NRL Discussion Thread 2018

[Mr Bods]

Another glorious night for MT

[DIEHARD]

You beauty, Cowboys won! Great to see.

[DIEHARD]

Round 13 NRL team lists

The official team lists of the NRL Telstra Premiership round 13, with the Broncos, Bulldogs, Dragons, Panthers, Raiders, Storm, Titans and Warriors having the bye ahead of next week's State of Origin game one.

Manly Sea Eagles v North Queensland Cowboys, Thursday 7.50pm at Lottoland

Sea Eagles: 1 Matthew Wright, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Trent Hodkinson, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Apisai Koroisau, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 15 Jack Gosiewski, 13 Shaun Lane

Interchange: 12 Frank Winterstein, 14 Bradley Parker, 16 Lloyd Perrett, 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Jack Gosiewski will start for the Sea Eagles with Frank Winterstein dropping back to the bench. Matt Wright starts at fullback for Blues Origin rep Tom Trbojevic while Jake Trbojevic's absence at lock is covered by Shaun Lane. Api Koroisau returns from suspension. Brad Parker is the new name on the bench. Thomas Wright and Lewis Brown were dropped from the bench an hour before kick-off after Jonathan Wright and Tevita Funa were omitted 24 hours out from game time.

Cowboys: 1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O'Neill, 4 Enari Tuala, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 15 Sam Hoare, 9 Jake Granville, 16 Corey Jensen, 11 Shaun Fensom, 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 17 Francis Molo, 18 Kane Linnett, 20 Mitchell Dunn,

Scott Bolton won't play against the Sea Eagles after being left out of the team an hour before kick-off. Corey Jensen takes his spot in the starting 13. He will play alongside Sam Hoare in the front row. Ben Hampton, who was listed at prop 24 hours out from kick-off, will start on the bench. As well as the loss of Bolton, Javid Bowen was the other player to drop out an hour from game time. Lachlan Coote has been recalled at fullback in place of Queensland utility Michael Morgan. After playing the previous two games off the bench young gun Enari Tuala starts at centre. Shaun Fensom starts at second row for Maroons rep Gav Cooper. On top of Matt Scott's judiciary-enforced omission, Jake Clifford was the man taken off the bench 24 hours before kick-off.

Sea Eagles v Cowboys: Round 13 preview
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Cronulla Sharks, 7.55pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Rabbitohs: 1 Adam Doueihi, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Braidon Burns, 4 Hymel Hunt, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Sam Burgess (c), 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange: 14 Tyrell Fuimaono, 15 Mark Nicholls, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18 Mawene Hiroti, 21 Kyle Turner

Souths have lost Greg Inglis to Maroons duty and with Alex Johnston still not back from a hamstring strain Adam Douehi shifts from centre to fullback. Braidon Burns and Hymel Hunt form an all-new centre pairing with Dane Gagai also with the Maroons. Robbie Farah replaces Blues hooker Damien Cook and Sam Burgess shifts to edge second row for another Blues debutant in Angus Crichton, with Cam Murray starting at lock. The new names on the bench are Tyrell Fuimaono, who is back from a long layoff with a toe injury, and Mark Nicholls. Connor Tracey and Dean Britt were dropped from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Sharks: 1 Josh Dugan, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Edrick Lee, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 16 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Ava Seumanu***ai, 17 Jayson Bukuya

Reserves: 18 Kurt Capewell, 20 Sione Katoa

Andrew Fifita (knee) returns at prop, pushing Ava Seumanu***ai to the bench and Kurt Capewell to the reserves. Capewell may yet come in with Wade Graham named ahead of a judiciary challenge that may yet force him to miss a week. Sosaia Feki replaces Queensland winger Valentine Holmes. Jack Williams and Scott Sorensen were omitted 24 hours out from kick-off.

Rabbitohs v Sharks: Round 13 preview
Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights, 7.35pm Saturday at ANZ Stadium

Eels: 1 Bevan French, 2 Josh Hoffman, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Clint Gutherson (c), 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Peni Terepo

Interchange: 14 Will Smith, 15 Suaia Matagi, 16 David Gower, 17 Marata Niukore

Reserves: 18 Nathan Brown, 19 Kirisome Auva'a, 20 Jaeman Salmon, 21 Kane Evans

Corey Norman is out of the 21, with Bevan French moving to his preferred fullback position and Josh Hoffman returning on the wing. There are no other changes to the 17 but lock Nathan Brown has been named in the reserves as he eyes a return from an ankle injury suffered in round five.

Knights: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Jacob Lillyman, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitchell Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra (c)

Interchange: 14 Danny Levi, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Jamie Buhrer (c), 17 Josh King

Reserves: 18 Luke Yates, 19 Brent Naden, 20 Nicholas Meaney, 21 Patrick Mata'utia

Nathan Ross (groin) is replaced at centre by Corey Denniss. Kalyn Ponga has been named despite a couple of head knocks recently. Jacob Lillyman starts at prop for the suspended Herman Ese'ese, with Josh King recalled on the bench.

Eels v Knights: Round 13 preview
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers, Sunday 4pm at Allianz Stadium

Roosters: 1 Blake Ferguson, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Joseph Manu, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Matthew Ikuvalu, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Victor Radley, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange: 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Frank-Paul Nuuausala, 17 Kurt Baptiste, 17 Nat Butcher

Reserves: 18 Poasa Faamausili, 19 Lindsay Collins, 20 Mitchell Cornish, 21 Paul Momirovski

With James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Boyd Cordner and Dylan Napa all on Origin duty, Blake Ferguson moves to fullback and Joey Manu shifts in to centre with a new wing pairing of Daniel Tupou (returning from a long-term pec injury) and debutant Matthew Ikuvalu. Jared Waerea Hargreaves starts at prop and Victor Radley in the second row alongside the returning Ryan Matterson, with Isaac Liu at lock and Frank-Paul Nuuausala recalled on the bench.

Wests Tigers: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Mahe Fonua, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Elijah Taylor, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence (c), 12 Michael Chee-Kam, 13 Matthew Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Josh Reynolds, 16 Josh Aloai, 17 Tim Grant

Reserves: 18 Sauaso Sue, 19 Chris McQueen, 20 Pita Godinet, 21 Kevin Naiqama

The Tigers are unaffected by Origin and have just one change, with hooker Jacob Liddle out. Elijah Taylor moves to dummy half with Matt Eisenhuth starting at lock and Tim Grant joining the bench.

https://www.nrl.com/

[DIEHARD]

Tune in for your weekly spanking of Parra.

[Mexican titan]

Tune in for your weekly spanking of Parra.

Simply beautiful. I wonder how they finished so high last year because when you look at their side it's pretty sh1t.

[DIEHARD]

If you love Rugby League watch the last minute of the Roosters vs Wests Tigers match!

[a_guest]

That's what I'm saying, Brisbane hasn't made him a better player, if anything they've made him a worse person.

If you have a heart, have a read of this. Incredible.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/06/05/...james-roberts/

Sometimes we need to forget what jersey they wear and remember these people are human beings first.

[Mr Bods]

^^^ the troll from Drongoe Town is back.
1-he was sleeping in a car when he came to us
2-he played his best footy with us
3-his partner has been through far too much and deserves the credit, she is amazing
4-he knew about that initialing of a minor part of his contract and used it later on deviously and it ruined a persons career, any thought about him and his family??
5-he had every opportunity to stay
6-he only at the beginning of last year wanted to come back to us if the money could be found
7-Good luck to him as we do wish him well but he will always be Jimmy The Ingrate

[Mexican titan]

^^^ the troll from Drongoe Town is back.
1-he was sleeping in a car when he came to us
2-he played his best footy with us
3-his partner has been through far too much and deserves the credit, she is amazing
4-he knew about that initialing of a minor part of his contract and used it later on deviously and it ruined a persons career, any thought about him and his family??
5-he had every opportunity to stay
6-he only at the beginning of last year wanted to come back to us if the money could be found
7-Good luck to him as we do wish him well but he will always be Jimmy The Ingrate

Pretty good summary mate. I can't really agree with point 4 in that I cannot condone anyone forging a signature (initials) but Bronco Mr Guest should understand that a leopard never changes its spots. Jimmy Judas is a ticking time bomb.
While I hope nothing but good health and future to him I just can't accept that just about every footballer who has behavioural problems blames it on something other than them being a ******** that just needed a kick in the bum to wake up.
And Mr Guest, post this on the Broncos forum where you might find people who care.

[DIEHARD]

Well Hayne came back and got a double and the win. About time he made of for some of the coin clubs have been paying him.

[DIEHARD]

Meninga says it’s time JT handed over reins
http://www.couriermail.com.au

KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga has sensationally called for Michael Morgan to replace Johnathan Thurston as halfback in a desperate bid to rescue North Queensland’s disastrous season.

The Cowboys fell to a new low in Darwin last night, making 20 errors as they slumped to their 10th loss of the season, 20-14 to last-placed Parramatta at TIO Stadium.

The annus horribilis that has been the Cowboys of 2018 has left North Queensland with a near impossible scenario to make the finals.

With only four wins in the opening 14 rounds, the Cowboys must win at least nine of their final 10 matches to have any chance of making the playoffs in Thurston’s farewell season.

A red line could be put through the Cowboys now if they had not produced the unthinkable last year in qualifying for the grand final despite missing their biggest stars.

But this year’s assignment is an entirely new challenge and nine-time Origin series winning coach Meninga believes Cowboys mentor Paul Green needs to make the biggest call of his career to rescue Thurston’s final NRL campaign.

Morgan, rested from last night’s match with a groin injury, will replace Thurston in the No. 7 next year, but Meninga said Green should move the four-time Dally M champion to five-eighth now.

“Morgs should play seven, he needs to be on the football,” Meninga said on Fox League.

“He thinks less (at halfback). When he is thinking less he plays his best footy. John can sit back and play six. He needs to take the back seat.

“(Morgan) played seven basically all last year and was the competition’s best player. He needs to be on the ball. He does worry about things, so the less he thinks and more he plays with instinct, the better he will get.”

Meninga’s call came as the Cowboys slumped to their fourth loss in five games as the Jarryd Hayne-inspired Eels notched just their third win.

Hayne bagged a double in his first match back from a sixgame lay-off with a hip injury, the first coming when North Queensland’s Te Maire Martin and Sam Hoare practically watched him barge over from a quick tap.

After being denied a try following a debatable forward pass, Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt finished off a chance to make it 4-all at the end of an uninspiring first half. Parramatta’s George Jennings scored early in the second half and Hayne bagged his second soon after, albeit following a dubious put-down which could have been denied by The Bunker.

The Cowboys had no luck, again denied due to a dubious forward-pass call after Thurston put Gavin Cooper in, before Feldt bombed a golden opportunity.

At the other end, another mistake by fullback Lachlan Coote allowed Michael Jennings to sink North Queensland’s season.
“It’s pretty embarrassing,” Thurston said. “It’s a pretty hollow feeling. When you turn the ball over as much as we did, we’ve only got ourselves to blame.’’

[DIEHARD]

Bellamy must make his choice soon, for benefit of Broncos and Storm
Gorden Tallis / http://www.couriermail.com.au

CRAIG Bellamy has to be pushed to make a decision on his coaching future.

The Melbourne coach yesterday said he was still weighing up his options.

A great leader like Bellamy deserves time to consider his options beyond this year but at the same time, he needs to be squeezed.

There is a lot of talk about Bellamy’s future, and lots of rumours floating around about how this will all play out.

One minute he is set to stay with the Storm, the next whisper is that he can’t make up his mind.

But I think it’s time he does so, because Melbourne won’t be able to wait much longer and a decision from Bellamy will be the best thing for Brisbane’s planning.

There is no doubt he has the job at the Broncos whenever he wants it, and the same goes for the Storm. If I had to have a punt, I reckon Craig Bellamy will stay at Melbourne.

He has helped build a great dynasty at the Storm and they have become the competition’s No.1 team. That’s what makes the rivalry between the Broncos and Storm so good.

Brisbane were once the club that the whole competition aspired to be, but now it’s Melbourne.

It all started with John Ribot, the foundation chief executive of the Broncos.

He helped set up the Storm and it’s like the second time you build a house – you’re going to do it better and you won’t make the same mistakes that you made the first time.

As much as some don’t want to admit it, Melbourne are the new Brisbane and that’s what makes every showdown between these sides so good.

Their game will cap off a big week in Queensland sport.

I’m in Las Vegas to watch Jeff Horn’s fight with brash American Terence Crawford and was also in Melbourne on Wednesday for Origin I.

Even though the Maroons lost Game One, I don’t think there’s any reason to hit the panic button yet.

I was really nervous before the game. I had no idea what was going to happen. Over the past 10 years we’ve always known the way both states would try to play.

But with such a big turnover this season, the build-up was exciting. I’m disappointed in the result but there are a lot of positives the Maroons can work on.

The biggest problem was the missed tackles and I don’t want to point fingers to single anyone out, because as a collective group you can’t miss 51.

That’s way too high and we have to fix that up.

[Mr Bods]

Hate the Storm
Hate them so much
But not so much today

[DIEHARD]

Just thinking today how the game misses the green machine. I see they are up 16-0 at half time against the Broncos.

[JunctionBlock]

Hope they keep the lead but lets not forget their track record in the last 5 mins of the game.