Sports Prophet

Short lived thread.

There’s speculation that is the case. I don’t see how it helps them in the mid term though, let alone long term.

I am astonished to hear that it is so prevalent. A strange culture thing I presume. I didn’t find anything referring to that type of behaviour through the Kokoda campaign, but I do wonder if that local “custom” was pivotal in the success of driving the Japanese out in the 40’s.

Tigers have released him from the last year of his contract before he moves to PNG. I really can’t think of why any NRL club would take him on, while fully understanding he will only be there 12 months and playing against you the year after. We have seen at the Dogs, what disrupting a successful spine can do to you, so as a title contender, I wouldn’t want him. As a club climbing off the bottom, I just don’t see what a one year band aid like Jarome achieves for a coach and a club building a new team. Then clubs in the middle of the table… again, disrupting your spine to push for finals in 2027… then what? I can’t think of a club in the mix of the finals who would disrupt their squad for one year only, when I can’t think of a club he alone, will turn into a premiership team in 12 months. I could see a club like Bears work maybe… In saying all that, I reckon he would be ripe for a 12 month contract in SL as a marquee player. Similar to the Bears, a newly promoted London Broncos would be a great experience for him and a great way for the Broncos to carry themselves in their first year. In saying that, I am sure a trail of SL clubs would be falling over themselves to sign him for 2027. I think the SL would really suit him and moreso than the NRL, could really go a very long way to turning a SL contender into a SL winner. Would you have him at your SL club for one season only?

There will not be any PNG security pact with China.

Now you’ve gone and done it. Like a bloody car crash, I am gonna have to go and watch these two fixtures and I fear the worst I hope we can continue this thread without personal attacks on the referees, rather balanced and fair critique… I suspect not though and the thread to be closed swiftly. So I will get my piece in. When I look at the referees in England, I do not see dominant personalities and I hazard a guess this is because many of the top grade referees exhibit skills and behaviours learned from a lawbook or a classroom, rather than having excessively experienced the game with the ball in their hand in their formative years. This in turn diminishes a referee’s ability to foresee or action on what is about to, or has just transpired. They have a very tough job. No one should ever expect perfect from them. Consistency in its self would be hard enough.

London avg score of 64-10 at the top of the table is a poor look. Must have been terrible watching them this year.

With 24 minutes left, and down 36 nil, the Dolphins are leading the number of tackles in the red zone 20-19…

I can appreciate why you would tip the Dolphins for this game. I doubt anyone expected the 0-24 scoreline at HT we are seeing here at Suncorp (sic). If Sharkies remain up by three or more at FT, they will jump to 3rd rather than 4th as they then await the outcome of Rorters and Sea Snakes on Sunday. We are dismantling an understrength Dolphins team, although we are not at full strength either with Nikora, Rudolph and Calhoun all missing today and AFB on the bench, all of whom I would have in a full strength starting pack. In the past though, we have regularly had trouble against understrength opposition and as the ever pessimistic Sharks fan, I was tipping a win, but a tight one. Not over yet. We have lost enough games in the recent past with similar leads like this. Would be great to see us go on with it. Second half about to begin.

Then the game is just right as it is then.

More than try’s? I think you will find that 99.99999999% of RL fans would think increasing the value of a field goal will only serve to see teams attempt them more often instead of going for a try, which is what they prefer to see. 3 point field goals (and penalty goals) is the exact reason why RU changed the value of a try to 5 points. Even still, two of each are worth more than a try, which is why you see so many penalty goals in RU. If you have an overwhelming passion for field goals, I think you will prefer watching sports like soccer or AFL.

I will leave you to work that out.

That’s not a fair reflection of what was suggested. The NRL are proposing to come and manage the SL for the betterment of SL clubs, the RFL and the stakeholders of the NRL. For that responsibility, they will offer an investment of X and will no doubt want a return of Y over a term of Z. It’s not a certainty. It requires the approval of SL clubs and the RFL. I don’t see how we could consider it a takeover if it is approved by members and those members keep ownership of their assets.

15 clubs playing a full home and away schedule would be 30 rounds, not 26. Bye weekends are the enemy as well in my opinion. I’m ok with not playing a full home and away season though. With a suitable finals series of six or eight clubs (no more than half the competition) then I think that overcomes any suggestions of a tough draw vs a weak one. In saying that, I realise there is a huge cultural difference between Aus and UK sports in the requirement or necessity for a full home and away schedule. If a full H&A schedule is a requirement the public cannot compromise on, then I would be back to 14 clubs over 26 rounds instead of 15 clubs over 30 rounds.

The programme was only signed yesterday by the bodies. $250m is a great sum for investment. Very impressive too I might add, that the Prime Ministers of Australia, PNG, Samoa and Tonga were all present as well. Glaringly missing from this programme appears to be Fiji, which would probably be the most prosperous of all the Pacific neighbours and has so far, by a good margin I hazard a guess, produced more NRL players than any of the other Pacific Isles (non NZ of course).

Why?

The way I see it is, the NRL’s aim is to be the organisation responsible for running the SL, whilst all commercial, physical, and intellectual property assets would still be owned by the RFL and the clubs. SLE if that’s what it still is. Similar to the ARLC and the clubs in Australia. That doesn’t strike me as a takeover.

And my point exactly. That's not a takeover, that's a partnership. By my definition at least.

Surely he hasn't publicly made those decisions with so much of the season remaining???

I don't think they are talking a full takeover though are they? This is where the word “partnership” comes in, whilst perhaps the NRL’s desire for full responsibility of running pro footy is being misinterpreted as a takeover.

First things first with Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and PNG I reckon. Solomon’s signed a security agreement with China and is pretty unstable. New Cal is a part of France and unlikely to see the support of the others mentioned.

I’m pretty sure Perth are locked into playing their first match at home… in Perth.

Sure is. Clubs I would have thought would be pushing back against the idea of being told they have an intercontinental home and away game in in March next year. At this late stage, I can’t see any 2027 opening round matches announced for anywhere other than Oceania or SE Asia (Vegas aside)

That comes as zero surprise to me as I think it would to any normal person.

Interesting to see PVL is aiming for Global Round in 2027. I don’t understand how it can be played apart from the opening round of the season. I just don't see how they have the time to establish it in time (if the plan of course is to play matches anywhere other than Vegas, NZ and Aus… and maybe PNG).