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New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

flippikat

First Grade
Messages
5,253
With AFB gone & the "Will he, won't he, is he fit enough?" saga around SJ resolved with his retirement, there's every chance if a bounce-back next season.

That's what I'm taking out of it.

Barring a torrent of injuries, we SHOULD be top 8 in 2025 at least.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,326
With AFB gone & the "Will he, won't he, is he fit enough?" saga around SJ resolved with his retirement, there's every chance if a bounce-back next season.

That's what I'm taking out of it.

Barring a torrent of injuries, we SHOULD be top 8 in 2025 at least.
If not Webster is gone
 

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,167
With AFB gone & the "Will he, won't he, is he fit enough?" saga around SJ resolved with his retirement, there's every chance if a bounce-back next season.

That's what I'm taking out of it.

Barring a torrent of injuries, we SHOULD be top 8 in 2025 at least.
The Cowboys went through a bad situation with Thurston playing a year too long and they lost Ponga as a result. There's nothing you can do if a great player is there like Johnson, even if he's going rubbish, you have to ride it out and then There's guys like AFB that's obviously interested in being some place else that you have to ride it out because even though he mostly just get the good ball after the hard work is done ( as a prop ffs) he has the masses convinced how good he is.
Webby has ridden it out and now there's no excuses, there's not one player who gets a spot on reputation. Every spot has to be earned every week.
As a squad I believe will be much stronger.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,326
The Cowboys went through a bad situation with Thurston playing a year too long and they lost Ponga as a result. There's nothing you can do if a great player is there like Johnson, even if he's going rubbish, you have to ride it out and then There's guys like AFB that's obviously interested in being some place else that you have to ride it out because even though he mostly just get the good ball after the hard work is done ( as a prop ffs) he has the masses convinced how good he is.
Webby has ridden it out and now there's no excuses, there's not one player who gets a spot on reputation. Every spot has to be earned every week.
As a squad I believe will be much stronger.
Think he’s playing rts at winger

Another mistake
 

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,167
He looked great at the start of the year

His first game at fullback he was leading the way and they looked good

when he went back to centre their attack went to crap
He doesn't get it. He doesn't know how to run at a hole, he wants the ball first. I'm even worried about him on the wing. Good fullback but also lack cohesion with the rest of the backline and on those shifts where a simple draw and pass or tap on might hinder the attack.
I'd play him at 14 with a roving role in the last 15 of each half.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,326
He doesn't get it. He doesn't know how to run at a hole, he wants the ball first. I'm even worried about him on the wing. Good fullback but also lack cohesion with the rest of the backline and on those shifts where a simple draw and pass or tap on might hinder the attack.
I'd play him at 14 with a roving role in the last 15 of each half.
He did seem to get slower over the season

dunno if that was just realising how poor they were
 

Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
870
If not Webster is gone
I think unless the wheel absolutely fall off he’s got a couple of years grace, we unfortunately have a rep for burning through coaches and will be looking at the longer game with Webster. We have been a bit to hasty on a couple of coaches in the past and it has burnt us eg Cleary & Bellamy
Managed to have a small chat with him a couple of weeks back and can definitely see what some see in him, he has a calm confident demeanour about him and comes across very personable yet straight honesty as well. It was just a short encounter but it definitely sold me a bit more on him. But also get in this business all that matters is the results at the end of the day.
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
6,645
When’s the last time Tonga or Samoa actually played at home? How many of either team have ever played rugby league in either place at any age?
It's probably not viable to play there honestly. Also, with the populations the islands have it's probably not realistic to ever expect many NRL players born in the islands. Some, with time, sure, but like Union, it's never going to be the whole team, but that doesn't matter. There are heaps of Tongan and Samoans born in Aus & NZ. They are in elite systems, they identify with and want to represent their culture and they are embraced by the people back in Tonga and Samoa when they play.
 

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,167
It's probably not viable to play there honestly. Also, with the populations the islands have it's probably not realistic to ever expect many NRL players born in the islands. Some, with time, sure, but like Union, it's never going to be the whole team, but that doesn't matter. There are heaps of Tongan and Samoans born in Aus & NZ. They are in elite systems, they identify with and want to represent their culture and they are embraced by the people back in Tonga and Samoa when they play.
You do realise that you're responding to someone who lives in Perth and from Hull that can't see any positives in the game outside those places?
For future reference*
 

Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
870
Think he’s playing rts at winger

Another mistake
Yeah he’s certainly not a centre and he was also pretty average on the wing when he went there in his last season before Union to accomodate Walsh. Problem is we need to fit Tuaupiki in the team somewhere which will probably be fullback and CNK is a better center so looks like RTS wing, particularly with Montoya leaving he’s certainly better than Kosi
 
Messages
794
Yeah he’s certainly not a centre and he was also pretty average on the wing when he went there in his last season before Union to accomodate Walsh. Problem is we need to fit Tuaupiki in the team somewhere which will probably be fullback and CNK is a better center so looks like RTS wing, particularly with Montoya leaving he’s certainly better than Kosi
I reckon RTS has been shafted this year TBH. Agree he hasn't performed as a centre, but he was never given an opportunity to settle into the gig and learn it properly.

Compare him to Meaney who spent last year as a FB, shifted to centre this year, was left there to learn the ropes even when injuries occurred in other spots he could've easily filled, and has subsequently turned into one of the better centres in the comp.

I like Webby and still trust him to turn us around next season, but the way he and his coaches handled Roger is a real sore spot for me.
 

Maximus

Coach
Messages
13,788
Bumping all these previous comments would be hella funny

ie sky are going to cut the nz tv deal
Chch is no chance at a second team
Rl juniors are collapsing
Warriors crowds will fall if they don’t make the finals

comedy gold

Kinda like union moving a game is proof that rugby league has taken over NZ, but no comment about the NRL doing the same with afl in Sydney.
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
6,645
I like how the Storm have shifted from recruiting Queenslanders now that the Dolphins are in, to focus more on recruiting Kiwis, good adapting from them. Hopefully as NZ2 take a bite out of their ability to sign Kiwis, the Victorian pipeline will be in full flow.
 

flippikat

First Grade
Messages
5,253
I like how the Storm have shifted from recruiting Queenslanders now that the Dolphins are in, to focus more on recruiting Kiwis, good adapting from them. Hopefully as NZ2 take a bite out of their ability to sign Kiwis, the Victorian pipeline will be in full flow.
is NZ 2 still the favourite for team 20?

I have to say, I'm a bit worried that the NRL will take the "easy" option and just cave to Brisbane Easts or (hot off the heels of a Perth Bears decision) - double down on that appeal-to-nostalgia-meets-fresh-territory vibe with that Ipswich/Newtown hybrid.

Did I say a bit worried? I meant really freaking anxious.

It's likely a loooong time till we go to teams 21 and 22 - if ever, right?
 
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