Official NRL 2014 Thread - Souths winners by default

[Candy Arse]

OK boys, so we're all getting behind Souths tonight, right?

[Madmya]

Hells yes. I'd like to see T'eo win. A good player, personality and a big loss to the game. Unfortunately too much of a liability suspension-wise.

Broncos by 14, Panthers by 14, Souths by 14.

[pilonv1]

OK boys, so we're all getting behind Souths tonight, right?

Only someone with no moral compass would support the Dogs

[Candy Arse]

This is one of the rare times where we're all backing the same team.

Must take a special group of grubs to do that....!

[pilonv1]

Hoping the Warriors can win the U/20s too

[Madmya]

Warriors will surely fade at the back end in this heat.

[pilonv1]

lol Dogs

[Candy Arse]

Not the best GF but still pretty special considering Souths have finally broke their drought, and the Bulldogs got killed in the back end which was great.

The emotion shown by all involved reminds me of when Newcastle won in 97.

Shit season, wonderful end.

[mxlegend99]

Great end to the game. The team who had no right being there is pumped hard to prove they were never a chance.

The only team who could challenge Souths was Roosters. Panthers and Manly at full strength would be a better competitor then Bulldogs, but they scraped in against depleted sides and got blown off the park against a near full strength team.

I was feeling pretty pumped for the Bunnies tonight. the tears from the players fired me up. Such a huge moment for them.

[Madmya]

Bullshit, Cowboys beat Souths twice this season.

[Madmya]

Not surprising you omitted the cowboys.. UP THE PRIDE!

[Peppermint Lounge]

Great story. Suburban Sydney club forced out by Super League, takes on News Corp to be readmitted to the league they established with other foundation clubs over 100 years ago, now 2014 premiers.

[mxlegend99]

Bullshit, Cowboys beat Souths twice this season.

You can't beat them i(or give them a run for their money) n a grand final when there was no way possible for you to have met them there. Cowboys could only ever meet them in week 3. Unless Souths had lost to Manly in week 1, which was never going to happen with the injury depleted and beaten up Sea Eagles side that played in the finals.

The only teams who could have met them there and given them a run for their money were Roosters, Panthers and Sea Eagles at full strength. Souths still win against any of them IMO, but atleast those sides at full strength have some points in them unlike the Bulldogs. There was no chance the Souths could lose that game to them... it required them scoring more then 7 points in a second half. Something they haven't done in like 3 months.

[cloud]

What a cracker of a day! Was spewing about Brisbane then i thought Pride was done for then a late charge at the end sealed it!

So happy for Souths to win it!

[stanard]

Hayne quits for NFL! Wowsers.

[Madmya]

Sad news for the game. It's a big risk, I hope it goes well for him.

On the bright side, Parra are fucked and NSW are very unlikely to retain the Origin shield.

[Candy Arse]

Huge news and a blow to the sport.

[Candy Arse]

P.S he's got no chance of getting off a practice squad in any skill position. At best maybe special teams....maybe.

[Madmya]

I saw someone mention kick returner... that's got to be the sensible option. I'd love to see him have a go at that too.

[Candy Arse]

I can't imagine he's going over there just to be some special teams dude. It's not like some AFL player who naturally translates into a punter. Hayne can run, he's built to be a running back but he then has to learn how an NFL offense works having not played at a collegiate level.

The big story is that he's left, not that he's going to the NFL because he won't go there and become Walter Payton.

[Madmya]

You're right, but he wouldn't start as anything other than a kick returner this season (that's if he gets any kind of game whatsoever).

He could have been a legend in our game. The game won't remember Israel Folau in 50 years.

[pilonv1]

Sounds more like a personal challenge than anything. Assuming he doesn't make it through camp and/or wont sit on the pracitce squad he should be back for 2016

[mxlegend99]

I hope he succeeds, but it will be extremely unlikely. Huge risk for him. His leaving the Four Nations has earned Matt Moylan a spot in the team.

We can easily name a 17 man squad of players who are unavailable and could win the Four Nations with ease.

1. Slater
2. Morris
3. Morris
4. Hodges
5. Boyd
6. Hayne
7. Thurston
8. Scott
9. Friend
10. Myles
11. Lewis
12. Watmough
13. Gallen

14. Fifita
15. Merrin
16. Gillett
17. Tamou

That's not even the entire list of players unavailable. The first choice back 3, one of the first choice halves. Our top 5 front row options. Aswell as players well and truly up the pecking order ahead of guys like Mata'utia, Moylan, Woods, Walker, Johnston etc. who are all promising players, but would probably have been lucky to even be mentioned for a spot in the team had all our players been available.

[Madmya]

That is insane... sad too. Man league has copped it in some respects this year. Otherwise it's been a bumper year in terms of Origin and the comp. The loss of Burgess, Williams and Hayne sucks. Arguably the three best players from each nation.

[Candy Arse]

Couldn't disagree with you any more about it being a bumper year - the comp was largely mediocre with a lot of poor to average teams contending for spots upwards of the top 4.

That Canterbury made the Grand Final tells you how poor the competition has been. Crowds have been garbage, most noticeably in the finals. How did Souths/Easts not sell out?????