Abicus

An aside - dont know if there would be a Womens Ashes if the gulf is this large between the two nations.

The most incredible thing is that Aus didn't score while Tonga were a man down with the sin bin

33,196 the crowd - a fantastic result

Tonga within a score after 50min. Incredible.

Seen this game a few times now. Australia’s opponents have heart! Playing with grit! But can’t convert the chances they get. Australia score nearly flukey type tries - I mean this was an intercept. All that said, this is the most ‘vulnerable and ordinary’ Australia have looked in the last decade possibly. But then Tonga drop the ball in their half with 90 seconds to go …

Brian To’o and Izack Tago have both opted not to play in the end of year Tests the Sydney Morning Herald reports: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ivan-cleary-reduced-to-tears-in-emotional-grand-final-presentation-20241005-p5kg43.html

Look, it ain't great. There is talk of double and triple headers in there (you would assume it would be a mix of Women/Mens) and NZ won't host any games; but if this is the nadir of World Cups, and a kinda reset like 2008. Sure, why not. Don't play games in Cairns and Darwin. Pick Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne and go from there.

Biggest defeat in the Kangaroos history. Wow.

Sounds like this is on the NZRL

Is there an anticipated crowd? Looking at the seats available; it looks absolutely dire. Maybe a few thounand?

It literally does not matter in the slightest.

Paywalled article in the Daily Telegraph in Sydney, but looks like Staggs has opted to play for Australia over Tonga, and Fiji have had a host of stars pull out.

Oliver Gildart to sign with Sydney Roosters today as a last minute transfer.

His performance today is one of the worst of the year, in the worst team in the NRL.

Update: he has just been hooked with 30min of play

Watkins is awful. his defence has been reserve grade quality against the Knights

Watkins has probably signed with the worst club in Rugby League. Titans being beaten 46-0 with 20min to go against the Sydney Roosters.

Ryan Hall has been either rested or dropped for the Roosters game against the Bulldogs.