balmainforever
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
NRL NRL 2024 - Grand Final Melbourne vs Penrith
- Thread starter balmainforever
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LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Hate tipping them but if I have to make a tip it's Penrith, their best is still the best and they have the best player and two of the top 3 (edwards the second) players in the game. I'll go Penrith by 4-6 points.
- May 5, 2016
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That’s a big call on Edwards. It’s debatable if he’s even in the best two fullbacks in the game.
Not that I don’t think you could make a good case for him in said debate, for what it’s worth - he’s exceptional.
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
NSW changing FB’s was a huge reason they won this year, CC medal last year. Cleary is 1 by streets but Edwards would be in the top 5 at worst he’d be 3rd on my list only as I rate Hass that highly.
- May 5, 2016
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He didn’t win the CC medal last year, Cleary did, I think you mean the year before.
Tedesco actually had a huge year - like a genuinely huge year. I don’t know if the Blues would have won if he played games two and three or not but he has probably still been our best player in a season where only really Walker and Tupou could be relied on to turn up every week they were fit.
Haas I agree is a colossus not just physically - just a giant of a player and when fit he is only behind Cleary as the first player I pick in any side.
I would probably pick a fully fit Ponga ahead of Edwards if it were for an Aussie team though the combination aspect gets Edwards some extra points
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NAS out of GF.
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Arrh got those two GF’s wrong. Edwards for me has been the best FB consistently for the last 3 years, both Walsh and Ponga have higher peaks but one is still prone to a shocker (Walsh) and one can’t stay fit (KP).
Tedesco was done at Origin level should have been the year prior but he did have a good club season for sure probably gets the fullback award this year as Edwards missed a month. Be good for him to focus on club footy in his last year or two.
Haas is a gun best forward in the game a huge reason Brisbane struggled him
Being out for 2/3 of the year
nobbyiscool
Brownlow Medallist
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If my team isn't playing - and let's face it, they won't be playing in the GF again for a friggen long time - I'll always cheer for the story, or cheer for greatness.
4 in a row makes Penrith an all-time team that you can tell your kids about, that's what I want to see happen.
The Storm will never be a great story while Bellamy is still in charge, rightly or wrongly they'll be seen as a team that bent the rules and singlehandedly had about 6 different grubby acts outlawed from the game under his management.
4 in a row makes Penrith an all-time team that you can tell your kids about, that's what I want to see happen.
The Storm will never be a great story while Bellamy is still in charge, rightly or wrongly they'll be seen as a team that bent the rules and singlehandedly had about 6 different grubby acts outlawed from the game under his management.
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I still have Walsh a tier below the others. He has some tricks a lot of players don’t but his positional play is so weak that it is not just his mistakes that make him a liability but he leaves his backline teammates in such vulnerable spots in defence sometimes that it’s just too hard for me to ignore. And I say that as a Queensland fan.
Ponga is never going to be a Minichiello or someone who can take down a rampaging forward but he at least knows where to be.
You’re probably right about Teddy maybe another origin campaign was a year too much but I think he would have handled it if needed.
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To me they’re the best rugby league side I’ve seen: never thought I’d see a side match the Brisbane and Canberra sides of the 90s and I guess people older than me would say the same about the eels and dogs of the 80s but the relentlessness with which Penrith play while still being exciting, coupled with the fact that they just keep filling every gap that opens up when a player leaves just makes them the most remarkable team. I hope they get it done
They are not the most exciting side to watch, though, are they? It's all about relentless efficiency, making the right decisions, and a bare minimum of errors. Not That There's Anything Wrong With That, of course!
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A Penrith win is good for Rugby League, so yea.
They had to challenge the grading. As a bonus for them, it will include games for the Kiwis later on.
ESKIE
Keeping it Cool.
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Storm by 2
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That’s the thing. From my perspective, anyway.
A) to me, in an era where barely any team can put back to back sets together without f**king it up, being mechanical in itself is worth watching, and b) the precision attack of their backline is actually pretty exciting to watch IMO when it’s on point. Cleary gets a bit of a bum wrap as being an organising half - he produces some of the best running and passing plays going, he just looks so methodical in doing it that it almost comes across as robotic.
Jatz
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This Grand Final was clearly happening for the last 4 months.
Should be a belter.
Storm by 8. Think they've just got too many points in them.
Should be a belter.
Storm by 8. Think they've just got too many points in them.
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
4 or 5 wasn't missing anymore Storm games other than the GF anyway despite my thoughts on this that it should be served in a domestic competition.
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Really hope Klein doesn't let the storm get away with the usual slowing the play and being inside the 10.
So grubby to watch.
So grubby to watch.
Well he let Penrith get away with it as well so he probably will…
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Because Cronulla lost?
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The NRL needs a thrilling grand final to make up for a pretty lacklustre finals series. I fancy Penrith with NAS out. Although an injury to Cleary before or during the match obviously puts a cat amongst the pigeons as the great Bill Lawry would say.
Jatz
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Yeah didn't you know, they all hate Cronulla.
phantom13
Moderator
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**** me can we at least wait until the game is done before we trash the refs.
The more i think about the more it seems like the Riff will get the win and nobbyiscool has sold me, that story will go down with seeing Tom Brady, Michael Jordan etc. Cleary is in that stratosphere (albeit in a tiny ass domestic sport).
Much like last weekend my main hope as a neutral spectator is a cracking and close game. I have a soft spot for the Storm and whilst i dont like Penrith their story is pretty compelling, feels like a win all round if the games not a blow out.
The more i think about the more it seems like the Riff will get the win and nobbyiscool has sold me, that story will go down with seeing Tom Brady, Michael Jordan etc. Cleary is in that stratosphere (albeit in a tiny ass domestic sport).
Much like last weekend my main hope as a neutral spectator is a cracking and close game. I have a soft spot for the Storm and whilst i dont like Penrith their story is pretty compelling, feels like a win all round if the games not a blow out.
nobbyiscool
Brownlow Medallist
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It's so interesting to me hearing that he's been playing without pain killing injections. I don't suspect you change that going into the GF - I guess it's a lever you can pull if something goes wrong, but you don't want that infamous Mick McGuane situation where the jab goes wrong if you didn't need to do it in the first place.
It's proper super human if he makes it through the GF, and if they win Nathan Cleary becomes another story of epic folklore.
