Redneck Redfaces 2

[Jason Maher]

I think you're underestimating just how lowly esteemed Mary is by most Dragons fans. The only thing that will keep the cries for his head at bay is continuing to win. Drop a couple of games, it will all start up again. He has no hope of ever being given the benefit of the doubt by most of them, for he has committed the unpardonable sin of being a Steeler.

All moot now, given the absolute basket case Manly have decided to turn themselves into. I can't see Toovey surviving. If he doesn't get the chop, I can see him walking. And I wouldn't blame him one bit if he did.

 

[POPEYE]

I'm not a great fan of fans, players and especially coaches are all that interest me. Fans like footy shows, media and administration are a f**king necessary evil, the only thing I'm a fan of is Rugby League. I know there are two distinct spheres of interest, players/coaches and everybody else, I don't give a shit about everybody else and players/coaches know who is worthy of staying

 

[POPEYE]

Had a touch of Origin about it, the mob from Qld walking out like their shit doesn't stink, evidently confident that they are now a group not just back ups for Thurston and how good is it not to see the great man in a state of flux

A professional albeit fragile fullback, a dummy half that no other can catch and seems to know where to pass, a smart strong 5/8 and the best half of all time, which I think I heard Chimpy Johns say as I returned from a piss to put on a movie. Top that all off with forwards who have removed thumbs from arses and you have the new Cowboys

Watching Green and Cartwright chatting away in the box I hoped they were discussing injury management, something neither the Cowboys or Titans have been renowned for. If the mob from NQ can keep this spine together the sky's the limit, there is no other top echelon team that looks this stable atm

Almost forgot, it's good to see in the last couple of days that it appears referees have been told to limit penalties, now all that remains is for the blokes officiating to get it right

 

[POPEYE]

This is about the use by date for teams that are not cohesive, the glue that holds together their finals chances should be set by now. Points on the table doesn't matter but having the objective in sight certainly does and it's good to see more teams than most imagined a few weeks ago are ready to give it a shake

Normally a Dogs/Seagles game would mean a no holds barred top of the table clash, losing would matter because of prestige not survival. Imo it's still far too early to write either off because of the jersey they wear, high flyers will be looking over their shoulders for these two at season's end but this game also holds a lot of significance not in the winning but how it is orchestrated

Who thought they'd be looking at where the Dragons/Broncos game was being played as though it would make a difference, fmd, 'will Benny's mob be able to penetrate Mary's mob' is like wondering if Jack can cut down the beanstalk before the giant catches up . . . who needs fairy tales when we have League. Only spoiler is Frizell's try stopping defence will be sorely missed

Titans/Panthers will be akin to opening a lid, smelling the contents and then checking the use by date. Imagining it should be alright once both have the right ingredients on display is wishful thinking, imo it's doubtful cohesion against doubtful injury management . . . nothing that can't be fixed but when

We all should be whinging about the unfairness of one NRL club having the resources of an entire nation, a nation that is definitely the best at Union and recorded as the best at League . . . thank f**k all teams have access to Warrior 'juniors'. Instead, most of us have a soft spot for the mob across the ditch and would like to see them drink from the cup. Can't see the Cowboys allowing them to quench their thirst

If the Storm were meeting the Roosters in Sydney I'd be worried, more worried than I am now that Robbo's mob are overdue for a statement. Melbourne have proven teams make their own luck, some of it bad, the Roosters' losses are mostly due to a roll of the dice and Aami is not the foreboding joint it was when the Big 3 were little . . . this game was deserving of a full strength confrontation

Tigers/Raiders should be a cracker if Sticky can prove he's found a way to again impress us with his half time, at least we hope that was the reason his mob were 'the best team beaten' last week. Taylor has little trouble analysing the game after 40 and correcting mistakes, no tears or begging in the Tigers' shed. Both rosters are good enough and on par so let's hope we're not subjected to another Sticky pathetic post match conference

Both the Knights and Eels were full of promise, the latter more recently, but imo they are hampered by some bad choices that are said to be unavoidable. The Eels have a halves pairing similar to the Warriors in results, far too unpredictable. Stone is proving to be unbendable not just in name . . . why the f**k is he persevering with Gidley who should be well on his way to becoming Man Of Steel while the best Mata'utia languishes . . . what is it that we don't know

Monday night, as a rule the most unpredictable game of the week and my favourite, has Souths with much face to lose against the Sharks with nothing to lose. Wouldn't be so ironic if Cronulla didn't look like they're capable of upsetting any team, especially as they have on display the new super 5/8 being groomed for poaching . . . c'mon Smithy, show some balls and save the plodders from remaining plodders

 

[expert]

Had a touch of Origin about it, the mob from Qld walking out like their shit doesn't stink, evidently confident that they are now a group not just back ups for Thurston and how good is it not to see the great man in a state of flux

A professional albeit fragile fullback, a dummy half that no other can catch and seems to know where to pass, a smart strong 5/8 and the best half of all time, which I think I heard Chimpy Johns say as I returned from a piss to put on a movie. Top that all off with forwards who have removed thumbs from arses and you have the new Cowboys

Watching Green and Cartwright chatting away in the box I hoped they were discussing injury management, something neither the Cowboys or Titans have been renowned for. If the mob from NQ can keep this spine together the sky's the limit, there is no other top echelon team that looks this stable atm

Almost forgot, it's good to see in the last couple of days that it appears referees have been told to limit penalties, now all that remains is for the blokes officiating to get it right

If the NQ Roosters believe enough, I think they can go all the way...

 

[POPEYE]

Fifita challenging the severity of his suspension and getting it downgraded was more important than having him available to play sooner, it shows a dedication some of us are worried is disappearing. So easy for players now to be paid and finding ways not to earn it

The game is getting faster on the field and as a result much more demanding on the training paddock, players that are more fragile or concerned they can't replicate week after week can find ways of 'resting' themselves. I'm an advocate for less interchange only because it's unfair having 80 minute players being bashed out of the game by 15 minute players . . . but that's another story

If a big man like Fifita who was embroiled in a big money shitfight for his services starts to fear his form is dropping off all he has to do drop someone on their head and voila . . . instant time off. If a player with a one speed gearbox who is expected to work miracles is feeling out of sorts all he has to do is put himself in a position where he knows he will be damaged

Any little bloke who's getting tired of being run over by fresh forwards only has to stagger and purposely fail a concussion test. Anyone, big or small, who wants a rest can fail a concussion test with impunity from blame. When a sport becomes an increasingly demanding job with a short tenure players can find ways of extending longevity and manipulating their worthiness

 

[Jason Maher]

I presume you'd favour the mooted drop to 6 interchanges next year (i.e. the system that worked well before Superjoke)?

 

[POPEYE]

Of course, I've been a protagonist in my own little world for years. Nothing racial of course but I'd like more surnames easier for me to pronounce playing the game, more players with stamina, the wiry indefatigable type that have to be dragged kicking and screaming from the field . . . not those 15 minute f**king wonders who make a run forward and then to the sideline.

Hang on a minute, that's a bit hypocritical, Tawera Nikau is my 'most heroic player' of all time . . . but you know what I mean. I like players that leave the field when the job at hand is done or they have no choice, give me a Lazarus any day over a Kasiano, a Ronny Gibbs over a Pritchard, any #9 who can play 80 and tackle 50

There is a f**king fly in the ointment however, I have put forward many reasons in the past why I want 6 interchanges but as I was alluding to in my last post there are evil machinations to contend with, the concussion rule is going to leave itself open to all sorts of connotations. Not only will players become accustomed to be affected by concussion they will attempt to cause it.

So, there must be some way to have 6 interchanges in normal circumstances yet find a way to circumvent skulduggery which as sure as shit will become as prevalent as 'wrestling' was

 

[POPEYE]

Women crying, kids jumping up and down and men cheering, half time in the Wigan/Warrington game and a major announcement has Sam Tomkins returning to the Cherry Whites next year . . . you'd think the crowd were an Ellen DeGeneres audience

Good way to start the day watching a superb refereeing performance from Mr Silverwood, defence in the game isn't anywhere near as effective as here but you can put that down a lot to the teams being kept 10 metres apart. Catch a replay later if you want to see how the game should be refereed, video not used once for anything in the first half and there's lots of tries

I should be talking about this game in another part of the forum but imo Australian referees should be made to watch Silverwood, if there are any reading this you should be f**king ashamed that a Pom has you beaten hands down

 

[POPEYE]

Pity the press conferences are so amateurish, especially when coaches are fined if they don't attend, akin in this age of technology to sitting through an ancient Flash Gordon movie where the spaceships had sparklers for propulsion.

Benny gave all the necessary reasons why both sides were scrappy, not as scrappy as the f**kwit sliding mobile phones under Hodges' nose, can't blame him for mumbling answers to questions you can't hear. Could be a godsend not being able to hear dopey questions from Weidler and his like but fmd how can the NRL expect to be taken seriously . . . maybe they too think the interviewers don't deserve microphones

Naturally I didn't watch the second game, not being live I couldn't wave my jinxing wand at the Dogs, Toovey didn't seem too upset and Hasler seemed relieved, both have reasonable excuses not to be axed in print by morons who prefer bad news over Rugby League.

I was impressed by the Dragons, they are candidates for a Marvel comics movie, the coach explaining away a lacklustre performance in attack and defending tries scored against because his key defender was suspended. Only injuries and complacency will prevent Mary from rubbing the noses of those who weren't prepared to let him prove himself in the verbal diarrhea they wallow in

Best effort of the night goes to Mary, trying to hold a straight face amid such trivial attempts by the media and NRL to promote the game when all he wanted to do was scream 'you f**king beauty'

 

[POPEYE]

I wouldn't have minded the Storm losing by less than 3 but a win was a bonus, didn't think they'd get over the Roosters but the vibes weren't wrong, Melbourne had the luck on their side.

Had a giggle with Klein's 8 point try attempt, he hasn't forgotten Bellamy gave him a holiday. He gave penalties to both sides that weren't warranted, same as the Titans/Panthers where there were unnecessary penalties . . . Big Nose and Garden Gnome are twice as bad when together

Had to feel for the Warriors, the vibes had them losing from the start knowing how well the Cowboys finish a game. Imo a lot of the errors in the Warriors could be cut out if their players weren't so f**king greedy, many times they look to pass when it's too late

 

[POPEYE]

I've been pulling the chains of toilet brained wankers in another thread, some saying it's 'lucky' Bellamy has the use of the big 3 to keep Melbourne alive, all because the Roosters were beaten on a rainy night by one point. I'm inviting discussion, exchanges or confrontation on the subject . . . whatever tickles your fancy

As a prelude let me say that there are thousands of young blokes out there wanting to play NRL standard Rugby League, most of them live in heartland population areas but there could even be one in Timbuktu. There has to be many potentially great players amongst them and great players are sought after by all clubs

Great players however are not the most valuable asset a club can have, someone to teach those players how to become great is the hardest acquisition and that someone is the most valuable asset. Trent Robinson didn't need SBW, Maloney or Jennings to win a cup, he's capable of taking raw talent and moulding it the same way Bellamy, Hasler, Maguire, Bennett and hopefully McGregor and others will be

If Robbo attuned himself to not taking poached 'presents' from Uncle Nick he would need only time to do what he's doing now, evidenced by saving Pearce's career, teaching players how to play the game. Players like Slater, Smith and Cronk could just as easily be wearing Roosters jerseys if Robbo had of been around and risked them as novices

Not only does Bellamy not poach proven NRL players, he doesn't want to get involved with the egos of 'juniors' other clubs are clambering after, he wants players that sit up and beg for attention like new puppies that he doesn't want to learn bad habits. Melbourne are continually trialling youngsters from all over Aust/NZ, every other club has exactly the same opportunity . . . to say 'luck' is involved with the finished product is naïve bullshit

The Roosters in fact have probably introduced as many if not more players to the top grade than any club, if they continue to do so and keep Robbo they won't need to take players from clubs that deserve to keep them, just as clubs don't deserve to have Roosters' one club players. Bellamy goes a step further by not accepting players other coaches need, probably because he wants to prove how good he is, which is there for all to see by the players he 'saves' and the many he's produced that wankers want to disregard

Bellamy's 'luck' has nothing to do with tutoring most of the Kiwis long minute forwards in how to beat Australia, the nucleus of the Qld Origin or Australian team and he certainly had no luck keeping what he produces cost free due to jealousy. Robbo is not doing what he's doing because he's lucky to have the juniors he's promoting to top grade . . . luck has sweet f**k all to do with it

So, arm yourself f**kwits, lets have at it, I'll argue to the cows come home that what Melbourne do is far better than stealing from supporters of other teams

 

[expert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lNYcviXK4rg wait for the piano part..

 

[POPEYE]

Still waiting for those bunnies, . . . do I have to come shoot them myself

 

[POPEYE]

If anyone only watches top echelon Rugby League, never gets to any Group 10 or 11 games, imagine a repetition of the Knights/Eels game on grounds west of the Blueys and that's what you get. Much like grown up U/20's games where everyone just keeps on keeping on and they know it won't be long before someone scores

Great to watch, good day out for the kids if your mob wins and there's always tomorrow if they lose . . . it's only a game after all. Problem with yesterday at Newcastle is these blokes are getting paid to offer more than that. Both teams are devoid of strong leadership on the field, neither look comfortable in their own 20 and there is no sign of IQ anywhere

The Leichhardt game was a breath of fresh air, my man of the match was Kurt Baptiste, simply because we didn't have to endure McCrone filling in while the good dummy half was resting. My missus reckons it's because a beard and shaved head is all my mirror offers but I reckon the little bloke did a great job not only keeping the fire lit but throwing petrol on it

I haven't yet been game enough to watch the Sticky presser, the way the Raiders stood up isn't deserving of tears, impressing the way they played . . . out of interest I must research who is on the Canberra coach staff

 

[POPEYE]

Well well, what have we got in the wash up, a term never more appropriate for this round of footy. Browsing the thread titles without delving into content sees many rocks turned over after a round of survival of the fittest and fortunes of the brave . . . think I'll keep away from the incriminations

Suffice it to say we have a ladder that says Bellamy is the leading coach in the League, lost 1 game by a point and ripped off in another, McGregor could be better than anyone because he's running second with the crew of Battlestar Gallactica and Benny the cunning old prick knew what he was doing all along in a close third

Maguire, Hasler and Robbo I imagine are supposedly struggling with teams that are below par considering the troops they have while Cleary, McFadden, Stone and Taylor have thrown a shoe coming around the bend. Green, Flanagan, Stuart and Henry have become devil's advocates. Meanwhile Arthur is teaching dumb and Toovey is teaching dumber

All great theatre but in reality there are 15 teams in either 1st, 2nd or 3rd and the only no dividend so far is Toovey who is trying to coach with a knife in his back. So, for the time being I'll refrain from mixing it with the one eyed bandits on the forum and definitely give the NFI media a miss

 

[Jason Maher]

Picking the final top 8 right now would be a more fraught task than picking it before the season started.

 

[expert]

Picking the final top 8 right now would be a more fraught task than picking it before the season started.

Olive Oil wouldn't understand... The base line is infectious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iXBGr-U5PIs

 

[POPEYE]

Just as betting agencies who can't possibly lose count their fortunes on Tuesday mornings the other group who pretend to care about the game are beating the blue and maroon drums trying to sell advertising. For them the insidious Origin can't come soon enough, doesn't matter that most teams are trying to win a cup with their best players fit and healthy. Pity that Origin can't be played using the worst NRL players trying to see which team can win by the biggest score

The real job at hand has the Dogs trying to get their best team on the paddock, only injury, bad form or bad behaviour is keeping them from kicking arse. So, the Tigers must strike while the iron's hot and get back on the horse that just threw them, this game has a great deal riding on it, Tedesco better be wearing armour

Seems Nate Myles is important to the people that count in the game so he might step up a little more to prove his fellow players right, the Titans will need inspiration from somewhere to get over the Warriors . . . surely this mob will learn to play 2x40 minute games before the season ends

If I was a betting man the body language between Stone and Gidley at the presser would have had my money on Kurt not being able to play for some reason against the Cowboys. Come to think of it when NQ thrash the Knights as they should Stone can say enough is enough once and for all and it's off to SL for a #1 who has run out of super glue

Crikey, how would you like to be in Mary's shoes, couldn't face the Roosters at a worse time, if his mob get up in this game there may well be a statue outside WIN Stadium in it for him

Seagles don't have to beat Melbourne fair and square, they have to win any way they can or at least frighten the shit out of the team at the opposite end of the table . . . nothing else will suffice

The Eels are going to be canon fodder for the Broncos at Suncorp, from memory though blue and yellow is not a welcomed combination by Brisbane fans, stranger things have happened

Whodathought a settled Sharks would be playing a Panthers grasping at straws, only the bounce of the ball will save Penrith if form means anything.

I can't wait to see my man Baptiste come on against the Rabbitohs, let's hope his game against the Tigers wasn't just a casual epiphany. Like the Roosters their next door neighbours will be trying to climb from under the bridge. It'll be up to the unfashionable Austin to befuddle a Souths team looking for salvation . . . betting agencies will have the weather channel on

 

[POPEYE]

Crikey, I've lost a star, must have upset someone . . . how the f**k did I manage to do that

'The hunt is on for the first NRL Rookie' has to be worth at least 5 stars if you're a believer, far less than this thread is worth if you've an ounce of common sense. How does a champion League player go undiscovered before he's 20 if Rugby League wants to be the leading Australian sport.

Could be not enough clubs are looking hard enough before they begin poaching, heaven forbid, or there are some places that are not worth looking at even though most clubs are desperate for class players that can change a game.

If one or two exceptional players are found that have been overlooked it might call for rejoicing, if many are found it should be a cause for alarm. Imagine all those who worship the salary cap realising that there are players out there that could have boosted their team without the need for it . . . anyone who considers himself a great player and has waited 20 years to be discovered would play NRL for a bowl of rice