Toughest preseason ever 2020

[sprintman]

Why isn’t Williams here getting used to the heat?

He was out here for the Lions tour.... and he is entitled to annual leave. And once he gets here, there won’t be any chance for a break. Plus the Raiders will want to give him a chance to have Christmas with his family, which is a compassionate thing to do.

That doesn’t answer the question. He should be here acclimatising, if not actually training.

Players have to have 6 weeks off , part of the player agreement

GB toured finished on the 16th of November.

He isn't due back until the New Year.

We know that. He should still be here acclimatising.

[greeneyed]

I think it is a bit tough, expecting an English player not to have Christmas with their family in England...

If they choose to come fine... I see Elliott Whitehead has gone to Fiji and went to England earlier in December... John Bateman in England. But it should be their choice.

[Ilanraiders]

Why isn’t Williams here getting used to the heat?

He was out here for the Lions tour.... and he is entitled to annual leave. And once he gets here, there won’t be any chance for a break. Plus the Raiders will want to give him a chance to have Christmas with his family, which is a compassionate thing to do.

That doesn’t answer the question. He should be here acclimatising, if not actually training.

Players have to have 6 weeks off , part of the player agreement

GB toured finished on the 16th of November.

He isn't due back until the New Year.

We know that. He should still be here acclimatising.

He didn’t play much games on the GB tour... Sam Williams to start the season!

[BadnMean]

He was out here for the Lions tour.... and he is entitled to annual leave. And once he gets here, there won’t be any chance for a break. Plus the Raiders will want to give him a chance to have Christmas with his family, which is a compassionate thing to do.

That doesn’t answer the question. He should be here acclimatising, if not actually training.

Players have to have 6 weeks off , part of the player agreement

GB toured finished on the 16th of November.

He isn't due back until the New Year.

We know that. He should still be here acclimatising.

He didn’t play much games on the GB tour... Sam Williams to start the season!

He had to spend 6 weeks in close proximity to Wayne Bennett, whilst he repeatedly picked Hastings in his spot. And then watch Hastings play. God knows I was sick of league after that.

Mental health break well earned.

[gangrenous]

[greeneyed]

NRL Power rankings: Rating the best spines in the comp going into 2020

3. RAIDERS

Predicted spine: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 9. Josh Hodgson

Analysis: The Raiders fell agonisingly short of a premiership in 2019 and have largely retained their spine, with the exception of halfback Aidan Sezer. George Williams’ arrival from the UK forced Sezer to move to Huddersfield. It will take time for Williams to strike up a combination with Jack Wighton in the halves, but the Raiders’ five-eighth continues to get better and better.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 41e6593586

[gangrenous]

Rated worst spine going into 2019, one change and Bam! 3rd

[The Nickman]

Rated worst spine going into 2019, one change and Bam! 3rd

Can’t wait to finish tenth!

[gangrenous]

........

[Botman]

Wait, but arent we doing beards?

[Sid]

Rated worst spine going into 2019, one change and Bam! 3rd

Who did these rankings... afgjlmnop?! Sezer wasn’t that bad!

[-TW-]

Rated worst spine going into 2019, one change and Bam! 3rd

Can’t wait to finish tenth!

It's funny but it's true

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk

[Seiffert82]

Can't remember a season with so many clubs having untested players in the spine. Most clubs have one or two genuine question marks.

Almost impossible to rank most of those lineups.... But the likes of Penrith and Cronulla should be bitterly disappointed if their spines end up bottom of the pack.

[Northern Raider]

Rated worst spine going into 2019, one change and Bam! 3rd

Have to dig up the article but I think it was based on:

1. Wighton
6. Sezer
7. Williams
9. Hodgson

It did look pretty ordinary at the time. Wighton had only just started to look like a quality fullback before being stood down. Sezer was nothing special and Williams is a backup half. Only Hodgo was top class.

[gangrenous]

Ah true, they probably did base it on that! So more than just the one change.

Suspect that the lineup that eventuated probably would have got the same rating though.

[Northern Raider]

Ah true, they probably did base it on that! So more than just the one change.

Suspect that the lineup that eventuated probably would have got the same rating though.

Yeah, probably. Wighton unproven as a half and CNK a candidate for Pigman's "Who the **** is this ****".

[BadnMean]

Interesting that the top 3 spines from last year (in practice, not in their predictions) are the top ranked 3 this year but all have a change.

Roosters should be weaker. Flanagan can play but he's no Cronk. Friend is steady but not a world beater. Teddy and Keary are outstanding. Potentially weaker than last year.

Melbourne have Jarome Hughes in there. He's earnest but I don't rate him, bit out of his depth imo. Papenhuyzen is exciting and should be even better this year- he's an x factor Melbourne really need firing. Smith is losing his influence a bit. We'll see if he can drag it back or if he just gets in everyones way trying to play hooker and half together. Munster is hit or miss. I guess like Jack can be but in some ways his floor is lower. First time in a while I can say I just don't know what I'm going to get from the Melbourne spine. On paper, they look excellent. In practice, they were all a bit pants at times last year.

Raiders should be better. Hodgo had a good year and still near his peak. Jack showed a lot of development positionally and as a person in just a single year and rose in his Origin appearances. Last years level was great, mostly. Same but more consistent would be amazing. I suspect his passing will adjust too. CNK will be known this time but how do you counter pure heart with strategy? Try bash him? His footwork is varied so its not like you can figure out his step and go like Austin. I think he'll be good again + ballpark is developing. GWilly is the wildcard. If he goes well (and anything better than "steady" outshines what Sezer bought overall) then we have what looks like the most improved/least weakened spine in the top 3...

[gangrenous]

CNK will be known this time but how do you counter pure heart with strategy? Try bash him?

I think that’s exactly the strategy teams were adopting towards the end of last year, it looked like it was having an impact too.

I think Ricky and CNK may have to be strategic in how he uses his brave as guts moves this year. Which will probably make him not as appealing viewing as a fan, but might mean he holds up better into the finals.

[-PJ-]

It will be very interesting to see where the"experts" have us finishing on the ladder.

I'm expecting plenty of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

And if I'm not hearing that they all need shooting..

[BadnMean]

CNK will be known this time but how do you counter pure heart with strategy? Try bash him?

I think that’s exactly the strategy teams were adopting towards the end of last year, it looked like it was having an impact too.

I think Ricky and CNK may have to be strategic in how he uses his brave as guts moves this year. Which will probably make him not as appealing viewing as a fan, but might mean he holds up better into the finals.

Yeah, I put his fatigue looking also partly down to that being his first full season of FG too though. Big difference playing FB fully time week in vs cameos on the wing here or there. I think telling him to dish off a kick return or two each game to Cotric especially would be good for both players though.

Bashing CNK expends a lot for minimal returns though. He's shown he can't be bashed out of a game and crack up. And we don't rely on running large parts of our attack through him either unlike some other teams FBs.

If it does start to wear him down since he'll be a target from R1 this year I just think he gets one extra week off when he has a niggle somewhere mid/late season.

[greeneyed]

Every NRL club's new year wishes for 2020

Canberra Raiders

In 1988, a young rugby player named Richard John Stuart took the Canberra Raiders’ No.7 jersey off Ivan Henjak, despite the latter being the playmaker in the club’s 1987 grand final loss to the Sea Eagles.

Englishman George Williams will replace Aidan Sezer as halfback in 2020 and now-coach Stuart is hoping that he proves to be the final piece in the puzzle that is necessary to take the Raiders back to premiership glory.

Read more: https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/01/01/e ... -for-2020/

[greeneyed]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

[Azza]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

[greeneyed]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

Yes. A journalist's prediction.

[gangrenous]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

Pretty sure they said no to all of that, not just the highlighted bit

[BadnMean]

I think Jordy is only allowed back if he punches a japanese bouncer whilst riding a scooter blind drunk down the road.

[Azza]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

Yes. A journalist's prediction.

Seems like a pretty dumb prediction then, Steven.

[-PJ-]

The TAB has the Raiders at $7-00 to win the 2020 premiership.

Rooters $4
Storm $6
Raiders $7

Early doors...

[greeneyed]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

Yes. A journalist's prediction.

Seems like a pretty dumb prediction then, Steven.

Well we are talking about the NRL. Don't expect them to be consistent. Just because they say one thing one week... don't expect them to say the same thing in five months time.
Seems like a pretty dumb prediction then, Steven.

[Azza]

Crystal ball: What does 2020 hold in store for the Canberra Raiders?

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders will avenge their NRL grand final defeat and end a 26-year premiership drought. George Williams takes some time to settle in, while Jordan Rapana returns to the Raiders after his season is done in Japanese union and Jarrod Croker gets his Blues debut.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... e-in-2020/

Didn't the NRL say no to this?

Yes. A journalist's prediction.

Seems like a pretty dumb prediction then, Steven.

Well we are talking about the NRL. Don't expect them to be consistent. Just because they say one thing one week... don't expect them to say the same thing in five months time.
Seems like a pretty dumb prediction then, Steven.

True. PS please use the quote function appropriately.

[greeneyed]

But I have...

[Azza]

Doesn't look like it to me, brudder.

[greeneyed]

Looks like it to me...

[Azza]

Should have gone to specsavers

[greeneyed]

Nope I'm good.