Am watching the nrl grand final and can't believe how clean the rucks are. As soon as a player is tackled he is allowed to get up quickly and play the ball. No sign of 2/3 players lying on top and almost stopping the game. In my opinion this is the biggest problem with our game, it is so slow and plodding.
At half time six tries have been scored due to great attacking rugby without one visit to the video ref, compared to our semi final game yesterday when our ref seemed incapable of making a decision without stopping the game for up to 5 minutes! I can't help wondering how long it will be before we adopt the bunker system.
Only my opinion of course but it's no wonder we are so far behind the southern hemisphere.
As the old adage said 'there's no substitute for pace'!!!!
We have slowed the pace down for some reason, mainly the ref not calling 'held' quickly enough trying to promote 'offloads' maybe?
They also seemed to call six again for the slightest infringement at the ruck particularly in the first half which set the president for quicker play the balls. I don't know how many there were but it seemed to be quite a lot.
It was a great game, very exciting. A good comeback by Brisbane.
One of the reasons it’s quicker is when a try is scored, the ref often gives it, then while the team are celebrating and lining up the conversion, the video ref reviews it , too see if it was a try, and quite often decide it wasn’t a try, and the try is disallowed, and not much time has been wasted, because the clock has been stopped anyway for the conversion attempt.
Typical Sky though, they advertised it as starting at 8-30 and they would be showing a hours preview from Australia, but then for no reason, spent 55 minutes showing highlights of last years SL grand final and the wheelchair final, and only started the match coverage with 5 minutes to go to the kick off.
Typical Sky though, they advertised it as starting at 8-30 and they would be showing a hours preview from Australia, but then for no reason, spent 55 minutes showing highlights of last years SL grand final and the wheelchair final, and only started the match coverage with 5 minutes to go to the kick off.
Bang on there mate!
Spelly.
Let's hope that we can put up a good set of performances against the Aussies in a few weeks-best thing that could happen for RL in this country is a good, close Ashes.
As for the club games, as today proves, it is night and day.
Interesting that the quicker ptb's result in territory gained faster plus often leaving a couple of defenders on the floor behind the ptb.
Was at the NRL grand final and the game is night and day ahead of the UK, 9 coverage starting fully at 11am, showing the two matches prior to the big one and an amazing pre show in what can only be described as a proper sports stadium. 80k plus at the ground and most watched/streamed sporting event ever in Oz. The RFL are just playing at the sport, ptb,s been a perfect example and very amateur refereeing, although they did have Klein as video ref! Free transport to the game from the city, loads of food and merch stalls outside the ground and 28degrees at kick-off.
Just off the tram after the game back in the city and a Widnes speccie got on, class all over the world!
One thing that is similar to UK, protecting poster boys, Reece Walsh, chatting with Craig Bellamy yesterday at the airport and quote “they are never going to fkin sin bin the NRL,s poster boy are they”!
Tim H
I don't get all the hype over the Convicts game, most don't give a flying feck about it, their game is robotic end of rather watch Workington and Whitehaven play. Getting up at stupid o'clock and claiming how good their game is then want England to thrash them is bordering on weirdness.
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You must like slow boring rugby if you’d rather watch Workington v Whitehaven rather than a really exciting NRL final, I presume you didn’t watch it.
And it kicked off at 9-30 UK time, I wouldn’t call that stupid o clock
1) I don't get all the hype over the Convicts game, most don't give a flying feck about it, their game is robotic end of rather watch Workington and Whitehaven play. 2) Getting up at stupid o'clock and claiming how good their game is 3) then want England to thrash them is bordering on weirdness.
1) The standard in the NRL, both on and off the park, is huge, and I love watching it.
2) 9.30am does not (in in FV's and my opinion) qualify as stupid o'clock! I've got up earlier than that to watch it!
3) I'd love us to thrash 'em, but as I've pointed out previously, I'm not holding my breath. The squad they've announced is loaded with quality footballers, but I'll be there at all three tests supporting my country, at my game, proudly wearing my England shirt, but (and I've lost count of the times I've asked you this)
WILL YOU BE THERE TOO?
Spelly.
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Will you be wearing your Swindon top with Spelly on the back and be singing the national anthem of Great Britain whilst supporting an Englsh team. You will be easy to spot, will you be the one booing the players that have a connection to Widnes when your jealousy kicks in. Perhaps this topic can be moved to the relevant section so Viking fans can discuss their team on their own dedicated fans page. Your obsession with me is frightening I wish we still had an ignore button on the forum.1) I don't get all the hype over the Convicts game, most don't give a flying feck about it, their game is robotic end of rather watch Workington and Whitehaven play. 2) Getting up at stupid o'clock and claiming how good their game is 3) then want England to thrash them is bordering on weirdness.
1) The standard in the NRL, both on and off the park, is huge, and I love watching it.
2) 9.30am does not (in in FV's and my opinion) qualify as stupid o'clock! I've got up earlier than that to watch it!
3) I'd love us to thrash 'em, but as I've pointed out previously, I'm not holding my breath. The squad they've announced is loaded with quality footballers, but I'll be there at all three tests supporting my country, at my game, proudly wearing my England shirt, but (and I've lost count of the times I've asked you this)
WILL YOU BE THERE TOO?
Spelly.