jsinista1

Can you swap a number of players in your team for the same amount of players in another team and still have a decent if not better squad?

Conditions:

1) The number of players needed to swap is 6. Otherwise swapping Kurt Gidley for Billy Slater is just an outright joke as Newcastle would automatically be better. So thats 6 of your players for 6 from one other team.

2) Players swapped from either team must play in the corresponding position

3) Rate your team out of 10 before and after the trades. I will also rate your trades and whoever else that answers will rate your trades obviously with the thumbs up or down.

Both are talented in their own right but lets look at the key facts without bias.

Mullen has a great kicking game with a decent attack which could be better if surrounded by quality players, but his defense is as soft as...... well Darius Boyd on a kick return. Seems like a top bloke off the field but a real shame he hasn't even broken into SOO considering he's been around for a few years now. Potential lacking in Newcastle.

Johnson has been a boomer in the junior grades (which does matter by the way) and this gave him the opportunity to work his way into the top side where he featured in almost every game of his first season. His attack is outstanding and has been praised by Newcastle great Andrew johns as an awesome star and his defense is good. He's lead by a strong captain with a good team that worked as a team to get to a final in his first year. He was called into the kiwi squad but withdrew for surgery by the way. Might I also add that his combination with one of the best fullbacks coming through is also very entertaining and worth watching.

How do you feel about your teams run home to the finals? Are there any games that you think can effect how your team finishes up on the table whether it be making the finals or not.

This is the Warriors run home before the finals:

Rd 22: v BRI (away) - Playing them and competing will be a mission in itself but at their ground well.....lets just say warriors wont be favourites amongst most, but the battles are always good and a win there off the back of some impressive wins will definitely bring us to the attention of the top 4 teams.

Rd 23: v NEW (home) - a team that has narrowly missed out too many times this year from getting the 2pts can still be dangerous, however the homeground advantage should pay dividends and I hope the Knights get a shellacking so I can give it WEASEL 11 if he decides to show his face around here.

Rd 24: v PEN (away) - Need to win these games to prove we can be dominant. Should win easily.

Rd 25: v STG (away) - hopefully they're still down when we play them, cos I don't wanna be around when they decide to unleash on a team hahaha

Rd 26: v NQ (home) - They won convincingly last time, I think we will repay the favour.

Some tough games ahead but ones that can be won by the warriors when they're on their game, which has looked good the last few weeks. Won't finish top 4 but we'll definitely send Cleary off with something to smile about by making the finals and hopefully knocking out the Broncos and Storm haha

Most Warriors fans would know that he's contracted until the end of 2012 but has chosen to step down at seasons end, most likely because of the inconsistency of the team this year. Personally, as a keen Warriors supporter, I think it's a good move for the Warriors and for Cleary himself. He'd probably be feeling burnt out with the club and a fresh start might do him some good. The players need a good kick up the backside and I reckon they'll get just that if they appoint Brian McClennan as head coach. I'm grateful and I'm sure the club is grateful for Cleary helping them get to the finals but we need to be a serious threat in the comp and win a grand final. Rugby League in NZ needs this and cant rely on just the international team to win the odd couple of international games. Whats your view Warriors fan or not.

If you're not aware, he and I had a lil side bet going on that if Aus beat NZ which they did, I'd have to change my profile pic to Kurt Gidley and my name to anything of his choice, which was 'I ADMIRE AUSTRALIA', too which I swallowed my pride and done like a real man.

As of last week, I put the challenge to him that if the Warriors won he'd have to change his name and pic to that of my choice and vice versa. He also added to this particular bet that if your team lost, you'd have to post a question stating why the opposite country and team are the best. Warriors indeed won and I've stated that he is too change his pic to 'Michael Luck' and his name to 'Warriors11'. I've not seen a question of any sort nor have I seen Michael Luck floating around.

Could yahoos most knowledgeable rugby league / knights fanatic have chickened out? I wonder....

Wheres all the suckers that assumed he'd go back to Brisbane now? I'm tellin ya, he's keen on the warriors, not some fat moron dishin out a bit of his daily lunch money. Where do you see him after this?

http://www.nrl.com/broncos-to-retain-griffin-as-co...

People are saying he's going to the broncos so he can get them into the finals again and its where his family are and Darren Lockyer can be his apprentice and what not. Souths and Newcastle have the idea that they'll throw money at him and he'll follow, not so boys. As you can see it never worked for the dragons.

I reckon he'll surprise the lot of us and either go to the cowboys or hopefully the warriors. The warriors would benefit from having a coach who the players would give a higher level of respect to. The stars are in Auckland but just haven't got the right coach in my opinion that will take them to and win their first grand final. St George are pretty much a team of nobodys that have become somebodys because of the way they're coached. He helped us get the World Cup and he can help us win a premiership, which would be more satisfying to him than money.

Sorry Ivan but good enough is just not good enough anymore.

If you seen the Eels Warriors game or heard about Manu getting injured, he got the ball 10-15m out from the try line and his opposite number chopped his leg out from the front/side hitting his knee causing ligament damage which will see him out of action for at least 7 weeks. I like everyone else is sick of Manu getting injured but this is different as the eels player purposely went for his knees instead of trying to tackle him properly around the legs. It's no different to a shoulder charge or grapple tackles. The NRL has just lost another star to injury because nothing has been done about this.

For those who do watch it, who would you have picked to represent the NRL for the Rexona Greatest Athlete Series. Not that Gidley's doing bad, he's just doing sh!t, especially if a V8 driver is doing better than him on the ranking.

When I look at the guy, he just looks in awe of the great athletes around him and it looks to me like the pressures impact on his performance, very similar to his representative performances. And i'm not havin a dig at newcastle knights or fans but he thinks he is the best in amongst the knights team which is why he performs well at that level.

I will let you know who I think after I give the BA, cheers.

What are your thoughts on the concept of having the usual SOO series between QLD and NSW and the winner of the series playing the NZ Kiwi team? Just a one off match after the series and therefore it doesn't include NZ in the SOO series itself that has just been the same two rivals as it should be.

I dont think it would be a bad idea considering the current side QLD fields, most of them representing Aus anyway. And at least its one more rep game to add to the season.

Perhaps raising and contributing funds to a charity to win some of you over on the concept?

If I could choose the kiwi team for this weeks game it would look like this.

1. Lance Hohaia - the lil huntley hurricane

2. Jason Nightingale

3. Junior Sau - best I've seen him play all year

4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall - would love to see him play on Inglis, but it wasn't to be

5. Sam Perrett - a solid performer who will carve up with some 25m scoots

6. Benji Marshall - first game I've watched and he's actually performed well

7. Nathan Fien

8. Frank Paul-Nuuausala - would prefer him running hard onto it like a prop, his 2nd half runs were dominant compared to his 1st half

9. Issac Luke - must start as he didn't come out firing like he did a couple of years ago off the bench

10. Greg Eastwood - wasn't a fan of him at prop but who else will smash em?

11. Simon Mannering

12. Bronson Harrison

13. Jeremy Smith - what a mongrel, the english forwards cowered to this man

14. Thomas Leuluai - definitely worthy of starting, has become an outstanding player

15. Frank Pritchard - Dynamite of the bench

16. Adam Blair - hasn't played too well all year, at international level I reckon he gets a bit sloppy in defence, misses tackles and gives away penalties

17. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - why wouldn't you utilise this guys size and aggression against a massive pommy pack. He would have taken over the hard-hitting when Eastwood is given a break

Matulino - like I've said is just not worth watching, it's even worse that he plays for the warriors. Would have preferred big Russ Packer in the kiwi squad as he's a hardworker.

A sloppy performance from what is supposed to be one of the strongest NZ teams will not be granted the least bit of leniency from a team like the aussies.

I just read an article stating that Adam 'Mad Dog' MacDougall aged 35 will play on for another year for the knights.

So I ask myself,

1) When is it the right time to retire?

2) Has he made a big enough impact since he's been back in the NRL? I think not but thats just me.

3) Is it selfish of him as there are plenty of talented youngsters looking for that one break?

4) Is there a lack of talent in certain clubs that can fulfill these positions?

5) Do your thoughts differ between older backs and older forwards? For example, most people would more than likely be accepting of Steve Price playing out another year than what they would MacDougall. Menzies recently scored himself a contract in France, but he's a quality forward around 35.

Finally a decent rugby league question is here.

It may have been asked before but I'm not sure, anyways....

How would you rate the Carney/Pearce combination of late? I don't wanna look too far ahead but if these two keep playing with the confidence they have been, could this be our possible NSW halves combination? ATM these two are owning the field and playing without any hesitation whatsoever which is what you'd normally see in a Lockyer/Thurston combination which is why they dominate their opposition. What are your thoughts?

QLD:

The Good - Qld team in general, massive effort by David Shillington (much respect from a NSW fan)

The Bad - Nate Myles being concussed, which is a loss for QLD

The Ugly - 1) they acted like animals every time a NSW player would tackle them, which would lead to scuffles.

2) Sam Thaiday. A great player but every time a fight broke out he'd come in and make it worse. I'm no racist but he's not helping the cause against how aborigines are stereotyped. A few of them acted like it was them against a NSW white supremacy side.

3) They pretty much advertised Folau for the AFL. The AFL chief would have been rubbin his hands together with dollar signs in his eyes. Yes QLD won but rugby league lost by letting him play.

NSW:

The Good: Cooper made more tackles than most the forwards and Barrett in my opinion played well. It was good to see Gallen in there bringin back the biff, best on field if you ask me.

The Bad: The team as a whole. In particular their captain & monaghan.

The Ugly: 1) The tackle from Luke O'Donnell but good on him for punching on when he was mobbed.

2) The build up week for NSW involving that attention seeking dog Tahu who decides to discuss the issue with the media as opposed to sorting it out privately with his supposed friend Johns and supposed friend in his NSW captain

3) The irony in the fact that Inglis scored a try where Tahu should have been as his replacement rushed out of the line and got owned.

Whats your Good, Bad & Ugly points of the night?

Your call yahoo league fanatics. These are my answers.

NSW Blues:

- Player QLD will target: Kurt Gidley

- Player who will crumble: Josh Perry

- Player who will step up to origin level: Matt Cooper

- Player who can turn the game around: Jarryd Hayne

- Dirtiest Player on the night: Brett White

- Man of the Match should NSW win: Brett Kimmorley

QLD Maroons:

- Player NSW will target: Darren Lockyer

- Player who will crumble: Matt Ballin

- Player who will step up to origin level: Nate Myles

- Player who can turn the game around: Johnathan Thurston

- Dirtiest Player on the night: Sam Thaiday

- Man of the Match should QLD win: Billy Slater

- Game 1 Winner: NSW

- Pts Margin: 10

I've had a look at all the different teams people have posted and the experts' line-ups so I thought I'd save mine for the last week before selections, feel free to rate it and dont hold back.

1. Jarryd Hayne - Can inject himself more from this position and set-up tries for the backs

2. Michael Jennings - renowned speedster who played well last year for the blues

3. Jamie Lyon - creative ball player with a speedster on the outside will be dangerous

4. Matt Cooper - defense and attack genius. One half of a dynamic duo

5. Brett Morris - Try scoring machine, height, strength, other half of dynamic duo

6. Terry Campese - will succeed with Kimmorley

7. Brett Kimmorley (c) - maturity still goes a long way for some

8. Michael Weyman - solid player

9. Robbie Farah - Ennis and his bulldog connection, what has it done for them lately?

10. Kade Snowden - solid workhorse, I'd pick him over Perry anyday

11. Ben Creagh - don't let his running from a fight incident misguide you about his line running

12. Anthony Watmough - animal who will lift and provide opportunites for those who follow

13. Luke Lewis - Consistant footballer who gets the job done

14. Kurt Gidley - injection from the bench. His attacking flare can be devasting to QLD

15. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs - Powerhouse forward to keep laying the platform

16. Paul Gallen - If he can make the Aussie team, he'll make the NSW one

17. Brett White - Cheeky mofo who lives for origin. Guarantee he's up for a fight if one should occur

18. Forward: Glenn Stewart - Creative ball running backrower who can also be a damaging prop

18. Back: Todd Carney - can be dynamite

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl/news/article/-/7205...

I could see that team being quite a dominant one especially with Cooper and Lyon in the centres and the strong bench. Would still prefer to see Farah in over Ennis but it would work both ways. I'd give that team a rating of 8/10 with a 2-1 SOO series win to NSW.

Ok we haven't had one of these in a while so I thought I'd put it out there.

Who would win in a FIGHT and why?

1) B Slater v K Gidley

2) B Morris v J Morris

3) M Cooper v J Hodges

4) T Tahu v J Idris

5) T-Rex Williams v The Beast Vatuvei

6) B Marshall v D Lockyer

7) B Kimmorley v M Orford

8) A Blair v S Rapira

9) R Farah v M Ennis

10) F Moi Moi v J Lima

11) A Watmough v M Crocker

12) J Waerea-Hargreaves v S Thaiday

13) J Smith v P Gallen

14) L Hohaia v B Barba

15) S Burgess v D Taylor

16) B Hannant v B White

17) B Cross v J Hickey

18) S Matai v B Creagh

Coach: C Bellamy v I Henjak

Luke Lewis...Can he be the next ideal captain for NSW? I have said in a previous question if any of you remember that he'd be a great option for the captaincy. He's been around long enough to know the game at it's different levels being NRL, SOO and International, and he'll be around for years to come. He's the quiet achiever that gets the job done and I'm sure other players respect him also.

http://www.nrl.com/news/news/newsarticle/tabid/108...

What are your opinions about Soward possibly playing halfback for NSW? It's probably been asked before but I haven't seen it. In my opinion, I reckon he should be put in as he definitely has the talent and the passion for the game. Noddy will retire soon and no one is a certainty for this position. I reckon if they(NSW) put all their efforts and trust into Soward, then he'd eventually pay dividends as Thurston has. And how about the possibility of a Soward/Hornby combination for NSW?