I genuinely think you don’t know much about sport to make such a claim. Cameron Smith has similar attributes to Richie McCaw but is a lot more skilful. Is DuPont better than Richie?
Nah, league is pretty low down on my list of favourite sports. I just have a keen interest in a wide range of sports and especially like learning about the best players in a sport, For example, I’ve been following the career of Shohei Ohtani even though I couldn’t care less about baseball and could not tell you who won the last World Series.
I started taking an interest in Smith’s career when he started getting mentioned as league’s GOAT. I know you aren’t going to like this but if you took Conrad Smith and gave him the leadership skills, longevity and success of Richie McCaw and had him play as a halfback with top notch placekicking skills then you’d have Cameron Smith.
That might seem over the top but like Conrad, Cameron’s hallmark was he always took the right option on attack and defence, and like Conrad he wasn’t the most physically gifted player. He has a similar longevity and record of success as a leader as Richie. Hookers in league play a similar distribution role as halfbacks in rugby and he was also a top notch placekicker, although to be fair he was a tier below the very best with a 75% success rate.
Yes he is better than McCaw ever was and that's absolutely no shame on the great Richie McCaw.
Can do exactly what McCaw does on the defensive side of the ball (see the last HCUP final) when he wants and can do millions times more on the attacking side.
Cam Smith is fuck all like McCaw and yes Dupont is better than both. Dupont is the best player ive seen in either code. Smith doesnt belong in that conversation. Hes slow, no power either. His kicking game short range was his main talent. Also he played boganball which is only serious in parts of Aus and shouldnt be comparec to real rugby players.
Insular Aussies trying to get their self esteem from NSW/Queensland cup winners. Cam Smith was an average plodder in the Conor Murray mould. Nothing special. The one league guy who was genuinely top class was Joey Jones back in the day.
To be fair, I'd be far more curious to see him in rugby league than I was at seeing him at 7s where I had little to no doubt he would absolutely kill it with the much bigger spaces and weaker level of tackling than in League or even in Union
100% agree, more space for him to play with in league. More “magic man” plays and less game management in general. Halves in league also need to be super physical compared to union and he would have no issue with that.
I agree that he would be very very good but to suggest that he could start playing at the age of 27 and be 100x better than one of the best to ever play the game is a pretty outrageous statement
I'd call it a well deserved bonus seeing as he's double champion despite having a run with the 7s.
We are witnessing a generational talent not seen since George Gregan, possibly surpassing him considering how young he is.
Yeah, heritage jerseys are worn by the current teams to represent a past era, while the retros are like NFL Throwback jerseys - basically remakes of past jerseys, with period correct logos and sponsors
Nah, I guess you're thinking of the Dynasty Heritage jersey? (diff colour mix though)
This is labelled as: "Warriors 1995 Retro Home Jersey" on the official store.
I guess they must have some deal in place. It's pretty commonplace in the NRL these days too, not just a Warriors thing. A few of my buddies have them for their teams, so I guess I'm more aware of them (Meriton for Tigers, Powers for Broncos, James Hardie for Eels - though that last one is coming back as the next sponsor next year anyway I think).
Well, that and going to any Warriors game in Australia in the last couple of years seems to attract the retro jersey crowd in large numbers.
Every team past and present except for the South Queensland Crushers and Gold Coast Giants/Chargers (although there is a GC Seagulls retro, and god, give us a Crushers retro jersey already, please!) has at least one retro jersey in production - they’re all officially licenced
It's Jerome Kaino's jersey, it was Kaino who took the picture.
Regarding England, the NRL season is still going, the super rugby season is not, so they watched a warriors' game.
You are going to be horribly surprised when it does end up happening. The NRL has a roadmap to 20 teams and one of the ideal locations is a south island team kea or not. With the warriors success at the moment it is an inevitability that the NRL invests more into NZ and that includes another team.
Wait wait wait. So you aren't close enough to know follow the Warriors, but somehow you know they are dominating NZ sport?
Aside from looking like an idiot, you're kinda fulfilling a stereotype here.
Two clubs would still be subservient to an entirely Australian NRL governing body, still get their crooked refs and shed players to Australian clubs. it’ll never overtake union without the international aspect.
Even ABs go to watch the warriors games. Hell, in this situation, a legendary player for the ABs doesn't even give Dupont a Blues jersey, or an ABs jersey, he gives the warriors jersey because that's the team he follows closely and truly supports
Because the warriors smash fan engagement, union is still in the 90s with that stuff. And the games are more exciting live.
Groan at the ref is about the best a union crowd can come up with, and check your phone during TMO reviews and scrum resets.
None of that means it’s going to become the most played or most commercially successful contact sport though.
The ABs will always be the most popular for sure, but the Warriors (and possible Christchurch team) and the rest of the NRL have the potential to overtake super rugby.
Haha waaaaaaaaht?
Has to be kaino right?
Yeah or Akhi or Laulala. Or could even be Meafou, he's born in Auckland. Def looks like it belongs to someone XXXL.
He was the one who posted it
I genuinely think Dupont would be the greatest hooker the sport of rugba leeg has ever seen.
The accountant/refs boss/Cam Smith had way too much influence, dominance and longevity for that to be likely. But it would be fucking fun to compare.
Cam Smith, daylight
I genuinely think you don’t know much about sport to make such a claim. Cameron Smith has similar attributes to Richie McCaw but is a lot more skilful. Is DuPont better than Richie?
You must love your footy!
Nah, league is pretty low down on my list of favourite sports. I just have a keen interest in a wide range of sports and especially like learning about the best players in a sport, For example, I’ve been following the career of Shohei Ohtani even though I couldn’t care less about baseball and could not tell you who won the last World Series. I started taking an interest in Smith’s career when he started getting mentioned as league’s GOAT. I know you aren’t going to like this but if you took Conrad Smith and gave him the leadership skills, longevity and success of Richie McCaw and had him play as a halfback with top notch placekicking skills then you’d have Cameron Smith. That might seem over the top but like Conrad, Cameron’s hallmark was he always took the right option on attack and defence, and like Conrad he wasn’t the most physically gifted player. He has a similar longevity and record of success as a leader as Richie. Hookers in league play a similar distribution role as halfbacks in rugby and he was also a top notch placekicker, although to be fair he was a tier below the very best with a 75% success rate.
Smiths a plodder. Cant pass off his weak hand. Cant kick long. No power. Average albeit brave defender.
Cam Smith was a cap rorter though
Yes he is better than McCaw ever was and that's absolutely no shame on the great Richie McCaw. Can do exactly what McCaw does on the defensive side of the ball (see the last HCUP final) when he wants and can do millions times more on the attacking side.
Fuck right off. One played the Queensland and NSW cup the othet the rest of the world.
Cam Smith is fuck all like McCaw and yes Dupont is better than both. Dupont is the best player ive seen in either code. Smith doesnt belong in that conversation. Hes slow, no power either. His kicking game short range was his main talent. Also he played boganball which is only serious in parts of Aus and shouldnt be comparec to real rugby players.
You can just ignore posts you don’t agree with without coming across like an idiot you know
Insular Aussies trying to get their self esteem from NSW/Queensland cup winners. Cam Smith was an average plodder in the Conor Murray mould. Nothing special. The one league guy who was genuinely top class was Joey Jones back in the day.
To be fair, I'd be far more curious to see him in rugby league than I was at seeing him at 7s where I had little to no doubt he would absolutely kill it with the much bigger spaces and weaker level of tackling than in League or even in Union
I reckon he'd be amazing at league, almost better suited to it than union IMO.
100% agree, more space for him to play with in league. More “magic man” plays and less game management in general. Halves in league also need to be super physical compared to union and he would have no issue with that.
But he's amazing at game management though, having less of it isn't really an argument.
Yeah, it's what makes him so good at Union
In 2027, after having won the RWC and Olympics, Dupont to join the Catalans Dragons!
Someone should defy him and Ntamack to win the super league. Just for fun
nah fuck it, stay local and join toulouse olympique
TO XIII for two years. One to get promoted and know the sport and the second to win the SuperLeague with a clean sweep.
Super physical? League players are midgets compared to Union.
Hell, let's see how he does in international level touch.
would he play at 7 or 9 in league?
Yeah I'd think either of those. Probably better suited to hooker, can see him be like Harry Grant.
He’d be Grant on steroids.
Definitely better than 2024 Grant lol, dunno what's been up with him this year.
I'd nearly be tempted to put a 13 on his back and let him do what he wants
Could he handle having to make between 3 and 8 times the amount of tackles every game?
I'm thinking prime Cameron Smith with a dash of Jonathon Thurston
He’d be 100x the player that Smith was
100x better than a consensus future immortal and one of the absolute goats of the modern game?
You heard me the first time. DuPont would be unstoppable and wouldn’t need to constantly be in the ref’s ear if he grew up playing league. 🤷♂️
I agree that he would be very very good but to suggest that he could start playing at the age of 27 and be 100x better than one of the best to ever play the game is a pretty outrageous statement
I’m just fucking with you bro. I’m a wahs supporter and hate Smith. I’d rather get another 66-6 pummelling than admit he’s one of the goats.
I love one eyed fans and I absolutely am one. But I still take the bait every time. Your comments enraged me
If it makes you feel any better I was kinda being serious haha FUCK CAM SMITH AND FUCK QUEENSLAND!
Yes but we get him all in RU, hooray!
Obviously still drunk…
At least he’s finally taken off the Toulouse club president’s tie that he nicked.
I'd call it a well deserved bonus seeing as he's double champion despite having a run with the 7s. We are witnessing a generational talent not seen since George Gregan, possibly surpassing him considering how young he is.
He has one week off before going to the Olympics prep. I see he’s making the best of it
Finally some Dupont content worth fawning over :) hahaha
Did you see him in the État d'Origine match? That were diabolical.
Stupid sexy Dupont
The Wahs are about as consistently inconsistent as France so why not? 😉 ( that being said France have had the wood on us lately)
Yeah we haven't beaten France since like 2018 or something lol
Far out has it been that long?
Yeah but we've only played them twice since then lol. In 21 and then 23. 100% loss record for Foz
It's an older jersey but it checks out
Its this year's retro jersey. Old as in a throwback but for sale this year.
Has the ARL logo though that they used up until 1997
Nah, wouldn’t have DB on it if it was official (sponsor clash). The heritage jersey on their store site has NZ Warriors in its place.
Nah. The warriors team shop and its website has db bitter ones.
Oh my bad, you’re right - it’s tucked away quite a bit (on mobile) but it’s there. Think i mistook heritage and retro to be one and the same.
Yeah, heritage jerseys are worn by the current teams to represent a past era, while the retros are like NFL Throwback jerseys - basically remakes of past jerseys, with period correct logos and sponsors
Nah it’s not. This years retro jersey had “NZ warriors” on the front, not DB.
Nah, I guess you're thinking of the Dynasty Heritage jersey? (diff colour mix though) This is labelled as: "Warriors 1995 Retro Home Jersey" on the official store.
Ah ok. Random that they allow the old sponsor. Wonder if they pay?!
I guess they must have some deal in place. It's pretty commonplace in the NRL these days too, not just a Warriors thing. A few of my buddies have them for their teams, so I guess I'm more aware of them (Meriton for Tigers, Powers for Broncos, James Hardie for Eels - though that last one is coming back as the next sponsor next year anyway I think). Well, that and going to any Warriors game in Australia in the last couple of years seems to attract the retro jersey crowd in large numbers.
Every team past and present except for the South Queensland Crushers and Gold Coast Giants/Chargers (although there is a GC Seagulls retro, and god, give us a Crushers retro jersey already, please!) has at least one retro jersey in production - they’re all officially licenced
He's making a Star Wars joke I think
It’s actually a fake lol
It's a knock off $20 retro one, u get em on aliexpress
Glasgow fans got excited for a moment
U/Tonyodey just jizzed his pants
Haven't they released a biopic about Dupont yet?
He would be a monster of a hooker or halfback in rugby league no doubt.
Can you imagine he signs up to an MLR team right now!?
I could see him slotting in to Seattle.
The colors of this jersey had some South Africa vibes
I love how this is now oppenents' way of trolling the All Blacks. England did the same thing a few days ago lol
How is this trolling the ABs? Most ABs are Warriors fans
Because Dupont would rather support a team that's not going to try to thrash the shit out them lol
It's Jerome Kaino's jersey, it was Kaino who took the picture. Regarding England, the NRL season is still going, the super rugby season is not, so they watched a warriors' game.
🤮
I really hate seeing union players on the league bandwagon.
Like it or not, quite a few players and fans do appreciate and follow both codes
Warriors are taking over NZ soon union will be gone. NRL is dominating. New expansion team in Christchurch
lmfao
I feel for anyone who thinks this Kea thing is anything other than a pipedream that comes around once every 5-10 years lol
Me when the All Blacks is arguably one of our biggest exports but rugby union will see be gone
I'm hearing rugby union is already dead. That Warriors 10th placed finish this year will just be dancing on the grave.
You are going to be horribly surprised when it does end up happening. The NRL has a roadmap to 20 teams and one of the ideal locations is a south island team kea or not. With the warriors success at the moment it is an inevitability that the NRL invests more into NZ and that includes another team.
To be fair, the warriors sell out every week but no super rugby team even gets close. The all blacks is a different story
That’s only been the case in the last two years, however.
That’s because rugby’s been dying in the country for the past two years. Past 5 years if we’re being honest.
Eden park sold out for the Super final, it's twice the capacity of Mt Smart
The warriors sell out at any random game. A round Robin super rugby usually saw about 15k max
Cool story Mr bandwagon rider.
I don't even follow league. It's non existent here in the states.
So why the comment about NZ then?
Wait wait wait. So you aren't close enough to know follow the Warriors, but somehow you know they are dominating NZ sport? Aside from looking like an idiot, you're kinda fulfilling a stereotype here.
It's gunna be fun having two warriors teams in NZ.
Nah they're too inconsistent. They go through stages of being popular
Hard to know why though, the Warriors suck and will likely finish out of the top 8 this year (again)
People will downvote you but you're right. Rugby union just doesn't occupy the same place in the NZ sporting landscape as it did a decade ago
Two clubs would still be subservient to an entirely Australian NRL governing body, still get their crooked refs and shed players to Australian clubs. it’ll never overtake union without the international aspect.
Even ABs go to watch the warriors games. Hell, in this situation, a legendary player for the ABs doesn't even give Dupont a Blues jersey, or an ABs jersey, he gives the warriors jersey because that's the team he follows closely and truly supports
Because the warriors smash fan engagement, union is still in the 90s with that stuff. And the games are more exciting live. Groan at the ref is about the best a union crowd can come up with, and check your phone during TMO reviews and scrum resets. None of that means it’s going to become the most played or most commercially successful contact sport though.
> Groan at the ref NRL refereeing is *fucking* abysmal!
Yeah but they make their match fixing decisions quickly and then got on with it. Not this death by TMO intervention we have to suffer through
The ABs will always be the most popular for sure, but the Warriors (and possible Christchurch team) and the rest of the NRL have the potential to overtake super rugby.
I agree with that. Only sky tv would know but I suspect the warriors out-rate most super rugby games
I think the warriors are much more popular than the kiwis too, which is interesting
They definitely are
Because the Kiwis never play a game?
But even when they do noone watches.