Another weekend of footy is upon us, which means The Repeat Set is here to deliver your weekly dose of rugby league insight.
Read on for all the info.
RUAN SIMS FINDS AN UNLIKELY ALLY
Ruan Sims has been offered support by the player who benefitted most from her Dally M stuff-up.
Manly hooker Api Koroisau received a point from Sims despite turning in a stinker of a performance in the Sea Eagles’ heavy loss to Parramatta in round seven.
Sims later admitted she was playing at the time and hadn’t watched the game before taking a stab at the 3-2-1 in her role as Dally M judge.
The game has since be re-judged by Greg Alexander, who stripped Tim Mannah (2pts) and Koroisau (1pt) of their point and awarded them to Kaysa Pritchard and Corey Norman respectively.
“My cousin asked me about it and I honestly didn’t have a clue,” Koroisau told The Repeat Set about the unexpected vote he received from Sims .
“It’s an issue I’m not going to try to get involved in…it doesn’t really bother me,
“But I definitely (feel for Sims). I don’t know what went down exactly. She probably made a mistake but I’m not going to judge anyone for that.”
When it was jokingly put to Koroisau that the ‘lost’ point might cost him the Dally M medal, he said with a laugh: “That’s the least of my worries at the moment. I just want to try to get Manly a win up.”
DES HASLER STILL UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS
You’ve got to hand it to that wily old fix Des Hasler.
The official reason he pulled his name from the list of New Zealand coaching candidates was because the Kiwis apparently didn’t want to employ someone who still held NRL coaching ambitions.
Instead they are going to appoint Michael Maguire…who the last we heard still harbours ambitions of one day coaching in the NRL again.
DRAGONS TO DOMINATE REP SELECTIONS
We sincerely hope Matt Dufty, Nene MacDonald or Tim Lafai aren’t the types to get lonely easily.
They may be the only three left at training (from this week’s starting line-up) if the Dragons dominate Origin and Test (NZ v England) selection as expected.
DYLAN WALKER IMPLORES FANS TO BACK UP THEIR SALTINESS
His team may be tanking, but Manly centre Dylan Walker clearly has plenty of passion left for the maroon and white after bunging on a blue with fans.
The feisty Sea Eagles star found time during a dramatic fortnight to trade social media blows with disgruntled supporters on Instagram.
Walker took exception to a fan’s comment on Instagram that players were too busy ‘smiling and laughing at training’ and that they should look for alternative employment if they can’t put in 100 per cent.
Walker responded, challenging the fan to join in a training session.
“Well if you think you can put words into action then come to training and try it then see how you go - don’t comment on things you can’t do yourself,” Walker wrote, adding a lemon emoji.
“If you guys love the team you would support them know matter what, that’s what a real fan is.
“Would you like it if I came to your work or home to bag you and say you’re poor on your performance?
“If you ain’t with us now then don’t be with us when we’re winning simple.”
We’ll let you know if the fan takes up Walker’s offer to train.
MORE: NRL Leaks: Dylan Walker to stay faithful to the drama-filled Manly Sea Eagles | Nathan Brown blames Newcastle Knights big men - not Ken Sio howler - for South Sydney Rabbitohs loss
TELL BEN FORDHAM HE’S DREAMIN’
The Repeat Set must drink in different pubs to most Sydneysiders because apparently the Harbour City is now an AFL town.
That’s according to 2GB broadcaster Ben Fordham, who this week lent on club membership figures to illustrate his point.
“Between the Swans and Giants there are nearly 80,000 AFL members in NSW. That is more than the membership numbers at Manly, the Roosters, Cronulla, the Wests Tigers and Penrith combined,” he told his audience.
“Is Sydney now more into the AFL than the NRL? For some time the NRL has been losing ground to Aussie rules. Time are changing and AFL keeps in kicking goals in Sydney.”
Fordham conveniently omitted Parramatta (24,003) and South Sydney (28,500) from his combined figures, which appeared to raise the eyebrows of one S Burgess…
It also fails to mention club membership is relatively new to rugby league and obviously, with nine clubs in Sydney compared to two AFL clubs, loyalties are going to be divided.
Fordham’s claim also fails the pub test: Who actually talks AFL while downing a few schooners on a Friday night?
Benjamin
— Sam Burgess (@SamBurgess8) May 1, 2018
More AFL spin! GWS members made up of ppl from Canberra, Melbourne, pets and infants. AND let's not forget AFL started memberships decades ago (because they don't have league's clubs). NRL just started a decade ago.
— Malcolm Ex (@NRLGUERILLA) May 1, 2018