Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #75 – November 02, 2025, 07:32:24 pm Quote from: bricky – on November 02, 2025, 07:27:04 pmEli Katoa playing for Tonga v New Zealand was knocked out badly in the warmup, then unbelievably was sent out to play and suffered a further 2 head knocks. Required oxygen and was taken to hospital. Very poor. Somebody will have a bit of splainin' to do. Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #76 – November 03, 2025, 01:52:37 pm Quote from: Lods – on November 02, 2025, 07:32:24 pmQuote from: bricky – on November 02, 2025, 07:27:04 pmEli Katoa playing for Tonga v New Zealand was knocked out badly in the warmup, then unbelievably was sent out to play and suffered a further 2 head knocks. Required oxygen and was taken to hospital. Very poor. Somebody will have a bit of splainin' to do.Tongan and Melbourne backrower Eli Katoa has had surgery to remove fluid from the brain and will be banned from flying home to Melbourne for up to a week as he recovers in Auckland from a series of sickening head knocks.Sh*t load of explaining Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #77 – November 03, 2025, 02:34:48 pm I wonder about the people making these decisions.Surely in this case, while there may be many of the officials who are Tongan based, there would also be a number of officials either with the Tongan team or overseeing the competition with experience in the NRL and knowledge of NRL protocols. Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #78 – November 03, 2025, 03:23:14 pm The Pacific Championship is the NRL equivalent of backyard cricket, it's a mostly worthless competition that attracts only parochial support. Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #79 – November 03, 2025, 03:51:21 pm Quote from: LP – on November 03, 2025, 03:23:14 pmThe Pacific Championship is the NRL equivalent of backyard cricket, it's a mostly worthless competition that attracts only parochial support.Probably selling it a bit short https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/pacific-championships-2025-full-squad-lists-latest-team-news/059e59fb94d25defa27f9e58 Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #80 – November 04, 2025, 08:45:36 pm Quote from: Lods – on November 03, 2025, 03:51:21 pmProbably selling it a bit short https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/pacific-championships-2025-full-squad-lists-latest-team-news/059e59fb94d25defa27f9e58Maybe but maybe not, I'd put it in the same relative interest as the AFL's own version of origin.The players might have some interest, but the fans would rather that their heroes didn't, and this will be no clearer than the to the Storm fans today and EK has potentially been ruled out of 2026 with a brain bleed. Quote Selected Last Edit: November 04, 2025, 08:48:48 pm by LP
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #81 – November 04, 2025, 09:05:24 pm The level of interest probably depends on where you live and your background.People in the northern states would probably have a greater interest than those in the SouthComing back from Ipswich a week or two back I was passed by half a dozen cars waving Samoan flags.The crowd for their Brisbane game drew round 40,000(just taking Samoan/Australians as an example, according to stats 75% of them live in NSW or Queensland so the Rugby codes would be more popular with these groups. It wouldn't surprise if that stat was common for all Australians of Pacific Island background). Quote Selected Last Edit: November 04, 2025, 09:20:58 pm by Lods
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #82 – November 04, 2025, 11:20:57 pm Quote from: Lods – on November 04, 2025, 09:05:24 pmThe level of interest probably depends on where you live and your background.People in the northern states would probably have a greater interest than those in the SouthComing back from Ipswich a week or two back I was passed by half a dozen cars waving Samoan flags.The crowd for their Brisbane game drew round 40,000(just taking Samoan/Australians as an example, according to stats 75% of them live in NSW or Queensland so the Rugby codes would be more popular with these groups. It wouldn't surprise if that stat was common for all Australians of Pacific Island background).Yes, half the population of Robinvale would be following the fortunes of the Tongan team but couldn’t give a fat rat’s clacker about Storm.I hope Eli Katoa will be OK and the Pacific Championship lifts its game with head knocks. Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #83 – Today at 03:44:07 pm Why did he try and take him out in the warm up? Be a good team mate.... Quote Selected
Re: Melbourne Storm Reply #84 – Today at 04:13:57 pm Quote from: Professer E – on Today at 03:44:07 pmWhy did he try and take him out in the warm up? Be a good team mate....One of the Hopoate's, not known for their over thinking things Quote Selected