Rumours and Stuff

[King-Gutho94]

That’s a bit of revisionism. They peaked in 1998/99 because of their strong recruitment picking over the carcasses of teams their News Limited masters killed after the end of Super League/creation of the NRL.
2000 (title defence year) they scraped into the top 8. 2001 and 2002 they were pretty mediocre (sacked Chris Anderson, appointed Mark Murray as coach who proceeded to help continue to the post-premiership slump).
Bellamy was appointed coach for 2003, and that was quite the turning point that got the club back on track and in dynasty building mode.

If only Melbourne storm never came into the competition in 1998.

We may have had another 2 or 3 premierships by now

 

[Eelogical]

We also have 10 players unavailable for selection...

And probably eight of those don't deserve selection.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

I had limoncello for the first time in an Italian restaurant in Da Nang in Vietnam the other week...it was decent.

Flashing some dong in Vietnam eh?

 

[Eelogical]

If only Melbourne storm never came into the competition in 1998.

We may have had another 2 or 3 premierships by now

Expansion is good for the game. If you're referring to dodgy deals, boats and things behind the scenes then we aren't any better.

 

[Eelogical]

I know parra supporters who were upset that he was punted but now they've come around and see what mess he's left us in and the nepotism.
The fact him and the family had massive dummy spits speaks volumes...

Never employ friends or relos. It only works for the 'riff so well is because everyone out there is related in one form or another.

 

[Eelogical]

Get it done! He’s quick, young and developing well as an NRL player. I’d imagine wouldn’t cost the earth but has a big upside.

I'm waiting for our Centre Of Excellence to start churning them out.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That’s a bit of revisionism. They peaked in 1998/99 because of their strong recruitment picking over the carcasses of teams their News Limited masters killed after the end of Super League/creation of the NRL.
2000 (title defence year) they scraped into the top 8. 2001 and 2002 they were pretty mediocre (sacked Chris Anderson, appointed Mark Murray as coach who proceeded to help continue to the post-premiership slump).
Bellamy was appointed coach for 2003, and that was quite the turning point that got the club back on track and in dynasty building mode.

The dynasty players (Smith, Slater, Cronk) were already at the club when Bellamy got there.

 

[Eelementary]

And probably eight of those don't deserve selection.

Yes.

But in a 30-man squad, you'd be hard-pressed to find any team remaining competitive with 30% of their top 30 players unavailable.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If only Melbourne storm never came into the competition in 1998.

We may have had another 2 or 3 premierships by now

Broncos and Cowboys too. Between '99 and 2017 we lost 10 finals matches to four different clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Storm	5
Broncos	2
Cowboys	2
Knights	1

The Knights of '97-'01 were a true flash in the pan, but the other three superclubs with a city to themselves (genuine cities, not Newcastle) have skewed the comp away from more modest clubs like Parramatta.

Since 2019 we have lost 6 finals matches to three clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Panthers	3
Storm	2
Rabbitohs	1

I'd hesitate to call Souths a superclub, but they have been able to win a premiership and lure Bennett to the club (twice). Are Penrith a new superclub? I don't think three straight premierships can be called a flash in the pan. When we did it 40 years ago it took three years to start our decline.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm waiting for our Centre Of Excellence to start churning them out.

The facility will be huge for us. Can you believe such a supposedly massive club used to train on the undersized Richie Benaud Oval?

 

[King-Gutho94]

Broncos and Cowboys too. Between '99 and 2017 we lost 10 finals matches to four different clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Storm	5
Broncos	2
Cowboys	2
Knights	1

The Knights of '97-'01 were a true flash in the pan, but the other three superclubs with a city to themselves (genuine cities, not Newcastle) have skewed the comp away from more modest clubs like Parramatta.

Since 2019 we have lost 6 finals matches to three clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Panthers	3
Storm	2
Rabbitohs	1

I'd hesitate to call Souths a superclub, but they have been able to win a premiership and lure Bennett to the club (twice). Are Penrith a new superclub? I don't think three straight premierships can be called a flash in the pan. When we did it 40 years ago it took three years to start our decline.

North Qld are at a disadvantage geographically to those other sides you point out.

Brisbane and Melbourne flying to Sydney and back is pretty easy compared to flying from Townsville every 2nd week. It's an extra 4hrs if you add both legs on a plane every trip.

It takes it toll eventually and I think it's a factor with the Warriors as well.

Sports science with recovery has improved but that 1 or 2% makes all the difference especially having to hop on a long flight straight after a game.

North Qld have an below par average winning% since they started.

Like really 2005 had more to do with us shitting the bed then the cowboys.

Going to be interesting when Perth come in if they split up there away games and do perhaps b2b games once or twice a year to break up the travel.

 

[Eelogical]

The facility will be huge for us. Can you believe such a supposedly massive club used to train on the undersized Richie Benaud Oval?

But will it be a production line for other clubs to feed off or will we have the smarts to recognise and retain the players for the future? The COE will need the correct CEO in charge or we'll continue to be DOA.

 

[Eelogical]

North Qld are at a disadvantage geographically to those other sides you point out.

Brisbane and Melbourne flying to Sydney and back is pretty easy compared to flying from Townsville every 2nd week. It's an extra 4hrs if you add both legs on a plane every trip.

It takes it toll eventually and I think it's a factor with the Warriors as well.

Sports science with recovery has improved but that 1 or 2% makes all the difference especially having to hop on a long flight straight after a game.

North Qld have an below par average winning% since they started.

Like really 2005 had more to do with us shitting the bed then the cowboys.

Going to be interesting when Perth come in if they split up there away games and do perhaps b2b games once or twice a year to break up the travel.

I disagree. Sporting teams in the USA, Europe and the like fly everywhere more than our teams do. Merkins get paid more than enough as it is. It beats getting stuck in Sydney traffic any day of the week.

 

[hineyrulz]

Rewatched the game. We have to have the dumbest players in the comp. Aside from Moses and Gutho, the rest of the team consistently make mind puzzling mistakes, in both attack and defense.

Perfect reflections of the former coach.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I disagree. Sporting teams in the USA, Europe and the like fly everywhere more than our teams do. Merkins get paid more than enough as it is. It beats getting stuck in Sydney traffic any day of the week.

USA don't have 40-50% of the comp based in one city.

There all spread out everyone has to fly for away games. It's negates each other.

For a long time there were no direct flights to Townsville from Sydney.

The cowboys had to go via Brisbane to get to Sydney and vice versa to get home. It was a disadvantage for a long time.

 

[Chipmunk]

Flashing some dong in Vietnam eh?

It came for free...

 

[Chipmunk]

Broncos and Cowboys too. Between '99 and 2017 we lost 10 finals matches to four different clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Storm	5
Broncos	2
Cowboys	2
Knights	1

The Knights of '97-'01 were a true flash in the pan, but the other three superclubs with a city to themselves (genuine cities, not Newcastle) have skewed the comp away from more modest clubs like Parramatta.

Since 2019 we have lost 6 finals matches to three clubs:

Opponent	Finals losses
Panthers	3
Storm	2
Rabbitohs	1

I'd hesitate to call Souths a superclub, but they have been able to win a premiership and lure Bennett to the club (twice). Are Penrith a new superclub? I don't think three straight premierships can be called a flash in the pan. When we did it 40 years ago it took three years to start our decline.

So Townsville is a genuine city, but Newcastle isn't...

That'll f**ken do me...

 

[Tiger5150]

Take it easy, there would be no violence. It would be like that Raiders of the Lost Ark scene when we see who can sink the most shots of rakija.

I'd even have a beer with most of you guys...except Pou.

And there is one other guy who I would be amazed if he isnt here, and he knows who I am....there would be violence.

 

[Tiger5150]

Palinka

Nagyon finom!

 

[Eelogical]

USA don't have 40-50% of the comp based in one city.

There all spread out everyone has to fly for away games. It's negates each other.

For a long time there were no direct flights to Townsville from Sydney.

The cowboys had to go via Brisbane to get to Sydney and vice versa to get home. It was a disadvantage for a long time.

Those poor NRL players. Maybe they need a flotilla of hand maidens and emotional support gurus above and beyond their designated accompanying away game mentors.