First off lets see how our pre season predictions are coming along-
The Dragons will struggle somewhat this season-
By somewhat I mean not up to the high standards they have set themselves in recent seasons. Yes Bennett is a big loss but I believe Boyd is a huge loss in terms of their style of play. The Dragons play a basic, no mistake football but without Boyd and Gasnier, and with an ageing and slowing Ben Hornby (who is still a good organising player) and Jamie Soward who is not a runner I’m not sure where the tries will come from.
This seems to be looking pretty good, the Dragons are averaging 2.7 tries and 15.2 points a match which makes them the 2nd most impotent team in the clubs 14 year history. They are sitting 11th and struggling.
The Sharks to improve-
They have good halves in Carney who when not blind drunk can unlock any defence along with Wade Graham and Chad Townsend who both are young and have potential coupled with the experience of Jeff Robson if needed too. Another big season from talisman Paul Gallen will be vital too!! Their other X factor players is little full back Nathan Gardner and big man Sam Tagataese.
The Sharks have certainly improved to the point where they have been in the top 4 for most of the season, if they can just get through the Origin period where they lose Gallen and Carney they should be right to make the finals.
Souths to make the Top 8-
Lets see how those players of the future/a big season for are going- (Some need changing)
Canberra- Jack Wighton- Was going pretty well and playing quite a few games in the top grade, however he injured his toe on his back yard trampoline and will have an operation and miss the rest of the year!!!! Change to Edric Lee- He's black as the ace of spades, tall, quick and an athletic outside back.
Penrith- Lachlon Coote- Having a good season in a struggling team, has been one of the few consistent players for coach Cleary.
Storm- Matt Duffie- 8 tries in 13 games which is even more impressive considering team mates Chambers and Slater have scored more.
Cowboys- James Segeyaro- Hasn't yet been outstanding but solid none the less coming off the bench for the Cowboys.
Broncos- Corey Norman- Playing really well at 5/8 for the powerful Broncos, helping direct the team and setting up tries and will continue to improve.
Warriors- Konrad Hurrell- Been in and out of 1st grade but has still made an impact scoring some great tries.
Titans- Jordan Rankin- Has struggled so far this season and not in the team recently so would like to change to his replacement Aidan Sezer.
Bulldogs- Josh Reynolds- Having a break out season if ever I've seen one!!!! Has been so impressive he was talked about as a bolter for the Blues.
Tigers- Ben Murdoch Masila- Has been stepping up this year and performing but still could do more and dare I say be a bit fitter. Paul Sironen's son Curtis debuted a couple of weeks ago and looks to be a player of the future, same size as his Dad but plays 5/8!!!!
Roosters-Tautau Moga- Finally got his start a few weeks ago, he is finding his feet in the top grade and just starting to live up to his hype.
Manly- Darcy Lussick- Wasn't the best start to the year as he wasn't getting many minutes but the last couple of games have been better with more opportunities from Origin and injuries.
Souths- Adam Reynolds- Playing some good footy off the back of the good form of the Bunnies, he doesn't take on the line much but has been directing the team around well and kicked the winning field goal in golden point.
Sharks-Chad Townsend- Will finally get his start this weekend with Carney away on Origin duty, will be interesting to see how he goes and we'll stick with him as he is a talented player.
Dragons- Jack De Bellin- Started the year off really well with his good work rate but has recently dropped his form and hasn't been playing many minutes.
Parra- Matt Ryan- Debuted a few weeks ago and has caught the eye, a tall rangy back rower who has a good off load too.
Below is the from the Official Loving League with Lavers stats webpage-
Pageviews by Countries
Australia
563
United States
238
United Kingdom
133
New Zealand
46
Germany
20
Russia
14
Canada
9
Morocco
7
Iceland
3
Oman
3
A few interesting points come out of this-
Firstly we have cracked the 1000 page views which is just mind blowing as we expected that to take the full year!!!! So thanks very much to Dad for buying Mum an I Pad, and to Mum for constantly going on our page.
The next is our big following in the United States of America which is good for our up coming trip, which we'll touch on that later.
We have a truly global audience, reaching out to Moroccans, Icelanders and Omanis who I'd love to hear from!!!!!
Well we have copped a bit of flak recently for our lookalike wall and the people not really looking like the player in question, so the team and I have stepped up!!! We have over hauled the segment!!! Now the person only has one player as his lookalike. This week we induct 2 people to show our intent. Firstly we have long time reader Andy Rea and former Knight, Eel, Tiger and current Shark John Morris. Also we have separated at birth Michael Tyne and Canberra legend and Queensland coach Mal Meninga.
The curious case of Greg Smith
Now folks I would like to take your mind back to the year 1999 and an amazing Rugby League story. Warren Ryan was the new coach of the Newcastle Knights and had signed an extremely quick and athletic American winger who had played 2 seasons in the NFL for the Philladelphia Eagles by the name of Greg Smith.
His first game came against the Bulldogs and everything was going great with the Knights quick out of the blocks and had build up a 24-4 lead at half time. Then came Greg Smith, a bomb was put out to his wing and seemed to have no idea of what to do and the Dogs had scored. He also had no idea in defence and the dogs peppered his wing and ended up winning 26-24.
I believe Greg thought that those Aussies down under won't have the internet yet and probably not even international telephones because truth has it that he hadn't played NFL at all. He had made it all up and it was taken as gospel by Wok Ryan.
The Sydney Morning Herald said 'Dreadful is a word that struggles to convey Smith's ineptitude' in a good old spray.
This was to be Smiths one and only game and no other American has played in the NRL since.
Finally here is a great quote from fellow internet scribe Nick Tedeshi about Greg's performance that I wish I could call my own-
'His ability under the bomb was laughable. Smith displayed the same kind of awkwardness exhibited when you walk into a swinger’s party only to see your best friend and his wife enjoying the festivities with two other men, a woman and a ball-gag. Or so I would imagine, based on the tales of a Richmond publican who is familiar with all kinds of scenes and regaled the bar with weird and amusing tales last Wednesday evening.'
On the back of this story (or was it because of Nick Tedeshi's comment) we here at Loving League with Lavers are off on a fact finding mission to LA, Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Mexico, where we will be attending a seminar called 'Amar las tetas con tequila' which translated I can assure you roughly means 'Business tips for internet blogs' and certainly does not mean 'Loving Tits with Tequila'
So we will be away for a month but we will no doubt be keeping abreast (ha ha...we said breast) with all the Rugby League news starting with the Blues win on Wednesday night.
Estoy amando a la liga con Lavers
(I'm Loving League with Lavers)
