To a point I guess it is but it’s not the main reasoning. While I don’t want to use ‘fair’ as an arguement, Souths did set him up with Scholarships and developed his natural gifts just for RA to swoop in because they can sign a kid his age. If RA actually had the money to pay him the touted $3m (for whatever that story’s worth) how could he say no?

My main point is every application should be assessed on it’s merits. Losing talent to RA is a consideration in the process, whatever weight they give that. The money on offer is a consideration for him and his family only. Whether he has the full suite of attributes to withstand the rigours of NRL should be given by those who know and work with him, not be guided by a one size fits all policy.

20yrs ago the Wallabies were the WC champs and enjoying the Packer/Murdoch stoush while getting paid a motza and Jones was still at McQueen for his style of play.

What did Jones achieve with his latest campaign? Excatly what he intended. Where is Castle? Where’s the old CEO? A vote of no confidence in the board and was he right? Ask Wiggs who only took a month to realise the state of the situation and bailed out. But I guess Wiggs is just another Trump supporter as well, as that is your only ‘rebuttle’ to anything you don’t like to hear.

That’s very simplistic JGK. Isn’t that point V’landys is making? There are no hard and fast rules, every application will be considered on it’s merits. Doesn’t mean automatic approval to Suaalii or any other applicant but also doesn’t mean Souths have to lose one of their best (and paid for) young talents to a rival code because they don’t have the same rules.

V’landys may make it possible to sign a contract but only Bennett can decide whether he’s capable (physically and mentally) of playing NRL.

I support the college system for sure, it gives the athletes some type of grounding and a little maturity outside of pro sport bubble. However, in this case, is it not like a Kobi/LeBron situation where exceptional athletes can by pass the system?
Is the reaction around this for Joseph himself or the precedent that allows others to argue their way into NRL because an exception was made here?

That’s right Jacko, keeping pointing overseas to the viability of your code. I’m not surprised NZRU had good coin in the bank, they are successful and their fans support them wholeheartedly. Is it little wonder they chose to go it alone? They don’t need or want Australia at all. The ARU was bankrupt before COVID and still have no broadcast contract past this year. So tell me again, with 900 million people watching watching the WC, what benefitted Aust in the slightest? Money follows success and right now Japanese rugby tops ARU.

SBW is getting near 10x Carter’s salary in his ‘spare time’, what’s the difference? Let’s be clear, SBW is a league player who walked into the ABs team, it’s hardly a favour to the NRL, more that he wouldn’t work for 18k a season like some amatuer. Are you trying to strawman by bringing AFL into the arguement because your ‘global sport’ is much like soccer, popular OS but not even their close friends would bother tuning in to watch it here.

Hey Adam, while I’m not a Jones fan in any manner what would you do differently? Leave COVID out of it (all codes have suffered greatly) but given the success and general direction of ARU in the last 5yrs, what is the process if not “blow it up and start again”?

Baaahahahahaha, Jacko has to reference a UK union site that references some good old players now in the high-paid french retirement village as their highest paid! What does the next best at the mighty Racing 92 club earn? Why not put forward the fact the Carter is earning $1800 a week back in NZ?

We can both play that game. SBW – $5M p/a plus what would equate to $37,500 a week back in the NRL this year. I know, I know, Union is broke…

Well the last part specifically for Max, hence, the reply directly to his comment not your article. Since you brought it up, I am no fan of Jones, never have been but your “rebuttle” is weak at best because everything he said was true and supported by union old boys in very high places. It’s not about me at all and it demonstrates a weak position to refer to anyone who disagrees with your ramble as some type of Trumpism. It’s called being objective.

Pt 1, the ring-fenced coaching team. How is your arguement any different to Jones’? His experience has lead him to the opinion the coaching team isn’t worth the value. It’s not proven correct or wrong at this stage and neither have you.

Pt 2, You’ve not only agreed with him, you’ve highligted his team to prove your point. Well played.

Pt 3, You dismiss what is fact by saying it was 6 yrs ago then adding his statistical history as Wallabies coach and completely avoided the point of the statement. That’s called Strawman mate.

Pt 4, Jones believes the top Aussie job belongs to an Aussie and Johnson has form. You don’t agree but that doesn’t really matter as it’s an opinion vs opinion but be sure his carries far more the weight than yours and with people who matter.

Lastly, to tie this pretty little fantasy together you refer to anyone who disagrees as a poor sould who needs re-education. That’s pretty condesending so I’ll return serve. This whole article is a futile waste of time because you haven’t rebutted anything. You don’t like what he has to say so maybe the title should have read “I don’t like Alan Jones and what wrote makes me feel uncomfortable about my preferred code”

You give them too much credit Jimmmy. They are footballers being given jobs for the boys so those with an education can use their profile to build their own brand. These guys can barely read P&L statement but having non-exec director on the business card is as important as having no input into the operation of the company. And when the company inevitably goes belly up, it’s lawyers at 10 paces because the footballer didn’t realise he was a shill the whole time.

All that and he is still one of the most respected voices in the game. It may just be all you old union boys are angry, hypocritical, bigoted clowns that follow his lead. Wasn’t he the one that orchestrated the ‘Captains letter’ and his relentless campaign against Castle that you all jumped on board with? You have a tendency to use the weak insult that anyone who doesn’t follow your train of thought is a ‘red hat’ but Jones is the epitomy of RU in Australia and you may as well be waving the confederate flag.

I can see you’ve put some thought into this and acknowledged it will take many years to come to fruition. I’m in the expansionist camp but I don’t follow a Sydney club. As a Panthers fan though, be careful what you wish for as it very well could be the Panthers who lose their identity and no one wants to go to Bathurst in Winter to watch a game.

There’s plenty of chuckles in Brisbane on Monday. When coach is throwing numbers over his shoulder and who catches what is where they play that weekend. Wingers jump into the backrow, halves play hooker, FBs turn out in the centers and Tommy Dearden finds himself at Lock. I wish I was kidding. 😔

Joe, in a few instances where you’ve written about the future of young stars (Latrell specifically), you’ve viewed them from the prism of your own life experiences. Your opinion is always ‘go for the money, limited time’ and all that. Then in the next breathe it’s no empathy for a kid with multiple contracts on very different paths but still cannot possess the maturity to know which is the correct path for him. He will become weathly no matter which path but the destination is completely different.

As for V’landys and the clubs, you’ve taken some liberties there as well. V’landys has not said he let Suaalii play, he has very specifically stated that there are no rules that are hard and fast and each approach/variation will be assessed on it’s merits. I don’t see how that is using COVID to run roughshod over the rule book. Is it your opinion that none of these changes would have been considered if this was a ‘normal’ season? What seems like ‘decisions on the run’ is actually coming from decades of successful industry leadership. Further, he does not decide if Suaalii can take the field, he is considering making it possible to sign this kid, keep him in RL and entertain the Souths faithful with the talents he has that set him apart from the others juniors. Wayne Bennett will decide if and when he is capable of playing first grade. He may get injured or he may be better than Fittler at the same age.

Welcome to the Roar Daniiy and be prepared for the onslaught from the cheapseats/keyboards. It’s Bronco season right now (not to be confused with Bronco’s season) and everyones taking their shot.

I’ll start… 😁
Kidding, but I think your memory is clouded by the shocking recent past. Boyd was quite good on Friday but that’s coming from a low bar. Maybe a stint proving he is not effective anywhere else has given him a little perspective, therefore, enthusiasm for the role. Please keep in mind that the Sharks backs , ex Johnson, were essentailly rookies – and we still lost. We can acknowledge it was an improved performance but let’s not accept or condone mediocrity.

Coach has already announced Boyd will stay in the role now for the season. He has accepted mediocrity, he had to remind himself that Milford wasn’t a FB against Storm so he went further back on the changes he made 12 months ago and what, now Boyd is slightly better in his 300 game position as he was in the centers/halves. Therefore demonstrating that he doesn’t know how to get the best from his players and the previous 12 months to date was just him juggling , not planning or preparing to be contenders at all.

This might be a basic question but Neumann Oval is named after Firpo? Just when I thought I knew the list of Valleys dignitaries you go drop Lay Lindwall – that is very cool.
I’ll admit I had to force myself to read past “glamour side Norths” though. The irony of a “glamour” side coming from Bashup park is hillarious. To think when Wally got sent off in origin and the cans started to fly, that was not uncommon, like smacking a ref in the chops apparently. I’ll have to look further into the Toowoomba Ghost, it seems crazy he can be away for 10yrs and still come back and dominate the league. Great read again mate.

Not sure if that’s right but it’s funny. Took me straight back to my childhood.

“the ball maintains the same trajectory (path) from Bromwich’s hands to Smith” there you go we do agree – it went forward from the hand, as I’ve said from the very first reply when I dismissed the natural velocity for the ball to be caught forward of where it was passed. It was just a forward pass.

You’re on a device john, try a little googling of your own. However, I’m guessing reading isn’t your strong point as I never said he passes the ball back. Mine was in relation to your statement on velocity.

Tell me MENSA, how does inertia pertain to the ball starting in one direction but then changing mid flight? Google may be your friend as well if you could read past Wiki for your only source of knowledge.

100-odd comments because of the name alone.

I’m assuming you are the diehard league fan with only slight knowledge of “physics/relativity/ballistics” based on your misuse of the terms below.

Bulldogs Resurgence? Is one win every 8 weeks a resurgence? Their run home isn’t that flash either.

Oh right, I just didn’t watch at the 8sec mark! smh.
Like I said, only at the point of release was Smith anywhere near in line with him yet Smith STILL has to reach a long way forward to catch it. No, I’m not confusing velocity for inertia as I was referring to the pace Kenny was going for the ball to float forward after being released backwards.
Inertia relates to something staying on the same trajectory unless otherwise altered by an external force. Does not apply here at all.

I don’t like it either but I’m in a family comp and losing to my 12yo niece.

No mate, your biggest talking point is the crowd. We are discussing the game/s. Did you watch any games? Were you one of the half dozen who tuned into union on the weekend?