I reckon you might be thinking of Sam Tomkins. Played one game on the wing for the Barbarians. They got flogged but he scored their only try.

I’m only 25, but of the English imports I’ve seen he’s certainly the best. I’m a little young to remember Adrian Morley well. But the top 4 I’ve seen are Sam, James Graham, Gareth Ellis and Josh Hodgson – all of whom were (or in Hodgson’s case, ARE) the best player in their position in the NRL at various points in time. But as the only one to win a premiership and as the one to do it for the longest, big Sam takes the cake for me. Congratulations on a great career Sam! All the best.

This’d be a great coup for the Wolfpack. $4.5 million per year is insane though. They could offer him significantly less ($2.5-3 million per year) and he’d still be the highest paid rugby league player in the world.

A lot of people on here saying he’s washed up and 34. But I have no doubt he could still cut it in the NRL – maybe not be what he used to be, but still good. He’ll win Man of Steele though in the Super League.

Correct

I think Australia still go into this as favourites, but not by much. The unstructured play will suit very much the likes of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and NZ. Not saying it won’t suit Australia, but the Kangaroos’ edge in 13s is their game management. Through the likes of Smith, Cronk and Thurston for the last decade, and now DCE and Keary, they’ve dominated the international game off the back of superior intellect. This is not a factor in 9s so much. If I’m an opposition coach coming up against Australia, the players who really scare me are Addo-Carr, Ponga and Papenhuyzen. From the other teams it’s guys like Taumalolo, Kikau, Sivo, RTS, the Leilua brothers for Samoa. Widdop and Austin for England should also be very dangerous. Should be a real interesting tournament

I think it’s great that they’re reviving Great Britain, but the way they’re doing it smacks of “England in a different shirt”. I understand it’s not rugby union and the spread of players from across the Home Nations will not be so even, but it’s England plus Lachlan Coote ffs! Wayne Bennett the England coach is also the GB coach. And how come Reagan Grace (a born-and-bred Welshman), who won the comp with St Helens this year and is one of the best wingers in the Super League can’t get a start? I think GB is a great idea, but the way the international landscape looks at the moment you may as well just tour as England and give Lachlan Coote an extra long off-season break.

The Canterbury Cup is a highly underrated competition. Obviously it’s not the same standard as NRL, but having watched plenty this year for my work, you very regularly get enthralling contests, all without the stupidity we saw in last night’s first grade Grand Final.

the ball wouldn’t have even hit alf he’s so small. He can run round in a shower and still not get wet

Tries hard? His feet don’t move and he raises his hand to block his face. Not saying he did it on purpose, but don’t go round saying he tried to move cause he didn’t. all he did was try to protect his face.

Shame to see Maloney depart, but it’ll be very interesting to see how he goes at Catalans. The make up of the Catalans spine will also be very interesting with Maloney’s arrival. Their current halves are Sam Tomkins and Matty Smith – both former internationals and very good players. He’ll obviously displace one of them. I would suggest Sam Tomkins because of his versatility can shift to fullback, leaving current custodian Tony Gigot without a spot. Interesting times ahead for the Dragons – a great signing. If the likes of Blake Austin and Jackson Hastings are currently battling it out for the Man of Steele award, imagine what Jimmy Wins could do!

Get over myself? hahaha alright mate calm down. A difference of opinion doesn’t require personal attacks. Adam Reynolds had 2 games and was no worse than Mitchell Pearce. He’s also been great this season for the Rabbitohs (actually for years) and only ever lost his Origin spot due to injury. And he didn’t kick to Slater on the full as if it was going out of fashion – unlike Pearce

I’m not bagging Pearce. I’m bagging Fittler for basically saying that Pearce was responsible for starting the movement that led to the match-winning try when in fact it was Murray. And to a lesser extent I’m bagging the media for turning this into a Pearce redemption story when in actual fact he did very little to redeem his previous 18 mediocre performances in the Blue jersey.

Pearce was solid at best on Wednesday night. He made his tackles (mostly), he didn’t kick endlessly to Munster on the full (as he has done to Slater for years) and he didn’t get overawed by the occasion. I actually think this was one of his better performances in that he didn’t overplay his hand. In years gone by he would’ve tried to be the miracle man. This time he gave early ball to Tedesco which led to the first of Teddy’s 2 tries. He had a good game, he’s a series-winner. Congratulations to him.

But the fact remains that he will never be the game-breaking halfback that NSW needs. Neither is Cleary, but the difference there is he has the potential to become that as he’s only young. And aside from Cleary, if Keary was fit Pearce would never have factored into calculations. I also would have picked Adam Reynolds over Pearce for this game.

100%, I love how Fittler is like Pearce started that whole movement for the try in the press conference. Firstly it was Cameron Murray at first receiver who got the ball from Cook at dummy half and passed it to Pearce, so he started the movement, not Pearce. I don’t get why everyone gushes over this bloke. He barely did his job last night. It was Cook, Tedesco and the forwards led by Jake T and Klemmer who won us the game. Pearce was barely solid.

As harsh as it is, Walker needs to go. He certainly deserved his chance, but Maloney has found some form and the concerns I had over walker going into the game (despite my simultaneous optimism due to his red-hot form) came to fruition. His ad-lib style of footy didn’t suit Origin and he couldn’t get himself into the game. Maloney was there last year (actually the last few years), and while Pearce is in great form, he’s simply unpickable for me. Add to that the fact he’s been out of Origin for several years, he has to learn how to play with this side whereas Maloney would just slot straight in with no trouble. The shorter turnaround with the game on the Sunday rather than the Wednesday is also a factor as they don’t have time to foster new combinations – it has to be Walker or Maloney with Cleary at 6.

It would also be harsh to drop either Josh Morris or Nick Cotric. Both played well, Morris scored a try, Cotric had some good carries coming out of trouble and both were solid in defence for the most part. However the fact remains that had Tom Trbojevic been fit for game one he would’ve been in the team at the expense of one of these players. Personally I’d drop Morris and have Turbo at right centre (he’s the incumbent Kangaroos right centre let’s not forget) as Cotric is very much the future while Morris is not. However I could cop Turbo on the wing too as you know JMoz will never let you down.

I agree Crichton has to go. He doesn’t offer enough impact to come off the bench, and he can’t oust Frizell or Cordner from the starting side, therefore he shouldn’t be in the team. Wade Graham is not a risk at all in my mind. I know he’s coming back from a serious injury, but they don’t need big minutes from him. He can play 20-30 and carve up in that time.

I’d certainly like to see Finucane in the team, but I couldn’t drop either Murray or Haas so unfortunately he has to miss out. Given McLean’s injury the middle rotation is a bit of a worry – we’re a bit thin and Finucane could help in that respect. But fortunately RCG found some form on the weekend and he should be a direct replacement for Klemmer. Frizell will have to play some front row probably, as will Jake Trbojevic. And for the love of God Jake Turbo needs more game time! We look so much better with him on the field.

If Cook goes down it’ll be McInnes for sure. He’s been the Dragons’ best this year and actually has more running meters this year than Cook. NSW wouldn’t lose much by having McInnes in the side.

I’m pretty sure Snake didn’t want to be picked in 2011. I believe that was his first year back from a serious injury and I seem to remember it was reported that he called Ricky Stuart and asked him not to pick him. That’s why they picked Mini in the first place – he hadn’t played Origin for years and Dugan was injured. And 2013 Hayne was near his peak. I love Snake but he’s not better than Hayne.

Snake missed lots of Origin because of injuries and the major off-field scandal which amounted to nothing. He was unavailable for several seasons, and was usually picked when fit.

1. Tedesco
2. Addo-Carr
3. Mitchell
4. Croker
5. Ferguson
6. Walker
7. Keary
8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Vaughan
11. Cordner (C)
12. Frizell
13. Trbojevic
14. Murray
15. McLean
16. Haas
17. Crichton

Walker and Keary NEED to be the halves. It’s criminal to ignore players in that good form.

Moses has never played Origin, and with the form of Walker, Keary and Reynolds i seriously doubt he’ll be picked this year, nor should he be quite frankly.

I believe Pearce’s shock recalls to the side in 2015 and 2017 were justified. Despite his history of Origin failure, at those times he was the best we had. The difference in 2019 is that Keary, Reynolds and especially Cody Walker are all playing better than Pearce. Don’t forget, Pearce’s first 6 weeks of 2019 were quite poor. Admittedly his last month has been great, but Reynolds and Walker have been playing brilliantly all year, while Keary has been doing incredible stuff since midway through last season.

And to be honest, you say it would be a crime not to select Keary. You’re absolutely right, but it would be equally criminal not to select Cody Walker given the form he’s in, plus his combination with Damien Cook. I would have Keary at 7, Walker at 6 and Reynolds in the squad (and Pearce at home watching on TV).

And on Maloney and Cleary for a sec: Maloney played in plenty of losing series too. The difference is he was at worst quiet in a loss, while he was often a shining light in losing teams. Pearce in 18 starts has not had a good Origin outing. When we lost he was often diabolical, missing tackles or making errors at crucial times. On the rare occasions we won it was because of superhuman efforts from Paul Gallen, or off the back of 70 tackles from Robbie Farah, or some Jarryd Hayne Brilliance. In those games Pearce was quiet at best. Which brings me to Cleary. No doubt he was solid and unspectacluar in 2018. Did his job, nothing else. Yet in a 6-7/10 series for him personally, he outplayed all of Pearce’s Origins combined. Despite the poor form of Cleary and Maloney, the job they did last year as compared with Pearce’s Origin career should put them ahead of him too. To me, Pearce is number 6 in the pecking order.

And as for Latrell, he has rocks in his head if he goes to another club. If you want money, leave the Roosters. If you want premierships, rep honours and to be considered one of the greats then he should never leave the Chooks.

“the Bondi club is largely made up of one-club players and blokes who came to the Eastern Suburbs either with no reputation or one that was in tatters due to off-field issues.”

“Trent Robinson has built this side the same way Craig Bellamy builds his: with a handful of stars and a supporting cast of blokes who give their all”

Ummm…… Not really. Tedesco, Cronk and Crichton all signed on big money. The only one club players are Cordner, Friend, Tupou and Aubusson. And even then, in this day and age one does not become a one-club player until one finishes his career. You never know when a club might shaft you off for a younger player.

JWH came to the club as a NZ test front rower from Manly in 2010. Brett Morris has played 20 tests and Origins. Ryan Hall – England’s greatest ever test winger playing reserve grade. Luke Keary came to the club as a premiership winner with Souths. Who in their top 17 came to the club with their reputation in tatters?

Face it – the entire top 17 are test and/or Origin players. Except Jake Friend who is the Stuart McGill to Cameron Smith’s Shane Warne, and Vic Radley who will be an Origin player before the year is over. To compare Robinson to Bellamy is an insult to Bellamy. Unless you’re talking about the way Bellamy assembled his side from 2006-2010. I see plenty of similarities to that.

“Creates little for his outside men” this is an absolute myth. he had 9 try-assists last year which is pretty good considering it’s his first full year in first-grade and Hunt and Widdop were doing the bulk of the ball-playing. And Widdop a test fullback is also a myth. He carved up PNG from fullback. He would have carved them up in the front-row too – doesn’t make him a front-rower. His games at fullback against quality opposition (Tonga and Australia) were solid but not amazing. But everyone remembers what he did against the PNG reserve-graders and thinks he’s a test fullback. Dufty is actually significantly better than Widdop under the high ball. And he made a try-saving tackle on James Tedesco. Which fullback had flawless defence at the age of 23 in just his 2nd full year in first grade? Give him time. He’ll come good.

such a great attribute to have. I can’t wait to see Petaia’s career unfold!

Yeah you might be right about 7s, especially from a financial point of view. I agree that 7s is more instinctive than 15s. What league scouts and coaches might be concerned about from a 7s point of view is fitness. Don’t get me wrong, 7s players are no doubt extraordinarily fit. But is their type of fitness conducive to sustaining an 80 minute performance? Perhaps not for many players. Still, there are plenty of players going round on the world 7s circuit. Some will be more adaptable to league’s type of fitness (the exact balance between the endurance side and the short bursts side), and will be able to change given the right amount of training (like Radradra). Certainly worth a look.