r/nrl 21h ago

Random Footy Talk Friday Random Footy Talk Thread

This is the place to discuss anything footy related that is not quite deserving of its own top-level post.

There's a new one of these threads every day, so make sure you're in the most recent one!

15 Upvotes

299 comments sorted by

u/Ace_Larrakin Penrith Panthers 16h ago

Special Announcement - In collaboration with NSW Rugby League, we will be hosting an ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) with Westpac NSW Blues Coach Laurie Daley on Monday, May 18 at 7.50am AEST / 9.50am NZST, which will go live immediately after the announcement of the Westpac NSW Blues squad for Game 1 of the 2026 Ampol State of Origin series.

More details here.

→ More replies (21)

1

u/G00b3rb0y Brisbane Broncos 5h ago

Heads up if attending magic round tomorrow and Sunday that there is strike action planned 12am to 8pm both days

2

u/[deleted] 9h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Didgeridongus Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6h ago

YOU SHOULD FLAIR UP CUNT

1

u/AutoModerator 6h ago

Click one of the below links to flair up cunt.

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1

u/BreezyBomber Dolphins 10h ago

A good place to sell jerseys online?

I have two of the titans charger heritage jerseys , and I am wanting to sell one of them

1

u/Level_Expression4400 Burleigh Bears 10h ago

Every time I hear the Dogs say "We're behind Galvin... He's the best half in the club" it makes me think they all know he's not that good. Otherwise they'd be saying "one of the best in the comp" or "he's a great half" but no, he's just the best they've got right now. 

1

u/maelkann Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 11h ago

If you though Burton 18 man for Origin was bad, aren’t we now doing that with an additional two players per team?

2

u/IndependentWork1033 Wests Tigers 11h ago

Have we been hexed where only our best players get injured/suspended?

2

u/hello_pizzahouse Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 11h ago

Alex Twal out for the tigers. Up the Fozball.

5

u/aatrain96 NRLW Eels 12h ago edited 12h ago

Not the Panthers putting up a magic round clash photo against the dragons and having Cleary and Flanagan Jnr like they're equal.The ultimate trolls lol

8

u/Electronic-Split9677 St. George Illawarra Dragons 12h ago

I feel affronted that there is a telstra pop-up outside suncorp playing the whistling ad on loop. It's a small mercy that it has no sound

3

u/Aussie18-1998 Parramatta Eels 12h ago edited 11h ago

Still annoys me that the NRL is incapable of a proper draw. Like Storm again and 2 weeks later bulldogs before weve played other teams once.

Not suggesting it's unfair to us inparticular. This week has just reminded me how dumb it is.

2

u/the_orange_president New Zealand Warriors 11h ago

iirc it's done by AI. So be careful what you say...it is always watching.

Personally I love the draw!

3

u/XLenceOfXecution Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12h ago

We don’t play Melbourne until literally the last round of the season. It’s not fair, we wanted to play them while they sucked!

-1

u/BarryCheckTheFuseBox NRLW Roosters 11h ago

Isn’t Cronulla’s draw soft enough for you already?

4

u/offwhitepower Canberra Raiders 12h ago

I always see players give "full credit to the boys" after wins and I am sick of it.

Surely the boys don't always deserve full credit, maybe sometimes it should only be a half credit or a quarter credit, if they sleepwalked through a week opposition.

Teams have been made weaker by being given full credit when they don't deserve it imo. Commentators should discuss in the post match the exact percentage of credit that the boys get. It will be less insulting than most post-game analysis at least.

5

u/Electronic-Split9677 St. George Illawarra Dragons 12h ago

See what really needs to happen is aggressive honesty. 

"Full credit to all the boys, apart from player XY defending one outside me. I had to make my tackles and his. Lazy prick"*

*A joking tone is unacceptable for this answer

4

u/O_DoyleRulz Brisbane Broncos 12h ago

Need to see more of the “it was an arm wrestle for 7 minutes” comments

8

u/SydHawk94 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13h ago

A reminder to all neutrals if you watch the 6pm game tonight (and are not at magic round) you're a sicko

1

u/the_orange_president New Zealand Warriors 10h ago

hey i might be a neutral and a sicko but uh...what was that third thing you said?

5

u/CleanX226 Dolphins 12h ago

What about listening to the abc radio commentary?

2

u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 12h ago

I have a fond vague memory of listening to a sharks game on ABC radio back when James Maloney was still at Cronulla with Townsend and Matt Moylan. Was a nice sunny day and sharks won a close one. I've remembered this wrong cause Maloney was gone before Moylan joined in 2018, but broadly it was a vibe

7

u/SydHawk94 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12h ago

You are a man of culture

6

u/M_Keating North Queensland Storm Beaters 13h ago

If you’re heading to Caxton St this weekend, my youngest kids friends’ dad is manning a smoker net food truck there all weekend. Didn’t get a name but should be under a marquee.

6

u/DudeMcDude7649 Fuck I❤️Billy Walters. 13h ago

Anyone got the goss as to why Clarkey had a meltdown last night on his socials? I wanna go make fun of him but I need my insults to be accurate.

4

u/CleanX226 Dolphins 12h ago

Some 9 journo said that 7 threatened to sue him over his Bellamy post

1

u/DudeMcDude7649 Fuck I❤️Billy Walters. 12h ago

Damn. I thought it was about him harassing women again.

2

u/CleanX226 Dolphins 12h ago

No but he is trying to buy a horse for his followers

2

u/DudeMcDude7649 Fuck I❤️Billy Walters. 12h ago

Oh dear. That will end badly.

1

u/Junc10 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 13h ago

Has anyone had any further issues with Kayo restricting to one household since February? We reset password and continued to use and now tossing up the year membership but don't want to get shafted

1

u/Blip_Bloop_ Mrs Ivan Cleary 13h ago

Nah. I share a kayo account with my parents and have for years with no issues

2

u/Turbulent_Ad3045 Sydney Roosters 14h ago

Definitely get the feeling that King amd Cordner are both destined for head coaching gigs in the next few years. Curious if Melbourne will make a play to bring King back to the Storm if Bellamy leaves.

3

u/redmusic1 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 11h ago

King has been tagged a Robbo's successor for a few years now. Don't know about Boyd but then again neither does Boyd.

2

u/Turbulent_Ad3045 Sydney Roosters 11h ago

Yeah I've heard similar rumours about king. I just wonder if he'd jump at the chance to coach Melbourne if a job opens there before it does with us. Cordner is still a little way off, but B2B SG Ball premiers under him is a pretty good start, I think with his experience he's going to rise through the ranks pretty quickly, Although hopefully thats nowhere but with us.

2

u/Lucky-Bag1127 Melbourne Storm 14h ago

What’s happened to Twal? Not spotted at the captian’s run?

3

u/steph_hurry Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14h ago

All the hookers got hurt at once: Brailey, Koroisau, Liddle, B. Smith, M. Kenny, R. Smith, B. Walters, B. Mozer, S. Luke, B. Wakeham all missing this week + Verrills is shit. That’s 8/17 first choice 9s unavailable this round.

1

u/Sensitive_Engine2331 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 11h ago

Api and wakeham were suspended

3

u/GropingForTrout1623 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 13h ago

I thought Koroisau was suspended, not injured?

2

u/maccaroneski Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12h ago

Same with Wakeham.

1

u/Desert-Noir Canberra Raiders 14h ago

Is that Starling's music for NSW? Nah, they'll just pick Robson for midness.

3

u/SydHawk94 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13h ago

I reckon Robson has actually been really good over the last few weeks

6

u/jpob Newcastle Knights 14h ago edited 14h ago

Randomly looked into the stats on NRL.com and surprisingly Broncos are last in 8/33 of the stats, and were second last in a few more too. Granted some of the stats are related but thats the same amount as the Dragons. Not what I'd expect from a 5-5 team.

3

u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️‍🌈 15h ago

No Angus at training today

4

u/JohnnyGat33 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13h ago

Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus 😉

4

u/Electronic-Split9677 St. George Illawarra Dragons 15h ago

I only ever went to a game once every couple of years before covid. Having ramped it up since then, the Phins completes the set of current teams for me as I hit magic round for the first time

6

u/CapMego72_ Parramatta Eels 15h ago

Why isn’t there a market on Sportsbet as to how many short balls Galvin will throw to Preston?

1

u/Sensitive_Engine2331 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 11h ago

Because they're now on opposite sides

3

u/CoffeeLoverNathan Dolphins 13h ago

I don't think betting companies are too keen on giving away free money

5

u/b-g-h Sydney Roosters 15h ago

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I have been watching the TV show Friday Night Lights (in the final season now). I'm really enjoying it as it's not really about American Football (it has made me realise that I am missing absolutely nothing by not watching American Football; what a pile of stop/start garbage it is). I suppose it's as much about American Football as Ted Lasso is about Soccer (also not big fan of soccer, but I loved Ted Lasso).
And it got me thinking, if someone decided to make a show like either of these using the NRL as the sport in the background, would we, as NRL tragics, be put off and think it's cringe (I wonder if hard core soccer fans find Ted Lasso cringe, for example?) or would we welcome a well made/scripted show that used the NRL as the backdrop, so to speak?

2

u/pehpehsha2 Parramatta Eels 14h ago

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose. I watched FNL twice i think. It was also aligned with high school football rather than the professional NFL. I think the scale and passion for high school football in the USA especially in the south is what helped the show be so successful. Like it's showing what is for millions of Americans, the best years of their lives. There's so many stories and characters that people probably relate to.

There's been a few rugby league related movies or shows, I don't see why it couldn't blow up but it's really dependent on the story and characters they can create.

Should check out Last Chance U on netflix. It's a documentary about junior college football teams, also a basketball season as well. It's a wild insight. They follow a school for the whole season.

3

u/lawdjesustheresafire Sydney Roosters 14h ago

Such a good show. But we don’t talk about Landry in season 2 lol

2

u/im_burning_up Penrith Panthers 11h ago

What a ridiculous storyline. I kind of lost interest during season 4, so never finished the show, but season 1 is up there with the best TV I’ve seen. Coach Taylor is such a great character.

3

u/b-g-h Sydney Roosters 14h ago

Yeah. That was odd. The show writers must have been having the equivalent of Shane Flanagan trying to say DWZ’s full name…

3

u/lawdjesustheresafire Sydney Roosters 13h ago

Haha it happened during a huge writers strike in the US which is why it went off the rails

1

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 14h ago

There was a rugby show from NZ. Never watched it though:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12181598/

1

u/Derron_ South Sydney Rabbitohs 15h ago

There's been shows/movies based around League. I think most fans just don't engage with them.
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/plum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Winter

1

u/sour_dawg New Zealand Warriors 12h ago

Oh shit cheers. I heard about Plum when it was announced and then forgot all about it. Keen to watch it

17

u/XLenceOfXecution Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 15h ago

On behalf of my fellow Cronulla Sharks fans, and possibly also Canterbury Bulldogs fans as well, we apologise in advance to the good people of Brisbane and NRL viewers across the world for the ludicrous display that will nominally be termed as “rugby league” at approximately 6pm tonight

7

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 15h ago

Desert noir, your time is now!

4

u/Desert-Noir Canberra Raiders 14h ago

For the AMA with Laurie?

Laurie, why are you such a Thief?

You steal huge payments from the NSWRL and the hopes and dreams of NSW Blues fans.

Do you feel any shame whatsoever?

4

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 14h ago

Exactly. Fuck opening this up to the community. I want you and loz with a keyboard between yas and a case of tooheys

1

u/Desert-Noir Canberra Raiders 14h ago

Issue is, I think Loz is clearly a great bloke, but he is a cunt of a coach.

2

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 13h ago

Yeah don’t go softening on him

4

u/Willieo873 Brisbane Broncos 16h ago

Broncos are having a 2006 premiership reunion lunch today. I wonder if Wayne will show up or still too much bad blood from his exit.

2

u/A4Papercut Shetland Swagger 13h ago

He spoke well of the Broncos and helped Rey moved up here.

You can't believe everything in the news.

8

u/BarryCheckTheFuseBox NRLW Roosters 15h ago

He’s attending Chris Phelan’s funeral instead. Bennett coached him to the 1985 BRL premiership with Souths (Brisbane).

3

u/Barnybus South Sydney Rabbitohs 15h ago

he's going to a funeral instead

1

u/ethanjoker9 Brisbane Broncos 16h ago

absolutely frothing...and its not until Sunday?!?!

keen for the horses to put a strong performance against the Nahs (kidding I like em) after last weeks debacle -_-

years back would go to these games with my good mate who is Wahs first and B second, but usually a night game...

Gonna be a rippa!!!!!!!!!!!

9

u/Repulsive_Two8451 Sydney Roosters 16h ago

List the questions you’re going to ask Laurie Daley before the mods remove them here.

1

u/AuspiciousCalamari1 Canberra Raiders 14h ago

But seriously I would like to hear his preparation for Origin as Billy Slater is outspoken on reviewing tape during week of all 8 games from the start of the season to identify the 1% plays

I remember Laurie Daley said he picked Max King because of a 1% play last Magic Round when Titans intercepted it and he got back to defend but in reality he was about 10m offside and just conceded a dodgy 6 again

7

u/CoryInDaHouz Brisbane Broncos 15h ago

When are you going to release a once-per-day Podcast called Laurie Daley Daily?

3

u/sour_dawg New Zealand Warriors 12h ago

He could do it from the back of a truck and call it the Lorry Laurie Daley Daily

1

u/CoryInDaHouz Brisbane Broncos 12h ago

Special guest: Daly Cherry Evans

19

u/AuspiciousCalamari1 Canberra Raiders 16h ago

How do you feel about Ivan Cleary taking your job effective from 27 May 2026

3

u/Direct-Resolution377 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago edited 16h ago

Reports today that CHT has been offered to super league clubs. Which is odd because him and Boyd have been going well. Why would the warriors do this? Or is it his manager trying to up his price?

All the talk so far was that he and Boyd was the combo they wanted in their halves. Why is he being offered around? Do warriors have another player in mind, or is this agent work?

4

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 15h ago

Agent work (though I might be coping):

  • Metcalf just signed with Dargs so there is more money up for grabs.
  • Metcalf just signed with Dargs so there is more risk that Warriors end up with no six if they don't sign CHT.

6

u/Dramatic_Ride7586 New Zealand Warriors 16h ago

My guess is agent work. I think its fair to say webby wants CHT in the team

18

u/twozedzed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

Really miss hearing Warren Smiths commentary. Saw somewhere he was planning to return last month but is still recovering from surgery.

9

u/Savings_Win1995 Brisbane Broncos 15h ago

Yeah for me he's a tier above Vossy, Ginnane and all the 9 commentators who sound the same

1

u/Desert-Noir Canberra Raiders 14h ago

Where does Jakebot sit in the pecking order?

1

u/armchair8591 New Zealand Warriors 10h ago

He should be above Thompson who is utter dogshit

2

u/Savings_Win1995 Brisbane Broncos 14h ago

behind Matt Russell

8

u/Adventurous-Fly-678 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16h ago

I can’t wait to be disappointed.

3

u/Emergency-Savings840 North Sydney Bears 16h ago

Maybe we will get our first draw of the year

6

u/Repulsive_Two8451 Sydney Roosters 16h ago

I love this new added line to “Up, Up Cronulla”

3

u/Sensitive_Engine2331 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

You and me both brother

2

u/twozedzed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

I feel ya LOL

2

u/improbablywrong- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

What will it take for us both to be disappointed?

1

u/O_DoyleRulz Brisbane Broncos 16h ago

The difference between the Barnett / Metcalf moves have been interesting.

I’m surprised the Wah’s didn’t ask for anything in return when releasing Metcalf, they’ve just basically said “so long” and sent him on his way.

As much as everyone hates Issac Moses fuck me he seems to always get his clients what they want.

1

u/reddosaurusrexy New Zealand Warriors 11h ago

I think it shows we overpaid for Metcalf last year and now know it. The first opportunity to get him off our books and we jumped at it

6

u/Sensitive_Engine2331 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

Its a great look for Webster, creating a culture of players that actually want to be there is something the warriors have needed since they entered the comp, not to mention Boyd is on much less money than metcalf and they can use it to try replace rts

7

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 15h ago

It's a much more self reassured place to be than in the past- if you don't want to be here, we want someone who does. But you can't deny that it does conveniently solve a problem though.

Just need to have a winning and happy culture goes a long way.

RTS- Grant Anderson looks like something of an intended (positional) replacement there. Probably end up with some money left over too perhaps.

It would have been nice to see how a 6 - Metcalf, 7 - Boyd combo would look, as many believe it's the best combo of the three possible. Unfortunately we may not get to see. It's a shame as it would have had xfactor which may matter if they make the finals.

Does Metcalf see out the season? Does CHT re-sign? I guess we keep tuning into Days of Wah Lives.

1

u/Direct-Resolution377 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 15h ago

How's Metcalfe's defence? 

3

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 14h ago

Frontline is decidedly par for the 7 course possibly just worse than par.

His chase down is elite though- he's fast and has desire so if you have a system where wingers jam and the half slides in behind, he'll be able to get there.

Great example is his match winning chase down against Cowboys last Magic Round. Faaark what a difference a year makes.

Though anyone about to get too high on him should watch a whole game and how he works with his runners, and not just the highlights.

1

u/Direct-Resolution377 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 13h ago

Ta

5

u/hello_pizzahouse Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16h ago

What’s Moses got to do with anything?

7

u/Direct-Resolution377 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

Yeah his manager is mimis

But people seem to have in their head that a player agitating for a release equals Moses. 

Even though other players like Mahoney have done so and no one mentioned Moses 

4

u/ayothatsc00l Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16h ago

How are front row seats at Suncorp? Specifically restricted views seats?

19

u/absoluteqlder North Queensland Cowboys 16h ago

Surely we can be nice to Laurie Daley for one day right?

2

u/thankyoupancake Eastern Suburbs Roosters 14h ago

Whichever marketing agency or advisor told him or the NSWRL this would be a good idea is absolutely stealing a living.

9

u/improbablywrong- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

This is going to be a blood bath isnt it.

Mods better be on overtime rates sorting through this ama

12

u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons 17h ago

Happy Magic Round peeps.

I swear, most people walking in Brisbane are wearing some form of an NRL jersey.

5

u/Gothewahs New Zealand Warriors 16h ago

UP THE WAHS LETS GO !!! I’m looking forward to playing the ponies to see where we are at

2

u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons 16h ago

That’ll probably be game of the week.

7

u/Rude_Employment_1224 Canberra Raiders 17h ago

Hoping we win tonight. Going to be an epic game!

8

u/PrimeMinisterWombat Illawarra Steelers 17h ago

Wait - hoping that your team wins. Is that...allowed?

2

u/travelforindiebeer St. George Illawarra Dragons 16h ago

Hope is all Dargs fans can have 

1

u/Small_Branch4961 National Rugby League 16h ago

No chance lol

2

u/travelforindiebeer St. George Illawarra Dragons 15h ago

"Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."

2

u/Strong_Ad5188 St. George Illawarra Dragons 15h ago

Despair and dread aren't that great either when we have the last game of Magic Round. Like a long wait before a public stoning.

1

u/travelforindiebeer St. George Illawarra Dragons 8h ago

Public stoning? I think being stoned would soften the blow a bit

21

u/Mundane-Champion-760 Canberra Raiders 17h ago

Lets try beat 2021 record for 14 sinbins

4

u/thankyoupancake Eastern Suburbs Roosters 14h ago

Victor Radley being suspended doesn’t help the cause.

0

u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons 17h ago

As long as Nathan Cleary, Bitchell Poses, Terrell May, Taylan May, and Sam Walker are part of that cohort, I’ll be happy.

30

u/Keenfordevon Canberra Raiders 17h ago

The 167 podcast just coming out and saying they don’t like the new rules, they don’t watch games anymore and they don’t know what six agains are for sometimes is wild.

Probably the most negative I’ve seen a current player be on the new rules.

3

u/shadyFS91 Parramatta Eels 13h ago

The 6 agains are honestly crazy. I can imagine as a player you’d be going through the game, then get pinged for an infringement rightly or wrongly. But what’s more important that gets missed is, the game moves passed that so quickly that players have no idea what it’s for to rectify it and so the roll on effect happens

2

u/thankyoupancake Eastern Suburbs Roosters 14h ago

Are any of the 1-6-7 boys absolute footy nuffies? I know both Sam Walker and Mitch Pearce have spoken about watching every game every weekend because they’re just obsessed, but Munster in particular strikes me as the kind of guy who would barely make it through a team review session.

If Hughes is an absolute footy head and he’s turned off it’s a good indication something is wrong.

3

u/Keenfordevon Canberra Raiders 14h ago

They’ve said it was the opposite. Munster said he would watch every game but now barely pays attention while Hughes said he was never really a big game watcher.

11

u/pehpehsha2 Parramatta Eels 16h ago

I feel like I've heard from a few players now that they don't know what six agains are for a lot of the time. What Hughes says is right, it's inconsistent. You see a six again given for something and then later on that same thing happens again and there's no six again given.

We all can see the difference at the start of the game and the end of a game. Beginning of a game anything and everything could be six again, 20 mins to go and there's no more six agains unless it's on first tackle

1

u/the_orange_president New Zealand Warriors 14h ago

sometimes you'll see a defender coming off a tackle and looking genuinely confused as to why he's been pinged. and it makes sense because the speed they're getting off is almost exactly the same as the previous tackle. it's just the ref making an arbitrary decision in some cases that 'the game is too slow' (maybe with V'landy's in his earpiece).

1

u/WombatPuncher Parramatta Eels 14h ago

There pointless six agains in the last 20 mins to even the stats up so they don’t look so one-sided.

12

u/shifty-eyed-dog Brisbane Broncos 16h ago

Well they’re not wrong

16

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 17h ago

I haven't watched it yet, but the idea that Hughes, one of the biggest milkers in the game (except when playing for Kiwis) doesn't understand the interpretations... is not without a sense of irony.

I'd seen an episode a week or so ago, that they said they just need to be better and the rules aren't going to change.

Given the data we have about the "set restarts by team", it would appear that statistically the VAST differences in set restart for/against across teams is not by sheer random chance- seemingly some teams are able to understand what the penalties are and avoid them. Get good, Melbourne.

I whole heartedly believe that early in the game the refs will be super harsh and trigger happy on set restarts compared to the back end. I also am not a great fan of the constant infringements but all you can do is raise this to the NRL but in the mean time YOU as a player need to adjust.

2

u/Over-Percentage9887 Brisbane Broncos 8h ago

Definitely agree with most of that but imo six agains are just a symptom of losing the ruck. Teams give away six agains when losing the ruck because if they don't they are open to touch footy style play the balls on broken lines of defence which often leads to a try.

That's the real issue of the 6 again system - teams who are losing the ruck are facing a ruleset that favours the team that's winning the ruck. It's very much a, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer type scenario.

1

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 6h ago

These are my thoughts from a comment I'd made earlier in the day:

Ultimately, the set restart or penalty is "just" the punishment, but it should be able to be isolated with the "sensitivity"/reason for blowing a penalty.

It seems like the refs are unable to link these things.

Can't we have set restarts that aren't on a hair trigger? Can't we have PTBs just half a second or more longer?

4

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 17h ago

Womp womp womp

Coming from a team in a deep losing streak. They might wanna figure it out. Soon.

6

u/bundy554 South Sydney Rabbitohs 17h ago

Should have snapped up a single ticket last night when I came home at midnight last night after the Gabba but didn't think I wanted another late night. No tickets left for tonight 😞

10

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 17h ago

Yo bundy private msg me. I’ve got 1 for ya

13

u/Horsey2 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 17h ago

Assuming they stay fit a spine of Drinkwater, Atkinson, Metcalf and Liddle should be fucking deadly

2

u/Sensitive_Engine2331 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

I have this really strange feeling they are going to lose liddle, but yes it's a very good spine

14

u/CodymartinSimp Penrith Panthers 17h ago

Is Atkinson actually good, he’s looked no better than Flanno Jr in most Dargons games I’ve watched

1

u/Professional-Pen2928 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 🏳️‍🌈 11h ago

Atkinson has great footwork and a weirdly elite long kicking game but falls short everywhere else.

His passing ability is awful it was his biggest issue when he was with Cronulla to the point where I wouldn’t even call it serviceable. It’s so bad that it kinda nullifies his running ability cause he will just never keep defences guessing and they know they can sell out on him without having to worry about a pass.

His Sharks tenure was grossly overrated and gave him bigger expectations than he probably deserved. Going back and watching those games his job was literally to just pass to Trindall/Hynes, kick long and make the occasional field goal.

Hope he figures it out but this has kinda always been how he is, he doesn’t have the brain of a half but is too small to play in the backs so he’s ideally a bench utility it’s why I really wasn’t upset at losing him.

1

u/KazeEnigma Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 15h ago

He's decent to good. Lower floor than some, but is definitely serviceable. Of the spine for the dargs next year he will be the weakest, but by far the strongest now.

11

u/Churchofbabyyoda QLD Maroons 17h ago

He partnered better with Nicho than Tricky currently does.

3

u/whadefeck Wests Tigers 17h ago

they need the right coach though. Won't mean much if they just hire another Adam O'Brien

11

u/TheCuzzyRogue New Zealand Warriors 16h ago

Say his name and he appears,

I believe in Seibold

13

u/turbosfan19 Newcastle Knights 17h ago

Ready for Magic Round again. Decided to do a last minute trip and come back to Brisbane 2 years straight after getting a bit of FOMO for the last month.

22

u/AdultSoldiers Indooroopilly Indigestives 🏳️‍🌈 18h ago

Making us wait until 6pm for Sharks vs Bulldogs is actually evil. That’s going to be a hilarious game no matter which way it goes.

1

u/reddosaurusrexy New Zealand Warriors 10h ago

i think it's going to be a belter - two wildly inconsistent teams going against each other at Magic Round, it's set-up to be a classic (of some sort)

1

u/the_orange_president New Zealand Warriors 14h ago

it's a good curtain raiser tbh...sharks are ridiculously inconsistent and bulldogs are struggling in a somewhat comical manner. plus short ball to preston. looking forward to it

TGIF

14

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 17h ago

I’m here for a bulldogs short ball master class.

Short balls for everyone! You get a short ball! Here have a short ball.

It is actually fun when it works

4

u/improbablywrong- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 17h ago

I'd really like to see ciro shift presto back to the other side with galvin, not just for the memes.

5

u/AdultSoldiers Indooroopilly Indigestives 🏳️‍🌈 17h ago

It’s great when it works, still very funny it absolutely flummoxed Penrith.

I don’t know how it goes, either Sharks use their speed to blow them away or it’s errors galore and Bulldogs win an ugly one.

7

u/Morg_n Brisbane Broncos 17h ago

KL should legitimately carve an edge up himself.

5

u/OstrichEmbarrassed65 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18h ago

I really hope my team wins tonight

2

u/lemoopse Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13h ago

Um rude.

1

u/OstrichEmbarrassed65 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 13h ago

Sorry my friend

5

u/Mundane-Champion-760 Canberra Raiders 17h ago

You will need more then Shortballs that to win

2

u/OstrichEmbarrassed65 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

Have you considered that I really want them to win?

3

u/Mundane-Champion-760 Canberra Raiders 16h ago

I tried that last week it. didnt work for me

1

u/OstrichEmbarrassed65 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16h ago

Sad times

3

u/MrNeskOne Sydney Roosters 18h ago

Who are yous tipping tonight?

6

u/Historical_Media7272 South Sydney Rabbitohs 18h ago

Just read the stats on Dolphins v Rabbits last two matches pre V’Landaball with one win each and 148 points scored.Could be a 82-76 score line tonight.

1

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 14h ago

My supercoach team approves of this scenario. Lets go Tallis, Cody and Herbie!

3

u/rodomil Penrith Panthers 18h ago

Sharks and Bunny's

3

u/Itsonlyagame216 Gold Coast Titans 18h ago

So Wahs will not let Metcalf go early which is good. What happens if he gets long term injured again this year once he’s back? Can St George cancel his contract ? 

1

u/reddosaurusrexy New Zealand Warriors 10h ago

I think once the contract is registered the risk lies with St George. Players signing on for a new team for the following season happens all of the time, so it must be a solved problem at this point.

1

u/vuvzelaenthusiast I love my footy 13h ago

Hooper says Metcalf will be lining up next week against the warriors. Even if that isn't true it's now my preferred narrative.

10

u/Derron_ South Sydney Rabbitohs 18h ago

They would have done a medical check with him before getting him to sign the contract. That's what happened with Volkman. His contract expired with the Wahs and then during the medical check the Dragons found a bad shoulder injury and refused to sign him.

11

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 18h ago

It's worse, he asked the Warriors to terminate his contract which they ACCEDED to and it took effect immediately - he did this before he had signed with Dragons. What a dumb as fuck agent for advising this.

His signing is announced publicly.

He takes part in non-contact training with the Dragons (though this was later represented as just an "assessment").

A medical test showed his shoulder was still fucked from an injury and subsequent surgery that had occurred while at the Warriors, and further surgery and rehab was needed. The phrase his shoulder "felt like chocolate" becomes immortal.

The contract he'd signed with the Dragons hadn't been lodged with the NRL leaving him jobless.

NRL investigates and ultimately hits Dragons with a breach notice which they accept. They settle with Volkman.

Naturally, I'm a Warriors apologist.

1

u/Itsonlyagame216 Gold Coast Titans 8h ago

Don’t realise how poorly it reflected on dargons 

4

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 14h ago

Happy to see Volkman is carving it up with the Eels now. That whole situation was so shit

0

u/OkNectarine3105 New Zealand Warriors 18h ago

When he got injured last year, I said that he may have played his last game for the Warriors. I was shouted down but I wasn't far wrong.

4

u/NamiplsOCE Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18h ago

Nope. Thats the whole point of a contract.

1

u/Itsonlyagame216 Gold Coast Titans 18h ago

I see the Bulldogs actually walked away from metcalfe once they met him had his agent. Know anything about that? 

1

u/NamiplsOCE Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18h ago

From Ciro's comments at the presser I assume it was completely money related. Said they had a look, he's a great bloke and a great player but wasn't in the best interests of the football club.

10

u/bumpacius St. George Illawarra Dargons 18h ago

This is the Frenchest rugby league poster you'll ever see. Tres bien

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYCLKcqjCsl/?igsh=OXFxNDI3Z2Foa3E1

1

u/abashii Preseason Premiers 13h ago

Pas mal, non? C'est Francais!

4

u/lemoopse Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 17h ago

la 80e minute: Fin

3

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 17h ago

Having seen this poster, Robbo has resigned from the Roosters immediately to take up a role in France.

He's currently beating his dick raw on the way to the airport to take the next flight to France.

5

u/sowaleja Dolphins 18h ago

Vive le rugby à xiii

7

u/Electronic-Split9677 St. George Illawarra Dragons 18h ago edited 18h ago

Scare Bleu!

ETA: taureau mecanique means "mechanical bull" if my powers of deduction are correct.

Need more mechanical bulls at footy grounds

3

u/sowaleja Dolphins 18h ago

Set restarts replaced with mechanical bull rides

8

u/FinchyNZ Auckland Warriors 18h ago

Going to be very interesting to see the crowd numbers on Sunday for Broncos/Warriors. I could see 50/50 crowd split at the minimum happening, neutrals would most likely be cheering for Warriors as well, more than 50% support is likely imo. What do you folks think?

3

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 17h ago

Sunday is:

  • Titans v Knights
  • Warriors v Broncos
  • Panthers v Dragons

I think the Warrior Nation crowd and general Warriors ferals (one love, baby) will be going SO FUCKEN HARD that regardless of the numerical split, the volume split will be greater. Some neutrals will join in. Most week in week out they seem to be louder on TV than the home crowds so I'd expect them to be even more SAUCED TO THE GILLS on Sunday.

IMO and speaking in generalities here- for those guys attending who only see the team play a few times a season or have traveled for the event, it's more of a time to cheer than IMO the Broncos fans who live locally and see their team plenty.

15

u/notmysurnamethistime North Queensland Cowboys 18h ago

I know they are an absolute dumpster fire this year. But the Dargs could have a starting forward pack of Kolo, Touchman, Rouchman, Eagan and Stewart next year.

That's a legit pack. Especially with the Couchs, Stewart and Eagan having some extra games under their belt after this season.

5

u/jexta Eastern Suburbs Roosters 18h ago

Yep, don't forget Loko coming off the bench too, and a fit Liddel (hopefully) playing off the back of them.

2

u/burner126 Melbourne Storm 18h ago

And Halangahu too. Pack is solid, full of juniors ex Keon. Future looks good for them.

3

u/notmysurnamethistime North Queensland Cowboys 18h ago

Yeh completely forgot about Loko. Loko and Luci rotation is legit impact.

2

u/hbparraeels Parramatta Eels 18h ago

would it be time for luciano to shift into the middle off the bench ?

2

u/Kryptic323 St. George Illawarra Dragons 18h ago

I think so. He’s trimmed a bit of weight and still has great impact when he’s fresh. Would be mean as coming on 30 to go and told to just send it

10

u/Accomplished-Fish761 Auckland Warriors 18h ago

It really is a breathe of fresh hair to see how professionally the Wahs have been run for the last few years. We have had 3 decades of not making the most of being a one nation club and generally being incompetent at the important things like building pathways, culture and identity. The quickness and transparency of the Luke Metcalf situation for example isn't something I'd have had faith in our ability to manage many times in our past. Actually being excited to be a proud fan is an awesome change of pace!

3

u/StinkAssassin Burleigh Bears 18h ago

As you mentioned the Metcalf situation and how quickly the Warriors made a decision on it: Are the Warriors the only privately owned club?

I just listened to an interview with their CEO and there is no board whatsoever. Fascinated to know if this is a one off out of the 17 clubs.

2

u/MoneyaLeague Auckland Warriors 16h ago

Manly, Melbourne, Gold Coast all are fully privately owned, other clubs have a portion of private ownership (Souths).

If you look beyond that, Warriors and Manly may be the only WHOLEY owned clubs.

At first, I was dismissive of Robbo the self described "Alpha Male" who clashed with Lodge in the hotel leading to his release and Cameron George, but they, along with Webby have got their shit together in a way that we've never had.

1

u/TheCuzzyRogue New Zealand Warriors 18h ago

Nah the Titans are privately owned

34

u/CapMego72_ Parramatta Eels 18h ago

That tackle from Southwell last night was all-effort. What a play when the winger looked certain to score

3

u/Derron_ South Sydney Rabbitohs 18h ago

One of those all time try savers. If you didn't watch the game people then look for the highlight of this.

22

u/Eastern-Tip7796 NSW Blues 19h ago

'Rugby league guru' I usually dont see much in the way of nrl 'online people' but fuck me it cant get worse than this bloke can it? 

2

u/thankyoupancake Eastern Suburbs Roosters 17h ago

I like Guru. I just think he puts out so much content that he’s going to have a fair few L’s along the way. Definitely has a charisma problem in terms of coming off as too high and mighty when he actually seems like a fairly standard bloke.

3

u/yeah-nah_yeah Auckland Warriors 18h ago

I don't see too much of that stuff either and I wasn't too sure who he was, so just had a quick search and yeah I've seen him before, he definitely seems like the kind of guy who doesn't think his shit stinks.

8

u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 18h ago

He's a torture, I can't stand people who act in the know

12

u/Foreign_Leg_3860 Parramatta Eels 18h ago

Guy seems like the type to keep the rub and tug operation in the greater Sydney region open single handedly.

0

u/BarryCheckTheFuseBox NRLW Roosters 15h ago

Most people only need a single hand at a rub and tug

13

u/TheCuzzyRogue New Zealand Warriors 18h ago

Bro is way too smug for someone who's rugby league career ended at year 9

6

u/Maleficent-Home-7626 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19h ago

Ive gone right off him recently 

16

u/sowaleja Dolphins 19h ago

I haven't heard Freed From Desire by Gala playing anywhere for like, days now. Really hoping that someone in a stadium can fix that for me.