Dman, you did your job!
QPR win 3-0 and go top of table.
Only problem is their coach is now courted by struggling EPL club Wolves who are in relegation zone.

It's abit of a Ciraldo situation.
Does he leave QPR, chase the bucks and hurt his reputation if Wolves get relegated or does he stay with QPR, lead them to glory and improve his resume?

I’m having a massive off-season!!!…

The answer to the second bit is he does whatever is the opposite of what you would recommend…

Will say it again… whoever decided to do the stupid stupid stupid thing with players numbers at the RLWC should never be allowed near the game  again…
it is highly off putting…
stupid stupid stupid…

Why not blame V'Landys, he's never short of stupid ideas.

The RLWC is a farce. Pretending there are 16 countries worthy of world cup status is fantasy.
 Rugby league exists for the NRL and ESL. Everything else is a sideshow.
 There are 4 groups but only 3 tier one nations. Let the rubbish and confected teams play off to qualify for the main draw of say half a dozen teams at most an get it over with.

I’m on the side of it’s better than no footy…. The finals will be good quality… if it helps grow the game in Namibia..:

I’m on the side of it’s better than no footy…. The finals will be good quality… if it helps grow the game in Namibia..:

One of the problems is it elongatesbthe whole process. Players are not getting the preseason with their clubs to allow proper preparation for the next season. If the minnows played off to earn entry to the main draw you could shorten the process and still have your quality finals.
Broadening the base, as is normal for RL, is not part of the plan.

20 years ago we would have said the same thing about Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. Now look at them.

Sure Samoa got smashed in first game against England, but that was an attitude thing. They will make the semis and still be a dark horse. 

I think it's great that there is a healthy amount of islander players in NRL and ESL. It has improved their national teams. Also think its great that guys like Radley, Sims etc have pledged their allegiance to their ancestry teams. It gives them an opportunity to grow participation and elevate the teams.

AUS / NZ / ENG will always be top tier and ahead of the others but the gap between them and 2nd tier is closing. In 20 more years, subject to participation levels and local comps within the other nations like Lebanon, PNG, Italy, Greece, these nations will also become more competitive.

The format of 16 teams obviously makes for some serious thrashings but I have no problem with it. It's better than no footy at all.

Well I reckon there are some players that will become scout targets after this event who would otherwise not get a look in. I find pre-season training abit of a toss really.
I'm a big advocate of playing 3 trials rather than players pulling tyres uphill on sand dunes...

Do you think so. Any player with any talent is in Australia or England an is well known to the scouts. There is no meaningful comp in any of the other countries where gems are hidden
I don't  think 3 trials and no fitness is the answer. 

Let me clarify.....
You still train, but I'd rather NRL teams (or at least the rebuilding ones like us) focus on playing 3 trials rather than focus on a rigorous training schedule starting in Nov.

You can't focus on three trials. Play them if you see an advantage, but opponents are only available immediately prior to the season start. You're a dead duck if that's your preseason focus.

That was a hell of a game of cricket. T20 is the second form of cricket, much more tactical than one day rubbish. In some ways more of a bowlers game than Test Cricket, every ball counts, every ball a tactical decision.

Get rid of one day rubbish, T20 has surpassed it. Free up the calendar.

I admit that the calendar is crowded.

I recon that the Big Bash has turned me off T20 cricket, those games always seem unfocused.

So I am not into T20 for some reason.

One factor is NFL, League World cup and soccer on, with all this rain, it doesn't seem like the cricket season.

I would probably do something like play T20 2-3 out of 4 seasons and ODIs 1-2 out of 4.

Players can adapt to different forms for fans a bit more variety will be more interesting.
Cricket mostly needs a  good contest with quality teams. 3 formats and a crowded schedule has impacted on quality.

I’m no fan of T20 however it being a World Cup has peaked my interest and been mostly enjoyable…  I think it unlikely this will se me watching much Bog Bash or any IPL though… Test cricket is King!!!…

A bit the same as soccer me… watch WC games and Socceroos qualifiers but that’s it… oh and of course QPRI+!!!…

I recon the Big Bash commentators are my problem, they talk about everything except for the game.

A common curse with modern day commentators across many sports.. they think they are the entertainment…

It’s definitely the game to attract new fans…

Free it up for what though???…more tests???… more T20???… more both???…

and importantly do you have BCCI approval???…

Soooo… netball Australia…

Got what they deserved as a result of poor management and leadership…
or…
We’re wronged; presentism is a just religion and Gina should apologise for something someone else said and hand over the coin…

or should I take this to the burgeoning netball thread???…

Not  relevant but, interestingly… netball was called ‘womens basketball’ in many countries until 1970… when my mum claimed this last week I was shocked… and did my own research (sorry, I know this is not allowed) … the only question I have is what was womens basketball called during that time…

I suspect MDog may have a one word answer… ;)

Don't mix my team with them......

Is it just me, or is Isha Gua one of the most sexiest sounding commentators ever?

Marvellous…

On this must say I’m not supposed MSM latching on to Chocs comments to push the presentism agenda after spending years smashing him about.. well…everything… from show boating in the ring to suggesting lies were told about a particular injection…

I must say I wasn't expecting Netball posts.

My NFL team had a great win, after a terrible loss the week before.

A lot of young players, the win will give them confidence.

I must admit I have no idea what is happening with Netball.

I might try to catch some of the T20 cricket sounds good from the comments here.

Lol. Funnily, it has nothing to do with Netball!

Rajab impressing for Lebanon in the world cup.

Gus sees him as a halfback or 5/8.

Could be a bolter fir a starting halves spot at the Dogs at the start of 2023.

When Dman is in rant mode, it often has something to do with Grannies.

His Granny told me changing the door locks and frequently moving house was just becuase she was bored, nothing at all to do with avoiding rants, absolutely nothing.

10pm kick off… 
Fvck CA do some dumb shit…  if you have to give Perth a game after they bullshit Emperor McGowan pulled over the past couple of years surely it’s gotta be a Saturday or Sunday afternoon…