The NRL thread

by Luke Mon 02 Apr 2012, 6:43 pm

First topic message reminder :

Following on from other threads to make the RL section easier to follow, we know have this thread. So all news etc from what is in my opnion the best league in RL, views and other things that people want to add or put across about the Aussie/New Zealand leagues, please feel free to put in here.

Parramatta's remarkable skipper Nathan Hindmarsh has announced that this year will be his last. After a fantastic career that has spaned 15 years, and over 300 games, all for the Eels.

Melbourne's Cooper Cronk has signed a 4 year deal to remain at the club.

New Zealand Warriors utility Lewis Brown will be leaving the club at the end of this year. After agreeing a 3 year deal with the Penrith Panthers.

A potential white night has gone public with his intentions to save financially stricken NRL club the Gold Coast Titans.
Billy Rae has said that his consortium are deadly series in there take over bid. Meanwhile media reports say that Scott Hill & 5 other buisness men are a rival consortium to take over the Titans.
Th

by George Hotel1895 Wed 18 Jul 2012, 8:48 am

Griffin signs new deal with Broncos
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-nrl-coach-anthony-griffin-signs-new-deal/story-e6frep5x-1226428737838

by **Pal Joey** Thu 19 Jul 2012, 12:36 pm

The Eels have sacked Stephen Kearney.

by George Hotel1895 Thu 19 Jul 2012, 7:23 pm

Linebreaker wrote:The Eels have sacked Stephen Kearney.

How on earth the Kiwis won a world cup and a 4 nations with him as a coach is a mystery to me. He did have Wayne Bennett helping him when the Kiwis the world cup, but i can't rememeber who helped him when the won the 4 nations in 2010. Will probably end up in Super League now as a coach. Heaven help any club who he takes charge of.

by aucklandlaurie Fri 20 Jul 2012, 4:43 am

GH 1895.
Us Kiwis dont know either.
In 2010, he was still at the Storm, in the company of Craig Bellamy and he would of been a pretty capable guy to "run to", but once he started flying solo (2011) everythings turned to custard, New Zealands performance last year up in England was pretty pathetic.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 20 Jul 2012, 8:45 am

Luke Lewis has signed a 4 year deal to play with Cronulla starting in 2013.

by **Kenny** Fri 20 Jul 2012, 3:39 pm

Linebreaker wrote:The Eels have sacked Stephen Kearney.

British Press are suggesting Ricky Stuart has been lined up for next season , while Anderson will take over for the remainder of this season .

Any truth in that ?

by **Pal Joey** Sat 21 Jul 2012, 7:51 am

I think Ricky is the preferred successor - they are making out as if they will go through a selection process with other candidates but it seems he will be the one to get the gig at Parra.

by George Hotel1895 Sat 21 Jul 2012, 9:51 am

Things looking good for the Bulldogs now
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/9412051/Bradford-Bulls-administrators-hopeful-new-consortium-bid-will-safeguard-clubs-future.html

by **Pal Joey** Sat 21 Jul 2012, 11:46 am

Linebreaker wrote:I think Ricky is the preferred successor - they are making out as if they will go through a selection process with other candidates but it seems he will be the one to get the gig at Parra.

Apparently he has signed with Parramatta now... according to foxsports breaking news.

by Guest Sat 21 Jul 2012, 12:30 pm

Serious! Will he give up the NSW role?

by **Pal Joey** Sat 21 Jul 2012, 12:49 pm

I don't think so, EBOP.

It's similar to Craig Bellamy when he coached both the Storm and NSW.

Updated NRL Table here.
https://www.606v2.com/t27604-nrl-results-and-table

by Guest Sat 21 Jul 2012, 1:26 pm

Thanks LB. Ricky must be well respected as a coach, but does his record stack up in your opinion?

by **Pal Joey** Sat 21 Jul 2012, 1:37 pm

His overall record is not too bad. The stint at Cronulla and his latest run with NSW hasn't been so crash hot.

For clubs: (Roosters 61%, Sharks 45%) 55% overall
For Rep Teams: (Country, NSW, Kangaroos)... it's 15 wins, 6 losses or 71%

He has a great reputation amongst players & fans even though he has been known to spit the dummy but he has been quite humble of late.

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Jul 2012, 11:14 am

I heard today that Mitchell Pearce is unhappy at the Chooks; doesn't get on with coach Brian Smith and is looking for another club. They lost to Penrith again this afternoon... morale at an all-time low at the club.

by aucklandlaurie Sun 22 Jul 2012, 9:00 pm

LB
I think over the next few months there may be a number of unhappy Chooks players, especially those that are competeing with Sonny Bill for part of the salary cap.

by **Pal Joey** Tue 24 Jul 2012, 10:52 am

Big hoo-haa here over Greg Inglis' forearm to the head charge. Saints not happy at all with his attack on Dean Young's head area (and the way it was brushed aside by GI immediately after the match) and now Souths trying to play the 'discrimination' card.

by George Hotel1895 Tue 24 Jul 2012, 9:51 pm

Travis Burns told to leave Panthers.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/penrith-panthers-utility-travis-burns-forced-to-look-for-a-new-club-in-2013/story-e6frep5x-1226434212467

by **Pal Joey** Wed 25 Jul 2012, 2:09 pm

They're in for a few more lean years I feel.

GI got 3 weeks - he got his charge downgraded from a Grade 4 (5 weeks).
Looked the same walking out of the Judiciary as he did walking into it a couple of hours earlier this evening.

So he'll miss the Tigers, Titans and Sea Eagles matches but be back for the last 3 rounds against the Sharks, Eels and Knights.

by **Kenny** Wed 01 Aug 2012, 5:37 pm

I heard Nathan Hindmarsh is having second thoughts on retiring , how will that effect Parramattas spending ?

by George Hotel1895 Wed 01 Aug 2012, 8:06 pm

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:I heard Nathan Hindmarsh is having second thoughts on retiring , how will that effect Parramattas spending ?

If he stays he will have to accept a reduced wage.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 03 Aug 2012, 3:23 am

Anthony Watmough took a punt and challenged the NSW Judiciary on the 'chicken wing' tackle charge and won; so he'll be playing up in Townsville on the weekend.

Jamie Soward has been dropped from the Dragons and will be playing in the NSW Cup side.

by **Pal Joey** Fri 03 Aug 2012, 3:47 am

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/news/article/-/14442898/arlc-to-look-at-stand-alone-origin/

I hope not... we'll never catch Qld if that happens but I can see the affect it has on clubs. The Storm and Cronulla have have been hit hardest from this year's series.

by **Kenny** Fri 03 Aug 2012, 9:35 am

Any truth in the Keith Galloway to HULL FC rumour ?

by **Pal Joey** Sat 04 Aug 2012, 1:37 am

Haven't heard that one... could be true. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything.

by **Pal Joey** Sat 04 Aug 2012, 1:36 pm

EBOP wrote:Serious! Will he give up the NSW role?

Ricky has stood down as NSW coach to concentrate on Parramatta... so a good call there EBOP.

I thought he might try and do both but maybe he was influenced by his new club as well as his old team mate Mal Meninga who made a few comments last week saying he could manage both coaching roles. Wink

by **Kenny** Sun 05 Aug 2012, 11:58 am

If i dont get chance to see you on here on the day

Happy Birthday laurie for this week Smile

by **Pal Joey** Sun 05 Aug 2012, 1:26 pm

Happy Birthday too Laurie. Ale

by **Pal Joey** Wed 08 Aug 2012, 1:18 am

Jamie Soward gets called back to 1st grade after a week in NSW League and Isaac Luke will play against Manly after serving his 3 week ban.

by aucklandlaurie Wed 08 Aug 2012, 5:15 am

thanks guys,I'm getting to a stage where its like watching the Ks click over on an old car.

But back to the league, a lot of people in Auckland are seighing with relief that Balmain got up over Parra on monday night, if Parra gets a few more wins and The Warriors get a few more losses then theres a serious risk that the wooden spoon could come over The Tasman.

by **Pal Joey** Wed 08 Aug 2012, 8:55 am

Touch wood that doesn't happen, Laurie.

Even I prefer the NZ side to our 'arch enemy' - although personally I dislike Saints & Easts the most by a mile.

by George Hotel1895 Wed 08 Aug 2012, 10:40 pm

Jim Dymock could coach the Blues
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/jim-dymock-a-surprise-candidate-to-coach-nsw-blues-in-state-of-origin/story-e6frexnr-1226446248937

by George Hotel1895 Wed 08 Aug 2012, 10:43 pm

Wayne Bennett fined by the NRL
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/newcastle-knights-coach-wayne-bennett-fined-for-not-co-operating-with-media/story-e6frexnr-1226446211559

by George Hotel1895 Sun 12 Aug 2012, 10:08 am

Blues could target Bennett for the coaching job.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/blues-set-to-target-coach-bennett-20120811-24183.html

by aucklandlaurie Sun 12 Aug 2012, 9:20 pm

I never thought Bennett would ever leave Brisbane, so I guess anythings possible, but in the meantime I still wouldnt take this story serious until it comes out in the Brisbane Courier.

by **Pal Joey** Mon 13 Aug 2012, 8:12 pm

He's making a habit of moving clubs now isn't he after all those years in the one place. Nothing would surprise me though. Wouldn't mind him.

by **Pal Joey** Tue 14 Aug 2012, 11:14 am

So he won't be switching to rugby... always thought that was to leverage a better deal.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/brett-stewart-to-sign-new-deal-with-manly-20120814-24692.html

by George Hotel1895 Thu 16 Aug 2012, 8:44 am

Worrying news for the Warriors?
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/stephen-kearney-to-discuss-coaching-role-at-warriors/story-e6frexnr-1226451506802

by George Hotel1895 Thu 16 Aug 2012, 8:45 am

Good business by the Sharks?
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/cronulla-sharks-sign-jono-wright-from-canterbury-bulldogs-and-extend-deals-of-ricky-leutele-and-john-morris/story-e6frexnr-1226451792503

by George Hotel1895 Thu 16 Aug 2012, 8:46 am

Broncos aim for 36,000 members
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/broncos-launch-interactive-campaign-in-bid-to-top-36000-ticketed-members/story-e6frep5x-1226451595777

by **Pal Joey** Thu 16 Aug 2012, 9:12 am

Huge membership numbers for the Broncos. Advantage of being a 'one horse' town.

Parramatta used to have big membership numbers but now Souths (17,000) Dragons (13,500) and Canterbury (10,000) are the leading ones in Sydney.

Still a long way behind the AFL. Collingwood (55,000), Hawthorn (51,000), Adelaide (45,000), West Coast (43,000) and Essendon (37,000)

by George Hotel1895 Thu 16 Aug 2012, 9:24 am

The NRL clubs have a lot of hard work to to do to get memebership even near the AFL clubs. The NRL clubs have huge potentional in memebership numbers.
Its a shame about the Eels membership dropping, but their form of late has been poor. Like all NRL clubs they have to work harder to get the membership up.

by aucklandlaurie Thu 16 Aug 2012, 10:05 am

Apparently tomorrow night a number of the All blacks (including SBW) are going to the Canterbury v wests Tigers gam, at ANZ.

Absorb the feel of the ground etc, before their game against the Wallabys on Saturday night.

by **Pal Joey** Thu 16 Aug 2012, 10:07 am

They are training there just before the match, Laurie. Nice timing.

by Luke Fri 17 Aug 2012, 4:59 am

Laurie or LB

What has happened at the Warriors, last season grand finalists, to this season not getting into the 8. Is it done to McClellan or some other reason?

Also, what chance the Bulldogs winning the big one?

by George Hotel1895 Fri 17 Aug 2012, 8:24 am

Sam Burgess extends stay with the Rabbitohs.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sam-burgess-extends-deal-with-south-sydney-rabbitohs-until-2016/story-e6frexnr-1226452768987

by aucklandlaurie Fri 17 Aug 2012, 10:30 am

tigerrobins wrote:Laurie or LB

What has happened at the Warriors, last season grand finalists, to this season not getting into the 8. Is it done to McClellan or some other reason?

Also, what chance the Bulldogs winning the big one?

The warriors are just imploding at the moment, and now they are having talks with steve Kearney to se if he can come and help Bluey, Go figure.

My problem with Mcclennan, even 10 years ago when he was a suburban coach here is that players never seemed to improve when they were being coached by him,nor did teams as a whole improve over a season, the only Auckland comps he won back then were because he had the biggest sponsors and went out and bought the best players, in other words he bought championships.

I have heard that there are now people in Leeds that are now saying the same thing on looking back at his tenure there.What Bluey is good at is the motivation for one off games, and it works for test matches, but when it comes to 26 weeks in a row competitions like the NRL , then after a while you get found out, and thats whats happening now.

Your question about the Bulldogs is very timely, McClennan lacked the coaching ability to address Krisnan Inu's technical frailties, and it frustrated the hell out of him (bluey) so he let him go, about 8 weeks ago. Dessy Hasler at the Bulldogs snapped him up straight away, and krisnan has not played a losing game of league in the last two months and has scored a lot of points for the Bulldogs into the bargain.

Normally I believe a new coach in the NRL needs two years to have a decent shot at it, but not with McClennan, we (those of us that have been around Auckland League for more than 5 minutes) know that he just hasnt got the ability, without having to wait another year.

Just another point on the Bulldogs, i dont know what coverage you get of the NRL in Britain, but some of the tries being scored over the last few weeks by Ben Barba (bulldogs fullback) are well worth getting to have a look at.

by **Kenny** Fri 17 Aug 2012, 10:42 am

laurie

The NRL games are on a subscription channel in the UK , we do get a half hour ..sometimes an hour long NRL Fulltime show on Sky once a week so the coverage isn't great although you do see all the trys .

by aucklandlaurie Fri 17 Aug 2012, 10:43 am

Gotta go now and get on the remote, got two games of league to watch simultaneously, Balmain Tigers V Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm V Brisbane Broncos.

If a bloke cant find some thing interesting out of that, then youd have to have something wrong with you.

by **Kenny** Fri 17 Aug 2012, 10:44 am

Hull KR have agreed a deal with Travis Burns for the next season with a further 2 year deal also agreed if he stays out of trouble , just waiting for the clearance to come through before an announcement will be made .

by aucklandlaurie Fri 17 Aug 2012, 10:47 am

sorry kenny posts crossed.

I recommend if you can see those Barba tries he s doing some pretty amazing things, he not a craftsman type scoring fullback like Slater, Stewart, or Bowen... hes just a freek.

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