2023 NRL Finals General Discussion thread *Spoilers*

[earl]

I disagree.

Nathan Cleary is a good player, yet he can't hold a spoon to Cameron Smith (if not immortal, surely one in waiting) or Andrew Johns yet.

If NSW became dominant under Cleary, different story. It hasn't.

Cleary may become an Immortal. But he isn't "super golden", definately not yet. Not in the same league as Thurston, Cam Smith, Greg Ingles, Andrew Johns, etc.

I reckon Cleary is well on the way to becoming one of the greatest players to ever play the game. When he is in a team where his forwards are on top and he has quick, fast, tough outside backs there aren't many better players.

When the game is more even and he has to create I don't think he is in the same class as a player like Johns.

He hasn't performed very well in SOO since the teams are more even.

 

[earl]

In club footy it's Nathan and Cam Smith, the rest are playing a different low level game.

I reckon Johns was better than both of these guys but they are both great.

 

[WswWt]

The refereeing these days, since the bunker has been brought in, appears to have confused things, not "bettered" outcomes by eliminating howlers etc.

In former days, the referee and the touchies were in total control of decisions, in the moment, on the run, and their mix of experience and instinct allowed the players and fans an understanding of what's what. Maybe not always perfect, but tolerable.

Now, with the system of the referees and the bunker, there appears to me, at least, that the referees hold back, yet rely on the bunker (whether by design or by a lack of confidence in their decisions), and there's not a balance in the control on field.

Some things work, some of the time; and some things are consistent, but again not all the time.

Players, coaches and (sure as eggs) we fans are left scratching our heads with what we're being dished up from Round 1 till right now approaching the grand final.

Things have not improved - in fact, by any measure, things are worse.

The weekly farcial attempts by Annesley to explain mistakes are generally weighted to protect the officials. Some errors are not even covered at all.

Officials lack confidence.
The bunker lacks confidence (just look at how many times something is replayed, and replayed).

Are the officials trying to rule to the letter of the law, or to the flow of a game that they are seemingly wanting to manufacture?

Gee wizz, footy is a simple game.
With rules.
And balls.
It's about time someone had the balls to simplify how the rules are applied, fairly and consistently for players and fans alike, and then, by some miracle, we might all get on with enjoying the greatest game of all.

Simple. Switch off
The more people switch off, they will notice and then make changes to the game.

 

[earl]

This has to be the lowest standard comp. ever.
2 decent teams and the rest aren't NRL finals standard. (It'd be 3 if Souths didn't implode.)

They are both better than decent. This is why it's possible for the Tigers to improve next year. There aren't many quality teams in the comp.

 

[BZN]

So is Garner! Players who everyone said wouldn’t make the top 17 at any other club, let alone the top two teams.

I often wonder why so many players/coaches improve so much after leaving WT.

 

[diedpretty]

How refreshing to see every try across the 2 games scored through the hands.

 

[hank37w]

I am knitting a new cardigan to busy to watch

Nice.

 

[diedpretty]

Really don't think the refereeing affected the outcome, but maaaaan some of those calls.

The Walsh missed forward pass...just not OK to miss that. And the one that went back but pinged the Warriors for. Not OK.

I also think Cleary's try against storm was line ball. Luai when he propped to go back the other way looked like he may have been behind Sorensen who was in the storm defensive line - obviously made no difference.

 

[hank37w]

I think Warriors have been ordinary for weeks now.

Beat a busted knights but aren't ready to beat a powerhouse like Brizzy.

Agree mate.

Warriors had one of their best games of the season in front of their home crowd against Newcastle but apart from that have not been too impressive for a number of weeks and have gotten home on the back of home crowds and quite a few leg ups from match officials in the last 6-8 weeks.

Even against us in Round 24 I thought that even with us gifting them a capacity home crowd and the rub of the green from the officials they were far from convincing and that was when I was pretty sure that their fairy tale was going to end.

Loved watching them play when they were getting it together but they were never going to match it with Brisbane and The 'Riff when the big games came around.

 

[BZN]

Being a Penrith raised kid I would have liked to see the panthers get the three peat but Ivan has cruelled me for that. let’s go Broncos!

Reece Walsh has cruelled it for me GCf. He's got a head as big as Cleary's chin.

 

[hank37w]

What about the media frothing over Bellamy dressing up his reserve graders like Penrith and having some nuff nuff pretend to be Nathan so they'd be "ready".
All he did was mentally prepare them for the Aldi version of Cleary playing 100 levels below him.
Storm ran out expecting to play Scooby Doo and Shaggy and got Superman and The Flash.

Would have won if it wasn't for those meddling kids.

 

[hank37w]

Hard to beat the Brisbane v Cows

Funny you should say that because I was thinking, could this Grand Final go down to the wire like that one in 2015 or will one of these sides get on top and go on with it?

Should be an absolute cracker which ever way it goes and with out a doubt the 2 best and most deserving teams of the season.

 

[BZN]

That's the forwardest pass since 1908

💯 correct TP.
I reckon the NRL is a friggin disgrace to allow something like this "forwardest pass since 1908" 🤣... to remain in our game.
They're making a mockery of the greatest game of all.
What possible reasonable reason can they give to allow this to happen on so many occasions?
It's just 🐂.

 

[hank37w]

The bunker can't rule on forward passes, yet there have been instances where the player receiving the ball was also in front of the player passing the ball, so they could have technically ruled off side and awarded a penalty, which these days seems to be ignored a lot.

Why isn't the bunker getting involved here? Is it because it may be too controversial?

Doesn't stop them getting involved in just about every other aspect of the game.

Either the bunker rules on all aspects of the game or just get rid of it all together.

 

[gallagher]

I have $10- on Panthers at 100/1 to win the grand final with betr bet. Just got a cash out offer of $400-. What are your thoughts guys.

How's thing going? Still riding it?

 

[Asu Kepaoa's #1 Fan]

Happy to see former Tiger Billy Walters playing in a grand final.

 

[tiger_one]

Happy to see former Tiger Billy Walters playing in a grand final.

He'll always be one of the good guys.

 

[hank37w]

I have $10- on Panthers at 100/1 to win the grand final with betr bet. Just got a cash out offer of $400-. What are your thoughts guys.

Is it still alive?

They'd have to be making a better offer right now.

Personally, I'd ride it out and go all or nothing.

 

[GCfan]

Reece Walsh has cruelled it for me GCf. He's got a head as big as Cleary's chin.

My wife is exactly the same. He’s definitely a tool but geez the kid can play

 

[GCfan]

I can’t see how any non fan could get behind them. They’re terrible winners.. So smug.

I hate every other team but you gotta go for someone right to make it fun. I think most winning teams are full of themselves today. Losers seem be the nice guys unfortunately