Round 20 - Dragons vs Storm

[Mattpoet]

I wonder how it was decided? Bellamy decision, leadership group decision or player vote?

[RobbieRoss]

Lots to like about all this . Great that the team has put themselves in the position to do this .

Let’s be cherry ripe for the game against ( probably ) Easts only 6 days later.

Great to see Paul M and Ricky getting a chance - an audition perhaps for a right-side position in the finals.

Relieved to see Paps back.

Disappointed Dale has not yet come up. It means he goes into a final ( if fit ) without a game for 5 or 6 weeks. If he was fit he would have played this weekend, so he must be in doubt for that first final.

[RobbieRoss]

How many could we even rest if we wanted to?

1 Paps
2 Lumelume
3 Leutele?
4 Momo
5 Earl
6 Jacks
7 Johns
8 Welch
9 Brandon (for game time?)
10 Tui
11 Eisenhuth
12 Lewis
13 Dale

14 King
15 Schonig
16 Pene?
17 Vete

Do it!

Well done Lucas . You were just about on the money here . Very perspicacious!

[Lucas]

How many could we even rest if we wanted to?

1 Paps
2 Lumelume
3 Leutele?
4 Momo
5 Earl
6 Jacks
7 Johns
8 Welch
9 Brandon (for game time?)
10 Tui
11 Eisenhuth
12 Lewis
13 Dale

14 King
15 Schonig
16 Pene?
17 Vete

Do it!

Well done Lucas . You were just about on the money here . Very perspicacious!

I was surprised myself, I typed it but I wasn't sure I thought we'd do it!

Named side is better, Hynes from the bench offers some flexibility.

Hopefully Dale was close and thus will be right to go next week, probably from the bench?

[Pole]

Our forward pack is still solid.

Looking forward to seeing these team play, theyre all playing for a spot in the 17 the following week, so there is a lot to play for for our boys.

[Insomniac]

Ha Ha! Get f@#ked Kent! We have earned the right to rest as many players as we want, you tosser!

‘They must be recognisable’: Paul Kent slams Storm and Raiders for resting 20 stars

Paul Kent has blasted the Storm and the Raiders for resting mass amounts of their top line players in Round 20 and called on the NRL to step in.

The Storm rested 11 stars including Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich, Josh Addo-Carr, Justin Olam, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Kenny Bromwich.

The Raiders rested nine players for their game against the Sharks in Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, George Williams, Jarrod Croker, John Bateman, Jordan Rapana, Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton, Elliot Whitehead and Joseph Tapine.

However Kent believes the NRL is in danger of getting broadcasters off-side if they allow coaches to rest large numbers of their key players at one time.

“I think the issue is broadcasters pay a lot of money for high quality talent,” Kent said on NRL 360. “To rest as many players as the Raiders and the Storm have, I totally understand why they have done it, but the NRL needs to step in and say totally unacceptable. These clubs are being paid $2 million a week for this game.”

Veteran journalist Brent Read backed up Kent’s sentiments, especially given the NRL fans have already been robbed of four regular season games.

“Kenty is spot on, if I am Fox Sports and Channel 9 I am furious with this,” Read said. “They pay a helluva lot of money to have the best players on the park every week. It is a 20 round season this year and there are some big names missing.”

However Paul Crawley believes the NRL has no right to tell coaches how to coach their team and which players to rest and when.

“This has been an extraordinary season where we had the rule change and we had the break and it has gone on forever, they have been living in a bubble and there hasn’t been a bye,” Crawley said. “You don’t know the circumstances. In theory you would like to think Ricky would play them and try and get into the top four and get that second bite at the cherry. But he might have players there that are absolutely busted. He might think if we play those guys this week we can’t win the competition. I think the NRL would be completely overstepping the mark if they said you have to play these guys.”

However Kent believes that given the amount of money the broadcasters and NRL pay the clubs that they need to make the best talent available if they are fit.

“Everyone is busted,” Kent said. “Look at what is happening with the cricket and the Australian stars can’t play in the Big Bash and Channel 7 has just said we are not paying for this product. Maybe the coaches rest the players in stages so heading into finals three get rested this week and two get rested next week, rather than getting to the last round and 11 of the Storm’s players are being rested.

“I get why they are doing it. They are trying to win the competition. But it is not just one way traffic. There has got to be a little bit of give and take. If you have got to put your money out and cop the earn for this week’s broadcast rights then you are entitled to put out a side that is at least recognisable. They are very lucky it is a COVID crowd because no one would want to turn up to watch this Melbourne side play or the Raiders.”

[RobbieRoss]

Craig and Ricky can do what they like . The NRL has no right to dictate team selection. If they have a problem, introduce a bye after the last round like the AFL, so everyone gets a week off before the finals. That will encourage teams to pick all available players in the last round, as they then get that desired week off.

[Scooter]

Never thought I would see the day I agree with Paul Crawley. Although I notice his comments support the Raiders' position and not the Storm.

[sallymay]

I wonder how it was decided? Bellamy decision, leadership group decision or player vote?

Bellamy said he was the next in line from the emerging leaders group

Cam smith
Dale Finucane
Jesse Bromwich
Kenny Bromwich
Christian Welch

Ryan Papenhuyzen

I assume Christian was overlooked because of his indiscretion so Paps was next choice

[sallymay]

‘
“I get why they are doing it. They are trying to win the competition. But it is not just one way traffic. There has got to be a little bit of give and take. If you have got to put your money out and cop the earn for this week’s broadcast rights then you are entitled to put out a side that is at least recognisable. They are very lucky it is a COVID crowd because no one would want to turn up to watch this Melbourne side play or the Raiders.”

[/quote]

KENT F*CK off

If this game was in Melbourne and I was allowed to leave my house for more then 2 hours a day to go to the football in fact if I was allowed to go ANYWHERE I’d be at this game with bells on cause you who what...this game excites me 1 it’s all the players I’ve been following in our reserve teams for years and 2 it’s the f***ing Storm no matter what

[Mattpoet]

Spot on

[Pole]

Kent can lima lima lima duck off, he just likes to stir up shit.

Anyway, I'm surprised the Raiders have done this, as they are still fighting for a top-4 spot, and am surprised the Panthers aren't doing the same.

Our team will still be competitive.

[blazza18]

Kent is just arguing cause it makes for better TV.

The irony in his argument of give and take is the Storm are injured and beat up because the NRL themselves didn't give they just took and expected teams to be ok with playing 20 weeks straight.

As for not being recognisable, hows the team any different to one during origin where stars aren't there? Is the club not giving enough there Kenty?

Probably disppointed in Brent Read agreeing with him the most tbh.

[yourhero]

Probably disppointed in Brent Read agreeing with him the most tbh.

Yeah, that was my main take away from it as well. I expect Kent to talk utter sh*t for the sake of it. I thought Read would have been a bit more pragmatic.

[RobbieRoss]

Very lengthy injury report by Frank P on the Storm website . He explains why each of the 12 changes have been made.

A few key points.

1. It seems Suli will be touch and go for first final . The 4 outside backs on Sunday ( well, 3 - not Sandor ) are maybe rehearsing for a spot v Roosters.

2. No mention of Dale . Feels like he may not be back next week.

3. The bench in the finals likely to be 3 forwards plus a utility. Frank says Nicho will play that role this week. Another dress rehearsal.