2016 NRL Grand Final: SHARKS v STORM, Sunday Oct 2nd

[strider]

Is this really a game the players are pumped for or just an extra game to play on the big stage. They both won their GF's last week, probably depends on who got drunk less wins the game.

I think Burleigh must have hit the cans REALLY hard

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Drew Hutchison has to be the biggest, slowest halfback going around outside of bush footy. Cannot believe the Dragons think this is the guy to lead them out of the doldrums...

If he can kick and tackle he is better than most other options. I doubt they are looking for him to lead. He will just play a role. I'd say the Dragons will continue to focus on defending well and getting the basics right.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

yeah when you compare the two teams, the Cutters should have been warm favourites

I will have to try me some of that brittle peanut butter one day ... i usually get the buttery soft stuff

works both ways
their defense is brittle AND soft

 

[Gronk]

Do people still believe the qld cup is better than the nsw one? ... cos this game dont seem that way

Not based on this game.

 

[Bazal]

I think it's a bit of a fallacy that the QLD Cup is a higher standard than the NSW Cup. The part timers in the QLD Cup might be better (on average) than the part timers in the NSW Cup, but the NSW Cup has far more full time NRL contracted players per team.

Look at these two teams. The Cutters have the following NRL contracted players:
Quinlan
Mann
Milne
Faifai Loa
Hutchison
McCrone
Havili
McCarthy

The Bears have these full time footballers:
Cullen
Peteru
Burr
Lynch

I think that's the thing. The QLD Cup is probably better as an average, but the better sides in the NSW Cup are better than the better sides in the QLD Cup because they're associated with NRL sides and have full time players. The QLD sides spread the full time players out

 

[Bazal]

If he can kick and tackle he is better than most other options. I doubt they are looking for him to lead. He will just play a role. I'd say the Dragons will continue to focus on defending well and getting the basics right.

He's NSW Cup standard at best. St George are an awful attacking side and will continue to be with Hutchison in the 7.

Not to mention he's basically a bigger, slower version of Widdop.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

I think it is safe to stay there won't be a Roosters U-20s like comeback in this game.

Otherwise, holy f^ck what a day we would have had already (before the main affair)!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

works both ways
their defense is brittle AND soft

Soft like Portuguese chicken?

 

[Parra47]

In early 2015 I posted on here to keep an eye on Wakeman, Lewis and Host for the Cutters. Glad to see they are going so well and hope this game springs Wakeman and Lewis into NRL calculation for someone. Host will be a Dragons regular next year.
Forgarty has not been too bad in an outmuscled team, has had some nice touches and is keen to try different things. He could be a surprise packet for us next year.

 

[Bazal]

In early 2015 I posted on here to keep an eye on Wakeman, Lewis and Host for the Cutters. Glad to see they are going so well and hope this game springs Wakeman and Lewis into NRL calculation for someone. Host will be a Dragons regular next year.
Forgarty has not been too bad in an outmuscled team, has had some nice touches and is keen to try different things. He could be a surprise packet for us next year.

Was that because RLW told you to keep an eye on them?

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Soft like Portuguese chicken?

I am not sure there is much difference between a chicken that comes from Portugal or one that comes from Australia. And I would never refer to a chicken as being soft. They can be vindictive, tough bastards when they feel slighted.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's NSW Cup standard at best. St George are an awful attacking side and will continue to be with Hutchison in the 7.

Not to mention he's basically a bigger, slower version of Widdop.

He's only 21 and wasn't out of place on his NRL debut. He'll be a first grader for sure.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

In early 2015 I posted on here to keep an eye on Wakeman, Lewis and Host for the Cutters. Glad to see they are going so well and hope this game springs Wakeman and Lewis into NRL calculation for someone. Host will be a Dragons regular next year.
Forgarty has not been too bad in an outmuscled team, has had some nice touches and is keen to try different things. He could be a surprise packet for us next year.

Has Host scored an NRL contract for next year? He is currently a part-timer, like the other three players you've mentioned.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

With their first grade side stacked we should be looking at what kids to poach you short sighted dip shits.

I think our recruitment staff will be making their own decisions. They won't really care what any of us think, but if they're waiting until grand final day to try and find an uncontracted NYC player with NRL potential then we deserve to have a shitty squad.

 

[Bazal]

He's only 21 and wasn't out of place on his NRL debut. He'll be a first grader for sure.

Not as a halfback, although with St George I suppose anything is possible. If he wants to translate his ability to an NRL career he should look at John Sutton and take that same path. You want your halves to threaten the line and ask questions of the defence, he might do that occasionally with his strength but he'll be easy meat for NRL defences with his lack of speed and agility. It's not that he can't play, it's that he isn't the right build or style of player for an NRL halfback

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And how 'Sef Paulo gets a chance at a premiership ring is beyond me...

Don't worry mate, you'll find a new scapegoat.

 

[Bazal]

I don't think that it's blue and gold bias to say that Fogarty was probably the best player in a horribly beaten side. Snuck through the line a couple of times, put on a line break, never stopped trying. His attitude is impressive but he certainly won't start in first grade...if his attitude holds true and he improves his game he seems to have the skills and the desire to potentially play first grade later in the year though.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Not as a halfback, although with St George I suppose anything is possible. If he wants to translate his ability to an NRL career he should look at John Sutton and take that same path. You want your halves to threaten the line and ask questions of the defence, he might do that occasionally with his strength but he'll be easy meat for NRL defences with his lack of speed and agility. It's not that he can't play, it's that he isn't the right build or style of player for an NRL halfback

Mate he is the opposite of Chris Sandow. The 'style of player for an NRL halfback' has changed a lot on the past decade. Defence and kicking are now as important as playmaking, if not moreso. Especially for the secondary playmaker.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I kid you not.....Fogarty just said 'Down on The Corner' in his commiseration speech.

 

[Bazal]

Mate he is the opposite of Chris Sandow. The 'style of player for an NRL halfback' has changed a lot on the past decade. Defence and kicking are now as important as playmaking, if not moreso. Especially for the secondary playmaker.

Yeah, but if I'd said he was the complete modern halfback you'd have argued the opposite as well, so forgive me if you haven't changed my mind....