Eels in the media

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Hopefully they still have firecracker porn.

When I was a student, I used to work the graveyard shift at a service station in Fyshwick. That was an experience and a half....working girls, small time crims, and drunk dickheads.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Sounds similar to an average Eels home game.

 

[Eelogical]

Junior has a lot to look forward to.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Junior has a lot to look forward to.

I hope he doesn't try to sit on the roof drinking UDLs. Will be a test of the trusses.

 

[IFR33K]

Sounds similar to an average Eels home game.

Still talking about the board? Lol

 

[Eelogical]

I hope he doesn't try to sit on the roof drinking UDLs. Will be a test of the trusses.

Does he own a dog?

 

[phantom eel]

Another reasn why we may have baulkedat registering Hoppa's initial alleged contract? Positive spin on the story for Bulldogs' acceptance of diversity etc, but from a financial/cap point of view...?

If Hoppa has one extra day off a week (from training, recovery, certain game days and the grand final), then maybe he's only worth 6/7ths of proposed contract value...

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ames-due-to-mormon-faith-20160327-gnrrvf.html

Canterbury Bulldogs star Will Hopoate to miss Sunday NRL games due to Mormon faith

Date March 27, 2016 - 1:17PM

Will Hopoate has chosen faith over football, the Canterbury star opting not to train or play on Sundays.
Hopoate has made the move in accordance with his Mormon faith and is unsure if he will play in the grand final if the Bulldogs qualify.
The NSW three-quarter will sit out Sunday matches in rounds 10, 11 and 12 and the move has been ticked off by Bulldogs coach Des Hasler.

Faithful: Will Hopoate outside a Mormon Church in Brisbane during his missionary in 2012. Photo: Harrison Saragossi

"This was another big draw card in me wanting to come to Canterbury," Hopoate told News Corp. "I understand that Des or the club could have said no without hesitation. But for him to understand and he's told me this, that he recognises this is what gets me going, what makes me happy, living my beliefs. I'm very grateful for that."
Hopoate sat out two seasons in 2012 and 2013 to fulfil his Mormon mission. He played two seasons with Parramatta before joining the Dogs this season.
"This is what makes Will so special," Hasler said. "His beliefs distinguish him. This is what makes him tick. We are very proud to have such a person within our walls.

Devoted: Will Hopoate celebrates scoring a try during the round four NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Good Friday. Photo: Mark Kolbe

"To deny something that is so fundamental to a person is to deny that person the right to be who they are.
Hopoate said the move was made in accordance with the scriptures.
"A day set apart each week for rest and worship," he said.
"It's a holy day reserved for holy activities like attending church and studying the scriptures. Also, where possible, we abstain from work and recreation."
Bulldogs teammate David Klemmer said he was happy for Hopoate to miss football games to follow his faith.
"That is something he believes in and the club and him have worked together on that," Klemmer told Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"The club has backed him all the way and I'm happy to be in environment and with a club that stands behind him like that."
Also speaking on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Rugby league immortal Andrew Johns applauded the decision.
"Full credit to Hoppa," Johns told Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"It shows how strong his faith is, I stand and applaud. It shows what sort of person he is and what it means to him.
"The strength of the decision, it is amazing.
"He gave up the game for two years ... it is pretty cool when you think about it."
AAP

 

[Gazzamatta]

Always visit Tilley Devines at Lyneham when in Canberra. Love people watching there. A unique establishment thats for sure.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Always visit Tilley Devines at Lyneham when in Canberra. Love people watching there. A unique establishment thats for sure.

I live about 200 yards away from it.

 

[yy_cheng]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...le-to-play-for-australia-20160401-gnvzez.html

Darius Boyd in way of Semi Radradra's $160,000 gamble to play for Australia
Date
April 1, 2016 - 2:54PM
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Brad Walter
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Semi Radradra must oust Darius Boyd from the Kangaroos left wing position for a $160,000 gamble to pay off after turning his back on Fiji in the 2017 World Cup.

Radradra, who has applied to the Rugby League International Federation to change his allegiances from the Bati to the Kangaroos, will never be eligible to play State of Origin but he can represent Australia on residency grounds.

High-risk ploy: Semi Radradra.
High-risk ploy: Semi Radradra. Photo: Getty Images
Unless he withdraws his application before it is formally approved within coming days, the Parramatta winger will also be ineligible to play for Fiji again until December 2, 2017 - the day after the World Cup final.

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Without playing Origin, the closest he may get to the tournament is as a spectator as no player has regularly held down a place in the Australian team without playing in the interstate series.

The 23-year-old's decision has stunned many in the game as there was no need for him to make such an important decision about his international future at this time.

The Kangaroos had not been pursuing the Eels star and he has now put new Australian coach Mal Meninga in the difficult position of having to decide whether to pick him for the upcoming trans-Tasman Test against New Zealand in Newcastle on May 6.

Boyd has been a regular on the left wing for the Kangaroos since 2008 and has scored 13 tries in 17 Tests playing mainly outside Greg Inglis.

South Sydney's Alex Johnston played on the left wing in Boyd's absence during Australia's only Test appearance last year, while Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou deputised for him in 2014. Melbourne's Will Chambers has played on the left wing for Queensland and is another option but he will probably be selected at left centre, with Inglis expected to move to fullback to replace the injured Billy Slater.

Chambers and Boyd are expected to form the left-side combination for the Maroons in this year's Origin series, with Inglis at fullback.

Radrada is ineligible to play for NSW as he was born and raised in Fiji and only moved to Australia in 2012 after being signed by the Eels.

Under State of Origin rules, a player must have resided in the state he plays for before the age of 13.

Players can receive $90,000 if they play all three Origins but Radrada would still be able to earn up to $160,000 in the next two years if he represented Australia in every Test, the end of season Four Nations and 2017 World Cup.

Australian players are paid $20,000 per Test and $50,000 for the Four Nations and World Cup, provided they win. The Kangaroos receive $30,000 for each tournament, and $10,000 for making the final and a $10,000 bonus if they win.

However, without playing Origin, Radrada would need to be in top form for Parramatta in the finals to force his way into the Australian squad for the October 15 Test in Perth and the Four Nations tournament in Britain.

Radrada, who has played four Tests for Fiji, became an Australian citizen in January and has been making noises about wanting to play Origin but by changing his Test allegiances without an indication of whether he would be selected by Meninga he may not play representative football again until 2018.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-australia-20160401-gnvzez.html#ixzz44XqdtbnO
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

 

[Basil Brush]

I have to agree that i am not sure why Radradra did it now unless he had assurances he would get picked for Aus

Surely play for Fiji in the world cup and sort it out next year.

However he is also the best winger currently in the game so i hope he does get selected.

 

[Gronk]

I have to agree that i am not sure why Radradra did it now unless he had assurances he would get picked for Aus

Surely play for Fiji in the world cup and sort it out next year.

However he is also the best winger currently in the game so i hope he does get selected.

He's backing himself.

 

[BoneyBlake17]

Seeing as he has done the paperwork and can know only play for australia till the end of next world cup. I hope he gets picked as it will help his pay packet as well and help further improve his game as well

 

[Gronk]

IIRC the last WC allowed players aligned to Oz or NZ to play for minnow countries without it effecting their long term eligibility. Refer Hayne.

Is the writer SURE that Semi will be ineligible to play for Fiji in the WC if he is not picked to play for the Kangaroos ?

 

[phantom eel]

Good point, once the Kangaroo, Kiwi and England squads are picked then in past world cups everyone tried to play for any country that their grandfather had been born in or visited....

I thought players were allowed to nominate a secodnary country of alignment (regardless of citizenship), and if not selected by the "senior" country, their eligibility for the secondary country (in Semi's case, surely Fiji) stands?

 

[Dibs]

I have a feeling they changed the rule. However they would be stupid to have a rule where a player of quality like Semi is not involved in the World Cup if not picked for Australia. Surely you want the best players playing. Seriously though Semi should be a walk up start for any team he is available to play for.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

. Eels chairman Steve Sharp has spent the past month trying to find refuge from the relentless storm caused by vicious salary cap leaks.

But there’s no hiding from discomfort whenever he crosses paths with hooker Nathan Peats.

The feisty rake is no fan of Sharp and has even gone to the extent of refusing to acknowledge him or shake his hand.

So what’s the source of Peats’ angst? An unpaid third party deal? Not at all... Peats is filthy with Sharp after learning the chairman had been telling others he was a “reserve grade” standard player who wasn’t worth the money Parramatta had shelled-out to recruit him from Souths two years ago.

. One of our favourite big men is Eels wrecking ball, Junior Paulo.

Ultra damaging in short bursts, the Canberra-bound bookend is now causing havoc for up to 60 minutes a weekend as a result of Parramatta’s vastly improved fitness regime.

But unfortunately his early-season momentum could be doused next week.

Paulo will face Parramatta Court on Monday on charges related to alleged road rage incident on the side of the M4 last October.

Police originally charged him with common assault, recklessly damaging property and menacing driving.

Paulo has pleaded not guilty and his counsel is confident. But if he’s unsuccessful, the NRL Integrity Unit is likely to issue a playing ban that could extend for several weeks.

With Tim Mannah (shoulder) sidelined for another fortnight, Parramatta can ill-afford to lose Paulo for any period of time.

http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sp...nd-seven-featuring-josh-massoud-and-liam-cox/

 

[^b0ss^]

gezz that couldnt hurt us ...forgot about the court case with jrn.

 

[phantom eel]

If he knows he's going down (and will miss time via integrity suspension), I hope Junior smashes some Manly forward tonight and cops a simultaneous judiciary spell instead, to make it more worthwhile?

 

[Chipmunk]

Was Jennings not found guilty of something in the off season? I note that there was no punishment for the at-the-time Roosters player.