World cup

[Blake93]

Thats beside the point

He focussed on attack here, defense was secondary….he persisted for a decade. Basing everything around one player.
It got him less the 50% win ratio

He's learnt something...the old dog

How is it beside the point that he focussed on defence when he had the world's best defensive players in his team whereas at the Tigers he had blokes who couldn't tackle a runaway toddler?

You coach to your strengths, at the Tigers defence was the worst aspect of our game by far so he went with the attacking side of the game instead. Our defence was so pathetic in part due to his apparent lack of detail to that aspect of the game but then again, you can tell blokes to tackle until you're blue in the face, whether or not they wanna actually do it is up to the players themselves. We had too many pretty boys that didn't want to get involved in the tough stuff, better to look good.

So how did the roosters, with some notably terrible defenders in their 17 manage to have the best defense in the comp and win the premiership. Attack is natural, defense is taught

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[tigergirlz]

Sheens had a say in recruitment, didn't he? And we never got a bulked forward pack. Blair lost weight walking to Sydney from Melbourne I think

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Thats beside the point

He focussed on attack here, defense was secondary….he persisted for a decade. Basing everything around one player.
It got him less the 50% win ratio

He's learnt something...the old dog

How is it beside the point that he focussed on defence when he had the world's best defensive players in his team whereas at the Tigers he had blokes who couldn't tackle a runaway toddler?

You coach to your strengths, at the Tigers defence was the worst aspect of our game by far so he went with the attacking side of the game instead. Our defence was so pathetic in part due to his apparent lack of detail to that aspect of the game but then again, you can tell blokes to tackle until you're blue in the face, whether or not they wanna actually do it is up to the players themselves. We had too many pretty boys that didn't want to get involved in the tough stuff, better to look good.

**So how did the roosters, with some notably terrible defenders in their 17** manage to have the best defense in the comp and win the premiership. Attack is natural, defense is taught

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

LIke who? Jennings maybe, but then again he is an Origin player.

They won the comp by playing as a team, not individuals. The same as we did in '05 with some blokes who were pretty iffy in defence.

Sheens had blokes who are gun defenders in the Aussie team so he played to his strengths. Simples! (thanks to the meerkat on the tv ad)

 

[innsaneink]

Sheens had a say in recruitment, didn't he? And we never got a bulked forward pack. Blair lost weight walking to Sydney from Melbourne I think

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Recruitment, assistants (including defense coach)

10 years.

He could make excuses, they dont wash after a while

He had six years after we won the comp, and they changed the game…he still didnt change

anyway thats history....impressive from the aussies, very impressive
Its an ageing team too....next world cup there will be a lot of new faces, I imagine Bird, Smith Thaiday Parker Farah Boyd Slater Thursty and many more most likely will have retired

 

[Knuckles]

NZ played their Cup Final the week before …. But either way they wouldn't have won. It's one of the better Australian teams we have produced. Even Ink could have coached this team to victory !

 

[stryker]

Whilst I agree with the sentiments about Tim while he was at the Tigers, I have to say that he did a wonderful job with the Kangaroos over this campaign and am offering credit where it is well and truly due.

I dont think it was an automatic easy job to be in charge of this mob. There was a lot of tension between the QLD and NSW players going into this world cup, there was a spine who have been accused in the past of going off script as they know each other so well, the poms and the kiwis had put together massive, skilful forward packs we had injury to a key forward in Lewis and another to Billy - not to mention his strife at the boozer. There are a lot of ego's to keep in check. There is also the danger of complacency. We had the soft run in and hadnt been tested since the opening day of the comp - 6 weeks ago.Tasked with all this, he was also being slammed in the press for his positional selections and a suggestion he had taken a weak forward pack to England.

To his credit, he prepared a team that played to their potential and played with a team spirit I have not seen in our national side for some time. Watching Gallen embrace Billy, Birdy hugging Tate, Smith and JT looking at their mates with tears in their eyes…as well as everyone else celebrating...there was a lot of emotion shown at full time and the quotes that they did it for their "mates" was awesome I thought. Working all week on defence was a departure for him but didnt it pay dividends?

I say bravo Mr Sheens. You had a great world cup.

P.S He may have also solved NSW's crisis of how to handle Ingliss next SOO series. His selection of Hayne at right centre was inspired and turned out a masterstroke. Personally I thought Jarrad was MOM against the Yanks and Kiwis and top 3 against Fiji. He was terrific and you could plainly see he felt like he belonged in the side. He looked unhappy at the start of the comp and was beaming like a cheshire by the end of it.....

 

[happy_tiger]

Whilst I agree with the sentiments about Tim while he was at the Tigers, I have to say that he did a wonderful job with the Kangaroos over this campaign and am offering credit where it is well and truly due.

I dont think it was an automatic easy job to be in charge of this mob. There was a lot of tension between the QLD and NSW players going into this world cup, there was a spine who have been accused in the past of going off script as they know each other so well, the poms and the kiwis had put together massive, skilful forward packs we had injury to a key forward in Lewis and another to Billy - not to mention his strife at the boozer. There are a lot of ego's to keep in check. There is also the danger of complacency. We had the soft run in and hadnt been tested since the opening day of the comp - 6 weeks ago.Tasked with all this, he was also being slammed in the press for his positional selections and a suggestion he had taken a weak forward pack to England.

To his credit, he prepared a team that played to their potential and played with a team spirit I have not seen in our national side for some time. Watching Gallen embrace Billy, Birdy hugging Tate, Smith and JT looking at their mates with tears in their eyes…as well as everyone else celebrating...there was a lot of emotion shown at full time and the quotes that they did it for their "mates" was awesome I thought. Working all week on defence was a departure for him but didnt it pay dividends?

I say bravo Mr Sheens. You had a great world cup.

P.S He may have also solved NSW's crisis of how to handle Ingliss next SOO series. His selection of Hayne at right centre was inspired and turned out a masterstroke. Personally I thought Jarrad was MOM against the Yanks and Kiwis and top 3 against Fiji. He was terrific and you could plainly see he felt like he belonged in the side. He looked unhappy at the start of the comp and was beaming like a cheshire by the end of it.....

Obviously you are trying to set NSW up for the three card trick Stryker

Marking Whare or Goodwin is slightly different from marking Inglis,Hodges or Tate

He still kept racing out of the line and smashing fresh air Did it twice from what I remember

 

[stryker]

Yeah and he was also close to/if not the best on field. They also ran Sonny at him quite a lot and he never missed him. He came up with some brilliant stuff in attack to boot. He formed a good relationship with Morriss as well feeding off each other perfectly. He'll be dangerous for the blues in the centres, I am sure of it.

 

[happy_tiger]

Yeah and he was also close to/if not the best on field. They also ran Sonny at him quite a lot and he never missed him. He came up with some brilliant stuff in attack to boot. He formed a good relationship with Morriss as well feeding off each other perfectly. He'll be dangerous for the blues in the centres, I am sure of it.

And every time I don't argue that he is an attacking weapon in the centres , but if he does that at SOO by coming tearing out of the line (and you will completely agree ) Thurston will make him look the fool

Do it twice a game and I will guarantee we win 3-0

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Goodwin and Whare are far from Test Match- standard centres. Also it was a very high risk and ultimately very stupid decision to play Tuivasa Sheck when he was miles away from being fit, he had strapping around his calf that looked like it belonged wrapped around the uprights. Jason Nightingale is very dependable, he wouldn't have let them down (hindsight is a wonderful thing though). They would have got beat anyhow with how poorly they played and how well the Aussies went. A bloody disappointing and anti-climactic finish to what was for the most part a thoroughly entertaining tournament. Where is the next one being played, isn't it here in Oz? Does anyone know what year it is on? They seem to just hold it willy nilly.

 

[balmain boy]

It is held willy nilly.

The fact is Australia could field 2 or 3 teams and finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The only way international league can grow is by having a lot more international matches being played, with very few of them featuring Australia. They have to do their homework in the marketing of matches being played in Australia/NZ but not featuring the home side, but it's the only way international league will ever grow.

More Aussies would pay attention if they knew the matches might be competitive. But how will the other teams become competitive if they only play once every couple of years..?!

 

[pHyR3]

It is held willy nilly.

The fact is Australia could field 2 or 3 teams and finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The only way international league can grow is by having a lot more international matches being played, with very few of them featuring Australia. They have to do their homework in the marketing of matches being played in Australia/NZ but not featuring the home side, but it's the only way international league will ever grow.

More Aussies would pay attention if they knew the matches might be competitive. But how will the other teams become competitive if they only play once every couple of years..?!

australia's 3rd team couldn't beat NZ consisently, maybe every so often, if the kiwis play as poorly as they did in the final or something.

they're 2nd team would probably be a fair battle.

 

[Yossarian]

Where is the next one being played, isn't it here in Oz? Does anyone know what year it is on? They seem to just hold it willy nilly.

2017, probably here. It is going to bidding and the South Africans are supposedly keen but in all likelihood it will be in Aust and NZ.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Wonder why the Saffa's have never really taken a shining to Rugby League? That should be a market that international rugby league should be targetting to try and stoke their interest in the code. Remember when the Aussies played them years ago and lapped them 110-nil or something. It would be great for the international game if South Africa could start fielding a competitive team in the net 20 years or so.

 

[Yossarian]

Wonder why the Saffa's have never really taken a shining to Rugby League? That should be a market that international rugby league should be targetting to try and stoke their interest in the code. Remember when the Aussies played them years ago and lapped them 110-nil or something. It would be great for the international game if South Africa could start fielding a competitive team in the net 20 years or so.

The primary reason (which probably won't be a big shock) is the heavy-duty hostility from the yawnion bridage. In years past they've banned union players for training on the same grounds used by "professionals". Nowadays they continue to try and prevent rugby league registering in RSA on the grounds that the union body should be the only registered rugby organisation in the country.

 

[LaT]

Good news is the SA Government is fully supportive of the RLWC bid and is on the verge of recognising League as a separate entity from union. Massive untapped potential and something to RLIF should do its utmost to support in the next few years.

 

[Yossarian]

There are a few countries which could really improve with some more money, development and exposure to quality training and matches.

USA - If the warring parties can get things back together and develop a decent model we should see more US-borna and based players come through. A 6 or 8 team elite league and regional leagues seems the way to go.

Canada - Doing exceptionally well given limited time and seemingly zero outside help. From what I've heard there are 2 domestic comps and a national team that effectively just represents the Eastern (Ontario) league. Union seems to have declined there and they ran the US close (the domestic players).

Serbia - Long-established domestic comp, very committed people on the ground, good junior setup, no union heritage of note. Could really benefit from emergence of Italy, Greece etc

Lebanon - As with Serbia, a fair established base and seems to be some interest. Have been dudded a little on WC qualifying. Who knows what another appearance would do for them?

Fiji - The sleeping giant. League is going gangbusters over there. When I was over there a few years ago there were comps all over the country and from what I read there are even more now. Could reach a tipping point soon where the majority of the team are Fiji developed - with some decent halves and the natural interest of NRL clubs for Fijian talent, they are starting to clearly push towards the world's 4th best team.

Honourable mentions - Jamaica (natonal comp, smart grassroots planning), Ghana (only now starting but there is massive potential for an African country to push the sport and be competitive at a global level), South Africa, the other Pacific nations.

 

[pHyR3]

thing about Fiji is that due to investment in the 90's we will probably see 1 or 2 great players come up by 2017 or 2021 in positions they are lacking (i.e. halves).

and the difference between them losing 64-0 and 40-16 against australia is really down to their halves. putting a try or two on the board would lift their team defensively, give them possession/territory (both through more controlled ball handling and getting those extra sets after tries are scored, as opposed to the other team getting them).

I'm surprised that Serbia isn't better. I've been following a bit of the work people do there in terms of junior development and it's really quite amazing! perhaps they just need more money in order to create a legitimate international competition (flying people around, small match payments/covering costs for players etc.)

RLWC will expand to 16 in 2017 i reckon. The 2 teams to come in will probably be Canada and either Serbia or RSA. Maybe lebanon but i'm not sure….

If RL wants to expand long term. And i don't mean 10 or 20 years. I mean FIFTY to a HUNDRED years. I think smart investment in africa like you mentioned with Jamaica and Ghana will help a lot.

 

[balmain boy]

League couldn't have more than a minor following in SA in the next 50 years. The people are very proud and also quite reluctant to change in certain ways. Rugby is by far the national sport and anything which is seen as a threat to that will get a lot of hostility thrown at it by the public, politicians etc.

Football is easily number two, but as Rugby is a predominantly white sport, football is a predominantly black sport. Cricket is another predominantly white sport but isn't seen as a threat to rugby due to different seasons. Even then it has a smaller following than the other two. Most people stick to the sports which have been 'theirs' for generations. If league could get the interest of the black communities then it may have a chance, as many blacks still consider rugby to be a white person sport, league is new and doesn't have those connotations - so they could potentially embrace it more than they do rugby. BTW, I don't like to discuss race in this manner, but SA is one country where it is still very pertinent having spent a fair bit of time there over the years.

League while being a more entertaining sport to watch would struggle big time to get interest from a country who's fans love scrums, tough forwards and their pride in their rugby history. But it's worth putting some feelers out there.

As for the other countries mentioned, they will always be minority sports, well outside the top 4-5 in each country, but some have populations big enough for a decent sized semi-pro league.

 

[stryker]

australia's 3rd team couldn't beat NZ consisently, maybe every so often, if the kiwis play as poorly as they did in the final or something.

they're 2nd team would probably be a fair battle.

I dont believe our third stringers would beat NZ or England and I think our second stringers would also struggle.

The reason our first 17 pretty much always get the job done is because of combinations.

Smith, Cronk, Slater would play around 40 games a year together including trials, premiership rounds, finals series, SOO and Tests. Thats 3 guys who touch the ball more than most on the field.

Scott, Smith, Thaiday, Thurston, Cronk, Ingliss, Boyd and Slater would play a minimum of 5 games together per year for Queensland and Australia as would Tamou, Bird, Gallen, Lewis, Morriss and Hayne for NSW and Australia.

Point being, SOO gives Australia an unfair advantage over our rivals. We will never witness the Aussies become consistent underdogs due to this fact. The Poms and NZ boys play together a couple of times a year by comparison.

The only thing I see working is for both the NRL and Superleague rounds to stop mid year for a month during which SOO, Test and provinsial matches are held. The more people play together, the more combinations are formed which will provide better competition with Australia.

I also think end of year tours are a must. For example:
Pacific Nations tour including OZ and NZ. The pacific nations get to play against the might of the Kangaroos and Kiwis who will help them develop their game.

European Tour including Oz and Eng. Same thing.

Australia has to be involved in every tour as we are the benchmark and exposure, even for NZ and Eng, will aid the game internationaly.