NRL 2018
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Good to see we're keeping with the Hyphen tradition.
There's a number of injured players unavailable in addition to the unreleased Warriors. This squad will be competitive for about 40 minutes. We lack a bit of class in there.
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@act-crusader The forward pack is pretty good, the backline is ok but the bench is kaka. I give them 60 minutes of good footy and then it will be a tough final 20 minutes. England has Widdop, Graham and three Burgess bros and that will probably be enough for them to win the exhibition game.
Got me thinking though: what is our best 17? Best I could think up was....
1.Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Peta Hiku 4. Dean Whare 5.Jordan Kahu 6.Te Maire Martin 7.Shaun Johnson 8.Jesse Bromwich 9.Isaac Luke 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11.Joseph Tapine 12.Tohu Harris 13.Adam Blair Bench: 14.Kodi Nikorima 15.Martin Taupau 16.James Fisher-Harris 17.Corey Harawira-Naera
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@sneakdefreak if Rapana was fit, he wouldn’t make your 17?
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@act-crusader I guess Rapana would be in there ahead of DWZ (who has never impressed me) but how's his form been this season? I think he's currently injured.
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@sneakdefreak yes currently injured. Did his hamstring quite badly a week or so ago. Out for 8 weeks.
His form has been okay in what has been a tough season for the Raiders. Not as prolific as the past two seasons, but still a makes good yards. Try scoring opportunities have been few and far between. -
@Sneakdefreak
Have Levi and Takairangi been dropped or are they injured? -
@bovidae Think McGuire has moved on from a few of the older role players like Takarangi. Esan Marsters probably replaces him as the centre/secondrow option, plus Marsters is rated highly at Wests and can kick goals. Dunno why Levi missed out (maybe Newcastle refused to release him).
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What could possibly go wrong?
"Veteran hooker Robbie Farah is returning to the Wests Tigers after the Rabbitohs granted him a release from the remainder of the final year of his contract.
The Wests Tigers announced the deal via their website on Wednesday afternoon."
Farah seals deal to return to Tigers
Veteran hooker Robbie Farah is returning to the Wests Tigers after the Rabbitohs granted him a release from the remainder of the final year of his contract.
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why? just, why? What makes you sign the bloke?
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Well, we're slipping down the ladder anyway so why not make sure the season is a disaster?
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@raznomore said in NRL 2018:
I like the idea of us having tests while State of Origin is one but this is NZ A not a test tem.
I've said the whole time that this is an exhibition game hence why I'm ok with a number of players deciding to not take part.
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Final score 42-18 to England. Kiwis performed better than expected, and if they were a bit more accurate they might have run away with it in the first half.
Sometimes league is so stupid. Rather than have an Aussie ref they have an Englishman. Unsurprisingly the penalty count favoured England with a lot of 50/50s called and then not called. The difference in numbers is probably due to the difference in international rules etc - but it really is stupid have a ref from one of the competing teams.
Marsters had a good debut, but he needs to work on his final play options. DWZ had a cracking game. Luke was mostly good. In fact, despite the score most of the Kiwis played well.
They looked much better coached than the rabble from last year and they'll be confident for the end of year tour (assuming they don't have 'injuries' etc gutting the squad again).
