The 2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Thread

[Deadman Inc]

After 11 rounds of the NRL this season has again proved its the closest and the best competition in the world...excluding Tenpin Bowling. Theres not much in it from the top of the ladder to the bottom, with any team still able to finish in the top 8 and win this years premiership. Manly sits well at the top of the table and with victory over the 2nd place Storm have earned the tag as premiership favourates at this point of the season. But with 14 weeks of the home and away season still remaing its still anybodies guess who will make the top 8 for the finals. In my opinion the 3rd placed West Tigers are the dark horses to win this years premiership and I expect teams such as the Rabbitohs, Raiders, Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans to make a strong surge home for the finals and give the premiership a real crack. Reigning Premiers the Broncos have hit form by smashing the knights 71-6 and have sent a strong message to the rest of the NRL that they wont be giving up their title defence without a fight. My pick for the Grand Final at this stage of the season will be Many Sea Eagles v Nth Queensland Cowboys.

1 Sea Eagles 20
2 Storm 18
3 Wests Tigers 14
4 Cowboys 14
5 Sharks 12
6 Eels 12
7 Raiders 12
8 Knights 12
9 Rabbitohs 10
10 Warriors 10
11 Titans 10
12 Broncos 8
13 Panthers 8
14 Bulldogs 8
15 Dragons 8
16 Roosters 8

 

[speedwaystar]

Agree adam cowboys to win

 

[Cam S]

no brainer lads

MANLY all the way

 

[The Spanner]

Reigning Premiers the Broncos have hit form by smashing the knights 71-6 and have sent a strong message to the rest of the NRL that they wont be giving up their title defence without a fight.

They smashed a knights outfit with no-one in it ... They've played 40 minutes of decent football this year against a team of year 9 students and everyone is saying 'they're back' ..

Then .. this week they play the Dragons (another team decimated by injuries) so they should win that easy .. followed by the bye. Lets wait till they play a real team ... they are still last in the comp (lets not split hairs citing for and against).

GO MANLY !!!

 

[Hammer]

They smashed a knights outfit with no-one in it ... They've played 40 minutes of decent football this year against a team of year 9 students and everyone is saying 'they're back' ..
Then .. this week they play the Dragons (another team decimated by injuries) so they should win that easy .. followed by the bye. Lets wait till they play a real team ... they are still last in the comp (lets not split hairs citing for and against).
GO MANLY !!!

Ohh well look what happens, Manly are on top of the ladder, its been how long now, 10, no maybe 12 or even more I couldnt say, since Manly have won a premiership, and all of a sudden there the best team, and all people can do is bag the broncos, the premiers. You manly supporters need your head read, you haven't won yet, and in my opinion you wont,
Go the Broncos and Queensland

 

[The Spanner]

Ah Hammer ... i said at the start of the year that the Broncos couldn't win the comp without Webke. (I also said Manly would go backwards without Kennedy - but look how wrong i was ) ...
Wayne Bennetts press conference would have gone for two and a half hours after that win against the knights ...

 

[beynon]

Its not like Brisbane needed Webcke to win the premiership. With the world's best player as their captain and knowing that the Broncos are one of the most consistent teams in the league, it won't suprise me if at the end of the season, they will end up in atleast the top 4.
I say let the season complete before you start bagging out Brisbane. Just wait when Manly start getting cocky and start falling their way down the ladder where they usually sit

 

[Cam S]

Ohh well look what happens, Manly are on top of the ladder, its been how long now, 10, no maybe 12 or even more I couldnt say, since Manly have won a premiership, and all of a sudden there the best team, and all people can do is bag the broncos, the premiers. You manly supporters need your head read, you haven't won yet, and in my opinion you wont,
Go the Broncos and Queensland

12 years hey hammer i see spelling isnt your only weak point buddy
I do believe its been not even 11 years since we won a comp sunshine.

CAn you tell me who won two monday nites ago when manly played brisbane

No one is saying we have won anything yet theres along way to go but we are much better placed than the donkeys.

 

[Hammer]

12 years hey hammer i see spelling isnt your only weak point buddy
I do believe its been not even 11 years since we won a comp sunshine.
CAn you tell me who won two monday nites ago when manly played brisbane
No one is saying we have won anything yet theres along way to go but we are much better placed than the donkeys.

OH, it's 11 yrs, sorry i was just guessing it's been so long, but yes Manly did beat Brisbane 2 weeks ago, soooooooooooooooooooooooo
Brisbane has been dominating them since they entered the comp in 1980. So they have alot of catching up to do, ever since cliffy left they have been doomed, you could probably resign him, he'd still go well oh yes

 

[Cam S]

OH, it's 11 yrs, sorry i was just guessing it's been so long, but yes Manly did beat Brisbane 2 weeks ago, soooooooooooooooooooooooo
Brisbane has been dominating them since they entered the comp in 1980. So they have alot of catching up to do, ever since cliffy left they have been doomed, you could probably resign him, he'd still go well oh yes

not entirely accurate

there was there was this little flithy movement your club started called super league that almost destroyed manly and infact destroyed about 8 other clubs.

Brisbane might have won comps but their underachievers they have had a whole state pretty much to pick from yet they have one won comp in the last 7 years and have let players like Slater, Smith, Inglis, Falou, Cronk and Marshall all slip from within their catchment area. Smith is on record as saying he wanted to be a bronco but they didnt want a bar of him go figure,

i see you struggle with history too dood
1988 they entered the comp

 

[The Spanner]

Its not like Brisbane needed Webcke to win the premiership. With the world's best player as their captain and knowing that the Broncos are one of the most consistent teams in the league, it won't suprise me if at the end of the season, they will end up in atleast the top 4.

Mate ... you are one season ending injury away from the wooden spoon .. and they can't win without Webke. Who's replaced him? Carlaw ?

Who have you beaten this year? ... The Roosters (like that's not a bye), the Knights twice (once while Year 9's were pretending to play first grade) .. and the Rabbitohs. In other words ... no-one that's gonna count.

Now Tate is gone ... Berrigan, Thorn and Carlaw are all looking for the door too ... If you dont land those two Panthers, it could be two or three years in the cellar for your team.

When will Locky retire ?? ... BRING BACK ALFIE ???

 

[Cam S]

Mate ... you are one season ending injury away from the wooden spoon .. and they can't win without Webke. Who's replaced him? Carlaw ?
Who have you beaten this year? ... The Roosters (like that's not a bye), the Knights twice (once while Year 9's were pretending to play first grade) .. and the Rabbitohs. In other words ... no-one that's gonna count.
Now Tate is gone ... Berrigan, Thorn and Carlaw are all looking for the door too ... If you dont land those two Panthers, it could be two or three years in the cellar for your team.
When will Locky retire ?? ... BRING BACK ALFIE ???

hahaahha Carlaw

what did QLD legend Greg Dowling say about him oh i remember now
Looks like tarzan plays like jane

 

[Deadman Inc]

hahaahha Carlaw
what did QLD legend Greg Dowling say about him oh i remember now
Looks like tarzan plays like jane

And Jane might get a run for Queensland next Origin. As far as the Broncos go, they haven't missed the finals since I think 1990 or 91. And I don't think they'll miss the finals this year. They've been in danger of missing the finals every year since 2001 but have always managed to scrape through. Still 14 rounds to go and at the moment they are only 2 wins out of the top 8. If they win at least 8 out of their next 14 matches they should make the finals. And I'm sick of hearing the excuses about Newcastle being weak because of injuries. Last time I checked they had 14 of their 17 regular first grade players playing as well as their "star NSW half-back" Mullen. I'll admit if they had Gidley and Budarus playing they still would have got thrashed, just maybe not as bad. Yes they still have to prove it against the best teams, didn't really get the chance against Manly as they had 7 players missing due to Origin, we'll just have to wait and see so lets not pass judgement until it happens. The Broncos have more test and Origin players than any other club by a long way so they have the talent.

In closing GO THE COWBOYS

 

[Hammer]

Ahh Pete and Cam, like I said before, haven't heard a peep out of you guys in recent years, now Manly are actually going ok, geez there World Champions again, typical one sided supporter,

My tip Manly win not win the comp, neither will Brisbane, My money is on Storm.

 

[The Spanner]

C'mon Adam ..

Manly had 3 players in origin too ... plus another couple injured or suspended. You still had Carlaw.. :wheelchair:

You forgot Simpson for Newcastle ... he was out too ... and I dont think Carmot played either ... so you cant tell me Newcastle were at full strength.... I've had stronger coffees.

8 out of 14 .:whip: .. It will be interesting when they line up against the Bulldogs and then the Tigers ... that might give a better impression of where their season is at ..

Hammer ... i think the Storm are still the favourites too ... but I'll be there cheering on the Sea Eagles.:rockon:

 

[Jase]

I am just Happy that we haven’t won the spoon so early in the season...The way everyone was talking my Raiders were certain to not win a game…

If we can keep some of our young blokes we might be a force inside two years...:band:

I am sure there are top clubs out there eyeing off our blokes already…

 

[Andrew S.]

I am sure there are top clubs out there eyeing off our blokes already…

Yeah night clubs...

 

[The Spanner]

Jase ..
With all those no-names (who are playing pretty good footy) how did they get themselves over the salary cap? They might have to offload a few anyway.
I'm sure the Broncos will be able to buy a few and still keep under the cap ..

 

[Jase]

Jase ..
With all those no-names (who are playing pretty good footy) how did they get themselves over the salary cap? They might have to offload a few anyway.
I'm sure the Broncos will be able to buy a few and still keep under the cap ..

I think they finally wrote off the Tax figures last year for the late eighties… Mind you do you know what it costs to kit a team out in SKI gear…It’s not as cheap as supplying Zinc cream and Dick togs for those coast teams…

Hey Andrew...Our team members even get police escorts after the game...

 

[Deadman Inc]

As a mad Cowboys fan I believe they will take down both the Storm and Manly. There is no team in the comp that can shutdown the Thurston/Bowen combination. But I said before the two teams I am afraid of is the West Tigers and the Canberra Raiders. They are the Giant killers in this years comp