The Football (all sorts) Thread

[dirge]

Sorry Sam. No, really. As much as I dislike the Storm, I feel for you (and the players - those that weren't signing a second "hidden" contract, anyway).

Weird thing is that News Ltd are penalising one of their own subsiduaries.

[i_amtrunks]

On one hand I'm not surprised that they got away with it for so long (lets face it, the Cap Auditor is not the right man for the job), and the fact that they only got busted due to an ex-employee telling the NRL what had gone on.

I dont know if the Storm can recover from this, the Bulldogs did, but they had a far stronger fanbase, history and support than the Storm do, lets face it, if News Ltd was not involved, the Storm would have died years ago.

If they do recover, It will be many many years before they are the force they have been the past 5 years, watch Newcastle, Balmain/Wests, and New Zealand start signing Storm players.

Love the move to the central Coast theory, keep Bellamy and some coaching staff, a few players (like Cronk) and just kill off the Storm franchise entirely, but News wont let that happen.

[5FDP]

The NFL Draft is on tomorrow and the 49ers have picks 13 and 17 in the first round. I've made sure that I am working from home to follow the coverage on ESPN

I'm sure I'm the only one that cares around here other than Soundwarp (from memory)

[Bartrim]

The NFL Draft is on tomorrow and the 49ers have picks 13 and 17 in the first round. I've made sure that I am working from home to follow the coverage on ESPN

I'm sure I'm the only one that cares around here other than Soundwarp (from memory)

Rampage and myself are NFL fans. Although due to the Rams sub-par performances the last few seasons I've been a little bit quiet voicing my opinions.

[5FDP]

Rampage and myself are NFL fans. Although due to the Rams sub-par performances the last few seasons I've been a little bit quiet voicing my opinions.

Good to hear. You have to be pretty happy that they took Sam Bradford with the first pick of the draft. They haven't had a decent QB since Warner 'left'.

The 49ers obviously are rebuilding their OL with their 2 first round picks. Not bad choices considering they pegged Alex Smith to be their man. He needs all the protection he can get.

I'm a big fan of 49ers and used to be a staff writer for the 49erswebzone from 1999 to 2001.

[Bartrim]

Good to hear. You have to be pretty happy that they took Sam Bradford with the first pick of the draft. They haven't had a decent QB since Warner 'left'.

The 49ers obviously are rebuilding their OL with their 2 first round picks. Not bad choices considering they pegged Alex Smith to be their man. He needs all the protection he can get.

I'm a big fan of 49ers and used to be a staff writer for the 49erswebzone from 1999 to 2001.

Cool

Yeah I was relieved when they picked Bradford... first sign of rebuilding. I don't think there is anything wrong with Bulger, it's just that he needs really good players around him too. He's not a great QB that can lead any team no matter what. I also think coaching plays a big role. Would Warner have become a superstar if it wasn't for Dick Vermeil?

[optimus1]

I dont know if the Storm can recover from this, the Bulldogs did, but they had a far stronger fanbase, history and support than the Storm do.

I agree with this entirely. Overall a very sad day for the NRL

[Fungal Infection]

As a Storm supporter, I cant even recall the number of times I've used an effing expletive since the news broke out. Even when I was picking up my daughter from childcare, I just sat in the car for 5 minutes, listening to the news shouting "F#@K!!!!!" till the cows came home before I was able to calm down enough to get out of the car and collect her. In fact, lets add another one just to show how POed I am - F#@K!!!!!!!

[mknell]

As a Storm supporter, I cant even recall the number of times I've used an effing expletive since the news broke out. Even when I was picking up my daughter from childcare, I just sat in the car for 5 minutes, listening to the news shouting "F#@K!!!!!" till the cows came home before I was able to calm down enough to get out of the car and collect her. In fact, lets add another one just to show how POed I am - F#@K!!!!!!!

It's the fans I feel Sorry for, they have been cheated and lied too tis a very sad sad day

[i_amtrunks]

It's the fans I feel Sorry for, they have been cheated and lied too tis a very sad sad day

And the players who were not involved too, they have had everything they worked fairly for taken from them.

Questions now over who knew what, and how much they knew... I'm going to guess that Smith, Slater, Inglis are not players who were given "additional" payments, instead I think it;s more likely the second tier players on salaries around $100,000 who might have had some payments from brown paper bags.

I'd hate to be the Warriors this weekend, they dont know if they are going to face off against an angered united Storm, or a team that has given up the ghost for the season (I'd be tipping the first, Bellamy wont let them switch off without ramifications, and there are still Origin and Kangaroo spots to play for)