NRL General Discussion Thread

[tommy]

The Sea Eagles and Sharks have been issued breach notices for their press conference rant.

Sharks - $30,000
Sea Eagles - $20,000

Is it the club or the Coach it goes to? lol@Sharks

 

[Sproj]

Haha, love the asterix talk

Zigackly!!

 

[tommy]

Just saw it on the news. The fines go to the coaches and Flanagan got more because the Sharks made a video of an interview with Flanagan where he had another big whinge about the refs and they put it up on their website and emailed it to members.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Greenberg might be correct in these two specific instances, but to say the problem is not the referees is just flat out ignorance. If the refs aren't the problem, why did you spend millions on the bunker, Todd? Why have we been through about 10 referee bosses in as many years, Todd? Get your head out of your ass, Todd. There are about 5 terrible decisions on average per f**king game at this point. It isn't good enough, and its pissing the fans off, and you dare to wonder why Allianz Stadium looked like trash for the entire weekend.

 

[Morkel]

Greenberg might be correct in these two specific instances, but to say the problem is not the referees is just flat out ignorance. If the refs aren't the problem, why did you spend millions on the bunker, Todd? Why have we been through about 10 referee bosses in as many years, Todd? Get your head out of your ass, Todd. There are about 5 terrible decisions on average per f**king game at this point. It isn't good enough, and its pissing the fans off, and you dare to wonder why Allianz Stadium looked like trash for the entire weekend.

This is Greenberg. His tongue is both silver and forked, there isn't anything he says that isn't calculated.

Coaches aren't idiots, at least most of them aren't. They know the refs manipulate the contest, in fact you can go back to the Roosters in 2013 to see how being grubby and ill-disciplined works in a team's favour if the timing is right. But they're gagged, in fact no one seems to want to speak up about it, not publicly, unless you're Gould and shoot your mouth off randomly in the middle of a live call.

What Greenberg was saying, and it's obvious by the fact that he mentioned how close the finals games have been, is that under his watch he doesn't care about consistency of how and when rules are applied, so long as the contest is entertaining to the casual observer. Fans like us will keep watching. And the ones that do walk away will come back when their team starts winning again - and that's guaranteed to happen at some stage, because the manipulation of contests assures it.

He's happy with the refs, because they're doing exactly what they're told, the odd howler is even a good thing as it points to isolated errors and incompetence, masking the fact that the refereeing is very calculated in its inconsistency. He's happy with the Bunker, as it gives unprecedented control over even the most minute aspects of the game, and it does so clandestinely via direct feeds between the on-field and video refs.

Greenberg is simply telling the clubs and the coaches to suck it up. This is how he's running the game. Accept that it's just mindless entertainment and tow the line.

 

[Maddy1to9]

Just hoping that we don't need the mercy of refs come this Friday. The boys should turn up 1-17 and put on a nice show which should be consistent.

 

[Dash]

Want to hear a funny joke? Tedesco is the RLPA Player of the Year.

 

[Super Freak]

 

[Super Freak]

Want to hear a funny joke? Tedesco is the RLPA Player of the Year.

Lol, the ****? Who voted for that?

 

[Dash]

Lol, the ****? Who voted for that?

The players. The whole team of the year is very average. Konrad Hurrell is one of the centres, for example.

 

[Super Freak]

The players. The whole team of the year is very average. Konrad Hurrell is one of the centres, for example.

Some of those selections are spot on, and some are just mind-boggling.

Konrad Hurrell? David Nofoaluma on the wing? David Klemmer in the front row over Vaughan?

Are these players high? Or is there a certain selection criteria?

 

[Foordy]

Some of those selections are spot on, and some are just mind-boggling.

Konrad Hurrell? David Nofoaluma on the wing? David Klemmer in the front row over Vaughan?

Are these players high? Or is there a certain selection criteria?

apparently the players vote on a 3-2-1 basis after each game (for opposition players)

 

[Harry Sack]

apparently the players vote on a 3-2-1 basis after each game (for opposition players)

Which explains why Tedesco and a few others got the nod then. Who else in the Tigers are you going to give a 3 too?

 

[Super Freak]

Matt Scott named on the extended bench for the Cowboys.

It would be massive for them if he returns. However, this really sounds like mind games from Green.

 

[mitch222]

Matt Scott named on the extended bench for the Cowboys.

It would be massive for them if he returns. However, this really sounds like mind games from Green.

What would have been a mind **** would be naming Thurston at 7.
I bet they name him if they make the grand final

 

[Cult]

People are saying this is masterful mindgames but is it not pretty obvious that Scott won't be playing?

 

[Super Freak]

People are saying this is masterful mindgames but is it not pretty obvious that Scott won't be playing?

Minimum recovery time is 6 months, and it's been longer than that since he torn his ACL.

 

[Big Pete]

I feel like I've been living under a rock, but I only just learned about Manu Ma'us story. In 2007 he was sentenced to a 3-year jail term for assault and started playing in the NZRL National competition in 2011. Won a premiership with Auckland, got the call-up to the NSW Cup and could only play home games due to visa problems.

One of the Vulcans coaches put together a video and sent it out to clubs who needed a prop or backrow. Peter Nolan who was working for Parra at the time, received one of the videos and worked to get him over to Parramatta. Eventually Ma'u was signed for the Wentworthville Magpies in 2013 where he impressed then he received a call up in 2014 where he's gone onto represent his country.

Amazingly Matagi shares a very similar story. Same offence, around the same time period, both played for Auckland, both received a call up to the Vulcans and now both find themselves at Parramatta. Since they've become professional footballers, I can't think of one off-field incident, so it really goes to show what this game can do and the opportunity it gives men to turn their lives around.

Was always curious about Ma'u. I had no recollection of him in the NYC, so just assumed he was a product of the Magpies system who just made the most of his opportunity. I had no idea of his criminal history, Auckland or even just how old he is (29).

With the FoxSports channel, you kind of wish they'd dig deep and present these stories.