NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:58 am  

Wow !!! What a game! That's how a referee needs to ref a game! No more to say!

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:00 am  

It’s tough to think of a better game I’ve seen.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:54 am  

I know there's some high quality individuals at the top end of SL but watching that game makes me wonder how some English players go over there and thrive. Also makes me wonder how England even compete at all with the Southern Hemisphere nations. Looks a completely different pace and intensity. The difference in ruck speed is incredible.

Also feels like NRL teams are full of hybrid athletes. Outside backs are not just quick and skilful but powerful too. Adds weight to the argument that the likes of French and Field are much better off in Super League where their pace and agility can thrive.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:57 am  

Incredible game, it was like watching a different sport to this weekend's SL play-offs.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 12:05 pm  

I’m normally of the opinion that NRL particularly the top level matches are a notch above anything over here in terms of intensity and tension but at times it can get a little robotic, today was brilliant though, the second half had it all and Cleary stood up in the last half and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, brilliant from him.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 12:26 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

I’m normally of the opinion that NRL particularly the top level matches are a notch above anything over here in terms of intensity and tension but at times it can get a little robotic, today was brilliant though, the second half had it all and Cleary stood up in the last half and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, brilliant from him.

I’ve seen some amazing individual performances over the years but that last 20 mins by Cleary may have been the best. He recovered from a defensive nightmare against Mam and put the Penrith side on his back. It’ll go down in history and be spoke of for decades.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:31 pm  

It doesn't half help playing on a firm pitch in good weather. We shoot ourselves in the foot having our showcase games so late when the weather has changed and 9 times out of 10 we play on a heavy pitch in the rain.

Can we not bring the season forward a month and have the final at the beginning of September when there is a chance the weather is still nice.

Surely having dry weather for the biggest games helps entice new supporters watching for the first time rather than the usual 1 out grinds we get most years

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:33 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Incredible game, it was like watching a different sport to this weekend's SL play-offs.

down to the refs, he let it flow, there were loads of tackles that in SL they would penalise and the ref let them go, led to a great game

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:02 pm  

Pieman wrote:

down to the refs, he let it flow, there were loads of tackles that in SL they would penalise and the ref let them go, led to a great game

Can't remember who did it, but the shoulder to the head late on in the game (the Penrith guy kicked off about it) would have been a yellow, maybe red over here.

Re: NRL Grandfinal : Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:10 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’ve seen some amazing individual performances over the years but that last 20 mins by Cleary may have been the best. He recovered from a defensive nightmare against Mam and put the Penrith side on his back. It’ll go down in history and be spoke of for decades.

Cleary, in my view, is one of the greats.