28 thousand post later and you still retain the ability to talk .

It would be simpler if, rather than throw a little hissy fit because people didn't guess the qualification to a statement which you didn't qualify if you simply qualify your statements if they require qualification.

To put 'in my opinion' at the end of your statement wouldn't have qualified it in the way you wanted to qualify it. What you needed to say was 'in general......' or 'for the most part...........' in which case you would have used the words you needed to use to express what you were trying to express just on the off-chance our fully literate members couldn't be bothered deciphering your semi-literate nonsense.

I was talking about young Josh Hoffman, the fullback for the Brisbane Broncos. Ellis is indeed a better player than Ryan Hoffman. BUT Ellis, while being a world class player before the NRL, has certainly improved with the Wests Tigers.

smokey i'm so glad i unlocked that post

While I realise I am on hiding to nothing here because you seem to have a very high regard for all things NRL... it is not at all certain that Ellis has improved during his time with Wests – in fact, as an attacking player I think his game has gone backwards in recent years

Mate, what you say doesn't matter. I made no sweeping statements. If you believe I have then, quite clearly, you don't understand what a sweeping statement is.

It's not equal, either. MOST NRL players are more athletic and skillful than MOST SL players.

It's obvious you live in some sort of parallel universe, where SL isn't a semi-pro competition when compared to the NRL.

George Rose is fat, but also a quality player. Far more out of place in the NRL than he would be in the SL. You have 1 example of some bloke who's fat, that's it - A single player.

While Rose might be a laughing stock in the SL, to most NRL players, the SL as a competition is a laughing stock.

Sam Tomkins is better than Josh Hoffman.

The best of Australia is better than the best of the UK. They have more strength in depth, but there are clearly a huge amount of SL players better than their NRL counterparts. Tomkins, Mcguire, Sinfield, O'Loughlin, Hall, Briscoe, Peacock, Graham, Roby, Pryce, Carvell, etc would all be among the better players in the NRL. Probably not the best, probably not up there with the Cam Smiths, Inglis', Scotts, Thaidays, Gallens, but most of them would be in or knocking on the door of Origin.

His game hasn't gone backwards, he's aged - There's a difference. Talent doesn't dissolve. If he's lost anything on attack it's through age. Regardless, he's a much better forward for his NRL experience.

You must not watch NRL or you're quite obviously blinded by your hatred of the NRL.

I would say Ellis is a far better player now because he's being coached better,because the intensity is much greater and because when players and coaches push the rules to the max everyone else tries to out wit each other instead of constantly moaning.

I didn't say Josh Hoffman was better than Tomkins... I was remarking on the ATHLETICISM of NRL players! While Tomkins might be a better player, he isn't 1/10th of the athlete of Hoffman.

You're also absolutely kidding yourself! Half the blokes you mentioned would be second-string players in the NRL.

The only man on your list I would want at the Warriors is James Graham, and only James Graham. Nobody else is good enough to displace anybody in the Warriors team, and most NRL teams are just like the Warriors.

Do you seriously think Tomkins is better than Locke at FB? Tomkins is nothing, he's a prototype Josh Dugan with only half the athleticism.

Hand on heart there is nobody in your list I'd want at my team, never mind these blokes being better than their NRL counterparts. It's like argueing the best Championship players are better than their Premier League counterparts. Pull your finger out, mate.

and you end up with a PTB which is an absolute mes and a lottery to referee. As bad as our game is refereed, our ptb (whilst it still has big issues) is a million times cleaner and more consistant than the NRL's

No. It's glaringly obvious for anyone who can read that I'm speaking in both generalities and in my own opinion. I wouldn't be giving another persons opinion, after all.

I write for a living, my posts are clear enough. Don't try to spin your clutching-at-straws - failing, in your efforts, I might add - as illiteracy on my behalf.

It's also a million times slower. Of course, you need some excuse for our defeats in the Four Nations so best to put it out there now, ey?

no, you said no English players were as explosive as Tupou, Hoffman or Uate and that SL players have less skill. Look you said it here. Tomkins is more skillful, certainly doesnt struggle with the physicality or athleticism or the game. He is an all round better player than Hoffman.

James Roby is a much better player than Michael Ennis, James Graham is a much better player than Trent Merrin, Carvell and Peacock, even at this stage of their careers are better players than Tim Mannah, they are better players than current SoO players.

If you would take Aaron Heremaia over James Roby you're a moron.

If you truly believe that, then you are beyond help.

Polite cough

I highly doubt someone who writes for a living would struggle so much, and have such an aversion to qualifying statements which they want to be qualified and expect people to simply assume that qualification. I also highly doubt anybody who writes for a living would have written this sentence 'Don't try to spin your clutching-at-straws - failing, in your efforts, I might add - as illiteracy on my behalf.' which is just absolute nonsense.

Unless of course your 'writing for a living' is signing your dole cheque?

Yes, and I stand by what I said because it's fact. We don't have English players who are as athletic as Tupou, Hoffman and Uate, and SL players are less skillful than NRL players.

Roby is not better than Ennis. Peacock and Carvell are not better than Mannah. But yes, Graham is better than Merrin. That's hardly an achievement, Graham is one of the best League players in the world and Merrin is a 3rd-rate NRL player who has nothing to offer.

And I wouldn't like Heremaia, as he's , which is why we've canned him. The Warriors have Nathan Friend and Alehana Mara, why would I want to punt on somebody like Roby who's done nothing of merit in his career? If James Roby played for Catalans nobody would rate him, he's enjoyed the luxury of playing in one of the SL's most dominant clubs, in a competition that's not even half of what the NRL is.

If Roby was that good he wouldn't be playing in front of blokes with flat caps. He'd be in the NRL, tearing up. Strange that he isn't.

LOL @ James Roby... Saints fan much?

You have NFI what a sweeping statement is, do you? Here's some advice, educate yourself on what you're saying before you actually say it!

Me, or anyone else saying that MOST NRL players are better than most SL players is NOT, even in the slightest, a sweeping statement. You have no clue what a sweeping statement is! I'm embarrassed for you.

Oh please, shut up. You've embarrassed yourselves enough. The statement you just quoted, while strung together poorly - What can I say, I've been drinking - is both punctually and grammatically correct.

The simple fact is I don't need to end my posts with a foot note stating that my statements are written from both my opinion and in generalities. If I believed that every NRL player was better than every SL player, that's what I'd have ing said. It seems clear to everyone but RLFAN members who happen to disagree with my viewpoint, strangely enough.

I did not say that every NRL player is better than every SL player - Full stop. If you believe I did it's because you cannot read... Sorry to tell you.

If you really were a professional writer I'm sure you would know that is a subjective premise and as such an opinion. Not fact.

Graham isnt a little better, he is comfortably better, Merrin wouldnt be a front-line prop at any of the top 8 clubs yet he is an SoO player. Peacock and Carvell are comfortably better than Mannah who would struggle to get in the England squad. Yet he is also a current SoO player.






James Roby is comfortably better than Heremaia, a player who has just played for a team in the NRL GF. Roby is by far, comfortably better than Friend or Mara. James Roby is probably the 2nd best hooker in RL right now. He is a better player than Danny Buderus who, having played well but not set SL on fire, will return to the knights next season at the age of 34.
You see a professional writer would have recognised and seen the obvious flaw in the circularity of your premise.

Not even a little.

It may be punctually and grammatically correct. Its just unfortunate that the words you have put together and in the order you have put them together makes no sense whatsoever.

Nobody has argued that the views you expressed aren't your opinion, I'm at a loss as to who you are arguing that point with? And you are correct you don't need to end your posts with a footnote (a professional writer would surely have known footnote was one word wouldn't they?), people would be happy if you just said what you actually meant. If you mean 'in general NRL players are better than SL players' then say 'in general NRL players are better than SL players' nobody would argue that point, nobody would have thought you meant all players and you would have avoided being shown up for a complete nincompoop and someone pretending to be a professional writer. But you didnt.

I haven't said you did. If you believe I did it's because you cannot read...Sorry to tell you.

Wrong again! It is a fact... not an opinion. It's been verified consistently over and over again that NRL players are better athletes and superior in skill. We can look at the evidence and history and determine this to be a fact. If you disagree then it's quite clear you misunderstand, a long with most the English language, the meaning of fact.



Are you smoking that , brother? I just told you Graham is one of the best players in the world and Merrin is a joke. Why are you saying "Graham isn't a little better, he is comfortably better", as if to suggest I've said anything to the bloody contrary? You show you ignorance to the Australian game by even citing Merrin, a player universally rejected by NSW fans as a ridiculous pick, a long with several other Dragons players.

Also lol at Peacock and Carvell! They'd struggle to make the bloody team sheet in the NRL. It's 2011 mate, Peacock is only 5 years from a walking stick. Mannah is better than both, put together.



Are you even reading what I'm saying? I've established your comprehension isn't the best but you seem to be flat out ignoring what I've said.

Heremaia is garbage. His presence in the grand final is worthless. His nickname at the Warriors is HereMUD, because he plays like . That Roby is better than him is erroneous. Heremaia is unwanted in the NRL.

Roby is not better than Friend, either, lol. While he might be better than Mara at this present time, who in their right ing mind would want Roby over Mara? One will go on to greatness, the other will be remembered by a couple of SL fans.

There is no flaw in my argument. If Roby was any good he'd be in the NRL. Buderus the pensioner is rated more highly outside of England - You think that's an argument in your favour? It highlights what I've been saying all along! Past their sell by date, average SH players are above supposedly the best SL players.

I'm constantly astounded by the delusions of SL fans. You're blinded by patriotism to such an extent that you're physically unable to accept we're inferior in almost every way!

They make sense, however clunky. Again we're back to the original issue... You're unable to read.



A footnote IS one word, what are you on about?

You're off your bloody head mate. It was clear, to anyone with a set of eyes, that I was speaking in generalities. You're being silly now. What kind of idiot would say that every single NRL player is better than ever single SL player? You know full well I was speaking in generalities, if you don't you're insane.

Me saying "NRL players have more skill and are more athletic than SL players" in no way means that every NRL player is better than every SL player. I shouldn't have to clarify! I said nothing to even suggest that I felt every NRL player was superior in said criteria to every SL player - Nothing, at all.

I'm dealing here with a bunch of halfwits who are grasping at straws because you were unable to argue a successful case for the athleticism of SL players, so purposely derailed the argument.

I don't have to pretend to be anything, I am a professional writer... Writing is my profession.




Are you ing crazy bro? Throughout this argument you've accused me of saying that EVERY NRL player is better than EVERY SL player. We wouldn't be having this ing debate if not for you intellectual-dwarfism!

That’s twice now that you have used the word erroneous when I’m pretty sure you meant irrelevant Are you sure that people pay you to write? Quote ="r a n c i d"Heremaia is garbage. His presence in the grand final is worthless. His nickname at the Warriors is HereMUD, because he plays like poop. That Roby is better than him is erroneous. Heremaia is unwanted in the NRL. '" viewtopic.php?f=2&t=510157&p=16496924&hilit=erroneous#p16496924 Quote ="r a n c i d"Mate, are you taking the mickey? I'll tell you now as a fact that Petero is more Australian than Reed will ever be English. Place of birth is erroneous. Your argument is okay for people switching allegiances as adults, but are you seriously trying to say someone raised in a country from the age of TWO shouldn't be allowed to represent that nation? Your post isn't just moronic, it's downright offensive. Most Australians would laugh in your face at the suggestion Petero isn't an Aussie! What the hell is wrong with you? '"

That’s twice now that you have used the word erroneous when I’m pretty sure you meant irrelevant Are you sure that people pay you to write? Quote ="r a n c i d"Heremaia is garbage. His presence in the grand final is worthless. His nickname at the Warriors is HereMUD, because he plays like poop. That Roby is better than him is erroneous. Heremaia is unwanted in the NRL. '" viewtopic.php?f=2&t=510157&p=16496924&hilit=erroneous#p16496924 Quote ="r a n c i d"Mate, are you taking the mickey? I'll tell you now as a fact that Petero is more Australian than Reed will ever be English. Place of birth is erroneous. Your argument is okay for people switching allegiances as adults, but are you seriously trying to say someone raised in a country from the age of TWO shouldn't be allowed to represent that nation? Your post isn't just moronic, it's downright offensive. Most Australians would laugh in your face at the suggestion Petero isn't an Aussie! What the hell is wrong with you? '"

firstly it's along, not a long. Secondly, no it is subjective and therefore an opinion. If you can state it as determinable fact maybe you can provide us all with your objective measure for athletic ability and the comparitive results?

A player Ricky Stuart thought among the best 4 props available to him. If the NRL was filled with supermen as the image you are trying to paint, a player so average as Merrin, who would struggle to get a game at a top SL club wouldnt be playing SoO.

If you want to believe that fine. Its nonsense but its your opinion and you are welcome to it.

Thats a very strange conclusion.

Yet he is an NRL regular. Now think it through, what does that tell us about how good you need to be to be an NRL regular? And what does it also tell us about the many Hookers in SL who are comfortably better than him?Success is quite a good measure of quality. witty lot arent you. Do you know what erroneous means? If so, those are two pretty random statements to put together.

Who would take a better player over an inferior player? Anybody who wanted to put out the best team they could at a guess.

There is a flaw in your argument. I've already told you what it is. The flaw in your argument is that it is circular. Buderus the pensioner, past his sell by date, average SH player will be playing in the NRL next season. Not SL. It seems odd that your league of supermen would need to take an average SH player who is past his sell by date doesnt in? except average SH player, past his sell by date, Buderus the pensioner isnt the best hooker in SL. He isnt above the best hookers in SL.
If we were inferior in almost every way I would accept it. But we arent, we are simply not quite as good as 2 teams who are very good. We have some very very good players, some world class players, just not enough of them.