ok let’s try again A thread for historical reference as I get the sense this could be the off season of all off seasons and the one all others will be measured against Off season started with a bang with the newly anointed Kangaroos capt having the honour stripped from him after being charged with dui http://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/...lia-captain-greg-inglis-charged-drink-driving Mad Monday had its usual suspects and though most agree it was a massive media beat up two players did end up fronting court for lewd acts. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...dogs-s-mad-monday-antics-20181217-p50mrv.html Then things got serious with one of the games highest profile players, Jarryd Hayne, facing a charge of aggravated sexual,assault following a late night trist whilst the taxi meter ran https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/19/jarryd-hayne-charged-over-grand-final-night-incident/ Dylan Walker then got into bother for an alleged domestic violence incident and was charged with common assault occassioning bodily harm https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/9416821bb45664a3fb621e1a6250ee1c The punches kept on coming for the game with Zane Musgrove next in line for a charge of aggravated indecent assault after an incident at the Coogee Beach Hotel https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/w...t/news-story/97cfd6ec0999b68ce69cb1677f7f4f4e And to round of the year, hopefully!, Jack De Belin and a lower grade RL player were charged with aggravated indecent assault in company of a 19 year old girl in her unit https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...er-alleged-sexual-assault-at-wollongong-unit/ But enough of player indiscretions, we have also had a number of big game issues hit the headlines Sharks under investigation for salary cap cheating with outcome exp3cted next month https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/c8d2c03f1a33fec49879e8656a82fe5d Sharks coach kicked out for defying his drug ban from the game and coping a massive fine https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/n...y/news-story/156a8d89863aabc8d7112d6575772bb5 Tigers CEO kicked out for salary cap rorting and club copsnmajor cap penalty for 2019 https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/w...n/news-story/730fc8e631d0662e96d012f288dade41 What an off season, and we’re only half way through! Keep calling back for the latest instalments.....
Don't forget the whole coaching merry go round and breaking contracts. and Holmes breaking contracts to play another sport. Not necessary criminal or bad but more drama
I’ve found all the player movement and coach swaps and movements quite interesting and hard to keep up with.
Not to the mention the coaching debacle at souths and Broncos as well as the Shaun Johnson situation and the wests/panthers coaching situation.
Seems fairly unprecedented to me, this level of change and speculation over such a prolonged period across so many clubs.
Yeh it was but may well become the new norm the way contacts seem to be worth nothing these days. And in some ways as the stories weren’t really damaging to the game they did keep the game in the media significantly which isn’t a bad thing
The only good thing about not having a club is not having to see the greatest game being dragged through the mud in the local media by dickheads who dont know how to behave.
That's an ironic statement from someone who has just created a thread detailing so many off season atrocities from years long gone.
Is Perth really an option for NRL expansion or are they just AFL obsessed? The cricket test crowds this week in their shiny new stadium were diabolical.. The Force quit.. the Glory crowds suck.... Leave them to their beloved kick and giggle...
Not saying you did but creating threads dedicated to kicking the game doesn't tally with your assertion that its 'the greatest game'.
1.) No one cares about Test cricket, Scorchers crowds are great and will be great again this season. 2.) Force and their billionaire backer got approved for their union hybrid comp by the World Rugby board so for all the weirdness of the situation they're still doing something 3.) Glory are having their first good season in years and the crowds will likely rebuild but admittedly they suffer from not being able to appeal to the poms in Perth who are EPL obsessed. Crowds will likely grow if they keep winning. 4.) Can't ignore the most dominant and well attended basketball team in the Wildcats or the solid West Coast Fever turn outs. 5.) Origin sold out and the 38,000 strong crowd for the double header. Perth has the largest player base and the best setup for club footy outside of the league heartlands, hate on PR all you want but Perth is the smartest choice for expansion.
1) Sydney & Melb care about test cricket 2) Force had terrible crowds during their time and got chopped from the big league.. How is the new comp going? Not getting much publicity in Union heartland over here 3) How are the Glory crowds going? What's their average? Must have missed there success 4) Wildcats? Who? 5) Glad some East Coasters flying over for the Origin... Glad the millions the WA Govt spent for the game will get some return I'm not as bullish as you about NRL expansion given the local market's disdain for other sports..
Your nearest and dearest are always your harshest critics. This off season could go down in history, I’m just keeping a score.
Not sure rugby league is big enough to compete here, but we could give it a go. Basketball is doing well lol