That is a scarily good 'second string' side; I agree, it would probably beat any of the top 8 with ease.

Just watched Newcastle and they had a 7 on debut and he was awesome, he had tried at the cowboys and had a couple of goes and I think he was 24 and suddenly it clicked at Newcastle on his debut, good kicking, fast and crazy step. Looked completely at home. Stigg he was called.

There is also some very average players in that team, i watch them every week because my nephew is in that team. To suggest they would win any SL game is just rubbish. I think a lot of you English RL fans are totally obsessed with Australian players, they're not all superhuman.

I agree, very good looking side but saying it would beat any of our top 8 is a big call.

my comment was not intended to suggest that thesee people are superhuman... but I do contest that if that team were substituted for any superleague team this weekend, they would very likely win the game...

I watchd SL live for the first decade (some of that as a lifelong Trinity fan), and have been involved in the game as a player and coach in the uk for 30+ years... during that time and since, I have consulted with world leading sports and performance coaches across a diversity of sports and across the world... I am currently a 2011 member (and have been a member now for 3 years - since moving to Australia) at Cronulla Sharks and have a young teenage son playing in the lower cronulla sutherland leagues... I have seen the majority of the players in that cronulla team play live on many occasions this season and watched this team also play a few times... my comparison is based on team performance, preparation, fitness, tactics and skill... and I stand by my comparison, and is also based on what I have seen produced in superleague this year. ..

I would challenge your definition of 'average' as there are international and other rep players contained in ths squad, alongside some very talented young players, a combination the majority of SL teams can only dream about!

would be interested in who your nephew is (and whether you consider him also to be 'average')... I might know him!

ps FWIW I think Trinity should make efforts to sign Tongia and Gorden for next season.

incredibly... I just read a post on the Sharks rumour mill that Wakefield are trying to sign Ryan Tongia!!!!

how fast does the rumour mill work??

So do i mate.

That could be RT then

Not another FB

Tim smith was awesome last season

The depth of tallent in aus is endless. Australia could but a 4th, 5th or 6th choice team out and still beat England, thats not a dig at our boys it just high lighting how strong the tallent pool out there is

Its so good to watch too, the aussie spectators are very lucky to see it all live, although i do love the premiere sport coverage, Rabs Warren, Peter Stirling and co put Eddie and Stevo to shame

Have to say that is a massive issue - they are both poor especially Stevo who is way past it on all levels. There is no middle ground with these two, they are either gushing like teenage girls or like bitter old men where the Coach is always furious for the most minor of errors.

My problem with them is the constant use of a small amount of stock phrases, over and over again.

The coach will always, for example be 'furious' and will have to 'get the message out there.' The game is always between two 'outfits', both of which are full of 'big fellas' and 'little halfbacks'. When they score a try, they'll say 'thank you very much' and when there's a big hit, they 'won't miss'. At some point, it'll be time to 'try something different', usually a 'chip over the top' or to 'utilise the skill factor'. It will always be the 'second stanza' and the 'merry whistle blower' will have some infuence on the outcome.

It's like listening to a fricking computer game - I agree, time for a change; Mr Carney to replace Wiggy, with a bunfight between Barry Mac, Jon Wells and JD for the Stevo job.

Don't forget, they've got to get the link going and WELLENS BACK ON THE INSIDE

Yep thats guy!!

Ha ! Excellent. I left the UK in 2002 and was already fed up with Stevo and his "chip over the top". Clearly he is still recommending it some 9 years later. There is some good commentary on games in the NRL (Peter Sterling is particularly good) but, inevitably, you still hear the same old phrases over again like -

How important the "first six after points" is
Both sides getting through their sets
Anything of poor quality being "a bit ordinary"
A team being "led around the paddock" by a certain player
etc

I guess if you have been commentating for years about games where essentially the same things happen every week its easy to start repeating yourself.