NRL 2026

Discussion in 'The Cesspit: Rugby League Discussion' started by Sultan Pepper, Oct 6, 2025.

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  1. Sultan Pepper HG Emm

    I didn't hate it, given it was to replace Luai, seeing the way Talagi plays and his footwork I can follow the logic. I suspect the thought was he didn't need incredible ball playing with Yeo, Cleary and Edwards, maybe looking for a bit of x factor off the cuff stuff. Possibly thinking they could end up with a similar style of player to Luai on half~ the money with time on his side.

    But given they started that robot Cole at 6 last year, I suspect it was meant to be a more long term project, rather than have had him in there last year (he did actually make a big difference when he came in). I think the smarter move would've been giving Daine Laurie an extended go in the 6 on half the Talagi salary though.


    Everything I've seen of Talagi suggests if he's going to make it, it's going to be as a fullback for the next 3-4 years before maturing into the physicality of a half.
     
    Sultan Pepper, Sep 30, 2026 at 12:39 PM
    #241

  2. jazman84 JM Eightyfour

    No one here giving Newcastle a chance?
    They were supposed to go down to Souths, then the Wahs at Eden Park was supposed to be an impossible task.
    Then they had to play Penrith, while behind, with 12men for 45mins.

    They can beat the chooks.
     
    jazman84, Sep 30, 2026 at 1:45 PM
    #242

  3. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    I mean Souths were absolute toilet. They had some very favourable calls late against the Warriors. And although they deserve a lot of credit for winning with 12 men, I mean Cleary did break his leg. They really haven't played a side who have attacked well at all.

    Of course they can actually win but so much will need to go in their favour, being outmatched across the board, including the bench.

    Can't underestimate the Chooks having 7 players with GF experience and the Knights just one, in Gagai.
    I've never seen a Robinson coached side play below par in a GF. And there's a real chance they win by 20.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2026 at 2:29 PM
    Maroon_Faithful, Sep 30, 2026 at 2:02 PM
    #243

  4. Sultan Pepper HG Emm

    If Nawaqanitawase stays on the paddock for 80 minutes I think he scores 4 tries and Roosters win 42-10.

    If someone breaks his leg early, then its much more of an arm wrestle.
     
    Sultan Pepper, Sep 30, 2026 at 2:54 PM
    #244

  5. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Look I'm not saying Nathan Cleary won't become an immortal by the time he's done, but after this Dally M (and prior to it tbh) the number of people saying he's as good or better than Johns and Thurston already is just depressing. He clearly isn't. There's no facet of his game other than his defence, which is better than JT's but worse than Johns', in which he has clear superiority over either of them. Maybe's he's a better organiser than Thurston, maybe not. Ball-in-hand, however, he just isn't.

    And his rep career has been mediocre, especially compared to Thurston's. Like what are we talking about?
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:15 PM
    #245
    Toolman likes this.

  6. Sultan Pepper HG Emm

    He has to be an immortal.
     
    Sultan Pepper, Oct 1, 2026 at 8:44 AM
    #246

  7. Toolman TR Man


    Against the Warriors and Penrith they just kept rushing in to shut them down and neither of those sides had a half who ever thought to plan and grubber in behind or similar. Walker and DCE will deal with that easily enough. All top 3 sides have had their halfbacks go down and the side that is going to win it is the team who had two halfbacks, and whose half recovered the fastest.
     
    Toolman, Oct 1, 2026 at 11:07 AM
    #247
    Sultan Pepper likes this.

  8. Sultan Pepper HG Emm

    The dumb thing is that they did, Cogger did it in the 11th minute for Talagi to score, then just never went back to it. They totally shit the bed once Cleary hurt himself.
     
    Sultan Pepper, Oct 1, 2026 at 12:17 PM
    #248
    Toolman likes this.

  9. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Based on his career so far, I don't think so.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 1, 2026 at 12:27 PM
    #249

  10. Toolman TR Man

    Thank god the NRL doesn't have anything as gay as Wharfie time
     
    Toolman, Oct 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
    #250

  11. Sultan Pepper HG Emm

    I did notice Penrith ran out to hells bells v the Knights that has the exact same gong sound. We never stood a chance.

    Actually copped a big weekend of losses last weekend. Freo, Penrith and my eldest kid is a Dolphins nut, very poor weekend of viewing.
     
    Sultan Pepper, Oct 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM
    #251

  12. jazman84 JM Eightyfour

    They have far more chance of winning than you blokes are giving them, imo.
     
    jazman84, Oct 4, 2026 at 9:49 AM
    #252

  13. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    I love grand final day. There's something in the air, reminds you of playing footy as a kid on a warm Sunday morning. You can hear the tension in the voices of the players, and the restlessness of the crowd.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 1:20 PM
    #253

  14. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Ponga's everywhere. This game is defying football gravity. It's all down Newcastle's end. Roosters winning evwrywhere but on the scoreboard.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:17 PM
    #254

  15. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Easts dont have a backline apparently. Wtf are Walker and DCE doing out there? Pass the ball early
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
    #255
    Toolman likes this.

  16. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    N.Whyte was titantic in that first stint.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
    #256

  17. jazman84 JM Eightyfour

    The game must run in slow-motion for Mark.
     
    jazman84, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:32 PM
    #257

  18. Toolman TR Man

    God I hope Newcastle don't fluke this, they don't deserve it at all. Roosters just need to play footy, they've played the luck and percentages game and Knights have received all the luck.
     
    Toolman, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:41 PM
    #258
    Maroon_Faithful likes this.

  19. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Are they fucking allergic to their centres? Walker going short there to Wong on last tackle. What is this shit?

    2 minutes later they go wide and there's a big overlap. Jeez. It's not that hard.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
    #259

  20. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Awta. It's comical how one sided this has been except for points.
     
    Maroon_Faithful, Oct 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM
    #260
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