Dunbar

I like Lewis Murphy, I think he has great potential but the standard of the opposition has to be taken into account when looking at these options. His 4 try haul against the Saints u19 team a few weeks ago needs to be compared to Dom Young who has scored 5 tries in his last 3 NRL games and run for an average of 167 metres. Two of those 3 teams (Sharks and Raiders) are about to embark on the NRL finals from this weekend. Some people can't seem to see that this quality of opposition matters when evaluating a player but luckily Wane seems to have. Makinson is a lock for the wing. With Johnstone injured I would have Young next in the pecking order followed by Burgess. All fantastic athletes who are really strong carrying in the first plays of a set - this is critical in international rugby.

We have some very good forwards, in particular in the middle, and some exciting young outside backs. The key is in the spine. If we can get that right I think we have a good team.

I would very much rather we go into the competition with a team of exciting backs who have the potential to win games - Murphy, Newman, Farnworth, Welsby, Young etc. - than a set of backs who just happen to have played a few more games.

You have posted more than a few times critiquing other people's teams. Time to name yours now.

He has always had the talent to be a top class player. He just had to shed this stupid 'next Cooper Cronk' tag as both the Storm and then Brisbane wanted him to be an organising half. Given the chance to play his own game which is based on being a running threat first and foremost he has proven to be very good (with Sneyd shouldering most of the tactical kicking).

Sorry, I may be being daft here but what is the number in brackets?

A short video here of Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien discussing the form of Dominic Young today (after another two try performance). Right at the end, an interesting line as he says "I know he has been picked in the England squad'. https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/04/aob-raves-about-the-progression-of-dom-young/

Had to miss this due to herding ten 9 year old girls around Kidzania for my daughters birthday. I am stressed and have a headache like someone is trying to split my head open with a pneumatic drill. Still, sounds like I got the good end of the bargain.

Was it brought in 10-15 years ago. As I say, I remember a Union convert being caught out on this in the mid 80's.

Luke Thompson has been cut from the extended squad for the Bulldogs for tomorrow's game so, like Farnworth, he has played his last game of the regular season. The warm up games are going to be critical for these players as they will be entering the competition with little or no rugby for a fair amount of time.

Yes, you can tell me to lighten up. And so I can tell you something as well. Your persona is built up on here with reference to your success in the business world. To quote you on this forum "I have both bought and sold a business" and "I used to play with my own money in business Tommy, you may well change your attitude if your are ever fortunate or clever enough to back yourself financially. So let me tell you. Any respect I had for you as someone who was successful in the world of business has completely disappeared as you start to mock people who failed to predict and adapt to a once in a lifetime global crisis. It does you no credit to look back on other people's failures and gloat. It really really isn't a good look.

Perhaps they could also ask why my wife's start up business in 2018 also collapsed in 2020 despite being hugely successful for 2 years. I would be keen to understand if there were any factors outside of her working 15 hour days and my investing hundreds of thousands of pounds that led to this collapse. You know, something outside of our control... maybe on a global level? This failure gloating is disgusting.

There is talk that he could return in time. I know he has had a tough time with injury but fir and on form what a centre combination Farnworth and Newman would be.

To be honest I'm not encouraged at all by describing Herbie Farnworth as a shock inclusion. One of the form centres in the toughest competition on the planet shouldn't be a shock, he should be dead cert. If he is the shock inclusion then the rest will be same old timers and no fresh talent.

I really don't know what you are trying to achieve here Harry.

This has been around for many many years. I remember watching one of the first games the South African Union convert Ray Mordt played for Wigan in the mid 80's. Wigan had kicked the penalty for touch and Mordt had the ball (must have bounced back or someone had thrown it to him) but instead of him tossing the ball to the hooker to tap restart, he ran over to the touchline and placed the ball on the line before throwing the ball infield. Not his fault, the ball boys always placed the ball there and it was something he had seen done every time and so he assumed it was the way play is restarted. I guess teams like to practice things with process and this is one of them.

Winners: Storm, Bulldogs, Roosters, Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders Points: 382 Away wins: 3 Biggest margin: Cowboys vs. Panthers

That's not bad at all for a phone. The only thing I am not 100% sure of is of the backline should subdivided again into 'full back' (a single position of course) and 'three-quarters' (the centres and wingers). But I am just being picky. (Ps. Enjoy Greece. I had 10 days in Kos earlier in the summer and it was superb).

If there is one rule in Rugby League when Thomas Leuluai is playing it's 'don't run at the little guy, that won't work today'.

Herbie Farnworth hasn't made it back in time for the Broncos last game. The last I heard was he could be ready for the finals. But it now looks very unlikely they will make the finals. I expect the Raiders to beat the Tigers at the weekend and while one of the Rabbitohs and Roosters will lose, both of their points differentials are much better than the Broncos. If Farnworth hasn't played for a long time before the squad is announced, does this mean Farnworth misses out?

I have looked at comparing score margins between Super League and the NRL before and come to much the same conclusion as you, that there is not that much difference. For what it is worth, my view is that it isn't the quality or depth of the players that makes the biggest difference, it is the quality of the coaches. Take the Storm, look at the number of times that Craig Bellamy has taken an average player from another club and helped them integrate into a winning machine of a team.

I would argue that Jospeh Manu is as good a full back as Ponga, maybe better. But a slightly moot point as Ponga at full back would allow Manu to play in the centre and that would make the Kiwis stronger overall. As an aside, I also really like Brown as a 6. Having 1, Ponga, 6, Brown and 7, Jahromoe Hughes in the spine and Manu in the centre, the Kiwis would be very very good.

Don't get me wrong, I would much prefer to see a Giants Salford final. I am just suggesting that I don't think a final between two of Wigan, Saints, Leeds or Catalan is as big a problem for the game as some think... plenty of sports leagues have had a dominant few teams without particular negative consequences.

OK, no worries. I just thought that as you said it would be much easier then you maybe had some ideas.

I think that's a fair point. Although I suspect it is more relevant for the attendance moreso than the TV audience. After a full season, I think it is unlikely that a casual Rugby League fan wouldn't watch the Grand Final even if they were frustrated that it was two of the usual suspects. They may decide not to go to the game though but I am still pretty sure a Saints Wigan Grand Final would sell out.