NRL '07 Thread

[Zaz]

Well, Round One kicks off this Friday with the teams being named today. So far we have;

The Titans:

1. Preston Campbell

2. Lelea Paea

3. Mat Rogers

4. Jake Webster

5. Chris Walker

6. Matt Hilder

7. Scott Prince ©

8. Luke Bailey©

9. Clint Amos

10. Kris Kahler

11. Anthony Laffranchi

12. Gavin Cooper

13. Luke Swain

14. Michael Henderson

15. James Stosic

16. Mark Minichiello

17. Josh Graham

18. Brett Delaney

19. Nathan Friend

The Roosters:

1. Anthony Minichiello,

2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall,

3. Joel Monaghan,

4. Iosia Soliola,

5. Sam Perrett,

6. Mitch Aubusson,

7. Josh Lewis,

8. Chris Beattie,

9. Craig Wing,

10. Danny Nutley,

11. Anthony Tupou,

12. Craig Fitzgibbon (capt),

13. Braith Anasta.

14. Mickey Paea,

15. Charlie Tonga,

16. Nate Myles,

17. Lopini Paea.

The Eels:

1 – Luke Burt

2 – Jarryd Hayne

3 – Ben Smith

4 – Timana Tahu

5 – Joel Reddy

6 – Brett Finch

7 – Tim Smith

8 – Nathan Cayless ©

9 – Mark Riddell

10 – Fuifui Moimoi

11 - Ian Hindmarsh

12 – Chad Robinson

13 – Daniel Wagon

14 – PJ Marsh

15 – Josh Cordoba

16 – Todd Lowrie

17 – Aaron Cannings

Titans could have picked a much better line up, IMO. Campbell at fullback? He's about 4'3". And I guess Burt did enough at fullback towards the end of last year to remain there for Parra, though I thought they would have been looking at Hayne for that? Maybe when Grothe gets back form injury.

[Guest Anti-Hero]

I agree that Campbell at fullback is just silly. Why not Rogers?

Anyway, who (besides Zaz) can confidently say their team is a shot at making the Grand Final this year? I think Penrith's in for another ordinary year, myself.

[Zaz]

CWB thinks Drugcastle can do it (somehow). There was also a Brisbane fan who posted in the last one but I forget who.

[Chris the Human]

Newcastle can make it because of three things

1). Andrew Johns - The greatest player in the modern game, and nobody can argue it anymore

2). Danny Buderus - Alongside Cameron Smith, the best hooker in the business. Reinvented the position

3). Brian Smith - Not alone, but his ability to nurture and develop juniors will turn the likes of Cory Patterson, Terrance Seu Seu, Akuila Uate, and James McManus into household names and future representative players.

I don't think we can win it this year, but people looking at the side and saying 'Who?' obviously forget that our Jersey Flegg side dominated last season and stumbled at the final hurdle. The guys I've listed above as well as guys like Kade Snowden, Luke Walsh, and Nathan Hinton will all be well known by the time the season is done.

-------------------------

And, so we can compare at season's end, here's my predicted ladder.

1. Melbourne Storm

2. Canterbury Bulldogs

3. Brisbane Broncos

4. Manly Sea Eagles

5. North Queensland Cowboys

6. Newcastle Knights

7. New Zealand Warriors

8. Parramatta Eels

9. South Sydney Rabbitohs

10. Cronulla Sharks

11. St George/Illawarra Dragons

12. Sydney Roosters

13. Penrith Panthers

14. Gold Coast Titans

15. Wests Tigers

16. Canberra Raiders

Edited March 15, 2007 by CWBush

[Zaz]

1. Manly Sea Eagles (Course)

2. The Bulldogs

3. Brisbane Broncos

4. Melbourne Storm

5. Newcastle Knights

6. North Queensland Cowboys

7. New Zealand Warriors

8. St. George Illawarra Dragons

9. Sydney Roosters

10. Canberra Raiders

11. Parramatta Eels

12. Wests Tigers

13. Cronulla Sharks

14. Gold Coast Titans

15. South Sydney Rabbitohs

16. Penrith Panthers

Finals:

Manly bt. The Dragons

Bulldogs bt. The Warriors

Brisbane bt. The Cowboys

Newcastle bt. The Storm

Newcastle bt. The Cowboys

Brisbane bt. The Storm

Manly bt. Newcastle

Bulldogs bt. Brisbane

Manly bt. Bulldogs (best backline verse best forward pack )

[Chris the Human]

Best backline? Are you forgetting Melbourne?

Anyway, in the spirit of posting my finals.

Melbourne def. Parramatta

Canterbury def. New Zealand

Newcastle def. Brisbane

Manly def. North Queensland

Newcastle def. Manly (We have your number, baby)

North Queensland def. Brisbane

Melbourne def. Newcastle

North Queensland def. Canterbury

Melbourne def. North Queensland

1. Melbourne Storm

2. Canterbury Bulldogs

3. Brisbane Broncos

4. Manly Sea Eagles

5. North Queensland Cowboys

6. Newcastle Knights

7. New Zealand Warriors

8. Parramatta Eels

[Zaz]

1. Billy Slater vs. Brett Stewart- Slater made all of 3 games last year?

2. Matt Geyer vs. Chris Hicks- Geyer's too old

3. Matt King vs. Steve Bell- Tight, call it a draw

4. Anthony Quinn vs. Steve Matai

5. Israel Folau vs. Michael Robertson- I don't care about the wraps on the bloke, he's unproven at this level

6. Greg Inglis vs. Jamie Lyon- Feh, draw

7. Cooper Cronk vs. Matt Orford- Mainly due to experience

Might call Stewart/Slater a draw too, as these two have the highest rate of scoring tries in the NRL, but Slater has too much dirty shit in his game.

[Chris the Human]

Slater over Stewart. If he stays fit, he's a better player

Geyer over Hicks. What the fuck has Hicks done in his career? Nothing

King over Bell. It's tight, but King is still better.

Quinn over Matai. Given Matai's likely to play in lock, I don't think it's much of a contest.

Dead heat in the other wing. Both aren't anything remarkably.

Inglis is leagues ahead of Lyon

Orford over Cronk

[Guest Anti-Hero]

I'd pick Melbourne for premiers this year, barring any major injuries. Won't even try to predict anything else, but if Penrith somehow makes the Top 8 that would be a huge bonus (wouldn't mind Parra or Wests making the Finals either, since they're the only other teams I care about).

And Zaz, I'm going to be at Parra Stadium for Round 20 with my Dad (Parra fan) just for what promises to be a tremendous reception for Jamie Lyon.

[Zaz]

Slater over Stewart. If he stays fit, he's a better player

Geyer over Hicks. What the fuck has Hicks done in his career? Nothing

King over Bell. It's tight, but King is still better.

Quinn over Matai. Given Matai's likely to play in lock, I don't think it's much of a contest.

Dead heat in the other wing. Both aren't anything remarkably.

Inglis is leagues ahead of Lyon

Orford over Cronk

[Chris the Human]

Also, what the fuck has Quinn done in his career?

[Zaz]

Hicks has played Country Origin a couple of times (first time in 2001, and he played the last two years, I think. Not sure about the others).

Lyon got MOS in his first year. They probably didn't want him to win it two years in a row >_>

[Guest Anti-Hero]

Jamie Lyon. I play Virtual NRL, and his 14 point haul will ensure I will kick my mate's arse this week. I seriously think we should guage interest and hold an EWB Cup. Virtual NRL Website

EDIT: BTW, anybody else think Sonny Bill deserved that send-off? It was either intentional or just a very lazy effort, but still very much worth a suspension for a couple of weeks.

Edited March 18, 2007 by Anti-Hero

[Zaz]

AH, I'm already in a VRL league and we'd only have about 4 people willing to sign-up for it, unfortunately.

Good thing Melbourne is devoid of all League coverage, so I could get back to Sydney and watch the replay today on Fox. Orford's a legend with Glen Stewart the next best on field. Also, we'd have to go close to the best hairdo's in the comp- King, Kite and Matai bald, Bell naturally balding, Williamson a mullet, and Glen Stewart and Hicks with full-blown beards. We are the sex

[Guest olla666]

Let's go Cowboys! Finally we could beat the Broncs

[Guest Anti-Hero]

Haha, South Sydney! Good on 'em, hope they go well this year. Now I wish I could've actually watched it, but I'm getting Fox in a fortnight.

[Zaz]

Guess who's on top of the table, boys!

[Guest Anti-Hero]

Guess who's on top of the table, boys!

Edited March 19, 2007 by Anti-Hero

[Zaz]

Cronulla? Nah.

[Chris the Human]

Manly beat the wooden spoon favourites.

We beat the premiership favourites.

I'll take our win, because we still get to play Canberra later in the year