Redneck Redfaces

[Morfs]

First past the post does not appear to have a negative impact on the EPL, or any of the other (major) association football leagues around the world. Having it here might be just as successful, although it could take a while for the fans to get used to it.

My only concern is that it would be extremely difficult to implement a workable elimination style tournament along the lines of the FA or Carling Cup in the UK. Imagine having a team like Manly, for example, playing a NSW Cup side, it should be obscenely one-sided. It becomes even more complex when you consider the feeder-side nature of Australian clubs. In this context, maybe an end of season Origin competiton/tournament would be an appropriate replacement?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I hate how a Top 8 allows for mediocrity.

You've got gun teams, usually in 1-4 and maybe 5th.

But in some years, teams could win less than they lose and arse their way through the finals, win the Grand Final and be crowned season's champs.

Sure, we're now used to Grand Final day.

But I much preferred a Top 5.

I would much prefer a first past the post, proper home & away season.

But that's just me.

And what if a team won all 24 club matches, plus finals and lose the Grand Final to 8th? I know that's the luck of it but...

In another option...why not bring back a Top 5 and have a best of three Grand Finale? LOL.

 

[POPEYE]

I wouldn't mind if Melbourne win the Shield every year because I like what they bring to the game, winning the cup doesn't mean they are the best team but I enjoy it when they do simply because it upsets people who think the cup is the be all and end all.

Anyone, I repeat anyone, who is one eyed enough not to enjoy the season to the very end is a practicing f**kwit. The game itself is bigger than the players and certainly bigger than supporters, I like to drink with mates who can talk constructively about every team and I ignore bias. I just want the team that wins the most games to be recognised as the best.

If you walk away early because your team can't be the best don't bother to let your kids play the game and don't pretend to be a devotee of the game. I have about 8 teams I wouldn't mind seeing win the most games this year because I like the way they are coached, no season is a disappointment to me because Rugby League is the greatest game of all and I enjoy it played to perfection . . . not orchestrated.

 

[Amadaca]

For the record, I like the idea of everyone playing twice, home & away, as well. Nice & even, & noticeably more fair than the current system.

However, it should be obvious that there are multiple barriers to it. League isn't Soccer, & we can't pretend 30 rounds of our game without a bye is the same as 30 rounds of Soccer. We also can't deny that the game would lose simply gargantuan amounts of money without a Finals Series. Fans aren't going to show up in anywhere near the same numbers once they realise their team is no hope of winning FPTP. Players won't play as hard, & the results won't follow. The networks will drop our price enormously. It just can't be done, guys.

The only workable system was if we had significantly fewer teams --- say, 10-12 --- then you could afford to have a proper Home & Away season, with Finals. And you may as well ask for dragons in the sky & dinosaurs roaming the Earth for all the likelihood that idea has.

 

[POPEYE]

You are trying to defend the indefensible because of a need for climax. I'm saying climax should be found in Origin after an irrefutable League season and we both agree it's not the public but the media that have to be satisfied or the game will sink into oblivion. I will continue not watch any programming without bypassing ads which is the same as ignoring things in League like the pissant cup. I'll leave it up to you and people like you to keep up the status quo

 

[POPEYE]

Not sure what Daley had in mind bringing Sutton into the NSW camp when it's clear he was a round peg in a square hole, combinations are what is needed to beat combinations, the reason Qld do so well. If Pearce was dropped, and he shoudn't be yet, any advantage Maloney has goes out the window. Maybe it was just an attempt to placate Gallen's call for more power but Reynolds will add more to the side than Gidley ever could.

I can't wait to see what impression Fifita makes on the game, a second phase creating forward if ever there was one. Reynolds will follow him like a mongrel dog if he gets a chance and we could see something Qld can't possibly prepare for before the first game. Be interesting to see just how much Hasler's forwards rely on Reynolds, with any luck he'll be sorely missed.

 

[POPEYE]

Didn't watch the Dogs/Dragons except for the highlights this morning, looked as though CB didn't win the game but the Dragons lost it. Beside the point, which is how long will Cleary put up with Jabba's interference. I like to believe that Cleary wants to make his name as a creative coach and babysitting Soward surely must be detrimental to his plan.

Soward was nothing more than a turnstyle in the replays and why Barba didn't score a motza is a mystery. You'd think Jamie could at least lay down in front of attackers and make them jump to score. A shot of the bearded 44 gallon drum Kasiano with 3 defenders locking up the ball and no-one bothering to stop his legs from moving tells me not to watch the game in full.

 

[innsaneink]

Bulldogs clearly won the game, just couldnt wrap it up.
Dragons didnt lose it...were never really in it until the final 10.

 

[POPEYE]

Bulldogs clearly won the game, just couldnt wrap it up.
Dragons didnt lose it...were never really in it until the final 10.

You'd know better than I if you watched the game, I'm just being derogatory towards the Dogs because I'm addicted . . . closest you'll see me to being one-eyed about anything in League. However, Sowards side of the field is just a chicane, Dogs last year would've put on 30. While you're here I didn't think there was that much in the Barba tackle but imagine if Slater . . .

 

[POPEYE]

Knights played well, just what you'd expect from a team that concentrates on every second game. Rabbitohs seemed to be playing for the bye until they realised Newcastle had come to play, a slippery ball mixed with laxadaisical play almost brought them undone.

Highlight for me was the introduction of Luke Keary, heir apparent for 5/8, great tackler and a cool head and as a bloke said to me today more salt to add to the pepper.

 

[POPEYE]

I'm far from a Jarryd Hayne fan not because he's not talented enough but not focussed enough, especially at Origin level. Sure it's possible he'll have a blinder in game 1 and save the day but 'possible' doesn't cut it in Origin. Boyd for instance is denigrated by the same people who cream their jeans over Hayne but he has a much better record than Jarryd.

We have Gallen saying Hayne is the key to NSW's success, imagine Smith saying the same about Boyd, I can't think of a worse thing Paul could have done. Jarryd's claim to fame originated from a period in '09 when out of the blue he took the game by the scruff of the neck, no-one expected it, least of all Hayne.

The reason he couldn't replicate that effort since is because he can't handle the pressure of expectation. Gallen would have been far better to tell Hayne exactly the opposite, imagine himself the icing on the cake and not the secret ingredient that makes it rise. Believe it or not I was hoping Hayne might pop up behind what looks an exciting team in front of him and do what he did in '09, catch everyone unexpecting

Oh, and just for the record, if Hayne is to play Origin imo it should be at centre, Ferguson would even make a better fullback

 

[Bandwagon]

I think Hayne is actually ready to play fullback at origin level this year. His positioning, defence, and general support play have markedly improved this year under Stuart. Perhaps sticky isn't concerned too much with his ego.

He will go in confident, and I believe that will tell. I guess we'll see come Wednesday.

 

[Amadaca]

He wouldn't even be in my team. Does not deserve selection.

 

[POPEYE]

I think Hayne is actually ready to play fullback at origin level this year. His positioning, defence, and general support play have markedly improved this year under Stuart. Perhaps sticky isn't concerned too much with his ego.

He will go in confident, and I believe that will tell. I guess we'll see come Wednesday.

Good luck ol' mate, not too much to ask for one of your teams to get up is it

 

[Bandwagon]

I hold little hope for the weekend, so hump day will have to do.

 

[POPEYE]

The Blues will have a better chance with Daley, he'll have less trouble pointing out the obvious because he appears to have in mind glory for the players above his own. If Ferguson has a good game the Blues will win, not because he'll make that much difference but because he's a good yardstick, never phased by the big three or anyone else.

There are enough players in the Blues squad now than can only be beaten by an off day, individual match-ups are pretty much counteracted so imo it will come down to the whistle blowers . . . shit, the game conjours up thoughts of a Ferrari running on pram wheels

 

[Bandwagon]

I'm curious to see how the ruck is policed. The game is fast enough without attempting to artificially speed it up.

Hopefully there will be no need for the Video ref to adjudicate on such moments as the Inglis try/knock on from last year.

Even though I expect Nsw to get the rub of the green at home.

 

[POPEYE]

'Familiarity breeds contempt', should Henry send a couple of his 're-signings' to the Q Cup and at least promote a halfback from obscurity, a place he will soon be visiting himself if his key players don't hand in their dressing gowns and slippers.

Better the caterwaulling from the usual suspects who need the Broncos to join their team in the list of failures than the resultant cacophony had the Warriors been beaten. Once the 'baby Broncos' because they performed miracles now resigned to the scrapheap because a miracle was not forthcoming.

Best of the weekend was Elliott cunningly claiming the win was all about the players and nothing to do with him, same as saying all the f**king rubbish dished up previously was rightfully down to the players.

 

[POPEYE]

Being one of the minority who doesn't like a sport having it's highlight in the middle of the season hopefully doesn't reflect on my intelligence, after all a lot of smart people are paid big money to make sure the event corresponds with the optimum television rating period. At this time of the year I'm more interested in what happens in The Voice than Origin, the novelty appeal lost in a spectre of dreadful repercussions.

While others are cheering their team on I'm usually on the piss hoping that the referees get it right and more importantly injury to players doesn't f**k the rest of the season. Can't even make any sort of judgement on what the next 'lost' round will bring until we see who can, or feels like, playing.

Out of the teams that interest me the most this year I suppose the Roosters have a lot to lose if Maloney gets hurt, not so much Melbourne because their resilience is legendary, last thing the Cowboys need is blood on the slippery dip and the Raiders must have their wonder boy back in one piece.

Myles is fairly tough so the Titans shouldn't have any worries, Panthers have no concerns and Souths have been blessed even if GI has a rest, not a season ending one mind you. Dragons are looking towards next year but still be nice to see them not disadvantaged further. Just the same, I will have my fingers crossed for the rest, not so much the Dogs but I like Reynolds and the Sharks apparently won't miss Gallen, so hopefully Fifita survives.

 

[POPEYE]

I'm purposefully going to refrain from reading or watching anything from the media about the game last night, especially from wankers like the Johns brothers, can just imagine how many are going to try and make a quid from their rendition of events and which individuals deserved the accolades or the blame.

These tired old eyes saw a great game of footy where one team came out with all guns blazing, their opposition knew they would and all they could do was weather the barrage and wait for the usual late opportunities. This time they never came in the quantity required, simplistic maybe but the last quarter of the game was the key to it.

The Blues won because there were no holes left to let the enemy in and every man did the best he could on the night in attack, no f**king rocket science. Meninga now is going to have to finally coach tactics to beat NSW who could win every game if they just repeat repeat. Daley need not change a single thing, he and Barrett should ignore any hangers on and just propagate camaraderie.

Best thing imo about the game was how it was refereed, any mistakes were easily explainable on the night and I didn't see enough blood spilled in the fracas to warrant any of what I'm sure will be bleated or scribbled. Last night was a perfect example of how the men with the whistle can make the game the spectacle it should be if common sense lets the game flow . . . the broth wasn't spoiled by too many cooks for the first time this season.