Rugby League 2015: The Pride of the Forums

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > Rugby League 2015: The Pride of the Forums

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stickyfngrdboy: Oct 21, 2010

Joe Burgess is a class act, he'll do well down under.

# ? Jan 23, 2015 19:06

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# ? Apr 18, 2024 13:28

Apollodorus: Feb 13, 2010; TEST YOUR MIGHT

MacDougall posted:

Because they are utterly useless.

I was hoping the answer was "in the 90s they started hiring nutritionists and discovered that players could vastly improve their performance if they expanded their diets beyond pies and XXXX and now they're all hulking Greek gods of footy who have no need for puny shoulder padding" but your answer works too.

# ? Jan 23, 2015 23:54

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

Apollodorus posted:

I was hoping the answer was "in the 90s they started hiring nutritionists and discovered that players could vastly improve their performance if they expanded their diets beyond pies and XXXX and now they're all hulking Greek gods of footy who have no need for puny shoulder padding" but your answer works too.

Some players still wear them, mainly old or coming back from injury, and they tend to be the more hugging suit like type of pads (Jonathon Thurston does) rather than the old monsters of old.

But yeah players are hulking Greek gods compared to yesteryear and pads seem to make life more difficult.

# ? Jan 24, 2015 06:32

Contra Duck: Nov 4, 2004; #1 DAD

This sounds viable and not completely absurd at all.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/26/salford-red-devils-marwan-koukash-english-team-nrl

quote:

Salford owner Marwan Koukash wants �British Bulldogs� to play in NRL

The Salford Red Devils� owner, Marwan Koukash, said a bold plan to base an English team in the NRL is financially viable.

Koukash wants the �British Bulldogs� to compete in an expanded NRL from 2018, playing home games around England and at a halfway house in Dubai.

Koukash, who has put between �3m and �4m of his own money into Salford since saving them from financial ruin two years ago, is prepared to bankroll the plan and has sponsors already lined up.

Koukash tried to buy an Australian club in 2014 but has made little progress and said: �This is a better way of me getting into the NRL. It boils down to whether the NRL want to expand but, if they do, I can�t see why an English team cannot participate.

�The distances involved would be greater but the world is a much smaller place nowadays. It would work, it is financially viable. I have got a major airline willing to back it and I have a hotel group also willing to provide sponsorship � and we haven�t started to market it yet. It is three years in the planning.�

Koukash says one of the motivations behind his plan is to counter the threat from rugby union following Sam Burgess�s code switch to Bath.

�People are worried about losing players to the NRL but the biggest danger to rugby league in this country is rugby union,� he said. �The rugby union are aggressively marketing their product in our heartland, so why can�t we take our game to their place?

�We would have the best rugby league players in the world playing in Gloucester, London and Manchester and I would also like to play one of the games in Dubai. I have already held initial talks about that.�

Koukash, who said the British Bulldogs concept would not have an impact on his involvement with Salford, has run the idea past the NRL, who are toying with the idea of increasing their number of clubs from 16 when their television deal expires at the end of 2017.

Additional teams in New Zealand and Queensland are among the likely bidders for a place in the NRL, alongside Perth and the Central Coast.

Koukash, who said the English team would operate under the NRL salary cap, is set to unveil further ambitious plans for the game when he launches Salford�s 2015 Super League season at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 02:55

Mills: Jun 13, 2003

NRL Supercoach launches at midnight tonight FYI.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 03:04

Jono C: Mar 28, 2007; Adam is a wonderful example of how a player should go about his business in the NRL

Contra Duck posted:

This sounds viable and not completely absurd at all.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/26/salford-red-devils-marwan-koukash-english-team-nrl

I'd love to be the team that has to play in London in week 1 of the finals then turn around and play the next week on the other side of the world.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 05:21

iajanus: Aug 17, 2004; NUMBER 1 QUEENSLAND SUPPORTER
MAROONS 2023 STATE OF ORIGIN CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE

I'm pretty sure I haven't hit my head this morning but is he seriously expecting players to do regular 20+ hour trips for away games?

# ? Jan 27, 2015 05:29

Apollodorus: Feb 13, 2010; TEST YOUR MIGHT

That is stupider than a London-based NFL team, which is saying something considering Rugby League is a sport invented and already actually played quite often in England.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 05:56

Thinking: Jan 22, 2009

I'd actually be completely okay with the Canterbury Bulldogs spending most of their time on the other side of the world, though

# ? Jan 27, 2015 08:46

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

The English have an enclave in Perth, why not base them there? Perth is full of blow-ins anyway.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 09:25

stickyfngrdboy: Oct 21, 2010

He just wants the press coverage, he loves it.

# ? Jan 27, 2015 16:46

Smorgasbord: Jun 18, 2004; Our review identified changes needed to be made and, in Stephen, we have a coach who has a reputation for demanding the highest standards.

Yeah that's classic attention whore media bait that will never go anywhere.

# ? Jan 28, 2015 05:00

Red_Museum: Apr 17, 2011; Shredded Hen

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/auckland-nines-2015-cowboys-forced-to-change-nines-squad/story-fni3g8pa-1227198725072

quote:

THE Cowboys have had to redraw their NRL Nines squad after Kane Linnett was charged with drink driving and Lachlan Coote lost his passport

NRL season's getting closer.

# ? Jan 28, 2015 06:07

Smorgasbord: Jun 18, 2004; Our review identified changes needed to be made and, in Stephen, we have a coach who has a reputation for demanding the highest standards.

Red_Museum posted:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/auckland-nines-2015-cowboys-forced-to-change-nines-squad/story-fni3g8pa-1227198725072

NRL season's getting closer.

at Coote 'losing' his passport, he just doesn't want to risk another pre-season season ending injury.

# ? Jan 28, 2015 06:52

iajanus: Aug 17, 2004; NUMBER 1 QUEENSLAND SUPPORTER
MAROONS 2023 STATE OF ORIGIN CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE

I don't care how much of a jersey whore I come off as by saying this, but the new Tigers training jersey is beyond awesome and I must own it now.

# ? Jan 28, 2015 11:49

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

It approaches.

foxsports posted:

TIGERS prop Matt Lodge has been stood down from training after being arrested earlier this month, with the NRL�s Integrity Unit launching an investigation into the incident.

Reports emerged on Wednesday that Lodge, who was sanctioned by the NRL last year for writing �c***� on his wrist strapping while playing for NSW in their Under-20s State of Origin fixture, was arrested earlier this month in notorious Sydney nightspot Kings Cross.

�Wests Tigers can confirm that Matthew Lodge has been charged by the NSW Police following an altercation in the early hours of Sunday 11 January 2015,� the Tigers said in a statement on Wednesday.

�The club finds Lodge�s actions unacceptable and is cooperating fully with the NRL Integrity Unit.

�Lodge was stood down from training for one week due to a breach of club protocol and further punishment will be considered once the NRL Integrity Unit has concluded investigating the matter.

�Wests Tigers will make no further comment at this time.�

According to reports, Lodge, who has played four NRL games for the Tigers, after joining them from Melbourne last season, was arrested after refusing to leave a Kings Cross nightclub.

# ? Jan 29, 2015 07:55

Puckish Rogue: Jun 24, 2010

every year cronk, smith and slater get a little older and unlike all of you guys I get sad

# ? Jan 30, 2015 15:35

Smorgasbord: Jun 18, 2004; Our review identified changes needed to be made and, in Stephen, we have a coach who has a reputation for demanding the highest standards.

Dalai Trauma posted:

every year cronk, smith and slater get a little older and unlike all of you guys I get sad

Don't feel too bad, they have plenty of ~~premierships~~ over cap payments to console themselves with.

# ? Jan 30, 2015 19:48

Ewar Woowar: Feb 25, 2007

Yeah gently caress them and gently caress the Storm. They got off so lightly for that bullshit.

# ? Jan 30, 2015 20:38

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Woo! 9s today!

# ? Jan 30, 2015 21:32

Jono C: Mar 28, 2007; Adam is a wonderful example of how a player should go about his business in the NRL

Dalai Trauma posted:

every year cronk, smith and slater get a little older and unlike all of you guys I get sad

Every year, an empty marquee in Melbourne gets a little larger, and Cronk, Smith and Slater feel a little better about getting older.

bowmore posted:

Woo! 9s today!

After a month of loving amazing weather, It's grey and drizzly in Auckland right now and the forecast for today and tomorrow isn't great. Hopefully it doesn't affect the atmosphere.

# ? Jan 30, 2015 21:44

Apollodorus: Feb 13, 2010; TEST YOUR MIGHT

Something to look forward to before I pretend to care about the Super Bowl, yay.

# ? Jan 30, 2015 21:47

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Jono C posted:

After a month of loving amazing weather, It's grey and drizzly in Auckland right now and the forecast for today and tomorrow isn't great. Hopefully it doesn't affect the atmosphere.

fingers crossed!

# ? Jan 30, 2015 22:03

Smorgasbord: Jun 18, 2004; Our review identified changes needed to be made and, in Stephen, we have a coach who has a reputation for demanding the highest standards.

Hoping the Warriors tear poo poo up like they did on day 1 last year.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 00:06

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Carn Eels

# ? Jan 31, 2015 00:37

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

9s are fun to watch

# ? Jan 31, 2015 00:41

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Sione not In the first game whaaaat

# ? Jan 31, 2015 00:54

Jono C: Mar 28, 2007; Adam is a wonderful example of how a player should go about his business in the NRL

gently caress off Darryl Halligan.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:00

Red_Museum: Apr 17, 2011; Shredded Hen

Mullen brought his kicking game

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:03

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Didn't realise until now the other team got the ball when you score a try

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:04

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

gently caress Mamo is fast

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:15

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

Melbourne so far, are poo poo.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:33

Smorgasbord: Jun 18, 2004; Our review identified changes needed to be made and, in Stephen, we have a coach who has a reputation for demanding the highest standards.

MiniSune posted:

Melbourne so far, are poo poo.

They can take their afl jerseys and gently caress off home.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:36

Red_Museum: Apr 17, 2011; Shredded Hen

Sin bin actually got used

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:39

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Smorgasbord posted:

They can take their afl jerseys and gently caress off home.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 01:47

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

Tigers need to learn about last tackle options.

edit: Don't know how we won that.

MiniSune fucked around with this message at 02:48 on Jan 31, 2015

# ? Jan 31, 2015 02:33

Jono C: Mar 28, 2007; Adam is a wonderful example of how a player should go about his business in the NRL

The last few games were a bit too defensive and boring for my liking.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 04:05

bowmore: Oct 6, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Obstruction isn't a thing in the 9s

# ? Jan 31, 2015 04:34

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

Parra look ominous. But still have Sandow so not a sure thing.

# ? Jan 31, 2015 04:59

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# ? Apr 18, 2024 13:28

MiniSune: Sep 16, 2003; Smart like Dodo!

Manly vs Saints was quite entertaining.

Edit: gently caress the Tigers are giving me unrealistic pre-season hope again.

MiniSune fucked around with this message at 06:35 on Jan 31, 2015

# ? Jan 31, 2015 05:16

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > Rugby League 2015: The Pride of the Forums

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