Thread: Rugby League 2019

Originally Posted by TizMe

Faaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrkkkk.....

Concur, Tigers were the better team for 78 minutes. So many if only moments killed them.

... and how did Manly win that?

^By the Bunnies making too many handling errors at crucial moments. By Bunnies, I mean anyone named Burgess.

Well here we go again.... I expect the broncos to play their best game of the season after such a shit first 4 rounds.. Tigers will continue their race to the bottom

I hope that Esan Marsters has had lots of good kicking practice since last weekends fuckup.

The Doggies were extremely unlucky to lose to the Storm last weekend.

Their season has turned since their disastrous start.

Originally Posted by TizMe

I swear this game's gonna send me to any early grave.

How do you think Broncos fans are going then??!!!!.

Brisbane looked like an Under 8's team who didn't have their parents and coach running up and down the sidelines telling them what to do. They're getting a flogging off the field too by ex players, fans, and the press, and so they fucking should be. This whole Milford Nikorima McCullogh Boyd thing has been given way too long, it's never going to work

My daughter is a Bronco's fan. She had the misfortune of being born when I lived in Brisbane.

Her grand father (mother's dad) and I tried desperately to make her a Tiger fan, but lost out to peer pressure from her school friends.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

We need a Cooper Cronk / Cameron Smith (the footy player, not the Aussie golfer) style player who can manage the game on-field.

We've got one, his name's Milford and he's on the same money as genuine superstar game managers like Cronk/Smith which makes him the highest paid player in Bronco's history. I'd kick the cvnt into the QRL - like Bennett did to Ben Hunt - and give some young halves out of reserve grade or feeder clubs a run. Couldn't be any worse could it?.

Honestly, I can see the fans booing them off at their next home game if they keep playing like this and that's never happened before at Lang Park.

Originally Posted by Headworx

We've got one, his name's Milford

They've got him playing in the wrong position.

Just like the Knights, they think just because Lockyer and a few others have benefited their teams by moving a great full-back into five-eigth, that any good full-back should do the same.

Knights have been smart enough to realise that Ponga needs to back to full-back.

"you only need one ball to play football" - Tommy Raudonikis

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/tom...22-h091sa.html

Tommy Raudonikis in fight for his life after fresh cancer diagnosis : article by Roy Masters

"Pray for Tommy this Christmas" was the front page headline in the now defunct Sydney afternoon newspaper, The Sun, more than 30 years ago.


I wrote the story of the battle Tom Raudonikis, the international halfback then coaching in Brisbane, was having with testicular cancer.

It was the first of Tom's five serious medical problems but memorable for his very detailed instructions to the surgeon on which parts of his anatomy must not be removed.


Following the successful operation, a very relieved Tommy declared, "you only need one ball to play football". Now, on the eve of another Christmas, he needs a cathedral full of fervent prayers.


Tom has cancer of the neck and was operated on at Sydney's Prince of Wales hospital last week, with the surgeon telling him his chances of surviving are only one in three, while also using a football analogy to point out, positively, that these odds are better than the one in 11 success rate of the NSW team in recent State of Origin history.


The surgeon was not able to remove all the cancerous tissue, tentacles dangerously close to the carotid artery, an evil vine seeking to strangle a life source desperately struggling to reach the sunlight and rid itself of all these medical miseries.


Between the testicular cancer and the neck surgery, Tom has endured a quadruple bypass 11 years ago; treatment for cancer of the throat and was on the eve of serious back surgery when tests exposed his latest challenge.


His 15-year-old grandson, Jake Kedzlie, died in April 2013, during a rugby league match.


It seems cruelly consistent that this 67-year-old, who has endured so much, would lose the boy he loved to the game he loved.


Tom returned to his Gold Coast home on Wednesday with his devoted partner Trish ("My stomach feels as if it has been in a washing machine") and they will travel daily to Brisbane for chemotherapy and radiation.


Trish texted Tom's former Newtown president and long-time friend John Singleton with the grim prognosis, saying, "Tom said to tell you he has a one in three chance!! He'll take that."


Singo, the gambler, took the same optimistic tack as the surgeon, replying immediately: "How much [money] we having on it?"


Then he quickly followed with a text highlighting Tom's legendary fighting spirit: "I wouldn't like to be the other 2 tommy has to beat. Or that poor f------ cancer!!!!"


Singo got it right with his reaction to Tom's latest medical challenge, unlike the ruse he played ahead of the quadruple bypass surgery.


Tom has an endearing habit of being gullible with those he loves while retaining a radar like accuracy for detecting duplicity in those he distrusts.


For weeks, Singo had co-conspirators phoning Tommy pretending to be Eddie McGuire who was then boss of Channel Nine. The ruse revolved around giving Tommy a gig on the Footy Show, conditional on his heart operation being televised live.


Singo's son, Jack, almost gave the game away when he suggested the winner of a $1000 prize also be given the honour of holding Tom's heart up during the operation in Heart Awareness Week.


The winner was to say, "Look at his heart. It's bigger than Phar Lap's". But when Singo's fake Channel Nine crew invaded Sydney's St Vincent's hospital, Tommy blew up.


Angry that the dignity of his fellow five patients in the public ward had been diminished, he ordered the cameramen out, threatening to belt them.
Similarly, this week, the only thoughts he had for this story was a mention of his two doctors, Ian Jacobsen the ENT surgeon and Bob Smee, the radiologist, together with the ever-helpful staff of Prince of Wales.


When Tommy was treated for the throat cancer at the same hospital a few years ago, he gave his name to a race meeting at Randwick to raise funds for cancer research.


He concedes the cancer is "very aggressive" and admits to rare moments when he reflects on the cruelty of life.


But he quickly dismisses them, balling his first as he strikes at the invisible foe, saying, "I can't think like that. I've got to keep going."


It should be no mystery why Tommy is universally loved. His twin defining characteristics are a searing honesty and a commitment to hard work. He is incapable of telling a lie, his admission of the truth ending a relationship.


Unlike some champion footballers of his era, he has always worked hard, earning the nickname, "Tommy Tomato" while labouring at Brisbane market; a timely Tom when delivering bathroom supplies in south-east Queensland, and tale-telling Tom while traversing the state on fund-raising nights with the late Arthur Beetson, his opposing captain in that inaugural State of Origin match in 1980.


He was also born without pretence, or "side" as our parents called it. When mobile phones came on the market, he kept an old circular dial handset on the front passenger seat of his car.


When he pulled up at traffic lights and observed a yuppie speaking into a mobile phone, he would mock him by lifting up the ancient handset and hold an imaginary conversation. He is comfortable in a wheelchair at airports, or using a frame, because he knows its need is genuine.


His arguments with friends rarely last long, although Singo was sent to Coventry over the Channel Nine thing. When Tom called Singo on another matter, Singo said, "Does this mean we are mates?" Tom replied, "Not yet."
But he did concede Singo saved him ahead of the bypass surgery when he insisted all those signed up for the Kokoda trek take a cardiology test.


Tommy had not been making any progress on a giant hill near Brisbane and resolved to make one determined attack on it the afternoon following his scheduled treadmill test.


But shortly into the morning test, warning lights flashed, he was dragged off the machine and quadruple bypass surgery followed. Yet he climbed a mountain in Borneo with Singo a year later and walked the Kokoda track with us in 2012.


When he flew to Sydney a couple of weeks ago for biopsies ahead of his neck surgery, we met in a Surry Hills hotel.


I had earlier that day been given a "Growler" by Gary Johnston, the owner of electronics retailer Jaycar, the sponsor of the Bulldogs. A Growler is a thermos that holds five schooners of beer.


When Gary heard of Tom's latest medical setback, he insisted I give it to Tom.


We were joined by former St George captain Craig Young and Tom's Newtown teammate Col Murphy.





Nanny state restrictions meant we couldn't fill the container from the pub's beer tap but we christened it anyway. Someone suggested an alternative use of the Growler would be to store Tom's Y chromosomes for later use to produce an assembly line of NSW halfbacks.


It was the only way, it was conjectured, the Blues could beat Queensland. It would also be the only way the world will ever see another Tommy Raudonikis.

Call me thick, but why is Newcastle, at home, wearing a pseudo Wests Tigers Jersey?

Yeah, I've seen them wear that jersey when playing at home against the Tigers.

I was teaching TizShe about NRL att the time. It was very confusing.

They call it the "Hi-viz Mining" jersey.

Greg Inglis, one of rugby league's most decorated players, has announced his immediate retirement from the game after a string of injuries and other off-field battles.

Key points:

• Ingliss' 2018 season was plagued by a shoulder injury which he managed with painkillers
• His retirement also means Queensland's State of Origin side is looking for a new captain
• He won grand finals with the Melbourne Storm in 2007 and 2009, but they were subsequently stripped of those titles

He had previously said he planned to retire at the end of the 2020 season, but met with club officials this morning, and revealed his intentions at a press conference shortly afterwards.
"This is no retirement due to mental illness or injuries or anything," he said.

"I just think it is time and the right decision for myself and I have been contemplating it for a while now."
He set the tone for his glittering career by scoring a try in his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2005, and went on to play 263 top grade games for that club and South Sydney.

He also scored in 18 State of Origin tries in 32 matches for Queensland, and played 39 Tests for Australia.

Here

Inglis when fit was virtually unstoppable and his retirement is a bog blow for the Rabbitohs.

He sure was a fantastic player.
Its just a pity that he was so crap at geography!

Rumour has it the Darius Boyd might move to the Rabbits.

Originally Posted by TizMe

Rumour has it the Darius Boyd might move to the Rabbits.

LOL... Now James Roberts as well.

Originally Posted by TizMe

Rumour has it the Darius Boyd might move to the Rabbits.

Well, he does follow Benny around like a lap dog.

He's been lack lustre @ the Broncos this season under their new coach.


The guy Souths have listed @ Fullback, Corey Allan is a newbie, played off the bench in the first game and on the wing
in his next 3 games.


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I'm not a Roberts fan except when he's in clean air and he does motor well.

Would be a handy stop gap for Inglis leaving.

He's a bit injury prone.

Solid enough defender.

BIG week-end of Footy over the Easter.

NOW (from the Bookie) ...

Cronulla Sharks ($1.70) v Penrith Panthers ($2.15)

Sharks to continue recent dominance against Panthers


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Canterbury Bulldogs ($3.20) v South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.35)

Souths to edge traditional Good Friday match

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My game of the Round, maybe of the year!

Melbourne Storm ($1.90) v Sydney Roosters ($1.90)

A field goal could decide this top of the table clash


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Ending with Parra in their first game at their new, purpose built Stadium

Parramatta Eels ($1.84) v Wests Tigers ($1.96)

Tigers to win first match at new stadium

Entertaining Sharks comeback from 14-0 at half time to win 20-24

Bronson Xerri showed his blistering speed to run around Watene-Zelezniak and turn the game around.

^Jeez he's got some speed for an 18 year old, burned the fullback like he was standing still. His running style and step reminds me very much of Mark Gasnier.

Fantastic to see the Panthers fall apart and the pressure piling on turncoat/liar Ivan Cleary. Wouldn't matter who coached them though, they're nothing like a top-4 team and are no chance of winning the Premiership this year again. Which will be absolutely no fault of Gould, who wanted Bennett to be the coach and was happy to talk about that as soon as Penrith started losing

Roosters beat the Storm 21-20 in golden point for a 2018 grand final replay.

21 year old Sitili Tupouniua made a fantastic line break in extra time to set the Roosters up to snatch the game.


We've got some awesome young talent coming into to the NRL.