State of Origin, 2025.

[MW66]

I like the no 11 for NSW ,,ofcourse he is signed with the Rorters along with another 50 mates

Halangahu? Pretty sure he is signed long term at the Dragons.

 

[Highflier]

Halangahu? Pretty sure he is signed long term at the Dragons.

thats him ,you might be right re Dragons ,I thought it was rorters ,anyways if he we could get our recruiters out of the physical therapy room at the Moran Retirement Village we might be able to jag a few of these up and commers

 

[HoldenV8]

There are only three Australian NRL clubs without a representative in the Under 19s match:
Souffs, 'Boys and us. Reinforces how insignificent the once great Manly club is now.
Quite a shock that Souffs are also unrepresented; they are normally well stocked with young talent.
What out Melbourne? It has Five players in the two teams. Wow. That's how a professional outfit should be run.

That Melbourne comment would be OK if it was home grown Victorian talent.....but none of it is.

After 26 years, the Storm still don't have a viable junior system in Melbourne and will never be forced to because having a successful NRL team in the heart of the AFL is "good for business".....not to mention bragging rights.

If they had to rely largely on "local" juniors, the Storm would barely get out of the bottom 4 even with Bellyache.

All of their juniors are from Qld Cup clubs Easts Tigers and Sunshine Coast Falcons.

 

[The Who]

That Melbourne comment would be OK if it was home grown Victorian talent.....but none of it is.

After 26 years, the Storm still don't have a viable junior system in Melbourne and will never be forced to because having a successful NRL team in the heart of the AFL is "good for business".....not to mention bragging rights.

If they had to rely largely on "local" juniors, the Storm would barely get out of the bottom 4 even with Bellyache.

All of their juniors are from Qld Cup clubs Easts Tigers and Sunshine Coast Falcons.

This is true, and it's continuing, even though it reckons its developing Victorian talent:

Melbourne Storm is shifting its player development focus away from Queensland and towards establishing a stronger pathway system within Victoria. While maintaining ties with Queensland through feeder clubs like the Sunshine Coast Falcons, the club is investing heavily in developing local Victorian talent through programs like "Road to AAMI Park" and an expanded academy system according to News.com.au. This shift is partly driven by the desire to increase the number of Victorian players in the Storm's NRL squad and to address the historical underrepresentation of local talent.

Here's a more detailed look:

• Focus on Victorian Talent:
  The Storm is actively building a pathway system within Victoria to nurture local talent from a young age. This includes programs like "Road to AAMI Park", which aims to provide a clear pathway for Victorian players to reach the NRL.
  
  
• Increased Investment in Junior Programs:
  The club is investing in its Harold Matthews (under-17), SG Ball (under-19), and Jersey Flegg (under-21) teams, with a goal of increasing the number of Victorian players in these squads.
  
  
• Feeder Clubs in NSW and Queensland:
  The Storm will continue to utilize its partnerships with the Sunshine Coast Falcons (Queensland Cup) and the North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup) as feeder clubs, providing opportunities for players to develop at a higher level.
  
  
• Maintaining Queensland Connections:
  The Storm acknowledges the significant contribution of Queensland players to their history and will maintain its connection with the region through its existing recruitment programs and potential new partnerships according to Yahoo.
  
  
• Addressing Underrepresentation:
  The club recognizes that only a small percentage of their players have come from Victoria in the past and is aiming to rectify this by investing in local talent development says Zero Tackle.
  

 

[HoldenV8]

This is true, and it's continuing, even though it reckons its developing Victorian talent:

Melbourne Storm is shifting its player development focus away from Queensland and towards establishing a stronger pathway system within Victoria. While maintaining ties with Queensland through feeder clubs like the Sunshine Coast Falcons, the club is investing heavily in developing local Victorian talent through programs like "Road to AAMI Park" and an expanded academy system according to News.com.au. This shift is partly driven by the desire to increase the number of Victorian players in the Storm's NRL squad and to address the historical underrepresentation of local talent.

Here's a more detailed look:

• Focus on Victorian Talent:
  The Storm is actively building a pathway system within Victoria to nurture local talent from a young age. This includes programs like "Road to AAMI Park", which aims to provide a clear pathway for Victorian players to reach the NRL.
  
  
• Increased Investment in Junior Programs:
  The club is investing in its Harold Matthews (under-17), SG Ball (under-19), and Jersey Flegg (under-21) teams, with a goal of increasing the number of Victorian players in these squads.
  
  
• Feeder Clubs in NSW and Queensland:
  The Storm will continue to utilize its partnerships with the Sunshine Coast Falcons (Queensland Cup) and the North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup) as feeder clubs, providing opportunities for players to develop at a higher level.
  
  
• Maintaining Queensland Connections:
  The Storm acknowledges the significant contribution of Queensland players to their history and will maintain its connection with the region through its existing recruitment programs and potential new partnerships according to Yahoo.
  
  
• Addressing Underrepresentation:
  The club recognizes that only a small percentage of their players have come from Victoria in the past and is aiming to rectify this by investing in local talent development says Zero Tackle.

I'll believe it when I see it. Until then......

 

[The '47ers]

Daughter of Blues icon to sing national anthem at Game 3 - NRL News - Zero Tackle Daughter of Blues icon to sing national anthem at Game 3

 

[jbb/james]

As a NSW supporter i hope dearden gets a small injury and they put DCE back in.
As a manly supporter too

 

[manlyfan76]

Game 3, still no Mmly players.

Who wins?

 

[The '47ers]

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Game 3, still no Mmly players.

Who wins?

Manly

 

[globaleagle]

The decider is 12 or so hours away....

Ya can just feel the excitement in this thread!!!

-cue grumpy boomers-

lulz

go the blues

 

[The '47ers]

 

[Brookie1973]

The decider is 12 or so hours away....

Ya can just feel the excitement in this thread!!!

-cue grumpy boomers-

lulz

go the blues

Better than bumpy groomers.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

For State of Origin 1 I was in a place called “ the Painted Desert “ in SA, absolute middle of nowhere ( thank goodness for Starlink ) , State of Origin 2 I was in Cameron Corner , right on the state lines for NSW/QLD/SA, again a very remote spot.

Tonight , at home.

Well , at least it’ll be warmer.

Go the Blues

 

[Harmless27]

This is true, and it's continuing, even though it reckons its developing Victorian talent:

Melbourne Storm is shifting its player development focus away from Queensland and towards establishing a stronger pathway system within Victoria. While maintaining ties with Queensland through feeder clubs like the Sunshine Coast Falcons, the club is investing heavily in developing local Victorian talent through programs like "Road to AAMI Park" and an expanded academy system according to News.com.au. This shift is partly driven by the desire to increase the number of Victorian players in the Storm's NRL squad and to address the historical underrepresentation of local talent.

Here's a more detailed look:

• Focus on Victorian Talent:
  The Storm is actively building a pathway system within Victoria to nurture local talent from a young age. This includes programs like "Road to AAMI Park", which aims to provide a clear pathway for Victorian players to reach the NRL.
  
  
• Increased Investment in Junior Programs:
  The club is investing in its Harold Matthews (under-17), SG Ball (under-19), and Jersey Flegg (under-21) teams, with a goal of increasing the number of Victorian players in these squads.
  
  
• Feeder Clubs in NSW and Queensland:
  The Storm will continue to utilize its partnerships with the Sunshine Coast Falcons (Queensland Cup) and the North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup) as feeder clubs, providing opportunities for players to develop at a higher level.
  
  
• Maintaining Queensland Connections:
  The Storm acknowledges the significant contribution of Queensland players to their history and will maintain its connection with the region through its existing recruitment programs and potential new partnerships according to Yahoo.
  
  
• Addressing Underrepresentation:
  The club recognizes that only a small percentage of their players have come from Victoria in the past and is aiming to rectify this by investing in local talent development says Zero Tackle.

There is no doubt that there is local presence down here trying to foster local talent in Rugby League.

There is a really strong NZ and Islander population here too which have a natural love of the game (these communities have provided most of the 'home grown' talent in recent years)

It somewhat surprises me that we haven't seen more locals take up wing positions etc (lets be real, the overhead catching ability in AFL 'contests' is streets ahead of NRL and Rugby Union)... but who knows, maybe one day in future

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Go the Blues

 

[manlyfan76]

Is it today?

 

[TJ55]

Seeing this triumphant Blues story when we won our first series under the leadership of the legendary Steve Mortimer has got me even more pumped for tonight. Up the Blues time to smash these cane toads

 

[wedgetail eagle]

View attachment 30674

Jeez, I hate these things.😁
I have a shovel for fishing them out of the pool.
Terminate with extreme prejudice.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Jeez, I hate these things.😁
I have a shovel for fishing them out of the pool.
Terminate with extreme prejudice.

Yeah they cop the shovel in my backyard, and there’s always heaps of them .