[A-Mac]

Don't hear from Swarley all year, then he comes out when Manly win

[morrison]

I know they don't get much of a look in on here, but fair play to Glasgow and Edinburgh for recording cracking results over the weekend. I was at Edinburgh's 29-14 win over Munster in what was a solid defensive performance backed up by clinical and consistent punishment of Irish errors at the other end - rare indeed for a Scottish side. That was my first taste of the club scene, think I'll make something of a habit of it.

[Jeek]

Although down in bristol, whenever i'm home i go to the edin games, and love it, the new standing bit is fantastic, I also at the munster game, and was at the goals when edin scored most of the tries. just wish more people went to the games, very much looking forward to the London Irish game in reading which is reasonably close to here!

[Bluenose5]

Didn't want to clog up the Super League thread with non-SL Rugby League stuff so thought I would dig this old thread up and post it in here.
For anyone who has any sort of interest in the NRL, the Sydney Morning Herald named their top 50 players in the NRL list. Like always there is some controversy as to who should be where etc but here it is anyway. I added the teams next to who the player plays for.

1. Cam Smith (Melbourne Storm)
2. Johnathan Thurston (NQ Cowboys)
3. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
4. Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
5. Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
6. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
7. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
8. Glenn Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles)
9. Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights)
10. Josh Dugan (Canberra Raiders)
11. Sam Burgess (South Sydney)
12. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
13. Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)
14. Mat Scott (NQ Cowboys)
15. Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers)
16. Adam Blair (Wests Tigers)
17. Todd Carney (Cronulla Sharks)
18. Michael Ennis (Canterbury Bulldogs)
19. Brett Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles)
20. Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
21. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
22. Chris Sandow (Parramatta Eels)
23. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
24. Terry Campese (Canberra Raiders)
25. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights)
26. Daly-Cherry Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
27. Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights)
28. James Maloney (NZ Warriors)
29. Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
30. Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles)
31. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
32. Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)
33. Issac Luke (South Sydney)
34. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons)
35. Dave Taylor (South Sydney)
36. Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors)
37. Petero Civoniceiva (Brisbane Broncos)
38. Tariq Sims (NQ Cowboys)
39. Jamie Soward (St George)
40. Brett Morris (St George)
41. Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors)
42. Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers)
43. Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors)
44. Jason Nightingale (St George)
45. James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs)
46. Matt Bowen (NQ Cowboys)
47. Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
48. Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors)
49. Tom Learoyd Lahrs (Canberra Raiders)
50. Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)

I think Matt Scott and Adam Blair should be ranked higher than they are and I think Michael Ennis and Sam Burgess shouldn't be in the top 20. Shaun Johnson should be ranked better and same with Akuila Uate.

This post has been edited by Bluenose5: 26 February 2012 - 10:00

[Christophe]

Bluenose5, on 26 February 2012 - 09:59, said:

Didn't want to clog up the Super League thread with non-SL Rugby League stuff so thought I would dig this old thread up and post it in here.
For anyone who has any sort of interest in the NRL, the Sydney Morning Herald named their top 50 players in the NRL list. Like always there is some controversy as to who should be where etc but here it is anyway. I added the teams next to who the player plays for.

1. Cam Smith (Melbourne Storm)
2. Johnathan Thurston (NQ Cowboys)
3. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
4. Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
5. Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
6. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
7. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
8. Glenn Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles)
9. Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights)
10. Josh Dugan (Canberra Raiders)
11. Sam Burgess (South Sydney)
12. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
13. Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)
14. Mat Scott (NQ Cowboys)
15. Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers)
16. Adam Blair (Wests Tigers)
17. Todd Carney (Cronulla Sharks)
18. Michael Ennis (Canterbury Bulldogs)
19. Brett Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles)
20. Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
21. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
22. Chris Sandow (Parramatta Eels)
23. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
24. Terry Campese (Canberra Raiders)
25. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights)
26. Daly-Cherry Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
27. Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights)
28. James Maloney (NZ Warriors)
29. Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
30. Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles)
31. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
32. Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)
33. Issac Luke (South Sydney)
34. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons)
35. Dave Taylor (South Sydney)
36. Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors)
37. Petero Civoniceiva (Brisbane Broncos)
38. Tariq Sims (NQ Cowboys)
39. Jamie Soward (St George)
40. Brett Morris (St George)
41. Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors)
42. Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers)
43. Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors)
44. Jason Nightingale (St George)
45. James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs)
46. Matt Bowen (NQ Cowboys)
47. Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
48. Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors)
49. Tom Learoyd Lahrs (Canberra Raiders)
50. Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)

I think Matt Scott and Adam Blair should be ranked higher than they are and I think Michael Ennis and Sam Burgess shouldn't be in the top 20. Shaun Johnson should be ranked better and same with Akuila Uate.

Good work Bluenose. Amazing that 2011 runners-up NZ Warriors have no-one higher than 28. That and the diversity of that list in general shows just how strong and well-balanced that league is.
Can see me getting sucked into NRL big time this year. Maybe once the NCAA basketball tournament is done, not before I doubt. Keep me posted though fella, will try to catch early highlights.
*hovers mouse icon over Premier Sports tick box*

This post has been edited by Christophe: 26 February 2012 - 21:54

[Christophe]

Ha! Just checking out of interest if all 16 teams have someone in there (yes) and which team is last to score an entry. That would be 2010 Premiers St George-Illawarra, then. Mind-boggling.

[Bluenose5]

Christophe, on 26 February 2012 - 21:53, said:

Good work Bluenose. Amazing that 2011 runners-up NZ Warriors have no-one higher than 28. That and the diversity of that list in general shows just how strong and well-balanced that league is.
Can see me getting sucked into NRL big time this year. Maybe once the NCAA basketball tournament is done, not before I doubt. Keep me posted though fella, will try to catch early highlights.
*hovers mouse icon over Premier Sports tick box*

Thanks mate. It is amazing that the NZ Warriors dont have anyone in the top 20 even when I think they should especially with the likes of Maloney and Johnson. They are my tip to win the premiership this season because they have so much depth and quality all over the park and the only players they have lost have been Hohaia who wasn't getting much game time anyway and also Heremaia to the SL along with the coach Ivan Cleary to Penrith. They are just a very strong team and if need be can call up quality players from their U-20 Toyota Cup squad who have won that the past 2 seasons. They might have to ground out some games to begin with this coming season with a few big injuries at the moment but they are more than capable of doing it. Unfortunately they are my teams biggest bogey side, especially when its like a home game crowd for them when they play here in Melbourne! There is alot of diversity in that list but its also good to see its not just a list full of us Aussies but there is a good mix with plenty of Kiwis and some English in there too.

Christophe, on 26 February 2012 - 21:56, said:

Ha! Just checking out of interest if all 16 teams have someone in there (yes) and which team is last to score an entry. That would be 2010 Premiers St George-Illawarra, then. Mind-boggling.

I never really took much notice of that! To be fair to them they did have Darius Boyd playing for them last season who is the list at #9 who has left to go to Newcastle Knights this coming season along with the coach Wayne Bennett who he follows around like a lost puppy dog.

[Swarley]

Bluenose5, on 26 February 2012 - 09:59, said:

....I added the teams next to who the player plays for.....

Nice, but some homework for you Bluey. Can you do the same list but show their "State of Origin"? I would hazard a guess that most of the 50, especially the top 20, are QLD?

[Bluenose5]

Swarley, on 27 February 2012 - 09:28, said:

Nice, but some homework for you Bluey. Can you do the same list but show their "State of Origin"? I would hazard a guess that most of the 50, especially the top 20, are QLD?

No worries Swarley mate. Players with their origin.


1. Cam Smith (QLD)
2. Johnathan Thurston (QLD)
3. Billy Slater (QLD)
4. Benji Marshall (NZ)
5. Paul Gallen (NSW)
6. Cooper Cronk (QLD)
7. Greg Inglis (QLD)
8. Glenn Stewart (NSW)
9. Darius Boyd (QLD)
10. Josh Dugan (NSW)
11. Sam Burgess (England)
12. Jarryd Hayne (NSW)
13. Kieran Foran (NZ)
14. Mat Scott (QLD)
15. Luke Lewis (NSW)
16. Adam Blair (NZ)
17. Todd Carney (NSW)
18. Michael Ennis (NSW)
19. Brett Stewart (NSW)
20. Justin Hodges (QLD)
21. Robbie Farah (NSW)
22. Chris Sandow (QLD)
23. Sam Thaiday (QLD)
24. Terry Campese (NSW)
25. Kurt Gidley (NSW)
26. Daly-Cherry Evans (NSW)
27. Akuila Uate (NSW)
28. James Maloney (NSW)
29. Greg Bird (NSW)
30. Anthony Watmough (NSW)
31. Mitchell Pearce (NSW)
32. Gareth Ellis (England)
33. Issac Luke (NZ)
34. Matt Cooper (NSW)
35. Dave Taylor (QLD)
36. Simon Mannering (NZ)
37. Petero Civoniceiva (QLD)
38. Tariq Sims (NSW)
39. Jamie Soward (NSW)
40. Brett Morris (NSW)
41. Manu Vatuvei (NZ)
42. Michael Jennings (NSW)
43. Kevin Locke (NZ)
44. Jason Nightingale (NZ)
45. James Graham (England)
46. Matt Bowen (QLD)
47. Corey Parker (QLD)
48. Shaun Johnson (NZ)
49. Tom Learoyd Lahrs (NSW)
50. Nate Myles (QLD)

All up there is 15 QLD, 23 NSW, 9 Kiwis and 3 English.

[Swarley]

Bluenose5, on 27 February 2012 - 09:55, said:

No worries Swarley mate. Players with their origin.


1. Cam Smith (QLD)
2. Johnathan Thurston (QLD)
3. Billy Slater (QLD)
4. Benji Marshall (NZ)
5. Paul Gallen (NSW)
6. Cooper Cronk (QLD)
7. Greg Inglis (QLD)
8. Glenn Stewart (NSW)
9. Darius Boyd (QLD)
10. Josh Dugan (NSW)
11. Sam Burgess (England)
12. Jarryd Hayne (NSW)
13. Kieran Foran (NZ)
14. Mat Scott (QLD)
15. Luke Lewis (NSW)
16. Adam Blair (NZ)
17. Todd Carney (NSW)
18. Michael Ennis (NSW)
19. Brett Stewart (NSW)
20. Justin Hodges (QLD)
21. Robbie Farah (NSW)
22. Chris Sandow (QLD)
23. Sam Thaiday (QLD)
24. Terry Campese (NSW)
25. Kurt Gidley (NSW)
26. Daly-Cherry Evans (NSW)
27. Akuila Uate (NSW)
28. James Maloney (NSW)
29. Greg Bird (NSW)
30. Anthony Watmough (NSW)
31. Mitchell Pearce (NSW)
32. Gareth Ellis (England)
33. Issac Luke (NZ)
34. Matt Cooper (NSW)
35. Dave Taylor (QLD)
36. Simon Mannering (NZ)
37. Petero Civoniceiva (QLD)
38. Tariq Sims (NSW)
39. Jamie Soward (NSW)
40. Brett Morris (NSW)
41. Manu Vatuvei (NZ)
42. Michael Jennings (NSW)
43. Kevin Locke (NZ)
44. Jason Nightingale (NZ)
45. James Graham (England)
46. Matt Bowen (QLD)
47. Corey Parker (QLD)
48. Shaun Johnson (NZ)
49. Tom Learoyd Lahrs (NSW)
50. Nate Myles (QLD)

All up there is 15 QLD, 23 NSW, 9 Kiwis and 3 English.

Excellent work thanks for that. I was wrong then and that surprises me.

[Swarley]

A-Mac, on 02 October 2011 - 10:13, said:

Don't hear from Swarley all year, then he comes out when Manly win

I've just noticed that. True, very true, I'll probably be very quiet on this thread this year as I can't see "my" Sea Eagles doing much. I suspect the Tigers and Warriors will go close, although I did have a dream the other night that the Rabbitohs won the Premiership!

[Bluenose5]

Swarley, on 27 February 2012 - 10:01, said:

Excellent work thanks for that. I was wrong then and that surprises me.

Surprised me too. I guess because we just think that because QLD have dominated the State of Origin for the past like 6 series that we think there will be more banana benders in the top 50 list but when you look at it they have got so much success from having a stable origin side that rarely changes players and therefore know each others games alot better than NSW who seem to have a brand new team just about every origin series. As for your Manly I think they wont be in the final again this season but they will still be in the top 8 and make the finals, Des Hasler might have gone but its still the same squad there. Would be funny if the Bunnies did finally win a premiership

[oht]

Well done Warriors. Was watching on BBC Alba (loving the combo of Gaelic and English!) and thought they had thrown it away but surely looking good for the playoffs now. Might go to Firhill for the Connacht game after the Ayr game if I'm not in a state of despondency.

Not that I'd want to read too much into Leinster putting 8 tries past an abject Edinburgh, but I'd think it'll make a big difference finishing third.

[flyingscot]

Glasgow played well against Connaught and are through to face Leinster at the RDS after finishing fourth. Leinster have a certain Heineken Cup final a week later.... will they rest key players v Glasgow and hope to get through?

[Savage Henry]

I see Simon Danielli has retired from professional rugby. Bit sorry for the guy that he has had to retire, but good god he was brutal. If there's a stat for knock ons in contact with the try line at your mercy, he'd be top.

[oht]

Sounded like warriors were brave if uninspiring against Leinster.

A great season for Scottish pro rugby, just hope it wasn't a flash in the pan.

[flyingscot]

oht, on 17 May 2012 - 10:05, said:

Sounded like warriors were brave if uninspiring against Leinster.

A great season for Scottish pro rugby, just hope it wasn't a flash in the pan.

They were. Leinster weren't great but I felt they got the rub of the green with George Clancy being appointed referee, he seemed intent at times in whistling the players off the park.

[TheScarf]

Good to see Timmy Viss in the squad for the Australiasia Tour. He can't play against the Wallabies though as he doesn't become elligible until after that game, but can play against Fiji and Samoa.

[Swarley]

Game 1 of Origin tonight. Obviously hoping for a NSW win but I can't really see beyond another QLD series win. They have awesome players.

[Kincardine]

I'm taking my son (11) to Twickenham on Saturday for the Aviva final. Tickets are a bit 'ouch' at £50 each plus booking fee but I know he'll love the occasion.

So who is your money on? Quins or Leicester?

[Jeek]

RFU have denied both play-off finalists of promotion citing not having a 10,000 all seater stadium..... why does that sound familiar

Cornish Pirates are a fantastic club, but they wont get 10,000 people at a game!
The English game is boring to watch, and they had a shocker in europe. But hey, so long as the old boys network is kept in tact



^^me^^