NRL 2014

Dozen Wicked Words · 06-03-2014 1:58pm #1

Start of new season down under, looking forward to seeing how Sam Tomkins goes for my NRL team the Warriors this weekend.

Big turn up for the books in League opener with the Rabbitohs beating the Roosters, 3 of the Burgess boys played for South Sydney. Its some league, shame the BBC or someone don't pick it up, would nicely fill a morning schedule for them, highest quality sport, for dirt cheap.

Slim Charles · 06-03-2014 11:15pm

It's on setanta only in Ireland i think ?

ciarriaithuaidh · 07-03-2014 1:19am

Brief highlights here of Bunnies v Roosters season opener.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWZH4qY_zqc

Looking forward to following the season as best I can..and never miss State of Origin.

Dozen Wicked Words · 08-03-2014 3:37am

Slim Charles wrote: »

It's on setanta only in Ireland i think ?

Yeah, 20 euro a month. Nowhere on their advertising does it mention NRL, just about every other sport going, but not the Rugby League. Yet Setanta 1 has all the games on their tv listing. Odd.

http://www.setanta.com/ie/subscribe

Only other option might be the Premier Sports online player, tenner a month.

n32 · 08-03-2014 3:47pm

Great game on Setanta this morning between NQL and Canberra.

Lovely try by Thurston

Dozen Wicked Words · 08-03-2014 5:26pm

n32 wrote: »

Great game on Setanta this morning between NQL and Canberra.

Lovely try by Thurston

Great try, defence half asleep at the start, but Thurston finished it brilliantly.

Slim Charles · 09-03-2014 4:55am

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Yeah, 20 euro a month. Nowhere on their advertising does it mention NRL, just about every other sport going, but not the Rugby League. Yet Setanta 1 has all the games on their tv listing. Odd.

http://www.setanta.com/ie/subscribe

Only other option might be the Premier Sports online player, tenner a month.

I have it alright but have rarely watched it

ciarriaithuaidh · 10-03-2014 6:01am

https://www.youtube.com/user/FrancisGonzalezNRL/videos

This guy is brilliant for highlights of games on youtube.

Slim Charles · 11-03-2014 9:58am

I watched a bit of Gold Titans game on setanta yesterday morning, that try by Kelly (Albert ?) was phenomenal running.

Dozen Wicked Words · 11-03-2014 10:53am

Slim Charles wrote: »

I watched a bit of Gold Titans game on setanta yesterday morning, that try by Kelly (Albert ?) was phenomenal running.

Albert Kelly, great name, sounds like he should be wearing a flat cap. Ran virtually length of the pitch. Looked like he went a bit early and might have been offside, although I only saw one angle. Like a whippet when he got going though.

kirk buttercup · 11-03-2014 10:58am

Nice to see an NRL thread, I grew up in oz in the 80s and went to all the Doggies games for years at belmore before they moved ( including the 1985 winfield cup grand final (SCG) that finished 7-6 still the closest final ever) I thinks year is shaping up to be great... just not for the Doggies unfortunatly.
my thoughts
1. Roosters
2. Nth QLD
3.Manly
4. Storm
5. Bunnies
6. Penrith
7.Titans
8.Just making it... THE DOGGIES!

Love the NRL.

Dozen Wicked Words · 11-03-2014 11:33am

Still love the Super League , but I'm a bit of a NRL convert, quality of a lot of the games are just something else. Hardest thing for most weekend games is trying to get up early enough to watch them though. (Not the early games, I'm not that committed!)

kirk buttercup · 11-03-2014 11:54am

Just out of Interest Who do people support on here ( if anyone)?

Slim Charles · 11-03-2014 12:11pm

I have only recently taken a small interest in it, and am cheering on the GC Titans

Dozen Wicked Words · 11-03-2014 12:13pm

As I say, its newish to me, but looked out for NZ Warriors results last season or 2. Got off to their usual start away from home. Have a good squad on paper. Like the Dragons too, Gareth Widdop got off to a flyer, but don't think either of my teams will be bothering the top 8 this year.

kirk buttercup · 11-03-2014 12:21pm

Dont know about that I reckon one of the titans/ warriors will make the 8. I think st george will struggle this year.

Dozen Wicked Words · 11-03-2014 12:24pm

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Dont know about that I reckon one of the titans/ warriors will make the 8. I think st george will struggle this year.

Hopefully you're right about the Warriors, but aren't they well known for being consistently inconsistent?!

kirk buttercup · 11-03-2014 12:41pm

they are, but all the aussie pundits rate them highly this year ( forget the parra game ). triple m nrl podcasts are pretty good with loads of former players and pundits ,pretty funny stuff.

Dozen Wicked Words · 14-03-2014 8:31pm

Tight wins for Manly and Brisbane already this round. Rest of the fixtures, starts with stupid o'clock game (our time) between my 2 particular favourites, couple of English lads playing each other

New Zealand Warriors v St George/Illawarra
Melbourne v Penrith
Sydney v Parramatta

Sunday

Gold Coast v Wests
Newcastle v Canberra

Monday

Canterbury v Cronulla

No idea on results here, any gamblers care to give me any bets worth putting a euro on?

n32 · 14-03-2014 9:26pm

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Just out of Interest Who do people support on here ( if anyone)?

Sea Eagles fan, lived walking distance from Brookvale Oval for 12 months. What a venue for a night time game!

kirk buttercup · 19-03-2014 10:56am

there you go I said warriors were tipped for big things this year and they have been awful. great round.

old gregg · 19-03-2014 8:17pm

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Just out of Interest Who do people support on here ( if anyone)?

I grew up in Bronte and went to school in Bondi in the early '70's so played League through those years and been a Rooster all my life. Living in Ireland now but get back to Oz every few years and try to catch as many games as I can regardless of who's playing. Brookie is a great spot for a night game for sure n32.

kirk buttercup · 20-03-2014 11:24am

old gregg wrote: »

I grew up in Bronte and went to school in Bondi in the early '70's so played League through those years and been a Rooster all my life. Living in Ireland now but get back to Oz every few years and try to catch as many games as I can regardless of who's playing. Brookie is a great spot for a night game for sure n32.

I have always liked Manly and Brookie is great.The Chooks will be hard to beat this year they have some side but I reckon Manly could be right up there with them.

old gregg · 20-03-2014 11:52am

It's hard to imagine a season when manly aren't in the mix come finals time. Always liked them too. Even as a kid I preferred their colours to the Roosters when they'd play each other.

kirk buttercup · 20-03-2014 12:08pm

I grew up in fairfield and went to Pats everyone supported the eels because of the sterlo connection but I remained true to the doggies my brother was a magpies fan most weekends was a rotation of belmore and campbelltown.

old gregg · 21-03-2014 12:39pm

Golly the Roosters v Broncos game was a thriller. Really liking the new time off rule for kick-offs within last 5 mins. Great Roosters win

Dozen Wicked Words · 21-03-2014 3:32pm

Have they always had Thursday night games or is that a relatively new thing. Great for TV audiences anyway.

Slim Charles · 23-03-2014 10:29am

Mon the titans!!!

kirk buttercup · 24-03-2014 9:34am

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Have they always had Thursday night games or is that a relatively new thing. Great for TV audiences anyway.

Good for TV the viewing numbers in sydney are really good , terrible for crowd numbers. the numbers this year are at an all time low. Broncos and melbourne bring the numbers up a bit but other clubs are struggling.there is a real cry for clubs to go back to small traditional stadiums (Belmore Cambelltown leichardt oval) and out of anz that is empty week after week. If you look at the manly v parra game on the weekend it looked great with a full crowd versus souths v wests looked terrible but similar numbers. With Bulldogs, Souths and wests sharing the ANZ, home ground buzz has faded a bit. That and the constant cry for a perth based team and another qld. team its only a matter of time before a sydney team is franchised out.

old gregg · 24-03-2014 12:44pm

True thing. The ANZ really has killed a lot of the home ground buzz. None of the spirit and atmosphere you'd get at a small local ground and a bugger to get to/from.

Have to say, my favourite ground from the last time I was back was Dairy Farmer's Stadium in North Queensland for a Cowboys v Tigers game. 7pm, 26 degrees, cold beer, cheerleaders to die for and the game had yet to start. Beautiful old setting.

kirk buttercup · 27-03-2014 11:09am

Fri 28 Mar Roosters v Sea Eagles Allianz Stadium --- Roosters for me but this is going to be a cracker
Fri 28 Mar Dragons v Broncos WIN Stadium Going--- broncos here
Sat 29 Mar Warriors v Wests Tigers Westpac --- Tigpies
Sat 29 Mar Eels v Panthers Pirtek Stadium ---- Panthers but they will have to stop raradra he is an animal
Sat 29 Mar Bulldogs v Storm NIB Stadium--- Bulldogs but only because Im a doggies Fan
Sun 30 Mar Rabbitohs v Raiders ANZ ---- Bunnies
Sun 30 Mar Knights v Sharks Hunter Stadium ----Knights hard one as they are both woeful at the moment
Mon 31 Mar Titans v Cowboys Robina Stadium

Cowboys/ JT will run a muck

What Do you guys reckon?

old gregg · 27-03-2014 11:24am

I'd go along with your predictions. Shame to see Parra still struggling.

kirk buttercup · 27-03-2014 11:56am

Parra actually look pretty dynamic (if you ignore the roosters game) they were great against warriors and were robbed against manly at brookie I reckon they def. will be further up the ladder this year. Alot of pace and power about them

Dozen Wicked Words · 27-03-2014 5:09pm

I bow to both yours greater knowledge. Trying to persuade my brother in law to start going to games over there. He's a big union fan so half way there. Only down side is where he is in Oz has grand total of 1 club to choose from. Storm or nothing.

kirk buttercup · 27-03-2014 5:19pm

Storm are good and he should def. go as they have one of the best players EVER playing with them in Cam Smith. They are consistantly top 3- 4. Nice stadium and good fans and great numbers everyweek.

Dozen Wicked Words · 27-03-2014 5:22pm

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Storm are good and he should def. go as they have one of the best players EVER playing with them in Cam Smith. They are consistantly top 3- 4. Nice stadium and good fans and great numbers everyweek.

Yeah I'm working on him, he goes to Richmond Tigers for the Aussie Rules, so if he goes out for that (don't mind it, but it's lunacy!) top quality RL should be a no brainier.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 28-03-2014 4:50pm

Interesting to see Chrisy Sandow back in for the Eels, is over his off field issues and will be a boost to the eels goalkicking stats anyway! The Eels have a very potent backline with Hopoate getting better each week and Radradra looking unstoppable, Hayne getting fitter each week too. Think its gonna be a positive year for the Eels. Eels are up there with the most potent of backlines, if can get on front foot they've the finishing power to go places!

Penrith looking good, gutted Mansour is out, guy is a wrecking ball. They'll push close this year.

Was disappoint today by the Roosters, again penalised hugely, costing them at crucial times, Eagles were solid but was a disappointing contest in all honesty. Broncos dragons was a great watch, very tit for tat and the Broncos eventually pulled away!

Surprised Inglis is togging this weekend after a pretty hefty blow to the head last weekend, how a guy is allowed play after a week on from being near decapitated and concussed is crazy. Despite everything the NRL are doing it still isn't enough, you just don't recover after a week following a bang like that!

Big clashes this weekend i think are Tigers Warriors (who have been nothing but disappointing this year - despite winning last week) Parra testing themselves against Penrith.

Dozen Wicked Words · 28-03-2014 8:26pm

Warriors v Tigers is interesting. Read a couple of previews who give the Warriors the slight edge as they are at home, but they are actually playing on the road in Wellington tomorrow, and reading up on it, they are dreadful outside of Auckland. Reckon the Tigers might sneak it, although I hope I'm wrong. Fingers crossed for loads of tries.

kirk buttercup · 28-03-2014 9:53pm

Tigpies are pretty exciting this year witb brooks/tedesco combo my bro. Supports them so always keep an eye on them ...should be a good match. Eels are promising but as a doggies fan I dont like seeeing them do well (even thoygh my mate coaches thereU/20's) the school I went to in oz was a feeder school for parra everyone supported them drove me nuts. However... even I think they are explosive at the back this year Raradra is an animal as Ive said and Hayne is always a handfull. Is it me or is this years comp look very close?

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 29-03-2014 1:20am

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Tigpies are pretty exciting this year witb brooks/tedesco combo my bro. Supports them so always keep an eye on them ...should be a good match. Eels are promising but as a doggies fan I dont like seeeing them do well (even thoygh my mate coaches thereU/20's) the school I went to in oz was a feeder school for parra everyone supported them drove me nuts. However... even I think they are explosive at the back this year Raradra is an animal as Ive said and Hayne is always a handfull. Is it me or is this years comp look very close?

I don't really think there's an outstanding good/great side or an truly terrible/poor side this year. The Sharks (currently) look the worst side but they are majorly depleted and would expect a serious turn around soon! I genuinely cannot pick a minor premiership winner or wooden spoon winner!

I have to say i Love the way Shaun Johnson plays. Been a serious admirer of his for a while, but has been disappointing to say the least! The Warriors have in the past played the BEST footie of all side but are too inconsistent! Really thought they'd push for top 4!

I'm gonna stick my neck out very early and pick my top 8 in no specific order.......
Rabbitohs, Manly, Rooster, Penrith, Broncos, raiders, Warriors, cowboys.

Such a tough decision, trying to pick a side to replace for St. George but i don't think they can keep up the frenetic pace they've set, the whole we'll score more than you wont work, defence isn't great and were caught out badly by clever Broncos frowards offloading today.

I can't call a wooden spoon winner but would be confident saying the Eels wont be there

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 29-03-2014 11:09am

Finally the warriors turn it on. Beat the West Tigers 42-18. Konrad Hurrell proved to be the real game changer. Two linebreaks, few assists, was outstanding, Shaun Johnson kicked into gear too, if he can get up and running, threatening like he has in the past than the Warriors could come good.

Parramatta beat the Panthers this morning as well, HUGE result against a very very strong Perith side! Jarrad Hayne outstanding again, Radradra on theh score sheet again. Peats and Ma'u making a serious impact!

And currently the doggies are making mincemeat of the Storm (missing Cam Smith - injured in warm up). Currently 36-12 and the Dogs are on fire, Josh Reynolds has been dynamite this morning completely opening up the Storm who are lacking direction around the POTB. Struggling to get repeat sets, full credit to the Dogs. James Graham been inspirational for his side, bashed from coast to coast

kirk buttercup · 30-03-2014 9:02am

Another great weekend of footy. Doggies found there mojo so Im happy. As for my tipping 3 from 7 ...pretty poor. PARRA really have turned the corner,Warriors are starting to play. Feck me it would be hard to call the 8 at this stage ( only thing for sure is it wont be the sharks)

Slim Charles · 31-03-2014 9:10am

My adopted team the gold coast titans on setanta sports 1 at half 9 against north Queensland cowboys, anyone going watching?

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 31-03-2014 12:34pm

Terrible news coming from Melbourne as Alex McKinnon has been told he faces life as a quadriplegic after the unfortunate incident at last weeks game with Knights and the Storm. Matty Johns discussed on his show. Terrible news and hopefully he can make a recovery!

Titans win thanks to a field goal from Aidan Sezer 13-12

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 31-03-2014 12:41pm

Other huge news. Andrew Fafita has had his contract with the Doggies terminated and will be a free agent at the end of the summer heightening speculation that he will switch codes like Benji, SB and SBW. Des Hasler was less than impressed with Fafita's 'my heart is still with the sharks' and his 'I wish i went to Union' comments

ciarriaithuaidh · 31-03-2014 1:43pm

That is just awful news about young McKinnon..terrible. Wasn't anywhere near the worst tackle you'll see, just got his head at a bad angle. Shows how fragile even the strongest bodies are really.

kirk buttercup · 31-03-2014 2:27pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Other huge news. Andrew Fafita has had his contract with the Doggies terminated and will be a free agent at the end of the summer heightening speculation that he will switch codes like Benji, SB and SBW. Des Hasler was less than impressed with Fafita's 'my heart is still with the sharks' and his 'I wish i went to Union' comments

A bit of a let off for the bulldogs they are well stacked up front and really need to get a fullback but were going to struggle with the wages fafita was reportedly going to get. good luck to him maybe next time he gets offered huge money he might keeps his mouth shut. Tedesco Maybe? he is off contract this year and not happy with the tigpies offer. belmore bound hopefully.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 31-03-2014 3:51pm

kirk buttercup wrote: »

A bit of a let off for the bulldogs they are well stacked up front and really need to get a fullback but were going to struggle with the wages fafita was reportedly going to get. good luck to him maybe next time he gets offered huge money he might keeps his mouth shut. Tedesco Maybe? he is off contract this year and not happy with the tigpies offer. belmore bound hopefully.

Tedesco been linked with a lot of sides, Roosters (apparently became very close to Mini when at the World Cup), Rabbitohs (who need to add backs - would see GI back in the centre, Doggies who are in obvious need of a dominant No.1! But TBH i think he tigers would be nuts to leave him go, his relationship on the pitch with Luke Brooks is amazing! In a few years the Tigers could be a force again with young backs like Brooks, Simona, Nolfuluma Tedeso all coming good! Tigers need these lads if they want to build a future

kirk buttercup · 31-03-2014 4:37pm

Tigers are about to go bang so may have to sell some assests. I always liked wests so would hate this. If he doesnt go to the dogs I defo want to see him stay at wests

Dozen Wicked Words · 01-04-2014 10:47pm

Probably old news to all, but just in case. Bet365 stream the NRL live on their website, you need to have a fiver in your betting account but that's it. Only problem I have is the player is small and doesn't, to my small brain, seem to be resizable. Still a good picture on it though and a much more reliable stream than the iffy illegal alternatives.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 02-04-2014 12:50pm

Following on from the dogs tearing up Fafita's contract (which Fafita now claims was not by mutual consent) they've been linked with a huge spending spree. Names such as Josh Hoffman (again), James Tedesco (Tigers - FB), Josh Mansour (Penrith - CTW/FB), and interestingly following stories coming out of OZ, the Stewart brother from Manly, Glenn (Loose) and Brett (FB) could be targeted as a package deal have all been listed as potential targets! Don't be surprised to see 2/3 of these names in Blue & White next season!

Steve Matai has been reported saying that if Glenn Stewart is allowed to leave (which it seems like he doesn't want to do!) it could be the beginning of a Mass Exodus at the Sea Eagles. Worrying times for Manly i think

NRL 2014

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