Hi,
I like to put together the odd review for the NRL products and as I bought a little bit of this release I thought I would do the same. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions.
Pricing
$4 per packet is spot on in terms of the product available. It is good to see that TNP haven't gone on a massive cash grab and upped the price. Select 09/10 were $4 per packet also.
Packaging
I am not sure if it is the two extra packets in the top of the box, the way the staff at stockists are opening the boxes for display or other factors but there are lots of damaged cards, particularly the parallels.
Availability
They seem to be everywhere, except my local newsagents! I live on the Southside of Brisbane and have found a few servo's, 7Eleven and one newsagent but most of those are sold out now and haven't received anymore stock. I am also yet to see a folder in my local area. For a 'mass' release I expected this stuff to be everywhere. Many of the newsagents who had stock last year in my local area do not have any this year.
Commons
These are excellent. I am a big fan of the entire base set but particularly the test team. The re-printing of the cards was certainly a good option because these look and feel great. I am not an IP collector so I would like a comment as to how well these come up signed.
Parallels
Again these are excellent. The silver and gold borders add a nice touch to an already good looking base card. The golds are obviously very hard to complete a set of so it is a nice challenge. The only issue I have with this style of parallel is that damage shows up really easy and I have had many from packets with bent edges. Moving forward I would like to see a different image on the gold parallel. I know that technically this does not make it a parallel anymore and there are all sorts of expenses with extra images but Select have managed it for years so it is obviously quite achievable.
Memorable Moments
The concept behind these are good and there are some great choices. For me the very plain design of the card lets this subset down badly. It is only 1:13 but basically looks like a common. Even if the MM logo was in foil or lightly raised it would add the desired effect.
Best of the Bash
As above good theme for a low end insert set with all BBL teams covered. These are also let down by their relatively common look although not as bad as the MM. They could easily be 'jazzed' up. I like the stats on the back and moving forward I think these could be 1:26 with another insert set released into the 1:13 category.
Superstars / Young Stars
Good player selection in both sets, not bad looking cards but at 1:52 I feel these definitely needed something to set them apart. Just looking at a Young Star now and even just having the YS in foil would be better.
Medal Winners
I haven't held one of these in hand (zero mojo for me this release) but from the various images I have seen they are way too plain for a 1:7 box insert. Limited to 175 but un-numbered I feel these should have been a 1:3 box option at the most
Signature Cards
Again die to my lack of mojo I haven't actually held one of these in hand but from what I have seen they look excellent. Great player selection, cards look fantastic, love my signature cards in landscape as it gives plenty if signing room and focuses on the signature which is what it should do. I like the idea of the redemption instead of being straight into the packets. The drawback for me is that they are hand numbered which makes it look cheap and the redemptions aren't numbered so basically all of those who had stock weeks before anyone else smashed the low numbers.
Jersey Card
Yet to see one of these but love the concept, great player selection and really good to have a card 1:3 cases to chase. Just from the pictures I have seen the biggest detriment is that it is not an action shot of Lee, personally I would have preferred this.
Folders / Folder card
I ordered mine nearly one month ago and still waiting for it to arrive so I can't really comment. The concept of the folder card is good though.
Moving forward
TNP second cricket release and a massive improvement on the first! I know this is a BBL based release but next time I would like to see a lower end insert set relating to the Test Team. With the amount of international players we have in BBL now it would also be good to see a couple of signature cards, maybe McCullum? (hint hint). I am not sure how difficult this would be but SE managed it a few seasons back. I love my 'nostalgic' style cards and would love to see something dedicated to the recently retired players. Imagine a dual auto, Harris / Johnson based on that awesome Ashes series and SA tour. It could be called the destroyers and how good would this be?
Anyways I would love to hear others comments. All in all a solid release with some good points. I am glad there are cricket cards again and hope to see this continue.
Cheers
I like to put together the odd review for the NRL products and as I bought a little bit of this release I thought I would do the same. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions.
Pricing
$4 per packet is spot on in terms of the product available. It is good to see that TNP haven't gone on a massive cash grab and upped the price. Select 09/10 were $4 per packet also.
Packaging
I am not sure if it is the two extra packets in the top of the box, the way the staff at stockists are opening the boxes for display or other factors but there are lots of damaged cards, particularly the parallels.
Availability
They seem to be everywhere, except my local newsagents! I live on the Southside of Brisbane and have found a few servo's, 7Eleven and one newsagent but most of those are sold out now and haven't received anymore stock. I am also yet to see a folder in my local area. For a 'mass' release I expected this stuff to be everywhere. Many of the newsagents who had stock last year in my local area do not have any this year.
Commons
These are excellent. I am a big fan of the entire base set but particularly the test team. The re-printing of the cards was certainly a good option because these look and feel great. I am not an IP collector so I would like a comment as to how well these come up signed.
Parallels
Again these are excellent. The silver and gold borders add a nice touch to an already good looking base card. The golds are obviously very hard to complete a set of so it is a nice challenge. The only issue I have with this style of parallel is that damage shows up really easy and I have had many from packets with bent edges. Moving forward I would like to see a different image on the gold parallel. I know that technically this does not make it a parallel anymore and there are all sorts of expenses with extra images but Select have managed it for years so it is obviously quite achievable.
Memorable Moments
The concept behind these are good and there are some great choices. For me the very plain design of the card lets this subset down badly. It is only 1:13 but basically looks like a common. Even if the MM logo was in foil or lightly raised it would add the desired effect.
Best of the Bash
As above good theme for a low end insert set with all BBL teams covered. These are also let down by their relatively common look although not as bad as the MM. They could easily be 'jazzed' up. I like the stats on the back and moving forward I think these could be 1:26 with another insert set released into the 1:13 category.
Superstars / Young Stars
Good player selection in both sets, not bad looking cards but at 1:52 I feel these definitely needed something to set them apart. Just looking at a Young Star now and even just having the YS in foil would be better.
Medal Winners
I haven't held one of these in hand (zero mojo for me this release) but from the various images I have seen they are way too plain for a 1:7 box insert. Limited to 175 but un-numbered I feel these should have been a 1:3 box option at the most
Signature Cards
Again die to my lack of mojo I haven't actually held one of these in hand but from what I have seen they look excellent. Great player selection, cards look fantastic, love my signature cards in landscape as it gives plenty if signing room and focuses on the signature which is what it should do. I like the idea of the redemption instead of being straight into the packets. The drawback for me is that they are hand numbered which makes it look cheap and the redemptions aren't numbered so basically all of those who had stock weeks before anyone else smashed the low numbers.
Jersey Card
Yet to see one of these but love the concept, great player selection and really good to have a card 1:3 cases to chase. Just from the pictures I have seen the biggest detriment is that it is not an action shot of Lee, personally I would have preferred this.
Folders / Folder card
I ordered mine nearly one month ago and still waiting for it to arrive so I can't really comment. The concept of the folder card is good though.
Moving forward
TNP second cricket release and a massive improvement on the first! I know this is a BBL based release but next time I would like to see a lower end insert set relating to the Test Team. With the amount of international players we have in BBL now it would also be good to see a couple of signature cards, maybe McCullum? (hint hint). I am not sure how difficult this would be but SE managed it a few seasons back. I love my 'nostalgic' style cards and would love to see something dedicated to the recently retired players. Imagine a dual auto, Harris / Johnson based on that awesome Ashes series and SA tour. It could be called the destroyers and how good would this be?
Anyways I would love to hear others comments. All in all a solid release with some good points. I am glad there are cricket cards again and hope to see this continue.
Cheers
