Tucker
Well-known member
Yeah they’re not too bad, but neither stood up and won that game…and they both played behind kickass packs.
We need these guys to play together yearly at this level so that they can improve.
2026 Rugby League World Cup fixtures - October/November
- Thread starter tiger_one
- Start date
We need these guys to play together yearly at this level so that they can improve.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
Watched Friz intently today, man he works hard.
He's always in and around the ruck, just hard to miss. He always gets back to help the fullback.
Cant do much in attack these days though but hope all the other players learn this from him
He's always in and around the ruck, just hard to miss. He always gets back to help the fullback.
Cant do much in attack these days though but hope all the other players learn this from him
Tucker
Well-known member
We’ll see.
New Zealand showed in game 1 that a lack of composure in the halves drops the leadership just that smidge….and at this level it can be the difference.
Australia v NZ final for mine.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
Volkmann did a solo try
JL set up the try down short side and kicked for Too second try
Katoa kicked it into the corner each time and set up linebreak for Toia try.
Definitely that finishing touch was missing but I feel DWZ bombed a couple of tries.
Also when forwards like AFB, Francis, Haumole are killing it , it's the hookers job to give the halves the space. Foketi is a beast but he's no threat from dummy half. D just slides and attacks the halves easily
tig_prmz
Well-known member
JL kicked pin point for both of Too tries, set up down the short side and helped the line break that Lehi knocked out of the dummy half.
He had a good game. I still think we will miss his involvement next year.
Whenever things got heated, he seemed to get them back in shape. J think Samoa scores more ties than Tonga
He had a good game. I still think we will miss his involvement next year.
Whenever things got heated, he seemed to get them back in shape. J think Samoa scores more ties than Tonga
Really enjoyed that game. You could see how passionate they were about representing their heritage and wow they were putting in big efforts.
Like others have said, we need to see more games between these teams.
Like others have said, we need to see more games between these teams.
WestsEffTheRest
Well-known member
Yep people should be able to represent them & their families culture without being judged. It’s funny, people like Tucker wouldn’t call these guys true Australians yet whinge when they choose to represent their families culture. Only wants them to be Australian when it suits him.
Difficult to see that happening now in parallel to Origin with the Origin eligibility rules. The quality of the Origin sides would be greatly impacted. Not saying it is right, but look at the SOO reps playing tonight.
Would be up to the broadcasters to agree that these other International games would help offset the reduced quality of the SOO games
Tigerdave
Well-known member
Just finished watching Tonga v Samoa, that was a great game
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
I think at $2.75 tonga can produce a big upset against New Zealand and are terrific value
Think Australia get the job done against Samoa
Kangaroos out to $2.30 to win the world cup, outstanding value
Australia v Tonga in the final is my pick with Australia to win
Think Australia get the job done against Samoa
Kangaroos out to $2.30 to win the world cup, outstanding value
Australia v Tonga in the final is my pick with Australia to win
tig_prmz
Well-known member
Whether KP plays or not makes a big difference. He would need to play 23 days post surgery. Any fracture requires 21 days to heal so he can't put any weight on it for 3 weeks. I think Hughes returned in 20 days after a broken hand so likely KP plays. I just don't know how confident he will be making tackles on the ground, pushing up through his arm to do a quick PTB when there are two people on him. He's a left arm carry so R arm will help with fending.
Tucker
Well-known member
One thing that people need to realise is that nearly all of these players are Australian. We currently allow them to have their cake and eat it too. They get to play origin and pocket $100K/series, then drape themselves in the flag of another country when it suits them, talking all sorts of guff about cultural pride.
The Band-Aid should have been ripped off years ago, but instead the rules were relaxed. How many guys last night have played Origin but never represented their country? Their real country? For mine, if they have no intention to do so, then they are taking the spot of potential Kangaroo representatives for money. That makes them mercenaries.
Origin will survive without them and Test footy will grow stronger if they fully committ. It’s win/win.
Tucker
Well-known member
What a race baiting piece of trash you are. Despicable in every way.
My point has ALWAYS been that they are AUSTRALIANS. They are my countrymen.
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
Creating a standalone series played during origin week would fix the eligibility issues instantly
Pick and stick
Hated the new origin format for the top 5 nations.
Can live with it from png/fiji tier down, but still prefer no exceptions.
Pick and stick
Hated the new origin format for the top 5 nations.
Can live with it from png/fiji tier down, but still prefer no exceptions.
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
state of origin with no Tongan or Samoan players
Fiji and PNG ok
As some have said a 3 test series every year tonga v Samoa to coincise with origin would work
Fiji and PNG ok
As some have said a 3 test series every year tonga v Samoa to coincise with origin would work
I think it would probably kill the international game. I believe most would pick origin over Samoa/Tonga. These matches would then be back to the nothing events they were in the past with a bunch of 2nd rate players. Not sure many would care about the new 3 match series in this case.
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
Maybe mate, although several of the players who played yesterday might surprise us.
One reason is Money, new rights for a series could help with that
Probably a pure hypothetical, don't see a whole lot of strategic nous in planing international rugby league
upthetigers
Well-known member
100% when it was announced Luai to Parra I was shaking my head because Volkman should be starting
upthetigers
Well-known member
I think it will be a similar story to Fiji. Fiji played their grand final against Australia and had nothing left.
Tonga v Samoa was their grand final. I don't see Tonga beating New Zealand.
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
probably right mate, with a half fit ponga I am swayed by the tonga odds a bit
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