Brit RLers in OZ/NZ 2015

[Farmduck]

So 2015 kicks off in about 45 hours and some new Brits get the chance to strut their stuff. First, here's the status of the established Brits:

 

- James Graham runs out as Captain of the Doggies for 2015

- Souths, as usual start with George and have Tom on the bench

- Luke Burgess on the bench for Manly

- Gareth Widdop partners Benji Marshall in the halves for St Geo-Illawarra, with Mike Cooper on the bench

- Jack Reed returns from off-season surgery for the Broncos

- Sam Tomkins at Number 1 for the Worriers

 

The new boys:

 

- Josh Hodgson starts at 9 for the Raiders

- Greg Eden is on the wing for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup

- Ben Crooks is on the bench for Wentworthville Magpies in NSW Cup

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr starts in the 6 for Redcliffe Dolphins

 

OK, who did I forget? Most of the lower tier metro leagues and bush leagues won't start for a couple more weeks. I know there were a couple of guys from Hull Dockers playing in the Mackay District League and Shaun Ainscough was playing in Wagga for South City Bulls but he's gone home  - the Bulls made the GF but lost to Albury Thunder, IIRC. 

 

There are usually one or two Brits/Welsh playing in the district leagues in Illawarra and Central/North Qld.

 

[RabbitRhinoovOZ]

I expect Graham to win a premiership this year & Sam Tomkins to also have a big year. George & Tom to gain a Minor Premiership.

[Farmduck]

I put my ladder tips in but not with any confidence. Ladder position can be heavily influenced by random events like injuries and draw during Origin, and Origin selections. Doggies this year might have 2 x Morrises, Reynolds and Jackson in the Blues team.

[Farmduck]

 

Greg Eden in action for Wynnum Manly

 

 

 

 

- James Graham runs out as Captain of the Doggies for 2015

 

Usual Graham game apart from the fact he went to the bench after about 30 minutes. Good idea for this time of year. Players can take 2-3 days just to recover from heat so even supermen should take a break. Still ran 186m and made 28 tackles.

 

- Souths, as usual start with George and have Tom on the bench

 

Strong games from both. I think George is already in the top 10 props in the game and could move into the top 5 with a good year.

 

- Luke Burgess on the bench for Manly

 

Reasonable game in a thoroughly-beaten pack: 38 ,inutes, 98 run metres and 14 tackles. The most run metres of any Manly forward.

 

- Gareth Widdop partners Benji Marshall in the halves for St Geo-Illawarra, with Mike Cooper on the bench

- Jack Reed returns from off-season surgery for the Broncos

 

The Invisible Man. I think he touched the ball twice and I didn't notice him for the other 79 minutes. Very un-Reed!

 

- Sam Tomkins at Number 1 for the Worriers

 

Lucky man. Didn't play.

 

- Josh Hodgson starts at 9 for the Raiders

 

Good basic grafting game. Played about 55 minutes on a hot steamy afternoon/evening match.

 

- Greg Eden is on the wing for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup

 

No tries in a tight - 18-16 - win over Ipswich

 

- Ben Crooks is on the bench for Wentworthville Magpies in NSW Cup

 

Scored a try in a losing team

 

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr starts in the 6 for Redcliffe Dolphins

 

No mention of Goulding in a team beaten 42-28 by Tweed Seagulls

 

[Graham]

That's a great photo of Greg Eden.

 

Widdop was trying to inspire but was generally ineffective as was the rest of his team on the day.

[Farmduck]

Mike Cooper turned in his usual quality grafting shift: 123m and 26 tackles. I don't think he came on in the first half.

[Southstander13]

Thought Hodgson went pretty well for the Raiders, seemed calm and relaxed, and distributed well, he'll get better too so I'm sure the Raiders are fairly happy with him so far!

[Graham]

The Raiders game is the one game of the round I've yet to see. Got it recorded. Will look out for him SS13

[Farmduck]

Thought Hodgson went pretty well for the Raiders, seemed calm and relaxed, and distributed well, he'll get better too so I'm sure the Raiders are fairly happy with him so far!

He needs to take a leaf out of Mike Cooper's book: do the basics well, keep your work rate up and they'll keep picking you.

[Southstander13]

That's what he seemed to do, solid steady debut without being spectacular, didn't do too much wrong. Definitely nothing that should see him lose his place.

[Farmduck]

ROUND 2

 

 

 

- James Graham same as always

- Souths, as usual start with George and have Tom on the bench

- Luke Burgess on the bench for Manly

- Gareth Widdop in the halves for St Geo-Illawarra, with Mike Cooper on the bench

- Jack Reed at centre for the Broncos

- Sam Tomkins at Number 1 for the Worriers after a late injury withdrawal last week

- Josh Hodgson starts at 9 for the Raiders

 

 

- Greg Eden is on the wing for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup

- Ben Crooks promoted to the starting 13 on the wing for Wentworthville Magpies in NSW Cup

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr dropped from Redcliffe Dolphins Q Cup team and not in their BRL side.

 

I found another one:

 

- former London Bronco, Skolar and Hemel Stag hooker Mike Bishay has signed with Norths Devils in Q Cup. He runs out this week for Valleys Diehards in the Brisbane RL.

[Farmduck]

I noticed Olsi Krasniqi in the Wynnum Manly reserve grade team. Wasn't he with London Broncos?

[Graham]

You don't miss a trick Farmduck!

 

 

1. Olsi Krasniqi is an Albanian-born English professional rugby league footballer, who last played at London Broncos in the Super League.Wikipedia

[Farmduck]

Round 3

 

 

 

- James Graham seems to be scheduled for regular breaks at the 30th minute this year.

- Souths, as usual start with George and have Tom on the bench. George was Channel 9's MOM last Sunday

- Luke Burgess in the starting 13 for Manly

- Gareth Widdop in the halves for St Geo-Illawarra, with Mike Cooper on the bench

- Jack Reed at centre for the Broncos

- Sam Tomkins at Number 1 for the Worriers

- Josh Hodgson starts at 9 for the Raiders

 

 

- Greg Eden scored the match-winning try for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup. On the wing again this week.

- Ben Crooks retains his place and moves to centre for Wentworthville Magpies in NSW Cup after scoring another try in a losing team in Round 2

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr disappeared - possibly eaten by sharks

-  Mike Bishay  Scored a try and kicked 3 goals for Valleys Diehards in the Brisbane RL and starts at 9 this week

- Olsi Krasniqi scored a try for Wynnum Manly Redlands City and is named at prop in the starting team this week.

[Farmduck]

I just watched the NSW Cup game between Warriors and Wentworthville and I can't see Ben Crooks playing NRL any time soon. Wenty lost 44-16 so very few of them had good games. To be fair to Crooks, the ball didn't get to him very often but....... He made 2 line breaks but both times threw the ball into touch.

 

He made a couple of tackles on Sione Lousi, who's pretty big but must have missed at least 4 tackles. His opposite centre and winger both scored doubles, even worse because his opposing centre was George Carmont, 36, playing his second game since he left Wigan.

[Farmduck]

Round 4

 

All the NRL players, except Sam Tomkins, business as usual. Tomkins is expected to be out for another 5 games with a knee injury.

 

- Ben Crooks keeps his place in Wenty Magpies starting 13 for the game against Illawarra Cutters

 

- Greg Eden keeps his wing spot for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup.

 

- Luke George (who I didn't notice until last week) starts in the centre for the Northern Pride in the QCup

 

The teams aren't up yet for the Brisbane comp (or South East Division) Bishay got a try and 2 goals so I guess he'll get picked again.

 

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr

-  Mike Bishay 

- Olsi Krasniqi

 

 

 

Greg Eden sure knows how to get his picture on the QRL website

 

[Graham]

Another great photo

[Farmduck]

Roby makes his debut this Friday as stand-by Touch Judge in the NYC Tigers v Bulldogs then backs up as referee in the Roosters v Raiders NYC game on Sunday. The NYC has a couple of rule differences from NRL:

 

- no video ref

- only one ref

- Captains' Challenge - Captains can challenge rulings on some matters but not all.

[Farmduck]

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr comes in at 6 for the Gaters. (I know what a Gator is, but a Gater? Someone who makes gates?)

-  Mike Bishay - starting hooker for Valleys Diehards

- Olsi Krasniqi - starting prop for Wynnum Manly Redlands City

 

For some reason, these teams are playing in the Brisbane RL pre-season finals. I don't understand the idea behind a 10-team finals series. Maybe they're still ironing the bugs out of this comp, which was only revived this year.

[Farmduck]

ROUND 5

 

 

- Graham, the twins, Reed and Widdop all retain their usual spots

- Josh Hodgson is going well as the starting 9 for the Raiders. They've played some very hot day games too so he's fit

- Mike Cooper in recent weeks has moved to starting prop

- Sam Tomkins still injured

- Luke Burgess named as starting prop again for Manly. He'll possibly move to the bench when Josh Starling is fit again

 

 

- Ben Crooks keeps his place in Wenty Magpies starting 13 for the game against Newtown Jets

 

- Greg Eden moves to FB for Wynnum Manly, in the Qld Cup.

 

- Luke George keeps his centre spot for the Northern Pride in the QCup

 

 

 

- Bobbie Goulding Jnr,  Mike Bishay,  Olsi Krasniqi: I don't know. The Brisbane RL pre-season finals were held last week and their home-and-away rounds don't start until 12 April.

 

 

- Tim Roby will ref the Dragons/Knights U20s on Saturday then be the standby ref for the NRL game. He backs up as  Touch Judge  for the Eels/Tigers 20s on Monday

[Graham]

So it looks like they are acclimatising Tim Roby - good to see him there and there abouts

[henage]

Thanks for the information / updates .

[Farmduck]

If you know any other Brits playing lower tier or bush leagues, let me know and I'll include them.

 

I think there's a guy from Hull playing for West Mackay Magpies but they haven't started their season yet.

[simonwref]

When did the aussies rename him jimmy graham.

[Farmduck]

Irritates me no end. It's just the commentators' obsession with trying to make it all as blokey as possible. Andrew Johns still thinks it's funny to call Dane Gagai "Dane Gayguy"