate Myles
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Matt Gillett
13. Corey Parker
14. Aiden Guerra
15. Ben Te’o
16. Josh Papalii
17. Jake Friend/ Ben Hunt
Inglis to fullback, Hodges, Tate and Tupou out for Game 2
I’ll pay that. Besides, everyone has their own unique opinion based on their own individual views anyways. I do like your reasoning for your choices, though. If I didn’t dislike Beau Ryan so much, Ennis would likely be promoted to my No.1 most hated player.
The most hated players in the NRL
Is it obvious about Soward? That’s a bold claim. Since coming to Penrith, he seems to have mellowed and “grown-up”. Granted, he’d be in my top 20, but not top 5 or 10. Plenty worse than him.
The most hated players in the NRL
No, it’s an injured Neck, but not broken, otherwise you’d have more McKinnon style sympathy for his pathetic self. Broken necks usually result in either death or a form of paralysis, though I’m no doctor, so don’t take that as fact. I just hope it ends his career, on field and on the footy show. Go be a dad and stay away from my sport, I say.
The most hated players in the NRL
Soward as No. 1, really? Poor choices for some, there.
Mine would be as follows:
5. Darius Boyd/ Willie Mason- tied.
4. Cam Smith
3. Michael Ennis
2. Paul Gallen
1. Beau Ryan
I think anyone who doesn’t hate the talentless hack Beau and his crappy Footy Show skits, along with his “I broke a toenail and can’t play for the next 6 months” whinging might be attached by the mouth to his butt-cheek.
The most hated players in the NRL
You say. “Those born and raised in Blue who would claim to support Queensland have gone into hiding. They proudly publicised their defection in the pre-2006 era, claiming they love the underdog and hate the arrogance of NSW.” Not me.
Born in Sydney, and as my parents, and all my aunts and uncles were QLD born or at least raised (some were born in the UK or USA), grew up in a Maroon household, like all my cousins, and so we support QLD, not NSW. I’ve never felt an affinity for the Blues or NSW in general, ever. It must be why I left NSW as soon as I was old enough, what a rubbish, over-priced and over-populated place to live.
I’ve never cared about the whole “underdog” tag, I just support the team I grew up supporting, that my family supported, although unlike my parents, I did change my NRL team allegiance at age 7, when I switched from being a Bronco to a Panther, given that’s where I lived and who I felt a passion for. It helps that one of my cousins played Jeresy Flegg for them in the late 90’s, too.
State of Arrogance behind NSW's Blues
Then your knowledge of Rugby League is what is thin. You don’t have to be great, you have to be united. Think Penrith, Tigers , St George grand final wins. No real “greats” to speak of, but a united team, driven by similar goals, something NSW will never have, when you boo your own players, and bag them out including the case of the last 16 halves… NSW is where there is thinning talent- no real big talent coming up through the squad, except maybe Hayne, but that’s yet to be proven. I think you’ll find NSW will be staring down the barrel of more than 10 straight, though I’ll be happy to be proven wrong… if it’s ever possible.
Exposing the myth of Queensland's pick-and-stick culture
Anthony Milford
Ben Barba
Daly Cherry-Evans
Aidan Guerra
Dane Gagai
Justin O’Neill
Jake Friend
Dylan Napa
Korbin Sims
Brenton Lawrence
James Segeyaro
Michael Morgan
Edrick Lee
Martin Kennedy
Not to mention the rumours that Izzy Folau and Karmichal Hunt are coming back to the NRL within the next 1-3 years. Oh, and Inglis is only 26.
How’s that for “thin past the first 17”?
Exposing the myth of Queensland's pick-and-stick culture
He’d be 2nd, even on current form, only Hayne is better than him. Stewart is solid but nothing special, Dugan is inconsistent at best, and Moylan isn’t ready yet. Barba will play origin in a year or 2, but likely begin on the wing. Once Slater goes, Inglis will shift to fullback, Chambers will go to the centre, and Barba will slot onto the wing. Don’t forget about Milford, too. That’s another difference with NSW, QLD have a plan of succession, easily visable to all… NSW do not, and it shows every year. On another article i suggested replacing Daley with Joey Johns, and someone suggested sterlo… brilliant idea. Anyone asked him? better get to it, he has a touch of genius about him.
Exposing the myth of Queensland's pick-and-stick culture
Sorry Steve, but here something to consider. Slater out, GI or Barba at the back. JT or Cronk out, DCE comes in. GI out, Will Chambers comes in. It’s all about the Culture QLD create, and how they blood and train their players. Next year maybe even Karmichal Hunt and Izzy Folau might be options, if rumour is to be believed. I think every misses that GI is still young, and has a good 6-10 years left in him. Wanna see 20 straight? I do.
Maroons to win the 100th State of Origin match
Has to be out of the Raiders and the Sharks for me. Stuart is a terrible coach and turns anything he touches to brown sludge. On the plus for Canberra is Milford and Campo’s gutter-mouth. The Sharkies could just rise above the Raiders if they can get some injured players back, and put the supplement scandal behind them (unlikely). My money is on the Raiders though, with Sticky to be sacked by season’e end and no-one taking him up in the NRL again… ever.
Who are the 2014 NRL wooden spoon contenders?
Perhaps if NSW had chosen to ‘pick & stick’ with a group of players (Not Mitchell Pearce, though, I think everyone both sides of the boarder agree on that one) they might be the ones with a lengthy run of consecutive wins… Honestly, was Wallace that bad in the halves, was Soward, or Mullen? Not really.
Most people fail on debut for Origin, unless they are something really special, Like Thurston, Lockyer, Langer, Inglis, Slater, Johns, Stuart, Daley, Fitler, or Girdler. You New South Welsh-people can’t understand that loyalty and trust builds a team spirit, commitment, and a desire to rise for your mates. THAT’S what Mal does for QLD, and THAT’S why QLD wins, and NSW does not. It’s not just ‘Pick & Stick’, it’s the whole culture build around Queensland, from the Toddler fans to the Coaches, trainers, support staff and Players.
Exposing the myth of Queensland's pick-and-stick culture
If this team loses, we all know who to blame. The same person us Queenslanders laughed at when he was picked… Laurie Daley. He isn’t a decent coach, he just doesn’t have the knack for it. He has no talent for coaching, or for organising a team to bond and play together in a short timeframe.
I’d use Joey Johns as the NSW Coach. He can’t be any worse than Sticky or Daley.
NSW Blues team for 2014 State of Origin Game 1: Expert reaction
You didn’t see Merritt lose his cool and bomb out in last year’s series? He won’t be picked again, and it certainly silenced his fans.
NSW Blues team for 2014 State of Origin Game 1: Expert reaction
Not at all. I’m basing this on people I’d pick in a team that’d beat anyone, every day of the week.
A team of the best players in the NRL