QLD Premier Rugby 2014

[Tigers Tale]

Right on the money Jets - it amazes me in this day and age how tight forwards can wear moulded sole boots??

 

[Jets]

It all depends on the surface you play on. I finished playing 10 years ago and wore moulded boots as most grounds were like playing on a road. In the 80's and 90's it was all about screw in tags and the longer the better.

 

[FilthRugby]

Back when rugby had rucking... how I miss it.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Filth you are a traditionalist!! Great to see I am not on my own. Let's face it most Rugby tragics are traditionalists!!

5 more sleeps!!

 

[Tigers Tale]

Filth - did Norths all get on the drink the night before in Roma or were Brothers that good??

Regardless the Tigers defence will be a sterner test this weekend!!

Seriously there was very little in the first game at Crosby this year - Brothers won the scrum battle that day which the Tigers will have to work on in order to get parity this weekend - so I am predicting that it will be a very close and stressful encounter. I think the Easts scrum has improved since that encounter. Unfortunately Paraka is still a couple of weeks away.

The Refs better bring ear plugs because a Ladies Day & Old Boys Day double at Bottomley will mean they'll get plenty of assistance with their decision making!!

 

[The Oldest Rat]

Went to Sunnybank on Sat and watched the Wests prems get dusted. I have a problem with selections for Wests. Two weeks ago Nigel Genia appeared out of nowhere and got a gig for the second half and played like a bloke who hasn't played all year and then the same thing happened at the Brothers flogging, they were in front at half time then Genia came on replacing Smith and they got flogged. I was flabbergasted when Genia ran out starting for Wests on Saturday and Wests were in slow motion mainly because Genia's imitation of a penguin at the ruck. Then Smith who was playing out of position at FBack came into HB when Genia was hooked in the last 20 minutes of the game. Well the transformation was quite genuinely chalk to cheese. Wests were competitive for the last 20 minutes the game sped up enormously, with Smith's service, sharp and quick. Wests were outgunned in the forwards and were struggling, but they would have been much more competitive if they had gotten some service from the HB. The forwards and backs were lined up and Genia just sat there like a penguin and that allowed the defence to get set every time. Why would Pat Byron start Genia (who looks completely out of form) when he has a great HB who has done a fine job each week in a loosing side. On another tack when your team is getting flogged every week why keep starting guys that are not doing the job, (nothing to do with Smith) especially at this time of the year, you would think that he would try something different or give some new blokes a go to see what they were made of for next season. A lot of discussion re. Genia just walking back into the side, one has to ask the question is there pressure being applied to the coaches to start certain players????? and by whom?????? Hit of the week by the FB when he came on the replace Smith for Wests on the Sunnybank centre, both were in Disney land after the collision

 

[The Oldest Rat]

Have to feel for the front row at Wests I think one is 20 and the other is still 19, they put up a great show but were out muscled in the set piece by a vastly more experienced sunnybank, however like Dan Crowley said nothing like getting your head shoved up your backside to learn how to scrum. Both Wests boys will learn heaps from this. Young James Stewart is a bright prospect at tight head. He tried hard all game. Can't wait to see him next year. He is 19 and this is only his 3rd game back this season from major injury. He has loads of technical ability and he's going to be a big lad when he grows up already 6'3" and 105 kg.

 

[Breakdown]

Went to Sunnybank on Sat and watched the Wests prems get dusted. I have a problem with selections for Wests. Two weeks ago Nigel Genia appeared out of nowhere and got a gig for the second half and played like a bloke who hasn't played all year and then the same thing happened at the Brothers flogging, they were in front at half time then Genia came on replacing Smith and they got flogged. I was flabbergasted when Genia ran out starting for Wests on Saturday and Wests were in slow motion mainly because Genia's imitation of a penguin at the ruck. Then Smith who was playing out of position at FBack came into HB when Genia was hooked in the last 20 minutes of the game. Well the transformation was quite genuinely chalk to cheese. Wests were competitive for the last 20 minutes the game sped up enormously, with Smith's service, sharp and quick. Wests were outgunned in the forwards and were struggling, but they would have been much more competitive if they had gotten some service from the HB. The forwards and backs were lined up and Genia just sat there like a penguin and that allowed the defence to get set every time. Why would Pat Byron start Genia (who looks completely out of form) when he has a great HB who has done a fine job each week in a loosing side. On another tack when your team is getting flogged every week why keep starting guys that are not doing the job, (nothing to do with Smith) especially at this time of the year, you would think that he would try something different or give some new blokes a go to see what they were made of for next season. A lot of discussion re. Genia just walking back into the side, one has to ask the question is there pressure being applied to the coaches to start certain players????? and by whom?????? Hit of the week by the FB when he came on the replace Smith for Wests on the Sunnybank centre, both were in Disney land after the collision

I believe there is some guideline around players who train with the extended Reds squad must play Premier Grade for their respective club.

Solid argument Rat & something that has been discussed on this thread before in regards to Nigel.

 

[Jets]

Is he involved in the EPS? I didn't think he was.

Also I thought the rule was the must play Premier. If that is the case it takes in Prem Colts and Prem reserve too.

From what I saw on Saturday he was a liability as was targeted a bit by the Dragons forwards.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Oldest Rat - you are a man of similar thinking to myself in regards Nigel Genia & Smith.

If Nigel Genia gets a gig for one of the two NRC sides it will be so wrong.

Smith is a real talent.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Grasso is another over rated HB in the comp.

 

[FilthRugby]

Your front-row is going to be in for a real test this weekend, TT.
The only facet where I think Brothers have the edge (scrum). Everywhere else will be very, very equal. Brothers have to improve their lineout, particularly against Easts - tall timber talent.

I think Mullins will be tested this weekend against Knox. Plus the Greene v Brandon battle will relight. The usual fireworks will probably erupt early.


Same side as last week, TT?

I'm unsure as to whether Bennie or Tabalala will be starting at #3.

 

[TheBigDog]

Grasso is another over rated HB in the comp.

I think over rated is a bit harsh TT. I definitely think Tom Christie is a better half back than him and am thankful that he made the move to GPS this year but Grasso is still a Premier Grade standard player.

Grasso gets a lot of hype (or did so in the past, he has been fairly quiet this year) because he'd break games open with a great run, kick etc but a part from that I think his service and general team play are solid to average. I don't see him getting any serious contracts here in Australia.

 

[FilthRugby]

I agree TBD. Grasso was pretty good at Brothers.

TT, just finally, are you expecting a big crowd? I imagine the beer sales will be high in the clubhouse!!

 

[Jeeper]

I personally rate Christie over Grasso but the Prems coaches prefer Grasso over Tom. Too slow out of the ruck apparently!

This weekend will be massive against Uni, we need to make up for the embarrassing performance last time against Uni. The crowd will be a big one. Our grades squads will be tested in depth due to several blokes heading overseas for the week.

 

[FilthRugby]

A loss could see Jeeps move to fourth!

 

[Tigers Tale]

Filth

I'd be more worried about Easts moving into 4th than GPS!! It won't happen this weekend but it will happen!!

Don't know what the team will look like hopefully maybe Toby White back?
Toua? but Paraka is a few weeks away.

Don't worry the Easts scrum will be better than it was at Crosby. The refereeing of the scrum might be better too!!

As for the crowd Saturday is Ladies Day and it is also Old Boys Day at Bottomley so it should be a big crowd. 300 ladies coming to Ladies day with proceeds going to MND and ME Foundation.

So there will be plenty of ladies in the marque and plenty of Old Boys in the Beer Garden.

May even top the huge crowd which was at the Brothers game last year which was probably the biggest crowd every @ Bottomley.

Easts would love to play Brothers in every home game!!

The result of the Reserve Grade game has similar finals implications to the Prem result.

4 more sleeps.

 

[tigerland12]

If Toby White is available....

12- Mullins
13- White

Or

12- White
13- Mullins

No way would I be moving Chuky back to scrum half after how well both him and Deck have been lately. I prefer the first option.

On Decky, massively underrated this year, I don't think he is getting the praise he deserves.

 

[Tommy B]

Oldest Rat - you are a man of similar thinking to myself in regards Nigel Genia & Smith.

If Nigel Genia gets a gig for one of the two NRC sides it will be so wrong.

Smith is a real talent.

It is a rule that they have to play Premier Grade, and am pretty certain that means 'THE premier grade'.

I agree that Tim Smith is a better player, and he has been great for Wests this year.

I think the reason he played fullback was because Byron Hutchinson is injured.

 

[FilthRugby]

An issue Brothers don't have to worry about, Tommy B!