2025 News, General Articles and Discussion

[Squidge]

Easy to rule on, just look at the ball out of the hands.

More importantly, there were heaps of forward passes in our game thrown by both sides. All were thrown by a ballplayer standing still/moving sideways. These are the annoying ones as they can be seen and ruled upon and they often provide the line breaks.

It was crazy. I kept saying ' We got away with another forward pass'! If you are not running forward, there is no momentum.

 

[Pplspoet]

Are forward passes really bothering anybody? Genuine question.

There are plenty of areas the game could improve,

I’m fine with the odd forward pass going for or against the team.

It’s always been that way.

Hasn’t hurt the game to date.

Leave the forward passes alone.

Gives people something to complain about other than sacking the coach after a loss.

 

[Squidge]

When we played the Storm in Perth, I was right in line with the final pass that won the game for the Storm and it was wildly forward.

I truly expected that it would be called back because it was soo obvious, but it wasn't and it decided the game.

 

[jackrabbit]

I can’t bring myself to read the article, but this headline will absolutely do me.

View attachment 3308

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but I just nearly vomited

 

[aegean]

I can’t bring myself to read the article, but this headline will absolutely do me.

View attachment 3308

Honestly, News Ltd journos do not have any shame.

Once upon a time you could argue that shows like NRL360 were either agenda driven, or protective of their mates in the game, and get a counter argument. There is just no debate anymore on how low these programs are re integrity.

The piece de resistance for me was a couple of days ago when the news item hit about the referee's complaint against Nick Politis and Mark Bouris. Normally, they would be on their high horse criticising any abuse of referees from the sideline - poor example for junior footy etc.

But...guess what? Not here. In fact, Buzz had a go at the referee for leaking the story to the press and grandstanding about the issue so that this nobody could get his name in the media. For Buzz, it was pathetic that this referee was using Nick and Mark to make a name for himself.

I'm not making this up.

 

[daRque]

Are forward passes really bothering anybody? Genuine question.

Yes, they bother me, and I'll tell you why.

As you know I am not one to blame ref/officials for a loss, I never do that.
Also I don't expect refs to be perfect. I think they have a very hard job and feel they do their best. I expect them to get some decisions wrong in just about every game.

What I won't accept is refs getting the absolute basics wrong.

For me knock-ons and also forward passes are the absolute basics and I really do expect refs, being so close to the action, to get the basics right.

I see so many forward passes in every game that impact the game, same with knock-ons.

Every dropped ball is judged as a knock-on regardless of which way it bounces. Drives me insane.

Get the ****ing basics right, judging a forward pass or knock-on is not rocket science.

It does my head in how often they get really simple and obvious things wrong.

There, now I feel better.........................

 

[PaulB]

Acai is full of antioxidants BUT it’s one of the most bitter berries on the face of the earth. So to make it eatable they pack it with sugar. Therefore it has a ridiculously high calorie content

If you’re trying to lose weight stay away from Acai. Eat natural Greek yogurt with berries and a drizzle of honey instead.

100% yoghurt with fruit is better and tastier

 

[Bruster]

Are forward passes really bothering anybody?

Unless the pass belongs in the NFL then not really for me. I like the bunker but I hope we don't go that way for forward passes. That would be a digital overload for the fans. We have 3 refs, one in the game and 2 on the line. If they all miss the howlers then we really need to replace them. I would rather go back to the 2nd ref for forward passes for the purpose of keeping this in the control of the ref as opposed to the use of tech in this case.

 

[olBj]

Are forward passes really bothering anybody? Genuine question.

There are plenty of areas the game could improve,

I’m fine with the odd forward pass going for or against the team.

It’s always been that way.

Hasn’t hurt the game to date.

Leave the forward passes alone.

Gives people something to complain about other than sacking the coach after a loss.

Well since I raised this issue after last weekends match and have done so in the past. I will put my hand up and say how utterly annoying they are to me because:
- it is a primary rule in nrl that the ball cannot be propelled forward from the hand
- it happens so often and is not picked up
- so often leads directly to tries
- touchies seem totally blind to the rule
- bunker should be allowed to make call in scoring of a try
- there seems to be a blanket 'cone of silence' on this from tv commentators
Well, I've said my piece again
Feeling a bit better now
Just hope refs don't try to square the ledger with Dragons on forward passes on Saturday after last week

 

[olBj]

Unless the pass belongs in the NFL then not really for me. I like the bunker but I hope we don't go that way for forward passes. That would be a digital overload for the fans. We have 3 refs, one in the game and 2 on the line. If they all miss the howlers then we really need to replace them. I would rather go back to the 2nd ref for forward passes for the purpose of keeping this in the control of the ref as opposed to the use of tech in this case.

In a way i share your reticence re the bunker's powers Bruster ...
But we do see howlers and no action ever 'seems' to be taken against those that have missed them...
In fact ... they are not even mentioned...
Happily we roll along

 

[Prowsey]

Are forward passes really bothering anybody? Genuine question.

There are plenty of areas the game could improve,

I’m fine with the odd forward pass going for or against the team.

It’s always been that way.

Hasn’t hurt the game to date.

Leave the forward passes alone.

Gives people something to complain about other than sacking the coach after a loss.

Yep. Bothers me.

Mainly because the rule is so simple and yet made so complex by the so called experts in the media (and the fans to be fair).

It’s like the obstruction rule. You gain an advantage by passing the ball forward.

I don’t think we need ball tracking technology or anything like that, but allowing the bunker to rule on a forward pass in the lead up to a try is a no brainer for me.

I mean…they basically guess on a whole lot of other shit leading up to a try, why not let them guess on forward passes too.

 

[Sonic Star]

If you’re not from Western Sydney, you don’t truly appreciate how ridiculous the Acai craze is (or Acai Wars). Within 1km of me every direction, there is 10-12 shops selling it. Either dedicated Acai shops or tagging onto Pizza shops, convenience stores etc

I mean its nice as a sometimes treat but I dont know who is eating it daily to sustain all these stores

It's like barber shops, a new one just keeps opening up and there is 10 of them in the same street all within a few minutes distance from each other

 

[Pplspoet]

Not bad from a Pride-accused professional stationary bike rider who doesn’t want to play football.

 

[PaulB]

It's like barber shops, a new one just keeps opening up and there is 10 of them in the same street all within a few minutes distance from each other

Tobacconists

 

[Gazman]

Once, just once I’d like a player to come out and say “of course it’s about the ****ing money cuz! Would you knock back $1.3m a year for 10 years…?

'I've never really wanted to leave': Newcastle offer too good for Dylan to refuse
Sport

Dylan Brown never wanted to leave the Eels.
After all, Parramatta is all he has known since he moved from New Zealand as a 15-year-old. But when the Knights came knocking with a $14 million, 10-year offer - the most lucrative in NRL history - Brown couldn't refuse.
Speaking publicly for the first time since telling teammates on Monday of his departure at the end of this season, Brown said he never thought he'd be leaving the club that handed him his NRL debut in 2019.
'Just making the decision on its own was a pretty big one,' Brown said at the team's training fields in Kellyville. 'Knights have put a lot of faith in me, and they obviously put 10 years down there in front of me, I didn't think I was going to leave this club ever, to be honest.
'I've been here a long time and I've never really wanted to leave but, like you said, there's other reasons to leaving.
'It's my family, it's my future. The games not [for] long, and I'm trying to look after myself and my family. So, I'm happy with my decision.'
Even Brown conceded he was surprised by Newcastle's investment. '100 per cent [I was surprised]. It's a massive deal and, like I said, my plans were never leaving this place.
'I'm very sad that I'm leaving, but look here we are, things have happened, and now I've got to back myself.'
When pushed on whether he thought he was worth the $1.4 million a year, Brown said he was more concerned with security than money.
'Money has never really been a thing for me, it's 10 years [of] security,' Brown said.
'I just signed a deal with Parra before then, and that was 10 years, and that was purely based on security as well. So, like I said, it's for my family, and it's for my future.'
Former players and commentators have been critical of Newcastle's decision. Brown has played at No.6 most of his career, besides a few fill-in games as halfback when Mitch Moses has been injured.
Mitchell Pearce said he found it strange that the Knights saw Brown as a No.7, while Andrew Johns said he didn't know 'whether he's got the tools to be a main playmaker'.
Brown knows he couldn't control the criticism about his signing.
'I've obviously been a six all my career, last year I sort of had the opportunity to fulfil that number and [was] learning on the go,' Brown said.
'Obviously, nothing happens quick like that, it takes time. This year, obviously Mitch has been out so I've got more practice, but if it happens, I'm willing to learn, I'm willing to take on the challenge ... Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I'm the one on the footy field. I'm doing my best, that's all I can do, and when I go to the Knights nothing is going to change.'
Under NRL rules, the Eels have 10 days to convince Brown to back out of the Newcastle deal now the contract has been submitted to the NRL.
Brown said he had discussed with the Knights the kind of style they want to play, but hadn't firmed up yet where they wanted him to play, and said fullback Kalyn Ponga had been in touch to congratulate him on the signing.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien refused to talk about the signing at his weekly press conference.
'I'm not talking about Dylan Brown,' O'Brien said. 'I'm willing to talk about the Dolphins, round one [sic] here. The Dylan Brown situation has a process to go through, and I reckon I will respect that process.'
O'Brien refused to budge when pressed further. 'I'll find a different way to give you the same answer,' he said. 'I understand the question ... There will come a time to talk about Dylan but, right now, I'm focused on tomorrow night with the halves I have there.'

So if the Eels offered him 10 years at 1 mill pa he’d have stayed ?. I highly doubt it. Very few players would turn their back on $300k pa to ply their trade somewhere else.