Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

It’s not semantics. That’s literally the data.

Semantics is you arguing over the Merriam Webster definition of hot favourites.

You’re right about Newcastle having the better team in retrospect but they had the same number of origin players as us in 2001 and we had the superior points differential (your most important metric).

We had a better points differential because we had a genius coach who exploited the ruck rules. They might've had the same number of players in Origin in 2001 but they had so many guys with Origin experience on grand final day. I assume finals experience was similar between the two squads but I wouldn't be surprised if the Knights had more.

You could argue in retrospect that Melbourne redlined against a superior Penrith side (even though at the time they weren’t rated that far apart in terms of win probability) in 2020 like Newcastle did against us.

I just don't think Penrith played their best in the first half. Stage fright or shit coaching? Maybe Cleary forgot to book them a bus.

 

[Glenneel]

What I was told, he was still growing and they selected him in the development squad rather than the Matt’s team and told him that he needed a bit more time to develop physically and wanted to keep him.The rest is history as he wanted to play reps and His manager and Tigers did a deal which is not unusual given even then the number of players to choose from in selecting reps.

looking back, it was a mistake but things have changed since then at junior level as staff and expansion of training squads into North and South increased the eyes on the juniors, certainly improved since since De Gois and Shepard took over 2/3 years ago.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I just don't think Penrith played their best in the first half. Stage fright or shit coaching? Maybe Cleary forgot to book them a bus.

Tough to speculate on one game alone.
I suppose the way they backed up the following season might say more?

Odds of that season going poorly due to difficult circumstances are slim. But even if the perfect storm conspired to happen, surely the year after would be a lift??

 

[Legal Eel]

Tough to speculate on one game alone.
I suppose the way they backed up the following season might say more?

Odds of that season going poorly due to difficult circumstances are slim. But even if the perfect storm conspired to happen, surely the year after would be a lift??

It wouldn’t matter how persuasive, logical or rational your arguments are…this bloke would argue the toss with God himself if it meant a defence of Brad Arthur in some way and the faint chance he might get drenched in Arthur jizz one day!

 

[Glenneel]

I made Manu chuckle once. My biggest claim to fame.

Don't believe you, Manu never smiled

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Tough to speculate on one game alone.
I suppose the way they backed up the following season might say more?

Odds of that season going poorly due to difficult circumstances are slim. But even if the perfect storm conspired to happen, surely the year after would be a lift??

They did very well to keep the same team together the following year, and then suffer minimal injuries. The 2021 side had 15 players make 20+ appearances, and 12 of them played in the grand final the year before. Amazing.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It wouldn’t matter how persuasive, logical or rational your arguments are…

I guess we'll never know

 

[Incorrect]

More hair then imagined

*deserved