The '09 NRL Thread. *will contain spoilers*

toomevara

NRL kicks off tomorrow morning 9:30, our time. Opening game Broncos V Cowboys...9:30am Setanta. Saturday 8:30 am Bulldogs V Manly....

amacachi

Great season opening game.

Wasn't all that impressed with the games I caught last season but if the rest of the season can live up to today it'll be great :P

toomevara

What a fantastic opening game, essence of rugby league...brilliant stuff. Looks like the Cowboys are back on song after last years shocker. Lockyer seems to have gotten over the RLWC and Folau well, what can you say? Superb rugby, and an testament to the quality of the Aussie competition, an opening game of that intensity, skill and ferocity bodes well for the coming season...

..and I can't believe how well the two refs worked...who knew?

old gregg

crikey, the dogs were impressive out there today. Brett Kimmorley could make a huge difference this season for the Canterbury boys.

toomevara

old gregg wrote: »

crikey, the dogs were impressive out there today. Brett Kimmorley could make a huge difference this season for the Canterbury boys.

Yeah, the Dogs must have had a few practice sessions in a swimming pool prior to KO...full credit to both teams for playing attractive,adventurous rugby, despite the monsoon! (Manly must've thought they were still in leeds!) Kimmorley a joy to watch, as always, in many ways the complete rugby league footballer...

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

What a fantastic opening game, essence of rugby league...brilliant stuff. Looks like the Cowboys are back on song after last years shocker. Lockyer seems to have gotten over the RLWC and Folau well, what can you say? Superb rugby, and an testament to the quality of the Aussie competition, an opening game of that intensity, skill and ferocity bodes well for the coming season...

..and I can't believe how well the two refs worked...who knew?

Heh, i feel like a gimp admitting this, I didn't even notice the two refs. Forgot it was coming in and didn't even notice them.

old gregg

toomevara wrote: »

Yeah, the Dogs must have had a few practice sessions in a swimming pool prior to KO...full credit to both teams for playing attractive,adventurous rugby, despite the monsoon! (Manly must've thought they were still in leeds!) Kimmorley a joy to watch, as always, in many ways the complete rugby league footballer...

I had a friend from Manly who travelled out to the game with his elderly father and suddenly found traffic being re-routed because of a Coldplay gig due to take place, he ended up waiting for a shuttle bus in the bucketing rain and arriving into the stadium just at the end of the first half. Not a happy camper :eek:, still there won't be may happy campers out at Manly at the moment. Talk about screwing up the start of your season before a ball is played.

Kimmorley brings wonderful leadership to a team for sure, great footy player.

Blazing sunshine in Ireland for the weekend and a Roosters win in Oz and I'd be as happy as El Masri right now

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Heh, i feel like a gimp admitting this, I didn't even notice the two refs. Forgot it was coming in and didn't even notice them.

In a way amacachi, that probably means it works!!!

toomevara

old gregg wrote: »

Blazing sunshine in Ireland for the weekend and a Roosters win in Oz and I'd be as happy as El Masri right now

heh-heh..we'll see, go Bunnies....!;)

old gregg

Bunnies v Roosters .... it's just wonderful having them play each other, it's like the annual day of footy heaven for us 'older folk'

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

In a way amacachi, that probably means it works!!!

Absolutely. Still feel like an idiot for not noticing though :P

More noticable in the Bulldogs-Manly match, but did a great job again. Seemed to be a lot of mouthing from the Sea Eagles.

Idris looks to be one to keep an eye on.

Have to say it was a brilliant match, the players really earned their money, torrential rain and they were throwing it round like they were in the park. Great running and some lovely tries, not to mention some catches an AFL player would be proud of. And the kicking of Hazem, ****ing impressive.

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Idris looks to be one to keep an eye on.

Definitely, was very impressed with all aspects of his play....

old gregg

toomevara wrote: »

heh-heh..we'll see, go Bunnies....!;)

well, one of us appears to have gotten what they wanted

toomevara

old gregg wrote: »

well, one of us appears to have gotten what they wanted

Wow! thats a scoreline I definitely did not expect...astonishing. Hopefully I'll catch highlights on the footy show...Roosters must've imploded? At least the sun shining Gregg...1 out of 2 aint bad.....

old gregg

Rabbitohs v Eels looks like a tasty game for Friday, shame it's not on tv over here. Bunnies for the win again?

amacachi

Ya know how sometimes ya wonder how laws haven't been made to ban something? I wonder this quite often while watching Rugby :P

amacachi

Penrith v Bulldogs, what a match.

toomevara

old gregg wrote: »

Bunnies for the win again?

Classic bunnies....great one week, play like drains the next....:(

As for the weekend's other games...really good stuff, the NRL continues to go from strength to strength, but how in hell did the Dogs manage to win that game??? Fair play to them and great to see them back...Eastwood's really showing us what we're missing in Leeds....Kimmorley good agin , though not quite on a par with last week, Idris still in storming form and how about El-Masri's kick at the end?...a machine.....

couerdelion

toomevara wrote: »

Classic bunnies....great one week, play like drains the next....:(

As for the weekend's other games...really good stuff, the NRL continues to go from strength to strength, but how in hell did the Dogs manage to win that game??? Fair play to them and great to see them back...Eastwood's really showing us what we're missing in Leeds....Kimmorley good agin , though not quite on a par with last week, Idris still in storming form and how about El-Masri's kick at the end?...a machine.....

Haven't we got on option on him in december if he can get a Visa... think is, will he bother?

old gregg

it does look like shaping up into a great season for sure. Nice to see a few teams turn around a defeat in week 1 into a win in week 2 and only 3 teams left to register a point. I guess that once Manly get their focus back it will be business as usual out in Brookvale.

toomevara

couerdelion wrote: »

Haven't we got on option on him in december if he can get a Visa... think is, will he bother?

Not sure, he's signed a three year deal with the Dogs, that much I do know..not sure about get out clauses etc....

old gregg

ah we're not going to have another season of everyone robbing the Dogs of their best players just when things are looking up for them

next thing you know you'll have El Masri kicking them over down in Limerick :P

toomevara

old gregg wrote: »

next thing you know you'll have El Masri kicking them over down in Limerick :P

Why the hell not! We could do with a back-up for ROG....

old gregg

toomevara wrote: »

Why the hell not! We could do with a back-up for ROG....

o the IRFU blazers will love you for that. Dumping the pin-up boy ROG and bringing in a League fella

toomevara

Only one game this weekend on Setanta..less than impressed!!

Eels V Raiders, 8:30 am...Saturday, Setanta

toomevara

toomevara wrote: »

Only one game this weekend on Setanta..less than impressed!!

Eels V Raiders, 8:30 am...Saturday, Setanta

Bloody awful game, from two teams that need to smarten up considerably or face a long, long season...Basic errors, no tactical nous whatsoever..desperate stuff to watch...

amacachi

Only caught the last 15-20 minutes which by the sounds of it was the best thing that could've happened :P

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Only caught the last 15-20 minutes which by the sounds of it was the best thing that could've happened :P

Yep, you got away light....a timely reminder that the NRL can produce skill-free dross fests, contrary to much 'informed' opinion...

old gregg

could only catch the Roosters v Broncos game via audio on the web today but it sounded like a real cracker. Pity the Roosters left it a little too late to step on the gas.

Manly v Balmain on Sunday, South Sydney v Canterbury on Monday ... *sighs* feels like the 60's all over again

toomevara

Anyone watch St George V Newcastle at the weekend? how bloody annoying is Wendell Sailor....his antics after he scored his second try were verging on the soccer-esque...

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

Anyone watch St George V Newcastle at the weekend? how bloody annoying is Wendell Sailor....his antics after he scored his second try were verging on the soccer-esque...

Only saw bits of it, need Sky+. What was he at anyway?

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Only saw bits of it, need Sky+. What was he at anyway?

Gesturing, gurning and generally making sure through hand signals and gobbing-off that the world knew he, the great Wendell had scored two tries...both incidentally handed to him on a plate....a very unlovely specimen and all thats wrong with rugby league....

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

Gesturing, gurning and generally making sure through hand signals and gobbing-off that the world knew he, the great Wendell had scored two tries...both incidentally handed to him on a plate....a very unlovely specimen and all thats wrong with rugby league....

Aye, no need for it. Didn't see him doing any gestures like that when he was making mistakes and letting high kicks bounce next to him without making any effort to get to them.

toomevara

Looking forward to seeing the Warriors (v Melbourne) for the first time this year....

(Setanta, 08:15 ,Apr 24)

amacachi

Well this morning's results have my bet still going. :P

toomevara

toomevara wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing the Warriors (v Melbourne) for the first time this year....

(Setanta, 08:15 ,Apr 24)

Excellent game, if you get the chance to catch it over the week you could do a lot worse. Definitely the best NRL offering I've seen so far this season...just watching Manu Vatuvei alone, worth the price of admission....

toomevara

Great televised game on Setanta this morn between the Dragons and The Dogs. Massively controversial end. Check it out of you can.

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

Great televised game on Setanta this morn between the Dragons and The Dogs. Massively controversial end. Check it out of you can.

Would it be worth only watching the end? Replay of it on Setanta at 12 o'clock, will more than likely only get to watch it from about 20 past onwards.

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Would it be worth only watching the end? Replay of it on Setanta at 12 o'clock, will more than likely only get to watch it from about 20 past onwards.

Definitely, the second half should be more than enough.

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

Definitely, the second half should be more than enough.

Wasn't expecting a reply yet, thought maybe you were one of the topless lads at the Jungle. :P Try and watch that tonight and report back so. Was glancing through the listings, is it the only match Setanta are showing this week?

toomevara

Fan bowls over ref....oh Dear...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8064930.stm

amacachi

Only in Australia could

entering a playing field without authority.

be a crime. :P Though I'm sure someone will pull up an old English or Irish Statute to prove me wrong. :P

What was the craic last week between the Dragons and the Bulldogs, didn't get to watch it. Saw the Footy show though missed the start, and game on Friday morning this week, so would appreciate no spoilers from yesterday morning. :P

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

What was the craic last week between the Dragons and the Bulldogs, didn't get to watch it. Saw the Footy show though missed the start, and game on Friday morning this week, so would appreciate no spoilers from yesterday morning. :P

Bulldogs scored an, imo, fantastic, entirely legit, last minute try to win the game, only to have it disallowed,by the video ref, for a minor and entirely unrelated incident in backplay.One of those increasingly common scenarios in RL, when a defender knows he's beat he deliberately hits a decoy runner to create the impression of obstruction..it was one of the worst cases I've seen. Dogs fans went mental and started showering the pitch with bottles...

amacachi

While I get the frustration the bottles sound a bit OTT. I have to agree with the lads on the Footy Show, if between the two referees and the two linesman there's no obstruction noticed, then it probably wasn't really an obstruction. Using the video ref and video slowed down 8 or 10 times to make a decision is just daft.

toomevara

A number of Top NRL players have contracted, or are suspected to have contracted, Swine Flu...Some, like Darren Lockyer have been placed in Quarantine. Its expected that next weekend's games will be hit badly.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5369083,00.html

old gregg

a chance for the Roosters to leap to the top of the table in a single week

amacachi

Jesus with all those players having it it must've spread loads by now. They may have already infected 1 woman. :P

old gregg

the Manly v Canterbury game today sounds like having been a real classic based on having listened live to the audio feed. Not seen a video yet but will prob download along the way.

old gregg

anyone else catch the Parra v Penrith game today? As good as a final (if like me you were hoping for a Parra win)