I watched the PNG & Fijian game today, and what a terrific game, Fiji won by 2 points and neither side deserved to lose but there has to be one in these games.
Except for the squeaky whistle the Pom ref did a pretty fair job of allowing the play to go on. Fiji was more conservative in attack but the PNG threw caution to the wind as they always do, the way they attack both with the ball and in defence is incredible, most of them are fast also which some good stepping moves. While Fiji won and probably deserved the win they were a bit more bland in their play, Sivo did pretty good but I still see him come up from tackles holding his head, which concerned me a couple of times this year and still seems an issue. Evans was ok but not as good as he has been with the eels in the end games this season, he did not seem to run onto the ball and with the ball that hard, defence was ok though. To me the best was ex eels Kamikamica now enjoying playing for the storm
For PNG hard to pick who was best, but some of them were very impressive, they 5/8 showed some good form but very pale for a PNG player as were two others including a prop that did some good work. One player that showed good form was ex dogs player Rhyse Marting in the forwards, has put on some beef and runs very hard as is his tackling and still knows how to kick goals.
I wonder how a PNG side like was on show today would fare in the NRL? Their attack would worry a lot of the teams and as they played well for the whole match would put on a good show and win their share of games as well.
The game brought excitment back to RL with enexpected plays in attack, defence was hard and the game certainly should have had a lot more there to watch it.
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Doc, for me that game was and should be a pointer to where the NRL needs to head towards. I agree re the single ref and I would love to see some of the old rules regarding contesting the ball in scrums along with the way its fed, also in the play the ball. That crowding call is pathetic, the term marker needs to be just that, where the defender marks the spot where the attacker is tackled and that's where he plays the ball, and not push forward a metre or two with his hand against the marker. Likewise the linesmen to be able to call and mark the off side line of defenders and attacks.
After that game we went to the usual dour match between the poms and NZ, the poms have a player in Walmsley that many want here, he's the size of Solomona but would not put a dent in a roll of alumininium foil.
Love the aluminium foil comment. lol
Agree 100% about the passion the Pacific Islanders play with, doc. I've long been bored with international rugby league but the last few years have seen the rise in interest generated by the tiny island nations and I'm loving it. With PNG playing in the 2nd tier Qld competition and Fiji being accepted into the NSW comp that rise should continue and that's good for rugby league.
Your point about the one referee is equally astute and I read that Peter V'Landys has a preference for a single referee. I hope the NRL goes back to it and the money wasted on the least capable match officials could be spent more productively elsewhere.