2019 Official NRL Thread (Spoilers/Rumours/Game Results/Discussions etc.)

[Jaede]

How awesome was the SOO last night?!

End to end. Brutal.


Some of those hits put Aaron Woods to shame.

Yeah Simaima Taufa had come up with some awesome tackles hits it was great to watch.

 

[Wookiedragon]

I go to one or two NRL games each week and that atmosphere last night was better than 99% of the NRL games I have attended. It was unbelievable. Great game to boot!

All the players were great too staying on the field with spectators after the game.

Outstanding advertisement for Rugby League.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

The Pacific tests will be great too.

Already queues lined up to get in.

Bold colour and smiles everywhere.

 

[Brendan_B]

Great to see some pride in the jumpers in the International game. Kudos to those who have chosen heritage over $$$, can only be a good thing.

I would love to see a strong France again just to bolster the northern hemisphere.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I know SOO is the be all, end all atm...but i can see national rep footy overtaking it in 10-15 years and it going to one game.

Will slowly lose relevance over time as we expand in to WA / SA, and 50% of players already have Polynesian heritage.

In fact, Tonga is better than NZ at moment imho.

 

[hobo]

Interesting but I cant see that happening in my lifetime.

East Coast Rugby League is heartland stuff and 80,000 spectators a game (apart from QLD where its not really as popular and only gets 40,000 odd) and 3 out of the top 10 most watched programs every year on TV in Australia will ensure it outlives you and I.

They had 4 International teams yesterday and whilst brilliant and I loved it, they managed about 15,000 spectators.

Unfortunately these numbers just aren't as commercially viable.

Ross

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Build it and they will come.

Wait until it's played out of new Para stadium. Rock the joint.

From 9-10k to 18k crowds in 5 years, top players in nrl and tv deals with Fox and 9, imagine another ten years of growth and promotion.

 

[Wookiedragon]

The Pacific tests will be great too.

Interesting but I cant see that happening in my lifetime.

East Coast Rugby League is heartland stuff and 80,000 spectators a game (apart from QLD where its not really as popular and only gets 40,000 odd) and 3 out of the top 10 most watched programs every year on TV in Australia will ensure it outlives you and I.

They had 4 International teams yesterday and whilst brilliant and I loved it, they managed about 15,000 spectators.

Unfortunately these numbers just aren't as commercially viable.

Ross

Ross I was there and the GA tickets were sold out by 3.15pm. Tonga and Samoa did not start until 7.30 it was unbelievable. There were plenty left disappointed when they rocked up two hours before the game only to find the only tickets left were in the grandstand and three times the price of GA.
As @The Mad Hatter said, if it was at the new parra stadium no doubt they would have got more....

 

[Sharks16]

Ross I was there and the GA tickets were sold out by 3.15pm. Tonga and Samoa did not start until 7.30 it was unbelievable. There were plenty left disappointed when they rocked up two hours before the game only to find the only tickets left were in the grandstand and three times the price of GA.
As @The Mad Hatter said, it'll it was at the new parra stadium no doubt they would have got more....

Big reason is because Western Sydney has more Pacific Islanders then the pacific islands lol

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I believe 50% of NRL players have Polynesian heritage.

PNG team in Qld cup. Fiji on the cards. NZ2 in NRL.

Build it and they will come.

 

[hobo]

Build it and they will come.

Wait until it's played out of new Para stadium. Rock the joint.

From 9-10k to 18k crowds in 5 years, top players in nrl and tv deals with Fox and 9, imagine another ten years of growth and promotion.

It's definitely a growth area at the moment and long may it continue.

Just saying that 85000 rocking S.O.O. last night was as good as it gets and 30+years of tradition and passion hard to beat.

Cheers
Ross

 

[hobo]

doh.

 

[Wookiedragon]

After signing a 4 year deal at Dogs - Arron Woods only played 14 games. He is off to the Sharks effective immediately.

 

[Brandboy20]

I only just found out today that Storm have tabled a nice $$ deal to Blake Austin for next year as they want a long term replacement for Copper Cronk... from what I’ve gather this is A) Old News and B) Any truth to it?

 

[Sharky]

After signing a 4 year deal at Dogs - Arron Woods only played 14 games. He is off to the Sharks effective immediately.

The real winner here is James Graham.

 

[hobo]

I only just found out today that Storm have tabled a nice $$ deal to Blake Austin for next year as they want a long term replacement for Copper Cronk... from what I’ve gather this is A) Old News and B) Any truth to it?

I heard it over the weekend as well, no surprises Austin is looking after knocking back the Raiders reduced offer. The only way it could work is Munster goes back to Fullback which means Billy is retiring and Jerome Hughes is looking for a job.

I cant see it as a great move by Storm nut hey Bellamy will know.

 

[Brandboy20]

Mmm interesting, heard it’s for the halves for a long term replacement for Cronk as he believes Croft isn’t ready yet still. As you said, Bellamy is the only one who knows what he’s doing.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I thought Slater was retiring at the end of the year.

 

[Rocket1908]

I thought Slater was retiring at the end of the year.

Not official but you'd think so considering he only took a 1 year extension

 

[Brandboy20]

I thought Slater was retiring at the end of the year.

He’s retiring from all rep football, but he only took a 1yr contract as Storm where iffy on his shoulder. Plus they all wanted to wait and see what Bellamy was doing.
Storm have opened talks with Smith on a new contract, he wants a 2-3yr deal