Another option is to give Video Refs access to Hawkeye and Hotspot, to show whether or not a bodypart actually did touch the line or not, and ensure no need for these spot motion replays on cameras with rubbish frame-rates that could miss stuff anyways.

And drop the 2nd ref… and the Touchies… bloody useless, they are.

Pretty sure most people on here who say that happened several articles ago, but okay. I would never write off the Cowboys as a chance in the 8, and possibly even the Top 4, but making something of the Cowboys v. Tigers game, after the fortnight the Tigers had, is a bit, well, daft. Had it been Manly v. Tigers, I’d be willing to say it would have been closer to 80 points they put on them… no matter what someone said about the Tigers having finals credentials (who, aside from a die-hard Tigers fan, said that, is day-dreaming, they made have been in the 8 at the end, maybe, but they’d be out first week, based on their season so far, much like Brisbane if they made it, fodder for the big guns).

And yes, my article is about the whatifs for the Panthers… no-one else seems to be doing that for them, so I thought, gee, the team running in the 8 all year, Top 4 for 85% of it, needs some positive press. Not a player out of line all year, and even when 7 or 8 of the starting squad are sidelined with injury, they still keep winning, regardless of who they play… sounds to me like finals credentials, and a better shot at the Minor Premiership than the Cowboys, who’d need to win all 4 just to have a shot at Top 4.

Penrith could potentially lose 3 and still finish 3rd or 4th. But I see them winning 3, and only barely losing to Manly. I’ll be happy to eat my words, but I’ve a sneaking feeling Gus and Ivan have taught the boys how to play a winning game footy against any team.

Thanks The Barry, it’s good to be back after a short break.

While this was heavily edited (There were a few stats and some humorous asides in there to lighten it a bit, which the Editors seem to have removed… again), it still got the main points across, not that I am writing off anyone else in the hunt for the title (a group I see including Manly, Souths, Cowboys and maybe the Roosters… if they can keep holding it together… big if), I just grow tired of so many ‘experts’ constantly writing Penrith off, even when they just keep finding ways to win at all costs.

I’ll never deny Penrith had a hell of an easy draw, but while they keep winning when it counts (and if i recall correctly, even the Roosters were beaten by Cronulla this season, and no-one is writing them off), regardless of who they face, they are still in with a better chance at the Grand Final than the Dogs, Parra or Brissy, and all I see is those ‘glamour’ clubs getting positive press while Penrith are still looked at as the poor, dumb kid that won a spelling bee or something similar (insert whatever analogy doesn’t offend you).

You’re lucky you got anything at all… here in SA, the only NRL we get live are the SOO and Final series. They tried live games on GEM last year, but the ratings were a bit low (Not terrbile, like their current repeat and telemovies on Friday nights are getting). They really need to either drop the National from the title, or actually force CH9 to show the games at a reasonable timeslot in EVERY state, not just NSW/QLD. Hell, the AFL is on CH7 and CH10 here, all games shown on Free-toAir live, from what I can see (I know, I know, this is where AFL originated, before the thieves in Vic stole it and ruined it for everyone who didn’t follow it prior to the VFL going national).

Anyways… Cameron, great article, agree whole-heartedly, but I’m sticking with the sport, no matter what happens. I may still follow the Union (Go the ‘Tahs!), and the AFL occassionally (Swannies), and the Cricket always in summer, but NRL was what I played as a kid, and will always love.

I stand by my comparison, it’s my opinion, and as lowly as that may be to some, who obviously think they know better (and they may, but I have the right, and will use it, to disagree). I don’t deny Fittler was good, but only as good as those I’ve compared him to.

Smith is great, and aside from Lockyer, the most likely to be an Immortal from recent and current generations of players, Cronk could be, too. Thurston is good, bordering on great. And yeah, Hayne is young still, and he may get better, or at least more consistent, and be considered “great”, even by me. But as far as his career so far goes, he is just a bit of a Benji Marshall style “Flash-in-the-pan” as I’ve said.

That’s kinda my point, here. Very few people should be eligable, and all this talk of people like Hayne, Fittler, Inglis, Gilder (yeah, I’ve heard that, and from a high profile League personality, too), etc for Immortal Status when guys like Smith aren’t is a bit far-fetched.

Fittler was about as good as Brett Kimmorley, Craig Gower, et al, but not like Cronk, Joey, Sterlo or Lockyer. Solid, reliable, consistent, but not a great, and certainly not a shot for Immortal status.

I don’t have anything against either Hayne or Parramatta, and I’m sure I’ve made it clear I’d still pick him in any side I was choosing, should I have the chance, I just don’t think he is as good as he is made out to be by the media and his fans, much like Brett Stewart. I don’t have the “Hayne Stain” as I call it.

Stewart will never see another rep jersey, and his stats over the last 2 years show it, not to mention comments from Laurie Daley and Tim Sheens. Dugan is a Centre now, and playing all the better for it, or have you not noticed that? I doubt he’ll be moved back to the custodian role for any length of time, ever again. Which makes Moylan or Tedesco the back ups for Hayne, logically. Moylan on Stats and Fitness, currently.

And yes, anyone can write for the Roar, but they choose who to actually publish, champ. Finally, where did I mention that Fittler or Anasta were good? I clearly stated they were not good, and about as likely as Hayne to see Immortal Status.

They have better records LAST YEAR, not this year. Tigers are Top 8 this year, beaten. Warriors, Beaten once, lost once. Doggies, beaten. And if the Sharkies can beat the Roosters, what does that really say about their form? It’s a closer comp than ever, and the “regular” Top 8 Teams aren’t doing so well for once, or possibly, the other 8 teams have figured out how to beat them.

Yeah, I may be a bit biased, being a Panther’s fan, but who cares about the draw? We’re on top, you aren’t. Our team has won more games than your team. Deal with it and shut up.

If I’d wanted stats, I’d have included them. Anyone can look good on paper, even Chris Sandow or Ricky Stuart, and we all know that’s complete rubbish. I’m talking from a supporter’s perspective, one who isn’t blinded by Blue and Yellow glasses.

I’d expect a Parramatta Fan to say that sorry.

Who is eating their words now? Certainly not me.

The Broncs actually have a half of some description? I thought they had a bunch of Fullbacks/Wingers/Centres rotating through. Aside from being a biased Panther Fan, I’d hate to see your prescious Broncs injury list after taking on the likes of Plum, Taylor, Kite, Docker, Latimore et al. Who’ve you got? Thaiday? Tired from SOO, same for McGuire. Hannat? Oh wait, he’s playing park footy… hahaha.

I fully expect QLD to come out and thrash the Blues, I’m calling it a 13+, and putting my money where my mouth is. Cronk and Thurston to show why the Blues series win was hollow and meaningless. Of course your team will win when your game plan is to take out the opposing side’s best players. How dumb can you all be? If NSW win next year, against a fully fit QLD side, then I’ll be quiet.

Thing is, even with all the garbage pilling up on Cronulla, I think they’ll still be able to get someone to sponsor them, even if it’s a temporary upgrade for a minor sponsor, and they aren’t dropping off just yet. I’d say it’d be 2-5 years before they actually are in danger of folding, Axle, unless ASADA and the NRL decide to make an example of them… which they yet may.

Thing is, even with all the garbage pilling up on Cronulla, I think they’ll still be able to get someone to sponsor them, even if it’s a temporary upgrade for a minor sponsor, and they aren’t dropping off just yet. I’d say it’d be 2-5 years before they actually are in danger of folding, Axle, unless ASADA and the NRL decide to make an example of them… which they yet may.

While I don’t believe Cronulla will survive the ASADA scandal if Essendon manage to beat it, I can’t see them folding because of the Carney incident, or the lack of a major sponsor. The real question is whether the other clubs will even allow the NRL to keep bailing them out, given the resistance to assisting Newcastle recently, and who would step up to replace them in such a short turn-around, given the contracts with Foxtel and Ch9 for a 16 team comp… Honestly, I can’t see that happening, while I can the NRL possibly forcing the Sharks to relocate and rebrand, possibly in Wellington or QLD.

Look, as a die-hard Panthers fan, and one who even pays his membership from here in freezing, wet Adelaide without ever being able to attend a game, I can honestly say we are top 8 quality… at best. We may, may i say, just slide into the top 4 based on our draw, and the poor showings from the regular top 4 sides of late, but I don’t think we can win it all. Granted, it’d be nice to see them in the GF, and I won’t write them off winning it if they do somehow defy the critics, the odds, the draw and biased other fans, but I don’t see it happening in 2014. 2015? Possible. 2016? That’s about right, I think. Top 8 every year between now and then, with our current side? Definitely.

Look guys and gals, there is no denying what Reynolds did in the tackle to Gillett, the point is, JT should have stayed out of it. If Gillett was hurt, he’s a big guy, I’m sure a single hit could’ve sorted Reynolds out for the rest of the season. The point is that JT should not be allowed to get away with what he did, it’s the kind of grubby behavior we want stamped out of the game (See ya Gallen, if that happens). I don’t see where I’ve asked for any other changes to be made to the QLD side aside from those forced by injury.

Those calling for Billy to be “rested”, are you serious? He was QLD’s best player all night, and even though Inglis was about as useful as a feather in a gunfight, he should stay in the centres, unless Mal wants him in the halves. I stand by dropping JT, if a player in my team acted like that and the judiciary didn’t act on it, I would. We don’t need that rubbish in League, Origin or not.

Try this

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-12/essendon-players-handed-show-cause-notices-by-asada/5519856?section=sport

It’s 34 past and present AFL players, not just Essendon…

Sounds like people are doing what they did, and saying virtually word-for-word what they said, back in 2003 about Penrith. Write them off at your own risk. For mine, Melbourne won’t make the 8 this year, and Penrith will finish in the Top 5, 3rd-5th for me. Everyone claiming the so far headless chooks will win it again are a bit off the pace, the Doggies for the Minor Premiership, Manly 2nd, and Penny, Rooters and Bunnies rounding up the next 3, in no order.

Newcastle or the Bunnies can have him, we don’t want Sims at the ‘Riff.

I don’t think i specified a particular season, and was pretty clear about that… and as of this season, the most jersesys I have seen for one club has been 5 or 6, but I know Tottenham, Man U. and Arsenal have all used more than 10 different Jerseys in the past over a single season.

Aside from all that, what’s wrong with multiple Jerseys? So teams have 5 or more, so what? You don’t have to buy them all if you can’t afford it, and even a 5yr old can understand why they have different uniforms for different matches/reasons… well, mine could when he was 5. He understood Heritage round, Women-in-League, Home, Away, Club milestones (40yrs for Penrith) and Indigenous Rounds. They are special event Jerseys, so what? So other sports don’t use them, and some fans don’t like them, doesn’t mean they don’t have a place or point.

This reads like something I could write in 10mins without much thought or research… so a normal article of mine… hahaha. In what world can NBA even compare to the NRL. Others here have put it better than I can, so I won’t say anything more, other than;

Do you really think Bogart or LeBron could take a hit from Gallen, SBW, Thaiday, Burgess or the like? Then, if they survived, could they run at them again, and again, and again?