Redneck Redfaces

[POPEYE]

Not sure Dean Ritchie would make a good movie buff or motel adjudicator. Maybe he means Cronulla's '5 star signings' are 5 out of ten',
but surely that would be a bit harsh. Can't be he thinks the players mentioned are equal to the best you can find . . . have to be careful
buying carpet from this bloke.

A mate and I got into some serious piss taking last night when he claimed SBW would set the Roosters on fire in '13. I reminded him that
the shoulder charge was outlawed so how was Sonny going to tackle. My mate said you learn to tackle without it in Union but good one
on one tackling in Union is as rare as hen's teeth so I'm not convinced.

In the same verbal barney I stood up for Adam Reynolds when I was outnumbered by taunts of 'second year syndrome' affecting him.
Imo he will get better, players that have difficulty trying to turn a great debut into a career are badly coached. Maguire will hopefully not
expect him to carry the team and will find a 5/8 more in tune with the lad's talent.

 

[Señor]

Not sure Dean Ritchie would make a good movie buff or motel adjudicator. Maybe he means Cronulla's '5 star signings' are 5 out of ten',
but surely that would be a bit harsh. Can't be he thinks the players mentioned are equal to the best you can find . . . have to be careful
buying carpet from this bloke.

Well Flanagan/Ritchie also described Pomeroy and Wright as a "formidable centre combination" so I think out in Cronulla they just have a unique way of rating players.

 

[POPEYE]

Well Flanagan/Ritchie also described Pomeroy and Wright as a "formidable centre combination" so I think out in Cronulla they just have a unique way of rating players.

Senor ol' mate . . . long time no see. You should know I'm just taking the piss out of a dumb journo trying to conjure up something
to write about. I can't talk though, I'm having the same problem myself in the void between seasons. That other forum a bit quiet for you?

 

[Señor]

Senor ol' mate . . . long time no see. You should know I'm just taking the piss out of a dumb journo trying to conjure up something
to write about. I can't talk though, I'm having the same problem myself in the void between seasons. That other forum a bit quiet for you?

Yes, it gets a bit quiet over there during the offseason. I've been making do but there are very few Manly and Souths fans around there these days so it isn't quite as err ... lively as I would like. LU seems to have a lot of posters so I thought I'd see what it is like.

We only have to hold out a few more months before we can stop relying on filler material printed in the DT to entertain us.

 

[POPEYE]

My opinionated ramblings are tolerated here and I keep out of the way so as not to rock the boat. If action is what you want there's plenty to be had, especially for and against Souths.

 

[hardbaby]

lol@50(c)uffs

 

[POPEYE]

All players who actively participated in pay negotiations should be congratulated, not only for the outcome, more for the
precedent set whereby the ARLC and the RLPA are now officially on an equal footing. Any intimated threats by either side
were never taken seriously and were merely platforms. Well done all round.

Best thing about Parramatta Leagues Club in the early 80's were the hotdogs in the carpark after last drinks while watching
the fisticuffs, then off to War and Peace. Always was a shit of a joint and the incessant bickering at board level has never
really given the place a chance on or off the field. Maybe Eric Jnr can soothe the savage beast with his music.

 

[POPEYE]

Far be from me to chastise the Eels but Dave Taylor's appraisal of Albert Kelly's last chance of rediscovering himself is yet
another case of what could've/would've/should've been. When Mortimer and Kelly were setting the NYC on fire as a halves
combination for Parramatta it stood to reason they would progress to the NRL together.

Instead Mortimer was shoved into the #1's before he was ready and maybe Kelly thought he was overlooked. Good half
pairings are like rocking horse shit and it's typical of the Eels not be able to see the forest for the trees. Here we are with
the team that coined 'dumbarse' many years ago still without decent halves and what's worse, two more hopefuls struggling
to avoid hopelessness.

 

[POPEYE]

If the interview by Bennett is ridgy didge, easier to believe if it included Jabba or Masters and not Rotfield, there is probably
no need to be even discussing it in a Rugby League forum. So far we've ascertained that the Knights are safe by a guarantee
from the ARLC.

According to Benny the players are happy and getting paid, the roster except imo for dodgy halves looks competent on paper
and Newcastle has a supercoach that is determined to see out his contract. There's a few clubs that wish they were in as good
a position.

 

[POPEYE]

Again on Bennett, it's not like him to volunteer anything to arsewipes so he must be concerned knee jerking will cause irreparable
setbacks to his plans. By keeping himself in the mind's eye maybe '13 won't be sabotaged as was '12 for Cleary at Penrith who
should have been more demonstrative.

Benny clearly knows the clock is ticking for the next wave of his magic wand to take a club from zero to hero and having to step
over Tinkler's dead body was not part of the plan. All this All Stars wish list, player payment involvement and 'when does a shoulder
become a charge' soap boxing is just a subterfuge to make everyone feel secure about him being in control.

One thing for sure, if Bennett can pull off a pissant cup win or even get near with all the caterwaulling he's up against, Bellamy's Storm
resurrection will be matched as one of the greatest coaching achievements in the history of the game.

 

[BKT]

Again on Bennett, it's not like him to volunteer anything to arsewipes so he must be concerned knee jerking will cause irreparable
setbacks to his plans. By keeping himself in the mind's eye maybe '13 won't be sabotaged as was '12 for Cleary at Penrith who
should have been more demonstrative.

Benny clearly knows the clock is ticking for the next wave of his magic wand to take a club from zero to hero and having to step
over Tinkler's dead body was not part of the plan. All this All Stars wish list, player payment involvement and 'when does a shoulder
become a charge' soap boxing is just a subterfuge to make everyone feel secure about him being in control.

One thing for sure, if Bennett can pull off a pissant cup win or even get near with all the caterwaulling he's up against, Bellamy's Storm
resurrection will be matched as one of the greatest coaching achievements in the history of the game.

If he achieves an improvement in commitment and effort from the team this coming season I feel he will be happy....I know I will be, sick of all this pre season off field crap.

 

[POPEYE]

The article in the Herald re referees possibly having simulated situations to deal with as part of their training is a good idea imo.
Wouldn't expect them to sit in a box and pretend they're in charge of a plane load of passengers but if a number of controversial
circumstances were to be acted out on video for them to adjudicate on and respond to maybe more consistency would be achieved.

The expected shoulder charge policing discrepancies beggars such examination before the season starts otherwise '13 will be another
f**king refereeing shitfight. It's not about detracting from manliness or stubbornly perceived ritualistic rights but having all games
decided by players alone.

If Anderson can debrief a referee after a shocker and ask him to explain why he departed from adjudicating the way he was instructed
through videos that covered all contingencies pisspoor excuses would be eradicated. Of course instead we could go the yanky way and
have all referees explain each decision to the crowd as they occur, maybe the chant of 'bullshit' could replace the national anthem.

 

[POPEYE]

Maybe there will come a day when Melbourne won't be recognised as the 4th Qld team if the Harold Matthews Cup competition
succeeds as the bridge not too far. Of all the teams in the NRL the Storm having another avenue to access juniors who can now
fulfil a dream when they reach 16 could be ominous.

Of course it all hinges on the culture mystique remaining intact after Bellamy has departed but for the forseeable future any 16
year old in Victoria who wants to play League has only one club in mind as a first choice. From next year onwards there will be
an unbroken stairway to the top and that just may convice many more youngsters to persevere with League.

Pie in the sky maybe but by the same token 16 is where it starts to become serious and any club in NSW would love to have just
50 young blokes hell bent on playing for them let alone possibly more than that wearing purple coloured glasses in the second
most populated State.

 

[POPEYE]

Appears the players have shown they're not scared of the ARLC and the ARLC are not scared of the arsewipes and the Knights are
not worried about Tinkler so maybe it's time for the clubs to put Schubert in his place. In this age of enlightenment anyone holding a
position such as Schubert should be more concillatory/advisory/pragmatic and a whole lot less confrontational/reactionary/impervious.

The promise of the return of a few big boppers making a difference is tantalising, at least in this doldrum of pre-season nothingness.
Williams might be a one-man Dog who was lost without his master and we may see his bite worse than his bark once more. Lima may
come back refreshed as did Hoffman and established Rabbits pushed deeper into the burrow. Could see the anticipated remake of
Predator if Idris is up to the task after documented setbacks held up production.

 

[POPEYE]

Inglis scores an apparent try so the referee awards it but he thought he saw Greg brace himself on the way to the line and shoulder
charge a defender out of the way, in the process knocking him unconscious. The ref can't remember if shoulder charges apply only
to players making a tackle so he asks the video ref who's not sure either.

Just in case, the video ref overrules the on-field ref which instantaneously makes him look like an idiot. If the video ref instead relays
the message "In our opinion the try shouldn't be awarded" the on-field ref makes a decision. Everyone then knows he's in charge because
he makes both the original and the revised decisions.

Imo the video ref should just be advisory and there is no need for anyone except the on-field ref to know what recommendations were made.

 

[POPEYE]

Tamou moves to Australia with his parents when he was 13 so unfortunately . . . wonder who would be more important to NSW right now, Tamou or Inglis.

As I've already suggested brain damage can only occur from a shoulder charge when you're carrying the ball . . . that devious Storm should be able to do something with that.

Naming clubs after sponsors is ridiculous but Melbourne have put a crown on the front and 'programmed' on the back . . . kinda says it all.

No doubt rule is scrapped and about time . . . all we need now is a regulation on grass cutting height so the players know how hard to push the ball down before contact is official.

NRL wants to know the circumstances of BJ's sacking before letting him resign with another club. C'mon fellas, this is the Roosters we're talking about, their players will do anything to get parole

Reni was always going to get the result on a Stuart run boxing tournament, especially when the other protagonist struggled to put two words together in defence.

Wonder whether Schubert hopes not registering Sonny won't compound his incompetence or enhance his reputation as a procrastinator . . . what's that about the weakest link in a chain.

Hagan is showing why he's the ghost coach and not a selector. He wants Barba in the team anywhere, and why not, Q are desperate for a win.

 

[POPEYE]

In this day and age where contracts are supposed to be binding how does a bloke find a way out. What if you get picked in
the Emerging Origin Team and friends tell you you're underpaid at the club you're at. Can't very well ask for more money
so you get yourself thrown out for bad behaviour. You could shit in a hallway or pose for pictures outside a nightclub for a
cabbie when you're supposed to be on the wagon.

Wonder if these players come up with these antics by themselves or does their manager get wind of another club wanting
them but can't blatantly ignore contracts. Imagine the grief Jamie Lyon could have saved himself. Couldn't work with the
Eel's coach so sat out his contract in England, came back as soon as the said coach had gone but wasn't wanted, so went
to Manly. He could have just punched Hindmarsh and saved all the hassle.

So, if you're in demand there is no such thing as a contract, just give your friends a wink and a nod so anyone you care
about knows what you're up to, commit as many misdemeanors as necessary and Bob's your uncle. The Titans have one
of the best forwards in the world now and that's no shit.

 

[POPEYE]

So, if you're looking for a half there's no better place than a club that has already got good ones. According to Josh Drinkwater
himself he had been languishing at Manly and if the article written about him is accurate we may have another cocky team leader
. . . a definite prerequisite for an NRL #7. I've got fingers crossed for the Dragons.

There is a poll asking if Matt Bowen can reproduce his best again next year but imo the Cowboys should be looking for another
fullback and let him play 5/8 on a regular basis. In '10 I posted something on Steve Lane in another forum which somehow made
it on the net if anyone's interested. Anyway, the point being, a scheming indigenous player will never let his body rule his mind so
if Matty can't keep up the pace we're accustomed to that doesn't mean he's finished in the game.

By the same token as I've said before moving a part time centre to fullback is not a good move imo. Hodges' lower limbs will never
regain the ability he once had although it would be great to be proven wrong. Fullback is a position for men at their peak and every
club should always have a replacement in mind.

 

[Señor]

Reni was always going to get the result on a Stuart run boxing tournament, especially when the other protagonist struggled to put two words together in defence.

I think that guy's problem was that he could string more than two words together, except that in doing so he incriminated himself by admitting that he threw the first and only punch in the altercation.

Wonder if these players come up with these antics by themselves or does their manager get wind of another club wanting
them but can't blatantly ignore contracts. Imagine the grief Jamie Lyon could have saved himself. Couldn't work with the
Eel's coach so sat out his contract in England, came back as soon as the said coach had gone but wasn't wanted, so went
to Manly. He could have just punched Hindmarsh and saved all the hassle.

This caps off a series of some of the best posts I've read on this forum.

Unfortunately for Lyon he was trying to get out of his contract at a time when clubs didn't care about the shenanigans that players got up to. You could try to destroy a tree with a golf cart, grope a girl, whip out your Lynden B. Johnson, threaten a man with a knife and vomit on a Junior halfback and all that would happen is that you get fined and stripped of the captaincy.

I think to get out of his contract Lyon would have needed to punch Hindmarsh several times ... with a brick.

 

[POPEYE]

I think most of us without allegiance to either Balmain or Wests thought the merger when it happened was a last-gasp effort to
extend the Jurassic period. Balmain and Concord were long ago obsolete in a national game and it was only the far south-west
of Camden and Campbelltown that needed divorcing from what will be soon enveloped by Little Lebanon.

Name the team and colour it whatever you like but as far as most are concerned it represents the area that now needs representation
and it's further away from Leichhardt and Concord than Parramatta or Penrith. Sheens was more suited to a team prepared to
buy results like the Roosters or the new Dogs and the far south-west breeding ground is crying out for a supercoach.