1. NRL Premiers, the Cronulla Sharks, have played well in only two games this season, perhaps three if you're being generous. They've won only once at home in 2017, a scratchy one-point win over the Knights. Their discipline has been awful, and their completion rate has been offensive to the eyes. Yet they sit in second place, only one win behind the Melbourne Storm, with the best defensive record and the second best points differential. As the fans have taken to singing from the stands in recent weeks, "that's why they're champions!"
2. Yet another scandal engulfing the Wests Tigers club, this time with Luke Brooks and Kyle Lovett being investigated for a late night incident, I urge fans of the club to stick it out, as frustrating as that may be. It was not that long ago that the Storm and Sharks were the laughing stocks of the rugby league world, and now they're the two sides to beat. Seriously though, someone needs to take some ownership.
3. The State of Origin games are probably the three best league nights of the season, but the NRL competition for the next two-or-so months becomes somewhat of a joke. Due to their horror run of form, the Panthers are likely to be at almost full strength during the Origin series, this is their time to make a move.
4. The Raiders don't look anything like the team that came within a dropped ball of an NRL Grand Final last season. I still believe they'll come good but there are more than a few players who need to ask themselves some serious questions. The question I'd be asking is, why did they let Paul Vaughan go?
5. I love the Pacific Island test matches. The relaxing of rules allowing the likes of Vunivalu, Milford and co to represent their sides without costing themselves World Cup spots for the major nations is brilliant.
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6. The English Super League's Challenge Cup continues to provide amazing entertainment and is seen as a genuine tournament. I can't see anything like it being introduced here though due to the fixture list. The clubs couldn't even support a City/Country game being played for the last time.
7. I really wish players and officials would get off the coke.
8. Ben Barba should have owned up to this errors and served out his time instead of running off to France. With news that five sides are interested in him, should he return to the code, is it really wonder why players continue to run the risk? His punishment for his selfish actions includes a paid trip to France and a new, likely fat contract. Tough stuff.
9. Weren't/didn't the NRL pay Shane Richardson a sum of money to tell us all how to improve the game? Genuine question.
10. Why do we have touch judges in the game?
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11. 200 players are off contract, it's almost Origin time, and clubs still don't know what the 2018 salary cap will be. Let that sink in for a minute.
12. Anyone else sick of reading the names Isaac Moses, Wayne Beavis and Gavin Orr?
13. I'll cop plenty for this, but I miss Monday Night football ... when my team isn't forced to play in the time slot. Is Thursday Night footy any better?
14. NSW has depth in their roster that QLD can only dream of. There's dead set 10 back rowers who could easily do the job and four fullbacks that would not look out of place. That said, who needs depth when you have the likes of Smith, Cronk, Thurston and Boyd in the first 13? The loss of Thurston, Scott and Inglis really evens things up though.
15. Kieran Foran's decision to move to the Dogs in 2018 after finally rediscovering form is a risky move that could see his footy suffer big time as the distractions of Sydney return. That said, as a father, he made the only decision and must accept the risk.
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16. It must be a coincidence that a long list of players always seem to play better when their contract is up.
17. Anyone who hasn't named Paul Vaughan in their Origin side is dead set kidding themselves. Even if fit, there's no way Woods deserves to be picked over the likes of the in-form Dragon, Fifita, James and Trbojevic. Klemmer has looked good recently too.
18. For the life of me, I cannot understand speculation that the Sharks are set to offer Josh Dugan a million a season to play fullback. Val Holmes is the most exciting prospect in the game, and Dugan, who has a horror injury record, isn't worth a million a season.
19. Nathan Ross may be everybody's favourite player outside of the club they support. What a man.
20. Surely it's time for Tony Archer to wield the axe or time for him to fall on his sword. I'm a huge supporter of officials as they have split seconds to make decisions that are scrutinised many times over via close up, slow motion replays. That said, is this current lot the best we have?
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21. Those Marvel jerseys are horrible. I loved the indigenous round jerseys as they had genuine meaning, but enough with the marketing gimmicks. $160 a pop, yuk.
22. I'm a huge fan of the idea of a Great Britain side forming once again, but I genuinely can't think of one player outside of England who would crack that squad. It'd just be England under a different name. Whilst still on England, Wayne Bennett's tenure in charge of the national side has been a disaster.
23. I bet George Burgess is suspended again before the end of the season. Any takers?
24. Luke Keary's move to the Roosters has been of huge benefit to all parties. His form is incredible and Cody Walker is fast becoming one of the most exciting players in the game. A rare moment where everybody wins.
25. Show of hands; those with Foxtel, who actively chooses to watch the Channel 9 coverage over the Fox coverage? The pay TV version is streaks ahead in my view. No wonder Cooper Cronk has signed to Fox. Brenton Speed has been an incredible addition to the call team.
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