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Appointed "Consultant to Blues Head Coach" Michael Maguire 2024 Origin Series. Radio SEN League Analyst, The Jimmy Smith Show. Recruitment & List Analyst at Canterbury Bulldogs since 2022, Also NZ Kiwis, NSW Blues, previously Performance Analytics Consultant - Melbourne Storm (4 years)...WARNING! I don't get splinters when I sit down, and if you disagree with my view that's OK, just keep talking to me.
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Hi Paul,
Interesting that you do not have a single player in the current Kiwi 17, who is the highest-rated NZ team ever to play.
Why do you need to retire to make the best 10?
25 in 25: Best Kiwi player in NRL era - Benji, SBW, RTS, Stacey, Taumalolo, Bromwich, JWH?
I find it hilarious that so many people have made negative comments based on the “Predicated Team” by an unknown Roar source.
What happens if this source has got it wrong?
Round 1 Predicted Teams - Bulldogs: Ciraldo set to pull selection shock at fullback in first part of kennel rebuild
The Panthers have won the last two titles largely based on relentless intensity in defence and their champion halfback Nathan Cleary. They still have Nathan but have lost their architect in defence, Cameron Ciraldo, perhaps their greatest out.
Round 1 Predicted Teams - Panthers: Salary cap takes another chunk out of premiers but three-peat beckons
Interesting comments Mike,
With the high deck chair movements, the Bulldogs will inherit a low cohesiveness which can only be enhanced through games over time.
The full benefit of having a “clean salary cap” will not happen until 2024 when every one of the Top 30 will either be at their peak or approaching it.
The player list and the support staff has been consciously constructed to give the Bulldogs a bright future and not overspend to win Round 1, 2023.
Smart Signings: New coach, new rosters, but the same old Canterbury Bulldogs?
Hi Paul,
16th Semi Radradra ?
Your article lost credibility with this uninformed opinion.
Not only is Semi #1, but by a margin.
25 in 25: Best winger of NRL era - Morris, Foxx, Sailor, Hazem, Blacklock, Folau, Johnston, Tuqiri?
I had issues with previous management getting my articles published. Not sure what their definition of an “expert” is
Dual in the crown: Why Origin players should also be able to represent Kiwis and England
Hi Daddy ( I feel like Luai saying that)
Firstly the NRL should buy Super League. Things will not fly until that happens. The game is poorly run, basically by the clubs, in the UK.
The IRL means well, but are lightweights
. E.g. The Final is shown at 3am when it was always going to be either Aust or NZ.
Dual in the crown: Why Origin players should also be able to represent Kiwis and England
This RLWC has changed Rugby League for the better.
The ARLC has a huge responsibility to not only grow the game domestically but worldwide. @RLWC2021 provided the much-needed shot in the arm that has gone missing for decades.
To have the privilege to be in the U.K. for the past two weeks and witness firsthand the high emotions of the various countries was special. Who would have imagined that Samoa, with a population of just over 200,000, would play in a WC Final?
The key take out why this WC has been so exciting is that Australia has not been able to secure all of the talents with players choosing to represent their heritage the interest factor has grown and so has the game.
Don’t let this opportunity slip PVL.
Dual in the crown: Why Origin players should also be able to represent Kiwis and England
Moses Leota improving and a chance to play against the Kangaroos, which is timely given JWH’s brain snap.
RLWC Daily: Kiwis mull Nelson move, Teddy up for Italian tilt, PNG & Kukis cop bans, Brazilian flair lands in Leeds
I don’t expect Marata Niukore or Moses Leota to be fit and available for the massive match v Australia on Nov. 11.
Both players were key in Madge’s strategy to topple the Kangaroos and graduate into the WC Final. I am sure his Plan B will be ok. Most of his forwards can play both middle and edge and have big minutes in them. Getting the best Centre combo to combat Latrell and maybe Jack Wighton will be crucial.
RLWC Daily: Kiwis mull Nelson move, Teddy up for Italian tilt, PNG & Kukis cop bans, Brazilian flair lands in Leeds
Big Daddy,
what does that mean?
RLWC News: DCE to get first crack at 7 jumper, England hit with concussion lawsuit, Samoa enjoy Doncaster's delights
Muzz, his rating on my system is far superior to Cronk (and I am a Cronk fan). Cooper himself would tell you that Cleary is superior – and he will only get better.
I am ok with his Origin matches.
Note that Cronk would not have got an SOO match if Lockyer or JT had not retired.
RLWC News: DCE to get first crack at 7 jumper, England hit with concussion lawsuit, Samoa enjoy Doncaster's delights
Madge will be saying a prayer that the media hype about Mal preferring DCE over Nathan Cleary is true.
OK we will forgive him for Round 1 v Samoa, but given Cleary’s light prep and the lack of cohesion with Munster there can be only two reasons why Mal will choose DCE as his 7:
1. Politics
2. He is an idiot
btw, Mal has recent loses v Tonga and NZ and he MUST win the WC to secure his job.
RLWC News: DCE to get first crack at 7 jumper, England hit with concussion lawsuit, Samoa enjoy Doncaster's delights
Nat
If England ever played Qld, the maroons would be 1.20 to win and would have little difficulty.
Only Thompson and the Inflictor would make the Qld team.
RLWC News: Fifita nabs debut hat-trick for Tonga, Kiwis look ominous with 74-0 win, Ilias denied in Greece comeback
Madge was able to add another 10 games together for the likely 17 which is almost 100 more games together than the Kangaroos. That is a big cohesion edge for the Kiwis when they play the Kangaroos at Elland Road on Nov. 11 to go into the Final.
What a game that will be.
RLWC News: Fifita nabs debut hat-trick for Tonga, Kiwis look ominous with 74-0 win, Ilias denied in Greece comeback
To be fair Leeds had been partying since the GF
RLWC News: Fifita nabs debut hat-trick for Tonga, Kiwis look ominous with 74-0 win, Ilias denied in Greece comeback
Madge has taken this team from #3 in the World to #1 after defeating England, Aust and Tonga.
If you watched the recent win over a powerful Tonga team you can see just how well prepared the Kiwis were. Each player had a specific role and the cohesion and leg speed in defence was evident of a very well coached and happy team.
The challenge will be Aust on Nov.11.
The team selections and prep will be all pointed to this mouth watering match.
Australia will have Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the centres, and minimizing their impact will be trained for daily by the Kiwis.
New Zealand World Cup squad: Six Grand Final stars in Kiwis squad - should they be considered favourites?
Hi, Muzz Gus keeps me busy building a top 4 team.
This might be the most important stat you've never heard of - and Cronulla are dominating in it
Hi Mike, good stuff.
FYI Craig Bellamy does his own personal “push” and “kick pressure” stats and has done it forever, which is attributed to their impressive try tally.
This might be the most important stat you've never heard of - and Cronulla are dominating in it
Hi Paul,
I don’t know any thinking guy in the game who thinks he is underrated.
My program rates him one of the best halves to play the game this century.
Nerd’s Eye View: Why ‘tough little Rooster’ Keary is NRL's most under-rated star
Hi Sam,
I joined the Storm in 2015 after they had just finished 6th and the Sydney media all had them “GOOONE” as the big 3 were “aging and past their best.”
Since they were written off, they have won two Premierships, been runners up twice, won four Minor Premierships, and played Finals every year.
Not bad!
In fact, last season was their first without all of the big 3 – Smith, Cronk & Slater – they posted their highest ever rating as a team.
I would caution any write-off chat while ever Craig Bellany is the coach and Matt Tripp is Chairman.
Clock's ticking. Why the Melbourne Storm only has one year to win another premiership
Hi Steve,
I have been planning for two years to go to the WC, and distraught at the prospect of it being cut. I have never been to Northern England and have been savoring the prospect of experiencing the local culture and the atmospheric pubs, not to mention cheering on Madge’s Kiwis after he has taken them from number three to one in the world.
Reality check!
It just isn’t going to happen.
I expect Australia, NZ and Tonga will play some Test Matches in Australia, and England will play France, Scotland and Ireland in the UK.
In the land of 'it's coming home', Australia's disdain for RLWC causes deep wounds
Hi Jack,
You cannot rate players like that Jack. That said, when Tom T was at his best, he rates as high as any player in my system. It’s disappointing for the game that we have not seen him at his best in recent years.
The 40- 0 scoreline is an aberration stemming from the fact that the Storm had multiple injuries entering the GF and were “shot ducks”, not to mention they did not have a succession plan for Smithy.
It is similar at Manly, they have multiple injuries and do not have a succession plan for their best player. Injuries and the quality of replacements are crucial – part luck and part good List Management.
Hear me out: Tom Trbojevic is one of the best players of all time
Any player that comes to the new-look Gus/Ciraldo Bulldogs will want to stay and extend.
“I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.”, Burto said, who is a former Panther.
This massive extension by Burton is a huge endorsement for the Bulldogs and where they are heading.
#proudtobeaBulldog
NRL Transfer Centre: Roosters make call on Tedesco, Eels release Origin star, Dragons lock in talented twins