Semi Radradra: The Crystal Ball Thread

[Gronk]

Such a sad state of affairs - going from having players such as John Eales, Matthew Burke, George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Toutai Kefu, to...I can't even name a current Wallaby player...and I haven't been able to for well over a decade...

Marika Koroibete is their best player.

 

[Twizzle]

never minded watching the Wallabies but haven't really watched them for a while, they haven't been very inspiring

 

[King-Gutho94]

Marika Koroibete is their best player.

And he was a poor man's Semi in Rugby League

 

[hineyrulz]

And he was a poor man's Semi in Rugby League

He was a bald homeless man’s Semi.

 

[Incorrect]

He was a bald homeless man’s Semi.

A BA Semi if you will....

 

[hineyrulz]

A BA Semi if you will....

 

[King-Gutho94]

View attachment 79618

How happy does Baldy look there.

We just flogged Canberra in a semi final and he can't even crack a smile.

 

[Eelementary]

It’s not sad, it’s f**king glorious!!

Remember John O’Neill wanted to crush RL after the 03 WC with his warchest?? How did that work out??

Don't get me wrong - I don't like union.

But that golden Wallabies era was superb - we played brilliant rugby.

 

[T.S Quint]

I'm not a Union follower at all, but I've got quite a few mates who do.
One is a mad West Harbour Pirates fan. He doesn't really give a shit about the Tahs but watches the Wallabies as well.

He says it's so hard to keep the best young rugby kids in Australia. The Pirates will sign a young bloke who turns out to be very good, who then gets snapped up to go over and play in France, SA, Japan or the UK. They get more money over there, and it's a great opportunity for a young bloke to go play overseas. They aren't hanging around to play for the Waratahs, Reds, etc, and then move up to the Wallabies from there.

Union is broke and they can't afford to throw money at the grassroots level to keep the kids here. Also the ratings are way down (that happens when you aren't on free-to-air). Interest in the Wallabies is dropping massively as well because they are just no good.

Union in this country is on life support. It is hard to see Australia ever becoming a Union superpower ever again.

Buying up a few NRL players is not going to help.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I'm not a Union follower at all, but I've got quite a few mates who do.
One is a mad West Harbour Pirates fan. He doesn't really give a shit about the Tahs but watches the Wallabies as well.

He says it's so hard to keep the best young rugby kids in Australia. The Pirates will sign a young bloke who turns out to be very good, who then gets snapped up to go over and play in France, SA, Japan or the UK. They get more money over there, and it's a great opportunity for a young bloke to go play overseas. They aren't hanging around to play for the Waratahs, Reds, etc, and then move up to the Wallabies from there.

Union is broke and they can't afford to throw money at the grassroots level to keep the kids here. Also the ratings are way down (that happens when you aren't on free-to-air). Interest in the Wallabies is dropping massively as well because they are just no good.

Union in this country is on life support. It is hard to see Australia ever becoming a Union superpower ever again.

Buying up a few NRL players is not going to help.

Its also became an over-officiated sport.

Like i don't want to go to a sporting match and watch 2 blokes do goal kicking duels with penalties i have no idea for.

 

[hineyrulz]

Don't get me wrong - I don't like union.

But that golden Wallabies era was superb - we played brilliant rugby.

So long ago, sadly for Onion no one cares anymore. And it’s all of their own making.

Fart sniffing leather patch merkins.

 

[hineyrulz]

How happy does Baldy look there.

We just flogged Canberra in a semi final and he can't even crack a smile.

He looks like he just followed through.

 

[T.S Quint]

Its also became an over-officiated sport.

Like i don't want to go to a sporting match and watch 2 blokes do goal kicking duels with penalties i have no idea for.

It was so funny listening to two of my mates talking about how Union "is more free-flowing than League. NRL is just so start-stop".

I mean, sure, the play basically stops to have a play the ball in our game after every play, but there's way more stoppages in Union.

I had to point out every time there was a lineout, every time a scrum had to be packed and repacked three times, every penalty (and subsequent 5 minute break to kick a goal), every time the ball was held in the ruck, etc.

They got sick of it after a while.

 

[T.S Quint]

I'd rather watch an AFL match.

Seriously.
And I don't like AFL very much.

 

[King-Gutho94]

So long ago, sadly for Onion no one cares anymore. And it’s all of their own making.

Fart sniffing leather patch merkins.

Yeah they have had 3 stooges Bill Pulver, Raelene Castle, Hamish McLennan in the past decade running a sport.

No wonder its irrelevant.

 

[T.S Quint]

Yeah they have had 3 stooges Bill Pulver, Raelene Castle, Hamish McLennan in the past decade running a sport.

No wonder its irrelevant.

Honestly, I'm not sure they could do much to have changed things no matter who was in charge.

I think the problems go back a lot further than when those three led the sport. Union has been a game that's behind the times for over 100 years (staying amateur whilst League broke away to become professional) and while it worked for them for a while, it's just slowly died without anyone really doing anything about it.

They did have a real opportunity back in the late 90's/early 2000's when the Wallabies were on top to change the game for the better and overhaul the grassroots level. But instead they sat back, boasted about their war chest and did nothing about it.

 

[Gronk]

Semi has just played his first game of the new season for Lyon on the Top14 French season. He turned 32 in June 2024.

Apparantly his knees are f**ked and most Lyon fans are suggesting that he be moved on, however he is still an X factor player where points come from his involvement.

He has now been playing in Europe since finishing up with us in 2016.

I still reckon he was the best NRL winger ever, daylight second.

(He doesn’t really feature in this clip from last night. He plays for the red team. Towards the end he runs the ball, pops the ball out from the maul and they score)

 

[T.S Quint]

Best NRL winger ever is a pretty big call.
Daylight second is an even bigger call.

Jarryd Hayne was at the very least a close second.

 

[Gary Gutful]

He was excellent, but I think we tend to blow our loads a little.

Some phenomenal wingers have played the game over the last 15 years.

 

[hineyrulz]

He was excellent, but I think we tend to blow our loads a little.

Some phenomenal wingers have played the game over the last 15 years.

To’o is the only one to come close impact wise, and he had been damn lucky to play in that Riff team. What would have Prime Semi done off a similar quality back line??