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We have arrived at the final week of preseason trials as Jason Ryles and the Parramatta Eels prepare a full strength outfit for the Sydney Roosters in Gosford. The Tip Sheet looks at the ins and outs of the team list this week, who has stolen a march in the battle for positions and which rookies look to have the early running.
Sixties and Forty20 recap the week that was for the Eels including final thoughts on their trial against the Sharks before touching on the latest media comments on the Zac Lomax saga.
One Bulldogs has escaped serious injury but another wasn’t as lucky. While Matt Burton will be on the plane to Vegas, Leo Thompson is set to miss up to 10 weeks for the Bulldogs with a calf strain. The luckless Te Maire Martin is looking at 3 months on the sideline after breaking his leg as the toll of the trials hits teams.
State of Origin has been changed forever. After years of discussion over eligibility rules the NRL has blown selection protocols wide open by removing the requirement to declare for Australia to the formula. Henceforth, as long you meet the other key criteria (Born in NSW/QLD, resided in NSW/QLD by 13, father player for NSW/QLD) you can be selected for the relevant side regardless of your national allegiance. What does this mean for the game’s showpiece series?
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I can rarely remembered being as fired up over off-field rugby league matters as I am over the Storm’s conduct, and PVL’s public support of Lomax.
As for Origin, it has taken a step too far. I have close to zero passion for the event. It is now an All Stars game, with no bearing on Kangaroo selection, and though I might watch it, it won’t be with any NSW Blues goggles on or any passion about the result.
Sorry sixties have to disagree, the idea that players can’t have passion for state and heritage is completely bonkers, that would mean you would have to ignore players like 2 time brad fittler medalist Brian to’o and many more. Old rules means Adin Fonua-Blake, a player born and bred in western Sydney can’t play origin over the half dozen Queenslanders born in new Zealand.
The rule change doesn’t scrap everything, just the tier rule, still need to have spent your child hood in the state and have that connection.
On the argument origin is there for Australian selection is just untrue, hasn’t been that for years now, been plenty of players that play for Australia and may have never played origin.
Our international game isn’t like union, it’s a place where players represent their family heritage and origin is where they represent the state they grew up in, plenty of players still won’t play origin who are elite, tapine, Farnsworth, leota and many more didn’t grow up in the 2 states and won’t play origin.
At the end of the day Australia is built on immigrants and the best part about NRL internationals is that players can represent that part of their family.
Agreed – international allegiance and state of origin are completely different. Many who don’t have that kind of background find it hard to grasp. Junior, Luis, too, Stephen Crichton etc are as western Syd as it gets. They rep their area. But they should be able to play for Somoa on international stage. It takes nothing away from how they feel about their community in nsw. And it helps intentional game – no one wants to return to days where Aus and nz were the only competitive international teams.
Mate you had me crying of laughter as I’m driving, the bit about PVL hitching his horse and yahooing, gold.
Mr Sixties, what I cannot comprehend is why change something that’s not broke. PVL is on gold hunt. What it will do is make it into an international flavor when it is already an international hit. This is a state thing that goes back to the days of Beetson and now we are going to have players who won’t play for the national team. The selectors should ignore PVL and stick to the working winning formula.
As for Lomax and the Storm and PVL and the RPLA they are supporting a player who will abandon the NRL in 2028. We do have some really numbskulls running our game. Can they please butt out and give the game back to the fans who support it with their hard cash who also ultimately pay the wages of these knowalls who know nothing.
Like you Sixties, really question the motive of journos like Read, he sports a definite bias favouring a club that he has a close connection with, coincidence? PVL is treading a dangerous path with such open opinions to support Lomax, how can the NRL Take a stance against a legally signed document designed to protect an NRL club in the face of a release to a competition targeted at the players under the NRL banner. Be careful PVL, it could end up a disaster for contracts in the NRL space.
Seems to indicate there may be more “dirty washing” that may be revealed as discovery documents are found.
The NRL needs a strong hand at the top definitely , but not a dictator type favouring certain entities. By the way, as soon as the RLPA came in and offered support to,Lomax, that’s possibly a red flag in itself .
This episode made my day, the rant by Sixties is pure gold. I hope V’Landys gets to hear it. I’d love to see you when you’re not holding back Sixties.
Brent Reid, who takes anything he says seriously, I didn’t think it was possible to be a muppet and a puppet at the same time, there you go.
Like all Eels fans, I’m very proud of the club but equally, I’m very proud of both John and Craig for being our voice.
I laughed and fist pumped at the same time, nice work gents.
Thanks again fellas, entertaining and informative as always.
The PVL thing remains an interesting watch/listen. What he, and perhaps Lomax, seem to be missing is that Parramatta don’t want to stop Zac playing. The club is just asking for fair recompense after releasing one of the better paid players from a contract that was only 25% fulfilled contract at HIS request. It is really that simple.
Unfortunately the Storm and Eels have not been able to agree to terms on what is fair. That happens but what about all the other clubs? That the Storm then felt comfortable and brazen enough to allegedly suggest the NRL apply a blowtorch as pressure should worry all other clubs. It is not the texting but what is supposed to have been said and asked that is the issue.
Brent Read became the regular punching bag contrarian on NRL360 last season and seems to be carrying on that role in other places. At times last year he made Buzz seem all there – enough said. It beggars belief that he sees no issue with a club CEO texting the NRL CEO using the sort of language alleged as opposed to a regular everyday communication. That is the nub of what he either doesn’t get or still thinks is not an issue. Mr Peabody has lost even more credibility with me.
Look forward to the next trial to see how we are shaping up.
Thanks again and keep on fighting the good fight!
😂 “made Buzz seem all there”