Rumours and Stuff

[hindy111]

Well, if we make the Top 4 by winning 1 more home game then even if we lose that game our next two games are Bankwest (win because it's a home game) and ANZ (pretty much a home game for us).

So, that's not a bad theory.

Big bang theory

 

[lingard]

Enlighten me. Which away game win of 2020 will be the most satisfying to you? That is, assuming that we win any.

Melbourne in Melbourne.

 

[Glenneel]

You merkins might be getting the causality wrong. You assume playing away caused us to lose but maybe losing is what caused us to play away. Correlation does not imply causation ffs!

But is he backup or depth?

 

[lingard]

If the forwards can lay the platform

, we seriously have an unrivaled backline. I can't think of another club who can top Gutho, Fergo, Waqo, Jenko, Sivo, Dylbo and Moseo.

It's a very good backline IF we have cohesion, teamwork, patience, and good coaching from Johns and Arthur. And IF Dylan Brown can keep progressing and remain injury free. Wouldn't say we're unrivalled, though. Easts and Canberra will have bloody good backline's, too.

 

[Glenneel]

I leave same day as Avenger. Christmas afternoon.

I have been to Ivan's butcher and picked up 4 sticks of salami or whatever he calls it

Have many dogs or cats gone missing around Ivan's place?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But is he backup or depth?

Whom?

 

[84 Baby]

Melbourne in Melbourne.

I think based on last year of our bogey away games, I think the better indicative win is in Townsville or Newcastle. Good teams will win those games. Whereas at the moment winning in Melbourne or Canberra is more likely a flash in the pan (though it could also indicate a good team) nor are losing there necessarily poor performances.

Or maybe they could just win every f**ken game!

 

[Chipmunk]

2017 Top 4 finish was mostly the result of a favourable draw.

In 2018 we had the worst squad balance you could possibly come across. 3 full backs in your Top 13, with none of them either wanting or providing anything when bringing the ball back as a wing, two halves that both wanted the ball all the time, players 11 to 28 in the squad basically being of a similar standard and probably 80% of the salary cap spent on the backs...

In 2019 we improved our squad balance and as a result improved our performances.

2020 sees us with a strong squad of 20 players who are all capable at the NRL level and the rest being pretty young or squad fillers.

There is more substance to our team in 2020 than there was in 2018, so I'd expect a pretty strong showing. We'd need a couple of teams to have something go wrong for us to be a Premiership contender unless we can pick up one or two astute signings from here.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

Have many dogs or cats gone missing around Ivan's place?

It’s the backpackers that are the bigger concern.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

We'd need a couple of teams to have something go wrong for us to be a Premiership contender unless we can pick up one or two astute signings from here.

Maybe, Not so sure.....

Well the roosters (lost Cooper and probably Mitchell), storm (lost some backs), Souths (lost burgess / Sutton but may improve squad) and manly (lost their hooker) all have potentially weaker squads for 2020.

While the raiders have taken a big risk on bringing Williams in at halfback - pommie backs seem to fail in the nrl.

While the other top 8 sides, Sharks and Broncos havent made that many signings.

Overall our recruitment Matterson / RGC and Blake (wasn’t here for long) is probably the best of all the top 8 sides

 

[Gazzamatta]

Maybe, Not so sure.....

Well the roosters (lost Cooper and probably Mitchell), storm (lost some backs), Souths (lost burgess / Sutton but may improve squad) and manly (lost their hooker) all have potentially weaker squads for 2020.

While the raiders have taken a big risk on bringing Williams in at halfback - pommie backs seem to fail in the nrl.

While the other top 8 sides, Sharks and Broncos havent made that many signings.

Overall our recruitment Matterson / RGC and Blake (wasn’t here for long) is probably the best of all the top 8 sides

C. Smith to halfback may be detrimental as well. He'll also be a year older.

 

[hineyrulz]

C. Smith to halfback may be detrimental as well. He'll also be a year older.

And there is no way the merkin could be any wiser.

 

[Noise]

C. Smith to halfback may be detrimental as well. He'll also be a year older.

Is that happening? The media grabbed onto it but I thought the Storm quickly came out and said it’s not happening.

 

[parra pete]

Melbourne in Melbourne.

Normally, this would be a game that me and several of my good mates would be attending..Annual boys weekend away..Races, casino, football....four days of breaking all the rules...BUT it is on May 16, which co-incides with my 50th Wedding Anniversary..not game to ask for "time-off"....

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Surely a woman old enough to be married for 50 years can be gaslighted into thinking the anniversary is a week earlier or later.

In fact, how can you be sure your anniversary is during that weekend? She might've changed the date to stop your lads' long weekend.

 

[84 Baby]

2017 Top 4 finish was mostly the result of a favourable draw.

In 2018 we had the worst squad balance you could possibly come across. 3 full backs in your Top 13, with none of them either wanting or providing anything when bringing the ball back as a wing, two halves that both wanted the ball all the time, players 11 to 28 in the squad basically being of a similar standard and probably 80% of the salary cap spent on the backs...

In 2019 we improved our squad balance and as a result improved our performances.

2020 sees us with a strong squad of 20 players who are all capable at the NRL level and the rest being pretty young or squad fillers.

There is more substance to our team in 2020 than there was in 2018, so I'd expect a pretty strong showing. We'd need a couple of teams to have something go wrong for us to be a Premiership contender unless we can pick up one or two astute signings from here.

Gee I hope we don’t win a comp because of an easy draw and other teams are broken

 

[Gazzamatta]

Is that happening? The media grabbed onto it but I thought the Storm quickly came out and said it’s not happening.

I thought it was but I must admit Im not generally attracted to Storm click bait.

 

[Noise]

I thought it was but I must admit Im not generally attracted to Storm click bait.

The reports of him maybe moving to halfback came out on the 19th November. On the 20th and 21st Smith and Bellamy rubbished it.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...he-will-switch-to-halfback-in-2020/ar-BBX45w4

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-coach-craig-bellamy-rubbishes-talk-of-cameron-smith-shifting-to-halfback/news-story/e5c19cf58699b9c6e8bab364c66719d9&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium#command-form

 

[Gary Gutful]

I predict it will happen. Smith and Bellamy are lying merkins.

 

[Chipmunk]

Gee I hope we don’t win a comp because of an easy draw and other teams are broken

You generally won't win a comp with an easy draw, but you're more likely than not to win won if the rest of the comp is broken.

I think I'd take any win to be honest.