Waratahs v Chiefs - Friday 11 April 2025

[Major Tom]

Since the game has ended I’ve switched to broncos v roosters. Such a boring game to go to watching, overly basic, so predictable and just lacking that drama union has.

Said it a million times but league love to say how union kick the ball too much and there’s players lying on each yada yada yada but you get far better end to end entertainment than you do in league.

 

[stillmissit]

Walton also appears to talk a lot on the field, I think that helps a lot with the overall structure in defence

I was also shocked at how well Kellaway defended

Motivation and focus FP it works wonders. I thought the plan not to compete in the Lineout could have cost them in the end.

 

[Derpus]

One of the great unsung heroes on here was Lawson Creighton. I thought his D and kicking around the ground were excellent. A couple of hits on Dmac were telling.
Horror of horrors, I agree with Derpus. Either Taniella Tupoa lifts his game, or he might be playing club rugby soon.

It can take a while but eventually everyone sees the light.

 

[Dctarget]

Also hope the Rebels haters enjoyed the efforts of Kellaway and Dobbins last night.

 

[stillmissit]

I thought Dobbins was knackered by the end of the first half, good effort for the time he could play . Kellaway had one of the best outings he's had in a while.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

One of my neighbours, who is a Kiwi with pretty good connections, told me that it was pretty obvious to him that DMac just never got into the game "and when he is in that mood he should be hooked".

Was thinking the same thing. He has form for it and although not often, when it does happen, he drops everything.

 

[rod skellet]

Lawson creighton*

Apologies. Rookie error.

 

[HogansHeros]

People were saying his scrummaging makes up for it, pretty sure his first scrum he went backwards. (May have been LHP) couldn't tell on the broadcast. But it wasn't like he came on and dominated the scrum (granted a lot was with only 7 men) .

Agreed. Would love to see him straighten up in the scrum. Gotta go forward first, he is always attacking their hooker, at his size he should be going through most loosies.

 

[Heavyd]

What an atmosphere for the 14k there last night. I headed out with not to much hope but as the beers kicked in we were treated to a classic. The NSW chant was one for the ages. The jubilation will continue for a few days as I watch that try 200 times.

Now I want answers, answers from Super Rugby officialdom about the farcical refereeing and TMO. What is their take on the match officials performance and what will be the consequences? 18-4 penalties, no probs with the first disallowed try as was a clear knock on. But the TMO ruling no try on the other had everyone at the ground apoplectic. Sualli head shot only beinging yellow. Sure NSW hung on for a win for the ages, but a loss here would have been as a direct result of match officials misjudgements. It’s not good enough.

 

[Dctarget]

Really felt like the ref was evening it out at the end by not penalising the Tahs during their mammoth defensive efforts at the end of the game.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Said it a million times but league love to say how union kick the ball too much and there’s players lying on each yada yada yada but you get far better end to end entertainment than you do in league.

When Rugby is good it’s great but when it’s a bit off far out it’s a bad product and as we saw last night whilst thrilling had the ref steal the show.

Rugby should just worry about itself. The NRL is doing fine and don’t care about Rugby at all.

 

[Major Tom]

Wrong thread for this but I reckon rugby league will be in trouble when people wake up to the fact that it’s morphed into a sport of one body shape and pretty much no contest for the ball. AFL and Union are games that make far more sense to me. About the only thing league has got going for it is it’s a simple AF game to explain to the masses.

 

[wamberal99]

If the masses don't flock to rugby after the Lions tour, and our World Cup, they never will.

 

[HogansHeros]

simple AF game to explain to the masses.

There you go.

 

[Major Tom]

Checkers is simple too mate doesn’t make it interesting in my books. #5tacklesandakick

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'll give you a free tip.

The masses are never going to flock to game where the last 10 minutes takes 18 minutes, the home team doesn't touch the ball, but has 8 penalties, a yellow card, 7 scrums and 4 lineouts, and the ultimate play is 30+ phases for -25m, and the game ends with a knockdown that isn't deliberate for some reason.

But that's OK. It's still good for those watching

 

[Major Tom]

That whole paragraph of information is an anomaly though. It took a very odd ref and an incredibly resilient tahs defence to produce that finish. Also by your summary there was a lot of time in play and they correctly didn’t rule on a the deliberate knock down which the masses would approve of. So I’m a lil confused how that wouldn’t attract fans? Fans want drama and jeopardy.
Also the masses aren’t flocking to rugby league it’s just the east coast. Gather round is absolutely showing where the masses are flocking to.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Having said that, if anyone wants a good laugh, watch the last 5 mins of phase play after the siren, but only focus on Tupou. It's hilarious. He looks like a 5th grader playing his first game of the year

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Back-three of DMac, Shooter & Leroy so 'tahs long kicking game will need to be on point as will the chase line, any of those guys will see a misalignment a mile off & blast through it.

I've only seen highlights but presumably 'tahs long kicking game was on point as was the chase line: saw DMac cough one up under pressure & have read there were others? No doubt future opponents will be watching the video with interest.

 

[FNC Rugby]

if you think that Roosters Broncos game was bad, did you watch the bludger of a game on Thursday night.... I laugh when people say League is more watchable. if you're a simpleton of course it is.