yeah, thanks for that passive aggressive comment Dionysus, makes me want to be a better person like you.

I’m a great believer in giving young blokes a second chance, because we’ve all probably been guilty of immature behaviour in our time. However I, for one, draw the line at violence against women and think society taking a forgiving stance on this issue lets the perpetrators think that they can keep pushing boundaries. Don’t buy the “he had a tough upbringing” argument for anyone, if you saw that behaviour as a kid, surely it would sway you to ensure you didn’t replicate it.

I think we need to be honest about the current version of Steve Smith, his stats indicate he’s on the wane although still better than the next best options in test and ODI cricket, but his natural game isn’t a perfect fit for T20 cricket. There are quite a few batsmen ahead of him on current batting form while his bowling is not good enough to tip selection in his favour. Fielding wise, he’d be an asset but there are plenty of sloggers out there who can also field well. Maybe time to drop T20 from his calendar which could extend his cricket career.

Sounds like an agent talking in an effort to convince his client that he’s actively working on his behalf. That or a bloke in denial putting it out there that he’s available after all he got was a series of thanks but no thanks. Rugby Union has enough problems already, pretty sure they’re not that desperate. Not sure of the current climate, but would he get a visa for the UK if a club over there be foolhardy enough to make a contract offer. France would be his best bet, they take anyone.

Should have done this last year so he understood what’s required of an NRL player. You only had to watch the dolphins later season games to see that the good opposition coaches worked him out pretty quickly. Struggled to recover from an effort play, caught out in defence regularly, lacked positional sense etc etc. When he got up a head of steam he was hard to stop but those runs were not often enough. Never looked anything other than a reasonably effective lower grader coming up to the elite level and struggling when put under the pump. Even if he drops 10kg, I can’t see him figuring in the dolphins top team unless they’re ravaged by injuries.

Rattle off all those names for the Hall of Fame with guys who’ve won anywhere between one and four premierships but nobody seems to rate Kevin Walters in that crew. Think it was six for him, one as a young bench player at the Raiders and five with the broncos, including moving to halfback and leading a revamped squad to the GF win at the end of his career. Throw in his Qld and Australian rep games and he up there with the best.

After Baker signed I watched his roosters games a little more closely and have to say, I was reasonably impressed. He must have been well regarded because the roosters had forwards coming back from injuries but never considered dumping a guy who had signed elsewhere. Personally, I think that Willison will take Flegler’s role and Baker will slot in when Xavier gets spelled. Willison is more a big bodied impact player who will be used in shorter spurts (like Flegler early in his career) and I reckon he’ll surprise a lot of people with his ball skills and mobility. He was a standout in the underage origin teams in packs that were generally outgunned for experience. Baker might be their go to prop to cover the crucial 40 minutes either side of half time (bit like Palasia did) because he’s been in the nrl system longer. Don’t think we’ll see much of TeKura until origin time. Not sure if Hunt will feature much, he’s a Jensen clone and they’ll compete for that bench role. Kevvie should have worked out by now that he’s just got to show faith in the young guys and ride out the odd blunder.

Capewell has done the job he was recruited for and I think the broncos have gazed in the crystal ball, where those GF images of Kurt missing a few crucial tackles late in the game cost them a win. Experience is great but when you drop off the pace a fraction, the best sides will hurt you. If he goes, it’s a win/win for him and the broncs. From where i sit, Carrigan was probably leading those young forwards more than Kurt in their 2023 resurgence and had an influential role in Billy Walters’ improvement and consistency. Capewell will always be respected by peers and supporters for his time at the broncos.

Not McSweeney for a while yet, he’s one of those guys with good skills in all facets of the game without being outstanding at any one and needs to become at the least, a quality batsman.

I’ll declare my maroon bias upfront but I think there are a few instances where Renshaw has been decidedly unlucky (or hard done by) in his test career so far. Firstly, that ridiculous situation where he tested positive to covid & spent the match isolated from the team sitting down with the security guys for one. How could he be expected to perform under those circumstances? The other when he was a FIFO in India. Happy to see it as a contest between him & Bancroft because both are far worthier of an ACA contract than Harris. Both Bancroft & Renshaw give that superior close in catching ability and, aligned with Green’s gully skills and Marnus prowling the covers the team loses nothing. I am happy for Green to come in at 3 or 4 eventually because I think they have to persist with him, given the upper age bracket batsmen who will be moving on sooner rather than later (Warner/Khawaja/Smith in that order). Green has promised a lot and not yet fully delivered, but he just looks like a player who will flourish if given a decent run on pitches familiar to him. When you weigh up the various comments on the merits of Renshaw, Bancroft & Harris one thing is clearly evident, Harris is a level below the other two in the field and Australia should never carry a dud fielder.

I’m stumped by these constant comments from various scribes about Harris being “widely considered next in line” for the opener spot. The bloke is 31, has a mediocre average in virtually every red ball competition he’s played in, is an ordinary fielder and has glaring weaknesses. If we ‘re that hard up then promote Head, or get Smith to open for his last few years because he might relish the opportunity then bring in a lower order bat. Can’t be worse than Harris as an opener.

Private equity buyouts are a high risk strategy, they generally turn over after a term of 5 years & resell or restructure the debt with the finance brokers taking a dividend and commission on the next sale.

Wasn’t particularly targeting the Farnworth recruitment, done and dusted although I’d have preferred him to stay. If Redcliffe (aka the dolphins) keep kids in Qld, it’s a win/win so I am glad they came in. Was just pointing out one of Wayne’s darker traits. Tass was a bronco who never got a shot so he left for Souths & I’m not complaining there either, just suggesting the cowboys have neglected recruitment of backs while accumulating a bucket load of good young forwards & need someone to score the tries. Savage has had a few wasted seasons at the raiders, reckon he could do with a change of scenery and Feldt is on his last legs. Isaako was a disappointment at the broncs after those rookie years & that’s probably on a few coaches, got to respect his return to form. I think Savage could do the same outside Val.

Wasn’t complaining about competition Matth, just reckon a long established and financially secure club like Redcliffe could have been doing a fair bit more development of those 18-20 year olds from when they started to develop their plans to apply for an NRL licence. Redcliffe has always been a strong juniors club since back in my day which dates to the early 1960’s, you’d have to think someone there would have identified at least one Petro Civoniciva style up-and-comer in recent years to be ready for this time. If you want to outpoint your local competitor’s start by building from a youth perspective and in the interim, get more Qld bred players back from the southern clubs. There’s plenty of quality young players around Qld to stock all 4 local clubs with rookies that are otherwise lost to Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne. Why aren’t or weren’t our clubs chasing the less entrenched players like Tass, Savage, Trindall, Bullemor, Loiero, Howarth, Tuala, Hopgood, Molo & Allan as a cross section sample from various clubs. I get they’re under contract but clubs are always looking to balance their salary cap. For example, you put Tass & Savage in the cowboys backline and they’re finals contenders.

Perspective is a wonderful thing, rattle off imports to make a point & someone points and says “look over there”. Lazarus, Milford & Reynolds were genuine recruits from other clubs while Mundine dropped in for a season because of the SuperLeague stoush. I’d argue that Shearer was basically a rugby league nomad, unsettled & moving around every few years and just landed at the broncos of his own accord. Tallis wanted to come back to Qld while a very young Kevvie Walters might never have left if the broncos existed a few years earlier. Hodges & Walsh returned to the club where they spent their development years, so the list isn’t that long over an extended period. Your point is akin to saying every nrl player born in NZ should play for the warriors, seems overkill. My point was that for all his good deeds in rugby league, and there are plenty, Bennett demonstrates a vindictive streak in his actions concerning the broncos because of their history. It’s small potatoes compared to the Souths/Roosters thing.

Well, Wayne’s strategy is “just go out and rip the guts out of the broncos” which has a two-fold benefit for him personally. First, he gets revenge for what he considered a personal injustice inflicted on him (Wayne’s old school rugby league, never let go of a grudge): secondly, it’s cheaper then actually developing players through the ranks at Redcliffe. I understand they needed experience in that first squad, so he thought “I’ll just utilise Bellamy’s plan for this season” and bought half a pack then added bits and pieces from other clubs. Apart from that chubby kiwi centre, how many Dolphin juniors or Q-Cup players got a crack at their top 30 squad this year. The broncs can guarantee Piakura the Capewell role in the future because Capes, of all their forwards, was the under-performer in 2023. Broncs have put too much into Mam, Riki, Piakura & Willison to let them go now while their premiership window is open.

Have all tests & Super Rugby on free to air? The FTA broadcasters won’t buy it, games don’t rate so broadcasters steer clear. RA is already borrowing against the future, going FTA would be another financial blow.

What would you get from a Campese led squad, here’s what I think after watching him play over the years. Freedom from tackling and Expression of your individual style over the team’s needs. Always had an inflated opinion of his own ability & contribution.

Geez, the cowboys need to get that JT13 $1M a season contract off their books before 2025 to become more competitive. What about a deal with the Storm who are light on for forwards & flush with backs?

I’m on the same page as you on that Tony, but it’s no less ridiculous than the yanks with their ‘world series’ baseball comprising of USA franchises exclusively.

Didn’t Cotric have a season away from the nation’s capital on a big money contract & scurry home with his tail between his legs after one disastrous season? He’s not an option. They’ve missed the chance for Corey Oates now, but he would have been a ready made solution for them at a bargain price. There would have to be half a dozen first grade wingers in waiting running around in lower grades at their neighbouring club Penrith. They can’t all think they’re likely to break into the Panthers top 30 in the next few years. I reckon that Sean Russell looks like he’s got the goods to make it, just needs continuity of games.

Doesn’t the existence of the Warriors already take the N out of the NRL, or do you consider NZ a seventh state? I think they’re looking at using the foreign aid budget & I reckon promoting our political alliance in png through their love of rugby league is an admirable concept, but no need to stuff up the NRL for the sake of that policy. Prefer a club based out of the NZ south island, none of the pacific island nations could sustain an NRL club & their differences probably would make a combined team unviable. Plus, where do they get their sponsorship money from, Twiggy?

Think you’re a bit harsh on Willison & Piakura MMW (long threatened?). Xavier came into the nrl as a 19 year old rookie prop from late 2021 & Brendan has been slowly brought through in the back row playing from the bench. I believe Willison, injured just prior to the finals, has the size, skills& pace to replace Flegler and may cement that third prop spot for years. A Qld origin rep through the U16/18/20’s, he’s impressive. Piakura is clearly being groomed for Capewell’s spot. Baker held his own in a surging rooster pack at the back end of 2023, so he’ll be an asset. Farnworth is harder to replace but Marriner is certainly promising enough that the Dolphins got sanctioned for trying to get him while contracted. Their biggest concern is backing up after a stellar season.

Yeah nah! not for me. there’s enough deserving battlers looking for a break in the nrl so just cut ties.

Being picky TB, but 2/2 in Qld before 2/3 this prep. Wintering in Qld makes some horses.