Will 2024 be the best NRL season ever?

[EggFace]

24 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Looks as though Cronulla will play their semi against the Cowboys at CommBank. Hilariously, their management wanted Shark Park. If that's too big, there's always the field at Cronulla High School. 

Looming contrast on Friday with the Swans prelim at a full SCG. Widespread angst on LU.

Prising Sharks fans out of the Shire is a tough one at the best of times. Got a nasty feeling most will on their sofas for next week's game.

Again the NRL has had a great season this year yet one finals game and the whole NRL world falls apart and not only the Sawns game but fans are saying the Sharks game will be look bad at CommBank with a low crowd compared to the Wallabies game against the All Blacks.

One thing gets how the hell did the Sharks get all the support for the 2016 final ? as one of the biggest crowds for a final ever against an out of state team 83,625 on Wiki.

Edited September 14 by EggFace

[Sports Prophet]

1 hour ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Looks as though Cronulla will play their semi against the Cowboys at CommBank. Hilariously, their management wanted Shark Park. If that's too big, there's always the field at Cronulla High School. 

Looming contrast on Friday with the Swans prelim at a full SCG. Widespread angst on LU.

Prising Sharks fans out of the Shire is a tough one at the best of times. Got a nasty feeling most will on their sofas for next week's game.

Can’t blame the Sharks for asking the question. I doubt they had any real hopes. I am very surprised it’s going to be at Comm Bank. It should be at Moore Park just like it was in 2016 against the Cows. The venue is much more accessible for the majority of home fans than Parramatta is. That’s a really poor decision from the NRL.

1 hour ago, EggFace said:

Again the NRL has had a great season this year yet one finals game and the whole NRL world falls apart and not only the Sawns game but fans are saying the Sharks game will be look bad at CommBank with a low crowd compared to the Wallabies game against the All Blacks.

One thing gets how the hell did the Sharks get all the support for the 2016 final ? as one of the biggest crowds for a final ever against an out of state team 83,625 on Wiki.

All but about 5,000 of that crowd were in black, white and/or blue. Any suggestions of moving the Sharks to CC or anywhere else is ridiculous.

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Can’t blame the Sharks for asking the question. I doubt they had any real hopes. I am very surprised it’s going to be at Comm Bank. It should be at Moore Park just like it was in 2016 against the Cows. The venue is much more accessible for the majority of home fans than Parramatta is. That’s a really poor decision from the NRL.

Haven't seen official confirmation. CommBank is the consensus on social media.

Story seems to be - NRL wanted Allianz, Sharks strongly opposed, CommBank proposed by NRL in bid to force Sharks to accept Allianz and make more effort to get their fans to attend.

Check out Dino's fatalism in SMH. More or less hoisting the white flag to South Melbourne.

[unapologetic pedant]

3 hours ago, EggFace said:

One thing gets how the hell did the Sharks get all the support for the 2016 final ? as one of the biggest crowds for a final ever against an out of state team 83,625 on Wiki.

Bigger bandwagon than non-league Soccer clubs at the FA Trophy final.

[bobbruce]

10 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

There is a worrying gap emerged between Penrith/Melbourne and the rest of the teams in the NRL who regularly knock each other off.

There has been a gap to Penrith,Melbourne and the Roosters for a number of years. Each year the odd club might put themselves in the mix but those 3 have set the standard. 

[Anita Bath]

1 hour ago, bobbruce said:

There has been a gap to Penrith,Melbourne and the Roosters for a number of years. Each year the odd club might put themselves in the mix but those 3 have set the standard. 

Since 2020 roosters finished 4,5,6 and 7th. In that time they have only won two play off games, both by a single point. There has been no separation between them and the rest.

[bobbruce]

1 hour ago, Anita Bath said:

Since 2020 roosters finished 4,5,6 and 7th. In that time they have only won two play off games, both by a single point. There has been no separation between them and the rest.

Fair enough having re read what I’ve put I can see how it’s misleading. What I mean is it’s been 7 years since anyone but one of those three has won the GF (possibly 8 with this year. Now that’s not unusual for most leagues but for the NRL it is. I accept the Roosters haven’t kept themselves competitive right through but they were capable of going on to win the GF. Who is the next team that can do it Sharks possibly this year? Bulldogs with an outside chance?.

[Sports Prophet]

8 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Haven't seen official confirmation. CommBank is the consensus on social media.

Story seems to be - NRL wanted Allianz, Sharks strongly opposed, CommBank proposed by NRL in bid to force Sharks to accept Allianz and make more effort to get their fans to attend.

Check out Dino's fatalism in SMH. More or less hoisting the white flag to South Melbourne.

Sounds like he is pushing the push to have the game at home. I wouldn’t begrudge any CEO trying to secure a home semi final.

Nothing he says about Friday night at Allianz with the Swans next door at the same time is inaccurate and he is using that to build his case, whether he agrees with it or not. I would like to think the Sharks pull more like 25k though, not the 15k Dino suggests.

Sharks can oppose all they want, in the end, the NRL will make a commercial decision based on the best interests of the sport overall, not the Sharks.

[JonM]

Wasn't sure initially about the two point field goal thing, but I thought the game yesterday really showcased it well. The Canterbury down by 2 points with not long to go twice attempted (and missed) it from the 40 metre line - more exciting than if they just kicked it high in the air and hoped for a knock-on.

[unapologetic pedant]

3 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Sounds like he is pushing the push to have the game at home. I wouldn’t begrudge any CEO trying to secure a home semi final.

Nothing he says about Friday night at Allianz with the Swans next door at the same time is inaccurate and he is using that to build his case, whether he agrees with it or not. I would like to think the Sharks pull more like 25k though, not the 15k Dino suggests.

Sharks can oppose all they want, in the end, the NRL will make a commercial decision based on the best interests of the sport overall, not the Sharks.

Latest reports say the game will be played at Allianz.

Highly unlikely to repeat the 2016 prelim crowd v Cowboys.

Pity it's Friday and/or the opposition isn't a big Sydney team. Finals week 2 Rabbitohs/Sharks got almost 40k at Allianz in 2022 on Saturday.

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

Wasn't sure initially about the two point field goal thing, but I thought the game yesterday really showcased it well. The Canterbury down by 2 points with not long to go twice attempted (and missed) it from the 40 metre line - more exciting than if they just kicked it high in the air and hoped for a knock-on.

A high kick isn't a merely passive tactic, hoping to force an error. Attacking players can challenge for the ball. Anything can happen off a tap back or rebound.

Other types of kick are available. As is keeping the ball alive with desperation offloading.

Best argument against the 2-point FG is to imagine what the NRL would have lost had there been 2 points between the teams towards the end of the 2015 GF i.e. if the Cowboys had used their final possession to set up a FG attempt rather than go for the try.

[Sports Prophet]

55 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Latest reports say the game will be played at Allianz.

Highly unlikely to repeat the 2016 prelim crowd v Cowboys.

Pity it's Friday and/or the opposition isn't a big Sydney team. Finals week 2 Rabbitohs/Sharks got almost 40k at Allianz in 2022 on Saturday.

Yeah, common sense has prevailed. What I can’t understand is why the two elimination finals were played in the order they were. Considering which teams would be playing which in week 2, I would have expected Cowboys v Knights to be played today and then in turn, the Sharks v Cows to be played on the Saturday.

No way does a semi final get the same 35k crowd, but there should be enough to get 25k there. Play it on the Saturday, then I would say there is the better chance of 30k plus.

Thats all academic now anyway.

[Sports Prophet]

33 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

A high kick isn't a merely passive tactic, hoping to force an error. Attacking players can challenge for the ball. Anything can happen off a tap back or rebound.

Other types of kick are available. As is keeping the ball alive with desperation offloading.

Best argument against the 2-point FG is to imagine what the NRL would have lost had there been 2 points between the teams towards the end of the 2015 GF i.e. if the Cowboys had used their final possession to set up a FG attempt rather than go for the try.

Agreed, I think keeping the ball alive is the better option if you have the legs to keep going. 2pt FGs just seem like such a low percentage play.

Just my opinion though.

[Dunbar]

17 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Looks as though Cronulla will play their semi against the Cowboys at CommBank. Hilariously, their management wanted Shark Park. If that's too big, there's always the field at Cronulla High School. 

Looming contrast on Friday with the Swans prelim at a full SCG. Widespread angst on LU.

Prising Sharks fans out of the Shire is a tough one at the best of times. Got a nasty feeling most will be on their sofas for next week's game.

I know there is always a question on capacity and optics etc but I think play offs should always be at the home ground of the highest place team.  They have earned that advantage.

[Anita Bath]

The counter argument, and I am not saying it trumps your position, is that the teams play an unblanced schedule, as opposed to all opponents H and A.

[unapologetic pedant]

35 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

The counter argument, and I am not saying it trumps your position, is that the teams play an unblanced schedule, as opposed to all opponents H and A.

Plus the effects of Origin.

[Damien]

 

 

[ghost crayfish]

If a team is worried that a ground with a capacity over 15,000 in their home city is too big for a knockout semi-final, they shouldn't be in the competition. What a tin pot attitude.

Edited September 16 by ghost crayfish

[The Rocket]

Full page Rugby League article on the back page of a Melbourne newspaper. That`s pretty momentous in Storm history.

Edited September 16 by The Rocket

[EggFace]

13 hours ago, Damien said:

 

 

Some sour comments from AFL fans.

[Copa]

The Sharks have gone and ruined things by having very few fans bother to turn up to their finals match.

[Sports Prophet]

30 minutes ago, Copa said:

The Sharks have gone and ruined things by having very few fans bother to turn up to their finals match.

There’s a very good reason for that isn’t there Copa?

[Sports Prophet]

Prelim’s have been announced.

Melbourne host Roosters on Friday night at AAMI.

Panthers host Sharks at Accor on Saturday night.

Looking forward to both games. Top two will be favourites, but I still have faith that the Sharks at their best can get a win. Little less than their best will be enough though.

[Copa]

12 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

There’s a very good reason for that isn’t there Copa?

There aren’t very many fans and those fans can’t afford public transport?

[Sports Prophet]

20 minutes ago, Copa said:

There aren’t very many fans and those fans can’t afford public transport?

Public transport was free and the Sharks had over 80k at a 2016 GF and 36k against the Cowboys at the same ground as Friday’s match in a preliminary the week earlier.

No I don’t think either of those reasons you suggested are true.

Edited September 21 by Sports Prophet