**Official** NRL 2010 thread

[Spinksy]

I figured I'd get in early...

2010 NRL draw...

[duffer]

Heh, hopefully the Sainters can grow a collective pair come Finals time next season.

[ripper868]

So...how many "Scandals" for the off-season then? and which club to be fined $100,000 plus for said scandal.

My early money on the cowboys.

[duffer]

The Doggies are due imo.

[Simon]

Panthers imo, **** team, **** area. Reckon off field drama's or player revolt, something to get rid of Elliott before round 1.

[Ausage]

Panthers imo, **** team, **** area.

Canberra much?

Reckon off field drama's or player revolt, something to get rid of Elliott before round 1.

If the rumors are true and we're interested in Setiamata Sa then I could see us having some dramas.

[99*]

Newcastle to get a good halfback and dominate imo.

[Burgey]

Panthers imo, **** team, **** area. Reckon off field drama's or player revolt, something to get rid of Elliott before round 1.

Harsh imo. Penrith has never claimed to be anything more than it is - a working class-lower middle class area. Contrast that with the vile gentrification of the Balmain area, South Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs such as Paddington. Then there's Campbelltown-by-the-Sea.

Personally backing Souths for more drama and Manly again. For the latter, B Stewart facing a commital just before the season starts could be the catalyst for a disastrous season. Let's all hope so!

[ripper868]

Eeels could be in stink if some of Morts facebook photos were to get out...binge drinking, animal abuse (all in jest of course but the media can twist a picture to how they see fit), cross dressing, pictures with many girls wearing not much (all of whom he went to school with and has been mates with for 10+ years)...Daily Telegraph can be an evil machine...Would be the perfect target to, seeing as he's looking pretty set to be leagues new pin-up boy.

[Blewy]

With the Indigenous All-Stars taking on the NRL All-Stars for the Season opener on the Gold Coast thought i'd put this out their to see what kind of teams you think will be selected...

The rules are:

* 20 players per team
* Indigenous team MUST have Preston Campbell
* NRL Team MUST have Australian Capt and Vice Capt (Locky and Smith??) as well as the NZ Capt and Vice Capt (Benji and ???)
* Remaining 16 for the NRL team MUST contain 1 player from each club.

Here's what im coming up with, bear in mind not 100% sure on the indigenous players...

Indigenous All Stars

1/ Preston Campbell
2/ Nathan Merritt
3/ Justin Hodges
4/ Greg Inglis
5/ Willie Tonga
6/ Johnathen Thurston
7/ Scott Prince
8/ Sam Thaiday
9/ ???
10/ Carl Webb
11/ Tom Learoyd-Lars
12/ Daine Laurie
13/ Yileen Gordon

14/ Chris Sandow
15/ Ty Williams
16/ Jamal Idris
17/ Jamie Soward
18/ George Rose
19/ ???
20/ ???


NRL All-Stars

1/ Billy Slater (Melbourne)
2/ Brett Morris (Dragons)
3/ Michael Jennings (Penrith)
4/ Israel Falou (Brisbane)
5/ Jarryd Hayne (Parra)
6/ Darren Lockyer (Aust Capt)
7/ Benji Marshall (NZ Capt)
8/ Roy Asotasi (NZ VC??)
9/ Cameron Smith (Aust VC??)
10/ Steve Price (Warriors)
11/ Gareth Ellis (Tigers)
12/ Anthony Watmough (Manly)
13/ Luke O'Donnell (Cowboys)

14/ Alan Tongue (Canberra)
15/ Paul Gallen (Sharks)
16/ Ben Hannant (Bulldogs)
17/ Kurt Gidley (Newcastle)
18/ John Sutton (Souths)
19/ Willie Mason (Roosters)
20/ Luke Bailey (Titans)


Its alot tougher then i thought it would be...

[Simon]

1 Billy Slater (Storm)
2 Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
3 Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
4 Israel Folau (Broncos)
5 Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
6 Darren Lockyer (Aus)
7 Benji Marshall (NZ)
8 Petero Civoniceva (Panthers)
9 Cam Smith (Aus)
10 David Taylor (Souths)
11 Anthony Watmough (Manly)
12 Gareth Ellis (Tigers)
13 Anthony Laffranchi (Titans)
Reserves
14 David Shillington (Raiders)
15 Ben Creagh (Dragons)
16 Kurt Gidley (Knights)
17 Luke Douglas (Sharks)
18 Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)
19 Luke O'Donnell (Cowboys)
20 NZ Vice Captain????

I definitely think there will be more kiwis in the team though, I had Bronson Harrison there before I realised another prop was needed on the bench.

Not even going to have a crack at the Indigenous team I have no idea who can play given Ben Jones is eligible.

[Blewy]

JASON CAYLESS SIGNS FOR TWO YEARS
Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Wests Tigers is pleased to announce the significant signing of representative prop Jason Cayless for seasons 2010 and 2011.

Cayless will renew his career in the NRL following four successful years with St Helens. During this time, Cayless enjoyed English Super League premiership and Challenge Cup success.

A former NRL premiership winning front-rower and Kiwi international, Cayless will add plenty of muscle to an already strong Wests Tigers forward pack.

Cayless previously played in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels.

“It is great to be back in Australia playing in the NRL competition with a club heading in the right direction such as the Wests Tigers,’’ Cayless said.

“I can’t wait to play with the likes of Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Gareth Ellis and the boys under an excellent coach in Tim Sheens.”

Sheens said Cayless was a quality signing for the club.

“Jason will add a lot of depth and experience to the pack and will provide invaluable leadership to the strong crop of exciting young forwards coming through the ranks at Wests Tigers,’’ he said.

[chaminda_00]

Í think Frank Pritchard is the vice captain for the Kiwis. But lets say someone like Thomas Leulai was vc or captain of the Kiwis and played in England. Would they just play some random kiwi..

[Blewy]

Here's a list of ALL players who are eligible for the Indigneous team...


Albert Kelly
Cronulla Sharks

Anthony Mitchell
Parramatta Eels

Anthony Watts
Nth Qld Cowboys

Beau Champion
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Ben Barba
Canterbury Bulldogs

Ben Jones
Sydney Roosters

Ben Orcher
Cronulla Sharks

Blake Ferguson
Cronulla Sharks

Brad Tighe
Penrith Panthers

Brandon Boor
Nth Qld Cowboys

Brenton Bowen
Gold Coast Titans

Carl Webb
Nth Qld Cowboys

Chris Sandow
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Cory Paterson
Newcastle Knights

Daine Laurie
Penrith Panthers

Dane Nielson
Melbourne Storm

Donald Malone
Nth Qld Cowboys

Esi Tonga
Gold Coast Titans

Fred Briggs
Canterbury Bulldogs

George Rose
Manly Sea Eagles

Greg Inglis
Melbourne Storm

Ian Lacey
Gold Coast Titans

Jake Friend
Sydney Roosters

Jamal Idris
Canterbury Bulldogs

Jamie Simpson
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Jamie Soward
St George-Illawarra Dragons

Jarrod Sammut
Penrith Panthers

Jharal Yow Yeh
Brisbane Broncos

Joel Moon
Warriors

Joel Romelo
Penrith Panthers

Joel Thompson
Canberra Raiders

Johnathan Thurston
Nth Qld Cowboys

Jonathan Wright
Parramatta Eels

Josh Hoffman
Brisbane Broncos

Justin Carney
Canberra Raiders

Justin Hodges
Brisbane Broncos

Kurtis Lingwoodock
Brisbane Broncos

Luke Kelly
Melbourne Storm

Luke Walsh
Penrith Panthers

Matt Bowen
Nth Qld Cowboys

Maurice Blair
Penrith Panthers

Michael Bani
Nth Qld Cowboys

Michael Lett
St George-Illawarra Dragons

Nathan Merritt
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Obe Geia
Nth Qld Cowboys

P J Marsh
Brisbane Broncos

Palmer Wapau
Brisbane Broncos

Rhys Wesser
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Robert Lui
Wests Tigers

Sam Thaiday
Brisbane Broncos

Scott Prince
Gold Coast Titans

Shannon Hegarty
Nth Qld Cowboys

Shannon Walker
Gold Coast Titans

Timana Tahu
Parramatta Eels

Tom Learoyd – Lahrs
Canberra Raiders

Travis Waddell
Canberra Raiders

Ty Williams
Nth Qld Cowboys

Wendell Sailor
St George-Illawarra Dragons

William Isa
Melbourne Storm

Willie Tonga
Nth Qld Cowboys

Yileen Gordon
Canterbury Bulldogs

Zac Merritt
Canberra Raiders

[NUFAN]

I would go for something like this:

1 Preston CAMPBELL (c)
2 Wendell SAILOR
3 Justin HODGES
4 Greg INGLIS
5 Timana TAHU
6 Scott PRINCE
7 Johnathan THURSTON
8 George ROSE
9 Travis WADDELL
10 Carl WEBB
11 Tom LEAROYD LAHS
12 Sam THAIDAY
13 Cory PATERSON

14 Nathan MERRITT
15 Yileen GORDON
16 Daine LAURIE
17 Jamie SOWARD

I know having 2 backs on the bench isn't normally ideal, but in this sort of match I don't think it would be a problem. Perhaps Presto at 9 might be better.