"Johnny Chis" <jchis@penrithcity.­nsw.gov.au> wrote in message> news:1112926460.125­556.157060@g14g2000c­wa.googlegroups.com.­..> > Yes boys and girls,> > Lomu has signed on for North Harbour in the NPC for his first class> > return (giggly girly testimonials not included).> >

Get real Chris. Lomu would be made to look a fool. My increasing cynicism> towards the world also tells me that North Harbour are not overly

"Johnny Chis" <jchis@penrithcity.­nsw.gov.au> wrote in message> news:1112926460.125­556.157060@g14g2000c­wa.googlegroups.com.­..>> Yes boys and girls,>> Lomu has signed on for North Harbour in the NPC for his first class>> return (giggly girly testimonials not included).>>

Get real Chris. Lomu would be made to look a fool. My increasing cynicism> towards the world also tells me that North Harbour are not overly > concerned> with Lomu's ability to help the club win games but more to raise its own> profile through publicity stunts.> Brad>

the world needs more people like you..>

Kip though? now that's just fucking cruel.> Brad>

You mention his inability to "defend, turn or catch a ball", I'd argue> with you, he didn't stand out in those areas like he did when he was on> the attack, but he wasn't exactly a gaping hole in defence.>

When you talk about the days before his nephrotic syndrome was> confirmed, you mean before the public knew, and perhaps before he> himself knew what it was. It was still there and meant he needed more> recovery time, suffered lethargy and as a result poor concentration.> If all that is behind him then he could be (potentially) better than he> ever was. Sure he's a few years older now, but not so old that his body> is shot. On the positive side he's been injury free for the past few> years. It doesn't matter that it's been because he's been in bed for> two years, that's two years less rugby damage.> It's been said that 35 is the new 30 in rugby so Lomu's got a few km> left. Perhaps he might need to rethink his position. I believe he was a> flanker in the lower grades at one time. Whatever he does I think (and> hope) it will be more than just publicity for the NPC.>

Johnny (call me chris call me ugly, but don't call me late for dinner)>

"reprobate" <reprobate@yahaha.c­om> wrote in message> news:0Cm5e.16950$1S­4.1712935@news.xtra.­co.nz...>> gee brad, youre a real nice guy...>>

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Do you think Lomu has the > potential> to make it back as an AB? He was already struggling to hold his spot on > the> team before his necrotic kidney syndrome was confirmed, most people just> blamed it on his inability to defend, turn or catch a ball.> Brad>

"Brad Anton" <ant_on_knee@yahoo.­com> wrote in message > news:4255fa22$1@web­be.jcu.edu.au...>>

He was diagnosed in 1995 and it hindered his ability to train and recover > from before that time.

"reprobate" <reprobate@yahaha.c­om> wrote in message> news:0Cm5e.16950$1S­4.1712935@news.xtra.­co.nz...>> gee brad, youre a real nice guy...>>

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Do you think Lomu has the > potential> to make it back as an AB?

He was already struggling to hold his spot on the> team before his necrotic kidney syndrome was confirmed, most people just> blamed it on his inability to defend, turn or catch a ball.> Brad>

How can anyone deny that the signing of such a> 'celebrity' has a publicity-related component to it?

You mention his inability to "defend, turn or catch a ball", I'd argue> with you, he didn't stand out in those areas like he did when he was on> the attack, but he wasn't exactly a gaping hole in defence.

True, the guy is legend of NZ rugby and has contibuted> hugely to the game off the field too (promos, charity etc) but I stand by my> comment that I think NH have ulterior motives for his current signing.

As for the implication that I want Lomu to fail, this simply tells me> a lot more about your inferencing skills than it does your abilty to> follow a thread about a club's marketing motives.

For us antipodeans, perhaps a more fitting example than Mario Lemieux> of beating a life-threatening disease and making a comeback to common> appreciation would be Delta Goodrem - she fought Hodgkin's Disease,> which is also CANCER of the lymphatic system. She also had to go> through CHEMOTHERAPY. She has now successfully re-reached her> previously attained heights of musical mediocrity ( and she has also> shagged the Poo)

Well? It's just that cancer is rather an indiscriminate foe - and the> fact that I've never heard of Mario Lemieux.

Ha! There goes your credibility Johnny. In defence, Lomu was the most > perfect turnstile known to science. In his entire career I saw him do > precisely one tackle that was adequate for a six foot five eighteen stone > player. The vast majority of his tackles were embarrassing jersey pulls > and arm-flapping shepherds over the sideline.>

Lomu is not a rugby all rounder. He can run, he can swerve, he can fend, > he has amazing balance, acceleration and he's fucking hard to tackle.>

But his positional skills are crap, his defence is not existant, his team > play is poor but at least that was improving, his back up and support > operates for ten minutes of the 80, his work rate is low and if you take a > close look at tries conceded when he was playing for the All Blacks > (including the 1999 semi final v France, and the crappy so-called greatest > game of the noughties v Australia in 2001) Lomu's pathetic attempts at > defence were responsbile for the Lions share of them.>

I wish the big guy well in returning to rugby and good health, but I don't > want him back in the All Blacks. Ever.>

-- rick boyd

"rick boyd" <boyd@comswest.net.­au> wrote in message > news:42571a97$1@quo­kka.wn.com.au...>> Johnny Chis wrote:>>> I'm in no danger of becoming a Kiwi selector, but as far as I can see>>> Lomu in the game is a good thing. Perhaps he suffered from too much>>> hype but he's the sort of player that you don't need to be a kiwi to>>> enjoy watching.>>>

K'noath Rick, he cost us more points than he gave.> I like the big fella but as for an All Black, a big NO.>

Matua.>

Rick, get a grasp. The point isn't about a hockey player. The point I'm> making -- or at least trying to make for those with reading

Sean Byrne wrote:>> Basketball is a 'contact' sport?

Well, you wouldn't wear glasses.

Yes this whole comparison to unrelated sports is getting freaky. Water> Polo, lacrosse?> What are you thinking? I'm calling your lacrosse and raising you dwarf> throwing.

Next someone will be rating Lomu's chances of an All Black birth> against the lions based on Hulk Hogan's return to wrestling. How can a> man his age take all that 'real' physical contact? If he can do it> Lomu can!>

Having played basketball myself i can safely say that it has 'a> little' less contact than Rugby </sarcasm>

Johnny>

William A. T. Clark wrote:>> > >> Basketball is a 'contact' sport?>> >

Yes boys and girls,> Lomu has signed on for North Harbour in the NPC for his first class> return (giggly girly testimonials not included).>

I'm quite pleased with the idea of him making a successful return to> rugby, I'd even like to see him in all black again. Johnny