Redneck Redfaces

[POPEYE]

Great game of footy except for allowing the sissy Taufua try, but that's nitpicking in the scheme of things, obstinancy always deserves to win over stupidity and Manly once again reinforced their legendary status. The Lyon King shaking off injury was the pivotal moment in the game for me, he leaves the field Manly exit the mardis gras.

Everything the Seagles do from here is just icing on the cake, even a flogging by Souths wouldn't detract from a potency set in stone. I've given up hating this mob for ancient inflictions, the current players are only following a path decreed by expectation and anyone who doesn't want their team to emulate Manly's dedication is delusional.

If you need an example of how a player can be embraced by the type of cult Manly religiously embody take note of Justin Horo, yet another Parramatta Gaol escapee who has found salvation. There must be many players out there who are running on low octane waiting to be fuelled by the desire the Seagles produce in bucket loads

 

[POPEYE]

Hate it when the vibes tell me one thing and I cross my fingers for something else, the Storm have been on borrowed time since Origin and who better to despatch them than Bennett. Not his fault that it's taken so long for the Knights to stand up and be counted but as I've said before if he gets a sniff of a gf look out.

Benny now has to get his mob up again and it's not that easy, but while there's life there's hope. At least their memory will be fresh and like the old Rawhide he may keep them 'rollin rollin'. Watching him in the coach's box imo he can't keep up the supercoach role much longer . . . good luck to him in what I think may be his last hurrah

 

[POPEYE]

I'll steer clear of the media today as I usually do when Melbourne lose a game, don't need any unpleasant reminders so soon, having said that I didn't see the Storm lose last night, I saw the Knights win. Had Manly been beaten by the Sharks they too would have lost and Cronulla wouldn't have been credited with winning but that's par for the course for the terrible twins.

Warriors created the recipe and Benny cooked up a broth for the Storm, causing fluster the only way to win in Mexico and not an easy accomplishment. Against Melbourne a late second try in the first half is almost a pre-requisite to rattle their cage and even though they lost a key forward they were never going to be let off the hook by Newcastle.

Bennett won the game by matching Bellamy's half time, something a coach needs to do to be great, what happens after that is in the lap of the footy gods and as predicted Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott took no prisoners which was the catalyst for the Newcastle forwards to dominate.

Melbourne rarely lose, they have to get beaten and the Knights thoroughly deserve accollades, I feel sorry for the wankers that ignore great footy and rejoice in the opposite

 

[Big Tim]

Loving this finals caper Pops.... been about 12 years since I really cared for this time of year.

There is some good footy being played. Maybe I have been missing out all these years?

 

[POPEYE]

Helps when you follow a team that is keeping supporters proud but it's not sanctimonious if you become a Rugby League supporter and keep both eyes open, look forward to every game and appreciate the efforts of players other than your own. One eyed supporters are only punishing themselves.

F**king corny it may be but by maintaining a simple view of a simple game the more rewarding it is. Ad nauseum but the fact remains people should appreciate that every player in the NRL has to be special to be there in the first place. I like to think discrepancies are caused by players in the wrong position, hampered by injuries or just poorly managed.

It's self inflicted punishment to go 12 years without enjoying all the game has to offer, like marrying in the hope she'll put out once in a while, f**k that, knockbacks are not on my scoresheet. Difference between your mob and mine was application, both coached adequately and the pinkies had minimal input, helps eradicate depression when the best team on the day wins . . . always another good game around the corner.

For instance, I'm looking forward to following the Eels next year if their management think carefully about appointments and don't waste opportunities to nurture players. Winning and losing is about effort and any club that makes an effort has my attention. Fmd, I bet you feel warm all over now reading this, too long between good games this time of year

 

[POPEYE]

Have to admit I was wrong about Mason to a large extent, still think he is just an average forward but I underestimated his value as a PR exponent. Stories circulating now how Benny resurrected his career and Willie paid him back by uniting the team are only part of the equation. More to the point is Benny was at his wits end trying to undo the undoable.

He had an icon in Gidley which to his way of thinking was far from iconic, an injury prone local hero that he secretly wanted to keep off the field. Benny needed Mason imo along with Buderus to circumvent adverse reaction from supporters who see Gidley through rose coloured glasses.

Bennett has finally returned to his comfort zone, albeit maybe a little late for this year but maybe we'll see colour back in his cheeks in '14. Mason has progressed from bravado to benevolence, his token appearances on the field far outweighed by his ability to inspire

 

[POPEYE]

Not in a position to do either but if I was given a choice to attend training sessions or games between the remaining teams I wouldn't hesitate taking the former option. I would rather witness what the coaches have control of than the game itself, a formality for all to see and open to mindless comprehension and doubtful scrutiny.

There is no forgiveness in possibly the last game of the year for any team and as it stands now 2 teams just have to reinforce the wall and the other 2 will be looking for a breach. That said my first choice would be Manly/Newcastle training sessions, both teams have added someone new and possibly more potent than the previous week and have coaches familiar with the process.

Whereas Maguire and Robbinson only need to reproduce their team's best efforts to win comfortably, the saying of it is easier than the doing, at least the players can look back at many precedents set throughout the year.

Tantalising though what Bennett and Toovey are going to come up with, no doubt whatever it is they will win if the teams follow the plan to the letter, they have the advantage of what will have to be surprise over Madge and Robbo. Bearing in mind that all four coaches, I think Toovey's now on the verge of greatness, will be planning two 40 minute games each.

After the training sessions my next favourite place to be would be in the sheds at half time providing every player in all sides has followed instructions and what has happened in the first half has been of little consequence. The actual sitting on my arse with a beer in front of the tele watching the result just a formality

 

[POPEYE]

As usual I agree with most Sterling has to say and he is bemused and clearly upset that rulings are becoming so pedantic that what is obvious is being overlooked. The video ref was put into place to simplify not confuse, so instead of 6 mistakes we now have a half dozen . . . f**ked up by science instead of ineptitude.

The Taufua try that Sterling said wasn't a try would have been a try if slow motion wasn't allowed. He deserved a try for his effort and the fanny hair difference wouldn't have been noted in fast motion and Peter and the rest of us wouldn't know we should be angry.

Video refereeing is being used for the right reason but by the wrong method. The sooner a replay in normal speed becomes sufficient the sooner referees, supporters and the game itself will return to being a game and not an inquisition

 

[Cloudsurfer]

As usual I agree with most Sterling has to say and he is bemused and clearly upset that rulings are becoming so pedantic that what is obvious is being overlooked. The video ref was put into place to simplify not confuse, so instead of 6 mistakes we now have a half dozen . . . f**ked up by science instead of ineptitude.

The Taufua try that Sterling said wasn't a try would have been a try if slow motion wasn't allowed. He deserved a try for his effort and the fanny hair difference wouldn't have been noted in fast motion and Peter and the rest of us wouldn't know we should be angry.

Video refereeing is being used for the right reason but by the wrong method. The sooner a replay in normal speed becomes sufficient the sooner referees, supporters and the game itself will return to being a game and not an inquisition

it is 6 of one & 1/2 doz of the other. If he deserves a try for his effort so too does the try-saver who needs just as much athleticism and effort to save the try... the video ref in slow motion means we see the good and bad of those efforts.
In a few instances unfortunately they don't/can't get it right because of how it comes to them from the on-field ref. In cases where he can't say for sure the on-field ref should be ruling he couldn't see or no-try and the video ref has benefit of the doubt as a last resort. Most of us could live with that.
To do anything else in those circumstances is a means to manipulate what the video ref can or cannot prove...

 

[POPEYE]

The best way not to trivialise what happens in the act of scoring a try is to make a fine line broader. The video ref should only be allowed to see the game at the same speed the referee and the spectators do, the only time video is needed is when the referee is blindsided and hasn't sufficient information.

There is no need for the ref to signal anything except that he wasn't in a position to adjudicate. All is needed is a separate set of eyes which in essence is the camera best positioned. Not even a stop frame should be allowed, just an opinion from the video ref what he would have whistled had he been standing in that camera's position.

In the case of the Tafua try I doubt had the ref been laying down with his face 1 metre away from the corner would he have noticed at normal speed the ball losing contact. As it stands now I'm sure most League devotees know, only because of slow motion, that it was no try and what's worse believe it was a square up for the Cowboys being robbed.

We need only to go to bed thinking we saw a game that was fair, the more of us that are not convinced of that the more damage the game will suffer . . . next thing we'll have the entire in-goal cover by a sensor pad that reacts to a special ball contacting it.

 

[POPEYE]

I am one who purposely avoids commenting on most anything that doesn't actually concern playing the game, especially misdemeanors players get up to away from the field, far too much interest in the game itself to let any of that boys will be boys stuff interfer. The ASADA shit is as unfortunate as an earthquake, the ramifications of which are out of my control so therefore out of mind.

As far as I'm concerned all players chosen to play in the WC should be tested before the event and once given the all clear nothing can remove them from it other than an unfortunate real time occurence. I doubt ElephantJuice has any real residual affect, not so sure that the Poms won't claim it does and make a lillywhite fuss about it.

If any player in the WC is proven to have been a naughty boy by ASADA let any punishment be directed at him afterwards. Why the game itself needs to be turned into a shitfight to prove a point is beyond me and Sheens is right when he says the Poms won't miss a trick.

There are two things that can salvage the game from probably the broadest worse f**king year since SL, one of them being the remaining finals games being decided by the players alone and the other a World Cup that is an untainted showcase. It must be known by everyone that there is no room for disenfranchisement and other codes hoping to make mileage from it can go f**k themselves.

 

[woodyk2]

Convenient Newcastle fans get plenty of time to get to their semi yet Manly fans don't? How about Saturday and sunday prelims?

 

[POPEYE]

Convenient Newcastle fans get plenty of time to get to their semi yet Manly fans don't? How about Saturday and sunday prelims?

Conspiracy you think? Sympathise but no-one's going to argue with TV planning, like trying to convince the oil companies they should think of the public. If the NRL knew Manly were going to be one game away from a gf long ago they would have tried to make it even harder, the Seagles the last team most want to see doing a victory lap.

You know I'm in favour of two separate competitions, one the Shield and the other a knockout Cup, these finals weekends could easily be replaced with more games, more hoopla and more profit. So, unfortunately I relish the thought of the NRL once more shooting themselves in the foot, serves them right, premature ejaculation with idle days when a firebreathing climax could have been

 

[woodyk2]

Nah not really saying its a conspiracy its just bloody stupid.

 

[Big Tim]

Convenient Newcastle fans get plenty of time to get to their semi yet Manly fans don't? How about Saturday and sunday prelims?

The NRL knows who will turn up for games, and who dont leave home. Not that we are into conspiracies in NSW......

@NRL 8m Ticket sales for #NRLFinals: FRI: @SSFCRABBITOHS 76% v @manlyseaeagles 24% | SAT: @sydneyroosters 53% v @NRLKnights 47% |
Newcastle fans.

Newcastle fans.

Woody, being a Newie resident, I know you are making the trip today. You could teach something to your Eagle brethren.

 

[POPEYE]

Hindsight makes Einstein of us all but logically Souths were the underdogs with the only player who knows how to win gf's caged in the backyard waiting for someone to keep opening the door. Issac Luke switching off coincided with Manly getting some ball and the Rabbitohs falling into the inevitable void caused by inactivity.

Manly were only ever going to lose if they were to be run over by a steamroller and the real surprise of the game was how effective their own steamroller was. Except for Inglis, who is probably only a sparrow fart more effective than Stewart, the Seagle backline was always going to be superior but their forwards were superb . . . some rejects, some moving on, all exceptional. They easily matched the only advantage Souths were deemed to offer.

Could be that all along a yellow jacketed Toovey was the reason behind Hasler's success and the little bloke who won't be hobbled will have little trouble maintaining the future fury, he has not been outclassed by any coach this year.

The effort of the Rabbitohs epitomised a day for Maguire that he wished never happened with the loss of his mother, condolences to him. He needs a Jeremy or Cam to keep his team in perspective if next year is going to improve, he needs a head on the field to match Manly's Lyon.

Speaking of whom, still a greater centre than Inglis ever was because he finds a way while Greg can only wait for one. The man is every bit as valuable as Bozo was, no-one's immortal but he will become a legend at Brookvale . . . age doesn't seem to weary him

Just to add, I haven't bothered reading arsewipes or listening to commentary and I can imagine the lol f**kwits on this forum will join in bagging Souths . . . still finished not far away from the cup again which is better than the underachievers

 

[POPEYE]

We'll hear from f**king wankers how the Roosters are about to buy a premiership, when 'buying' is really poaching from another club that desperately wanted to keep a player, Maloney imo the only player in that category. Dopes will tell us of a lack of local juniors when no-one 'owns' juniors, only debutantes.

Manly we'll be told are a team that is brainwashed into a cult that like religion needs no substantiated leader, to anyone level headed just a bullshit fantasy. Players at Brookvale need to be practiced just the same as all teams do.

For someone who espouses the value of introducing new coaching this year has turned from ordinary to great for me, two virgin NRL head coaches facing each other must be a milestone surely. Neither would have been expected to be in this position at season start. Both clubs were coached to where they are imo and whatever happens we'll have two burgeoning supercoaches

 

[afinalsin666]

That was a good one pops. Didn't even click that both are going in without winning one. You'd think it would have been played up in the media by now.

 

[POPEYE]

Only because the best team of the year, already decided imo, should be called 'Premiers', the Roosters should win the gf. Let's see if the coaches are to be denied equal opportunity to make history if Stewart is banned.

The only reason for that can be a desire by the NRL to see a new face holding the cup . . . any other than Manly/Melbourne. Hope they realise by handicapping one team the judiciary will turn a f**ked year off the field into a cataclysmic one for Rugby League

 

[Big Tim]

Pops, willing to consider that Buderus was/is the most important player for Newcastle?

We have been trying to keep it under raps all season, but we are a different team when he is on the field.

Jezza does some incredible things, but Buderus inspires with his presence.

A sad way for a great career to end, but completely fits his character.