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Next years NRL winners?

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justjohn said:
2005 Barrett penalised for not playing ball and running off mark (DIDN'T HEAR HELD CALL ) how harsh was that and at the time the dragon pack were STEAMROLLING the tigers
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Steamrolling???:banghead:..20-12,10-6 in each half,never headed at any stage,(benji 1st try scorer again for me 15/1. 3 times in a row..love it)

Just in case you forgot(saints $1.50 favs.)here take a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYM0-NlM_pA&feature=related

but have the tissues ready...boo hoo..tb
 
Tigers 19 year old whiz kid...

Show boot against Dogs, Moltzen urged
By Philip Henderson
AAP

Tim Moltzen has made an impressive start to his NRL career, but after two games Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says it's time for the promising teenager to sink the boot in against the Bulldogs.
Sheens claims the rookie five-eighth, set the daunting task of replacing Benji Marshall while the Tigers star recovers from a knee injury, owns the biggest kick at the club.
And the coach has called on the 19-year-old, who has scored two tries in his first two games, to show off his booming boot against the Dogs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
"He hasn't kicked the ball yet in two games," Sheens said.
"He's playing No.6 and he can kick further than anyone at the club, so there's a lot to work for him to do, we're not getting carried away just yet.
"Timmy had a good couple of moments in the game (against North Queensland) last week, but off the ball he's still not dominating the game as a pivot.
"He can tackle and he can run and he's supporting well ... so he's doing the little things without dominating the game as a No.6."
Halfback John Morris, who will play his 150th first grade game on Sunday, said Moltzen was mature enough not to try and overplay his hand despite coming in to the side for the mercurial Marshall.
"It must be great for his confidence for his first two games to perform the way he has, but he's got a real level head so I don't think he'll be getting carried away with it," said Morris.
"He knows every week in the NRL is a tough one, but there's no reason why he can't continue.
"He's got all the team's confidence. He's starting to tell the boys where to go, starting to call for the ball when he wants it, he scored a good try last the weekend by over-calling the play. So he's dominant enough to do that, which is great at his age."
Despite back-to-back victories - including a dominant win over the Cowboys in Townsville last Saturday - the Tigers have been keen to keep a lid on their early season form.
Skipper Brett Hodgson is expected to play against the Bulldogs Sunday despite suffering concussion last weekend with hooker Robbie Farah, who has been battling a virus this week, also coming through his final training session on Saturday.
The Dogs, who came from behind to beat South Sydney last week after blowing a big first-half lead against Parramatta in round one, welcome back backrow superstar Sonny Bill Williams from a knee injury but will be without Reni Maitua after the Test forward was dumped for another alcohol-related indiscretion this week.
"It's a bit of a loss," fullback Luke Patten said of Maitua's axing.
"But there's always somebody ready to step up as well and I think we've shown that this year, that some of the guys that most people wouldn't know have stepped up for us and I think that will continue so it's just up to Reni how to work his way back into the team.
"As far as the team goes, it's still early in the season.
"Obviously it takes a little while to get into the swing of things, but we are hoping this week that we can put it together.
"The Tigers are obviously going well, they've won their first two games and you know the last few years they've probably had the wood on us a little bit, so we know it's going to be a tough game."
 
tigerboi said:
This week is round three in the NRL competition & last weeks results show how unpredictable some games will be not unlike the market of late,in the NRL tipping comp brad fittler did not pick a winner,i was lucky enough to pick the broncos,bulldogs,tigers of course & newcastle in extra time.

Along with selections i will provide some stats from the games between the sides since 2008,first named team is playing at home.

Eels v knights:The eels with the return of tim smith should give more control around the rucks,eels have won 8/16 of the clashes,home team is 10/15,parra at home v knights are 5/8,the eels by 8

Broncos v cowboys:The battle of the banana benders here,with the broncos looking good early,new half peter wallace has his pack going forward with mongrel,the cowboys pack have been run over in the first 2 rounds,with the tigers light weight back rowers being too mobile for them to handle last week,watch for tj marsh to target the tiring cowboys late.

The stats between these 2 sides show the home side losing 6 of the last 10 games for a total 9/17 at home loses but broncos to win,look for the broncos to kick a field goal with a scoreline to the broncos of 25-18,25-24,29-23.broncos on class with lockyer/wallace...

Roosters v Storm:Looking forward to the packs colliding here as mason & o'meley have given the roosters pack the yardage needed to climb back into contention,storm without enforcer white look suspect up front.

The roosters have a good record v the storm having won 8/13,at home since 2000.the chooks played 5 games for 4 wins by margins of,10,28,22,35.storm look vunerable & geyer on the bench(dumb move) leaves them down 1 forward,the roosters by 1-7.

Raiders v dragons:Going for canberra at home where they usually score 30 points,they are a gutsy team with plenty of heart led by tongue,against the dragons who look to be getting wayne bennett for next year,the dragons seem soft around the ruck but brilliant out wide,for me canberra to win by 10-12..

stats say canberra won last 7/11 plus a 21-21 draw,canberra have won the last 5 home games v the dragons.
watch for young gun halves of campese & carney to carve up the saints..

Titans v Sharks:The titans except for bailey,prince,rogers are reserve grade standard,the sharks with ricky stuart in his 2nd season as coach are putting it together early like the last few years,but then ran out of steam so they maylook to pace themselves this year.

The sharks have a solid pack led by gallen & bird,followed by kimmorely pulling the strings for all to run off,sharks too classy by 16.
Watch brett kearney from fullback he can score a try from anything...


Panthers v rabbitohs:What a yawn,the battle of the 1 dimensional attacks,rubbish game.
penrith are paying the penalty now for not moving on slugs like the puletulas & frank pritchard,too slow for top grade these days,watch how slow pritchard & waterhouse are to anticipate the inside ball..

The rabbitohs have 1 decent player...roy asotasi,the rest should be playing in the jim beam cup,however penrith have a better half back in jarrod sammut(penrith let go peter wallace to the broncos,he was man of the match last week!,work that one out).penrith by 2 points on the efforts of little sammut.

Penrith have the biggest junior league in the world & in the last 3 years in this comp. they have had players who dead set couldnt run out of sight on a dark night.poor management...(look at the tigers bringing juniors through the ranks...)

Bulldogs v the tigers:Tim sheens has the team going well early so thats a good sign,robbie farah is carving them up as usual.as i said before we got
some good young guns.

The arrival of 19 year old Tim moltzen alongside fellow 19 year old chris lawrence to take over from benji shows the junior programmes are working
well,trendsetters watch this kids sidestep & passing game,reckon he might stay & benji go to halfback..tigers to run riot by 16..

Sea eagles v warriors:Manly seem to be struggling without monaghans direction & ball skills around the ruck,manly are staring down a 0/3 start to the season,with the warriors coming off a good win over parra..

The stats: Threw up the warriors are 10/14 over manly,also they are 4/6 at brookvale since 2000,extraordinary as manly are so hard to beat there.
the margins to the warriors were,2,18,4,8..

The 2 manly won were 2007 13-10 & 18-16 in 2002,so not just because i hate manly!,i like the warriors(good on their day) by 10,as for manly iam not convinced jamie lyon is a 5/8,ditto gasnier.

so my tips are:

Eels,roosters,raiders,sharks,penrith,the tigers,warriors.

my bets:like the broncos to kick a fieldgoal for scores of
25-18,25-24,29-23..plus a few others,19-18,19-12,25-12...

I like the tiger whiz kid moltzen for 1st try scorer,probably get odds of

15-16/1..(havent checked sports tab yet.)good luck anyone having a punt

TB
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forgot to put in the broncos with my tips

Eels,broncos,roosters,raiders,sharks,penrith,the tigers,warriors
already had tipped them...tb
 
Had a quiet day on the punt but doing ok in the tipping

roosters 10 v storm 6

tb...:D...593rd nrl


tigerboi said:
Roosters v Storm:Looking forward to the packs colliding here as mason & o'meley have given the roosters pack the yardage needed to climb back into contention,storm without enforcer white look suspect up front.

The roosters have a good record v the storm having won 8/13,at home since 2000.the chooks played 5 games for 4 wins by margins of,10,28,22,35.storm look vunerable & geyer on the bench(dumb move) leaves them down 1 forward,the roosters by 1-7.
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Ah stop me before i tip the lot!!dragons so soft...tb

raiders 21 dragons 14(led 10-0)


tigerboi said:
Raiders v dragons:Going for canberra at home where they usually score 30 points,they are a gutsy team with plenty of heart led by tongue,against the dragons who look to be getting wayne bennett for next year,the dragons seem soft around the ruck but brilliant out wide,for me canberra to win by 10-12..

stats say canberra won last 7/11 plus a 21-21 draw,canberra have won the last 5 home games v the dragons.
watch for young gun halves of campese & carney to carve up the saints..
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...tb:D
 
A bit early I know, and a maybe not much interest to the blues fans, but assuming no injuries, how hard is it to pick a QLD State of Origin backline? How many have to miss out!

Maybe should start an Origin thread?
 
Here is my side as i say wallace could be a bolter & i would not rule out young tiger lawrence if cooper/gasnier injured or not firing which looks the case atm,the bonus with gidley is he is a goal kicker.we could also see mullen get another run,he really impressed me v parra last night,great passing game.yep its still early...

sharks 4 v titans 4,50 minute mark.cronullas defence great..



tigerboi said:
thats not my nsw team wysiwyg thats the curtain raiser game!!

nsw 3-0
1.kurt gidley
2.jarrad hayne
3.mark gasnier(not a 5/8)
4.matt cooper
5.eric grothe
6.greg bird
7.brett kimmorley(peter wallace the bolter.)
13.paul gallen
12.willie mason
11.nathan hindmarsh(champion,parra without him would be nowhere.)
10.mark o'meley
9.robbie farah
8.luke bailey
14.ryan hoffman
15.anthony tupou(roosters pack connection.)
16.luke o'donnell
17.brent white

no andrew ryan,mason can shift into the front row when needed,bird gives toughness & durability at 5/8,kurt gidley deserves a shot at fullback & can kick goals,the halfback spot is debateable with peter wallace up at the broncos,tonight takes on the qld half thurston,so keen to see who gets over who.

Ithink it looks a good side & of course not all can agree,id like to see chris lawrence get a centre spot over cooper but the selectors will stick with that pairing.also no jamie lyon but with bob fulton a selector he may get the nod at 5/8 with bird at lock.anyway good to see what other teams you guys like...tb
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I'm gonna back the broncos :)

I'm a brissy boy ~ and 3 from 3 is a fantastic start...

they normally start crap and end solid :) ~

I'll say they're gonna go all the way
 
Ive tipped 4/5 this week so far,cannot work out the titans v sharks,i know the gold coast are like canberra, hard to beat at home but i had to tip the sharks,after close wins over last years grand finalists.

Put it this way if they were both race horses,they would be swabbed asap.

As to the broncos i tipped them to get over the cowboys by about 7-10 with a field goal by lockyer,but he pulled out & they smashed them without him,i did say watch wallace & marsh,they had top games.

I understand penrith offered wallace $110,000 to stay & the broncos stepped in with $200,000,now this is where penriths policy of not moving on players no longer required,such as wesser,priddis,puletuas...has come back to whack them!

They should have moved mountains to keep that kid,penrith have skilled him up from the st marys juniors,instead they get civoniceva,good prop but at the end of his career,they could have had sammut at fullback,wallace at halfback.i did say penrith would improve this year but i take it back...

I think wayne bennett remembers well the game last year where wallace kicked a long range field goal to win the game 29-28 over the broncos last year...
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/List-of-National-Rugby-League-golden-point-games


tigerboi said:
This week is round three in the NRL competition & last weeks results show how unpredictable some games will be not unlike the market of late,

Eels v knights:The eels with the return of tim smith should give more control around the rucks,eels have won 8/16 of the clashes,home team is 10/15,parra at home v knights are 5/8,the eels by 8

Broncos v cowboys:The battle of the banana benders here,with the broncos looking good early,new half peter wallace has his pack going forward with mongrel,the cowboys pack have been run over in the first 2 rounds,with the tigers light weight back rowers being too mobile for them to handle last week,watch for tj marsh to target the tiring cowboys late.

The stats between these 2 sides show the home side losing 6 of the last 10 games for a total 9/17 at home loses but broncos to win,look for the broncos to kick a field goal with a scoreline to the broncos of 25-18,25-24,29-23.broncos on class with lockyer/wallace...

Roosters v Storm:Looking forward to the packs colliding here as mason & o'meley have given the roosters pack the yardage needed to climb back into contention,storm without enforcer white look suspect up front.

The roosters have a good record v the storm having won 8/13,at home since 2000.the chooks played 5 games for 4 wins by margins of,10,28,22,35.storm look vunerable & geyer on the bench(dumb move) leaves them down 1 forward,the roosters by 1-7.

Raiders v dragons:Going for canberra at home where they usually score 30 points,they are a gutsy team with plenty of heart led by tongue,against the dragons who look to be getting wayne bennett for next year,the dragons seem soft around the ruck but brilliant out wide,for me canberra to win by 10-12..

stats say canberra won last 7/11 plus a 21-21 draw,canberra have won the last 5 home games v the dragons.
watch for young gun halves of campese & carney to carve up the saints..

Titans v Sharks:The titans except for bailey,prince,rogers are reserve grade standard,the sharks with ricky stuart in his 2nd season as coach are putting it together early like the last few years,but then ran out of steam so they maylook to pace themselves this year.

The sharks have a solid pack led by gallen & bird,followed by kimmorely pulling the strings for all to run off,sharks too classy by 16.
Watch brett kearney from fullback he can score a try from anything...
TB
Click to expand...
 
Here is the moment i would say wayne bennet remembers well & decided to get wallace...tb

This loss put the broncs 0/3...2007

With wallace now broncs 3/3...2008
Panthers steal victory in extra-time

Posted Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:02pm AEST
r134748_453920.jpg
Golden point... The Panthers celebrate their 29-28 win over the Broncos



Young five-eighth Peter Wallace booted a miraculous field goal to give the Penrith Panthers a golden point victory over the Brisbane Broncos in their round three NRL clash at Lang Park on Friday evening.
21-year-old Wallace produced the match-winning play in the second period of extra-time, potting a field goal from 42 metres out to seal a remarkable 29-28 victory and leave the defending premiers without a win in 2007.
The Broncos had looked certain to win the match with three minutes remaining after four tries to brawny centre Broncos centre Justin Hodges and three penalty shots from fit-again skipper Darren Lockyer propelled the home side into a 28-20 lead.
But a length-of-the-field effort from centre Michael Jennings on 78 minutes and an amazing try on the full-time siren from livewire Panthers full-back Rhys Wesser levelled the scores, before Michael Gordon's failed conversion attempt sent the game into golden point.
Craig Gower missed two opportunities to win the match for the Panthers in the first period of extra-time, pushing both of his field goal attempts just wide of the posts.
Wallace, an unlikely match-winner in just his fourth game of first-grade at Penrith, then clinched victory in the second period as the Panthers sealed a remarkable come-from-behind win to stun the home crowd.

First half


The Broncos led with six minutes remaining in the first half, but tries to Panthers centres Jennings and Luke Lewis handed the visitors a 20-14 advantage at the break.
Jennings intercepted a wayward Lockyer pass on 34 minutes to streak away downfield and score underneath the posts and Lewis crashed over minutes later after good build-up work from Panthers half-back Gower.
Hodges starred for the Broncos despite a niggling knee injury and preyed on poor handling from the Panthers to score a first-half brace, while Panthers winger Michael Gordon also crossed twice in the opening period
Frank Pritchard and Wesser caused plenty of problems on the right-side in attack with Gordon crossing twice untouched after Broncos winger Darius Boyd strayed from the wing in defence.
 
Here is the story on the cronulla v gold coast game...

Titans win over Cronulla, feud continues
By Laine Clark
AAP

Try as they might, the Titans failed to pour cold water over their simmering feud with Cronulla following an 18-4 NRL victory at the Gold Coast.
Titans co-captain Luke Bailey described as "a bit grubby" Sharks skipper Paul Gallen's "massage" of Anthony Laffranchi's heavily bandaged head which forced the classy backrower off the field on Saturday night.
But coach John Cartwright stepped in to pull the pin on Bailey's criticism in a bid not to further stoke a rivalry with his former Sydney Roosters mentor Ricky Stuart's Cronulla outfit.
The last time they met, the Titans camp called Sharks star Greg Bird a "diver" following a spiteful round 24 clash.
Laffranchi's battle with Gallen began in the ninth minute when the backrower suffered a nasty gash in a head clash with the Sharks skipper.
He bravely came back heavily bandaged but earned no favours from Gallen who pushed into Laffranchi's head in a 68th minute tackle that earned the ire of referee Jason Robinson.
Gallen's actions reopened Laffranchi's head wound, forcing the workhorse off the field for good.
It also appeared to reopen Cronulla's feud with the Titans.
"It was a bit grubby," Bailey said of Gallen's actions.
But Cartwright cut Bailey off, saying: "We will just have a look at it. It doesn't matter what we think of it, it looked as though there was not a lot in the way for everyone to see."
Cartwright said Laffranchi had suffered mild concussion and a "nasty cut".
"He probably shouldn't have went back on the field at all, he won't remember much of it tomorrow," Cartwright said.
Gallen did not want to weigh into the issue.
"I just put my hand on his head to get up, happens every tackle," he said of the incident.
It added spice to a dour clash that the Gold Coast won three tries to one after keeping the Sharks scoreless in the second half.
It ended the Sharks' amazing away record following back to back wins over last year's grand finalists.
After trailing 4-0 at halftime, the Gold Coast laid on tries through Mat Rogers (47th), Brad Meyers (55th) and flying winger Jordan Atkins (74th) to keep their perfect record intact at their new Robina home.
Cartwright rated the win higher than their opening round thrashing of North Queensland.
"I was more pleased considering the side that we were playing were probably the form side of the competition," he said.
"I was thinking before the game that I knew it was going to be a tight game and we haven't won a lot of tight games.
"We haven't got down and dirty with sides. And we were playing probably the best side at that tonight."
Bailey agreed: "I was more proud of the boys for this week's win."
It brought a disappointing end to a controversial week for the Sharks.
Cronulla became embroiled in the shoulder charge controversy after losing prop Ben Ross for seven games for a hit on Melbourne's Cooper Cronk.
Backrower Reece Williams and pivot Brett Seymour (both knee) then broke down.
Stuart's anxiety on Saturday night was not helped by Blake Green suffering what appeared to be an ankle injury
 
Also the raiders at $2.15 over a soft dragons pack...tb

Raiders too strong for Dragons
By Peter Veness
AAP

Two second-half tries to prodigal son Joel Monaghan helped Canberra come from behind to defeat St George Illawarra 21-14 at Canberra Stadium.
Canberra local Monaghan capped his first home game back with the Raiders following three seasons with the Sydney Roosters with a try-saving catch in the 60th minute that helped ensure the victory.
The loss is a setback for the Dragons, who earned their first win of the season against the Titans last week, their woes compounded by a biting report against interchange forward Jarrod Saffy.
Canberra halfback Todd Carney made the complaint against Saffy in the first half, although replays were inconclusive.
For the Raiders, centre Phil Graham was helped off the ground with a serious ankle injury in the opening half, while utility forward Lincoln Withers was placed on report by referee Gavin Badger for a late and high shot on Rangi Chase in the 72nd minute.
The Dragons dominated the opening exchanges, skipping out to a 10-0 lead.
Saint George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale starred early, plucking a deft cross-field chip from halfback Jamie Soward out of the sky and falling over the line.
Nightingale bagged another four-pointer late in the half when he again showcased outstanding aerial skills off the back of a Chase bomb.
But lazy defence close to their line cost them with Raiders prop Troy Thompson bashing his way over for a try and five-eighth Terry Campese also scampering over in the opening 40 minutes.
The Dragons still led 14-12 at the break, but it was all Canberra in the second half as they earned their second victory from three games this season.
The Raiders forwards, led by Michael Weyman, laid an impressive foundation for the halves pairing of Carney and Campese to swing the ball from side-to-side all night long.
At the back, Bronx Goodwin passed the test of replacing ace youngster William Zillman, showing safe hands under the high ball and a willingness to put his body on the line.
Carney sealed the win with a 78th minute field goal.
Carney said he was willing to front the judiciary to repeat his allegation.
"I hit him around the chest and tried to rotate him and my hand must have been around his mouth," Carney said.
"I reckon it will be pretty obvious on the video. Obviously if it's that clear on the TV and the judiciary needs me obviously I'd have to go."
Raiders skipper Alan Tongue backed Carney's claim.
"He said it straight away and there were marks on his arms," Tongue said.
"I don't think he was lying about that one."
Underfire Dragons coach Nathan Brown was philosophical about his side's second loss in three weeks.
"You do what you do and things will work out," Brown said, before praising his side for "hanging in".
"We are not going to make any drastic changes."
Brown was, however, mildly critical of Chase and Soward.
"Our young halves float in (to) the game and out (of) the game," he said




watch for young gun halves of campese & carney to carve up the saints..
 
Here just john a few memories,saints last comp led by the biter rod reddy
st jaws...tb


Grand Final...1979
St George finished 22 rounds as minor premiers with 17 wins and were straight into the Grand Final after defeating Parramatta major semi. Their opponents Canterbury, qualified after defeating Wests, Cronulla and Parramatta.
The pre-game talk had been about the match up of opposing half-backs Steve Morris and Steve Mortimer and the game didn't disappoint beginning with a 40 metre flying break on a last tackle by Morris from deep in Dragons' territory before he was cut down in a classic covering tackle by Mortimer.
The first half belonged to St George with new fullback Brian Johnson scoring an easy opening try after taking a pass 10 metres out from the Canterbury line. Soon after Rod Reddy, who was subduing his opponents with his experience and ruthlessness, put Morris into a gap. 'Slippery' kicked ahead and the race was on. Mortimer had a head start and got there first but Morris tackled him into touch.
Soon afterwards Canterbury put a bomb up and toward the St George in-goal. Brian Johnson was on hand to field the ball and returned it with a 60 metre run ended by a copybook tackle from his opposing fullback Stan Cutler. However the defence was opening up and it wasn't long before the Dragons scored their second try with winger Mitch Brennan venturing infield and finding a gap courtesy of centre Robert Finch who slipped a short ball to Brennan 30 metres out. The strapping winger made a powerful run to score.
By now, Saints were carving Canterbury up with Morris on his 20 metre line putting Graeme Wynn into a gap. The lanky back rower ran 40 metres leaving defenders in his wake. Next it was 'Rocket' Reddy's turn when Morris, Wynn and Reddy combined down the right flank and exposed the Bulldogs defence. 'Rocket' handled twice in scoring a try under the posts. At half time the score was St George 17 - Canterbury 2.
Canterbury fought back gamely after the break with firstly Steve Gearin and then Peter Mortimer crossing. The St George defence rallied and held from that point until Stan Cutler scored a third try out wide late in the match.
St George's goal kicking second rower George Grant was the difference on the day kicking four to ensure a 17-13 victory. Grant had kicked brilliantly all season scoring 211 points in 1979.
The Dave Brown Medal for the best player on field went to Steve Morris.
St. George 17 (Tries: Johnson, Brennan, Reddy. Goals: Grant 4.)
Canterbury 13 (Tries: Gearin, Mortimer, Cutler. Goals: Gearin 2.)
 
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]JJ you need this guy back,not ryles...whata soft c-ck...tb[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Bailey, Luke*[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]'Bull', 'Bails'[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]SI, 2000-2006, 119 games (incl repl).[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7t (28pts).[/FONT][/SIZE]





[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Luke Bailey[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]First Grade[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Position[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prop / second row forward [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Born[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5 Jan 1980, Port Kembla[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Junior Club [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shell Harbour / Steelers[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Height[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]189cm[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Debut[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Dragons (v Sharks), Stadium Australia (Homebush), 5 Feb 2000, (Rd 1)[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NSW rep[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2002-2005[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Aust rep[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2003-2004[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Born in Port Kembla, NSW, Bailey is an Illawarra junior and played with Shell Harbour.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]He was the NRL competition's top tackler for 2003.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Selected for 2003 Kangaroo train-on squad, Bailey was certain to go on tour but had to withdraw due to ear surgery.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In 2003, Bailey was nominated for the club's Integral Energy Dragons Medal (won by Ben Hornby) and was awarded the club's Red V Members Player of the Year.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Following an outstanding effort in club football, Bailey gained selection for the Kangaroos in the Australia v New Zealand 'Anzac' Test match in 2004.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bailey was set for further rep honours in 2004 with NSW and Australia, but a torn left chest muscle (pectoral) in May, and subsequent surgery, saw a major disruption to his season.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bailey played an outstanding season in 2005 for the Dragons and NSW but an [/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]ongoing ear infection saw him pull out of the Tri-Nations tour later in the same year.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In 2005 Luke Bailey won the St George Bank Dragons Medal, a gold medal awarded the club's best player of 2005. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bailey played an outstanding 2006 season with the Dragons, hitting top form coming into the finals. But in 2007, at aged 27, Bailey has been signed to a four year deal to play for the re-newed Gold Coast Titans club.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]more: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, [/SIZE][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]2006[/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
 
Yes those were the days,1977 grand final when Rocket Rod single handed just bashed the Parra pack ,cautioned something like 4 times Young-Edge-Reddy -Wynn-Stone-Starkey & Jansen what a tough pack ,the pussys these days wouldn't last 10 minutes against these fellows.None of this of this interchange crap ,a full 80 minutes of Dragon fury:D:p:;)
 
TB a bit harsh dont you think ,your talking about an ex-Australian & State of Origin HARD MAN.What else could he do last night, he was third in the tackle count, led the hit ups(both teams), led the yardage(both teams ) not exactly bludging .Dont worry to much about us TB we are renown slow starters just the opposite to use who start well and die in the ar5e(like last year):p:
 
Laurie ol' mate tiger legend...tb

Laurie Nicolls​


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There was one constant at every Tigers game, his name was Laurie Nicolls. Laurie will always be remembered as the undisputed Number 1 fan of the Balmain Tigers amongst a host of very committed fans. The word unique didn't go far enough when it described this truly amazing punch throwing Tiger. For over 3 decades the sidelines at Leichhardt Oval and other rugby league grounds around not only Australia but the world were paced by Laurie in his characteristic manner.
For those who have never heard of Laurie, any game involving the Balmain Tigers was accompanied by the man pictured above wearing no more than a Tigers singlet on his upper body (temperatures are irrelevant). His customary and unique salute when the Tigers scored was unmistakable, it involved a wide variety of combinations and includes many jabs, upper cuts and hooks.
He was as much a part of Leichhardt Oval as the scoreboard, goal posts and grandstand. It was in the mid 1960's when this former wool-classer came down to Balmain to watch his friend Sid Williams play for the Tigers and there he stayed until his sudden passing in 2000.
One remarkable quality of Laurie Nicholls was his sportsmanship and unqualified support. You never heard Laurie bagging a player, or a team for mistakes or losses. When the opposition scored, Laurie applauded. When the Tigers had their heads down or were in a rough patch, Laurie was there to encourage with pats on the back and words of support. He held the belief that everybody who tries their best deserves support, "I respect any player who does his best... gives every inch of his heart... you've got to respect a man for that" he once said.
Perhaps the best way to describe how highly Laurie was respected by the players was when in 1971 Laurie was given an Australian jersey by Geoff Starling. Starling earlier that year was guided in the right direction as a nervous youngster making his First Grade debut by Laurie. "Don't sell yourself short and keep trying" were the words of wisdom that Laurie dished out, and later that same year Starling became the youngest ever Australian Kangaroo Tourist.
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At one point when the Tigers were under fire in the late 80's, Wayne Pearce remarked "at least I know one guy who'll be waiting there in the tunnel" and he wasn't referring to the coach or any of the wives. A pearl of Laurie Nicholls wisdom came when he once said "half the good people live in Balmain and the rest only wish they did". Laurie Nicholls however was not just a Balmain fan, he was a rugby league and sports fan. He once stood in sub-zero degree temperatures in England watching the Kangaroos in a singlet. He was there in Kostya Tszyu's corner when the adopted Aussie boxing world champion stepped into the ring. And it was no surprise for the local juniors when Laurie turned up to watch them on the weekends.
If ever a man personified the words loyalty, uniqueness and dedication it was that snowy haired fella waving to the fans with the team as they made their way off the ground, for he was very much a part of the team and the fans loved him as much as any player. He will be missed.
 
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