RLWC 2021 Week 1 Discussion

[Morkel]

everyone has to use the squad numbering system assigning each player a number for the whole tournament.

but if you look closely at their squad they've gone with a system that issues players numbers based on their likely best 17 status

Yep, pretty much named a 1-24 (with the 1-17 the expected full strength side) and then just ordered it in alphabetical order with Tompkins first as he's the Big C.

 

[BroncsFan]

England taking the piss or did they agree to the number system, as well?

They're just alphabetical order... the numbers generally align with the starting 13 though

1. Thompkins
2. Hall
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Herbie
7. Williams
8. George Burgess
10. Luke Thompson
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Radley

 

[Super Freak]

Samoa taking the piss as well.

 

[Foordy]

Samoa taking the piss as well.

If by taking the piss, you mean naming their team list in alphabetical order, then yes they're taking the piss

 

[Sproj]

Maika sick at lock for Fiji. Whoever thought of this system should be shot. How difficult is it to get simple stuff right in league man?

 

[Super Freak]

If by taking the piss, you mean naming their team list in alphabetical order, then yes they're taking the piss

Yes, taking the piss out of Australia by naming their side a similar way.

 

[mitch222]

Bit skinny on the forwards in the first game. Wont want to play NZ will that bench.

 

[Super Freak]

The concussion protocols for this tournament are going to make it interesting.

Any player that fails a HIA will be automatically sidelined for 11 days. There is an exception where they can return to play in 7 days, but only if certain criteria are met.

• No previous concussions in 12 months

• No category 1 features

• No history of complex / multiple concussions in career.

• Asymptomatic the day following concussion

• A concussion-specialist review, stating they are happy for the player to return to play at seven days

• A letter from the team doctor, stating their clinical reasoning behind allowing the player to return to play in seven days

• A consent form from the player, detailing they have read and understood both the specialists and team doctors’ letter, are aware of the risks, and are happy to return to play at seven days.

Most games have a turnaround that's less than 7 days, so just about anyone that fails a HIA will be ruled out for the following game, which I think should be mandatory anyway.

This is the return to play protocol.

 

[theshed]

Is this the strongest Samoan team ever assembled? It’s got to be their best spine right?

 

[Fitzy]

Is this the strongest Samoan team ever assembled? It’s got to be their best spine right?

You’d have to think but still their spine is by long and far the shittest part of their team.

 

[Allo]

The concussion protocols for this tournament are going to make it interesting.

Any player that fails a HIA will be automatically sidelined for 11 days. There is an exception where they can return to play in 7 days, but only if certain criteria are met.

• No previous concussions in 12 months

Half the players will be ineligible to play then

 

[Super Freak]

 

[Wolfie]

Is this the strongest Samoan team ever assembled? It’s got to be their best spine right?

They will beat England imo. Without Lomax steering them around i dont think they will beat the Samoan's

 

[Super Freak]

They will beat England imo. Without Lomax steering them around i dont think they will beat the Samoan's

They have Williams who did quite well in the NRL and Welsby had a pretty good year for St Helens and was the young POTY.

Samoa have a good side, but their spine is a real let down for them. I don't see them as much of a threat as people make out.

 

[Wolfie]

They have Williams who did quite well in the NRL and Welsby had a pretty good year for St Helens and was the young POTY.

Samoa have a good side, but their spine is a real let down for them.

Neither are anywhere near the player Jonny is. He's the one who adds the composure to the England side in a similar way to what Cronk used to bring ( although he isnt the same sort of player Cronk was ).

Welsby is talent. Should have won MOS i reckon. Reminds me a lot of a more versatile Matt Burton.

 

[BroncsFan]

This coverage from Fox is fucking garbage.

They've spent an hour talking about the Australian side... not Aust vs Fiji, just Australia.... even though Eng vs Samoa is game 1.

And now when they're finally forced to talk about England they talk about fucking Victor.

They've spent the last 6 months talking about NRL and when there's a chance to talk about something outside of Australia... they instead talk about Australians playing in those teams... FMD

 

[Super Freak]

That's a pretty good crowd.

 

[Super Freak]

This coverage from Fox is fucking garbage.

They've spent an hour talking about the Australian side... not Aust vs Fiji, just Australia.... even though Eng vs Samoa is game 1.

And now when they're finally forced to talk about England they talk about fucking Victor.

They've spent the last 6 months talking about NRL and when there's a chance to talk about something outside of Australia... they instead talk about Australians playing in those teams... FMD

This is one reason why I loved Channel 7's coverage of the 2013 WC.

Their coverage was pretty good. When a game was up, they discussed that game, the teams involved and the players and they were pretty good discussions. Their post-game coverage was pretty good, as well.