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#3414616 13-Sep-2025 16:55

Well of course no action is happening against a key player in the Panthers after his controversial remarks about team mates partners. Nice on NRL.

On more positive news, there is a chance Hughes will be back to play center for the Storm Prelim Final. Which if he does I expect the storm will be making the Grand Final. But it really depends on how well along his injury is. But its hopeful news regardless for the #1 For and Against team this year.

I expect Penrith to target the Warriors left edge where Capewell and RTS are situated, with neither having the pace to turn and run down a line break. Hopefully Capewell has less likelihood of missing tackles like last time playing with DWZ who seemed to confuse Kurt, I expect Capewell will put more faith in RTS marking up on his man rather than coming in. They could just target DWZ's edge instead with his inconsistency of jamming in on defense.

Looks like its going to be a wet and windy won. No doubt the Panthers deserve to be outright favourites to win and should, but Im still hopeful for a close one.

Hopefully next year the Warriors will have the 2 injured centres with young star Ali out there and without Metcalf breaking another bone and big Mitchell Barnett's ACL heals well, we have missed having another big forward who can do big minutes out their with JFH, as good as the young 3 forwards have been.

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#3415027 15-Sep-2025 07:39

Absolutley heartbreaking loss to the Broncos last night. Thought the Raiders had won it twice. One of the best rugby league games I've ever seen, just sad my team had to come out on the wrong side of it. Rugby league is the best!

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#3415230 15-Sep-2025 18:25

JPNZ:

just sad my team had to come out on the wrong side of it. Rugby league is the best!

it wouldnt be rugby league without those close losses that our teams should win, as gut wrenching as it is. I still think resting so many players and then getting hammered was not the best strategy 1 week out. Sometimes it can be deflating and out of touch, but of course teams want to rest the best players.

I said be wary of the broncos, they were just becoming offensive mayhem end of Reg season. Roosters didnt produce what they should have and Sharks were just classy enough to keep it always out of reach.

I still think Raiders are a strong chance provided they beat Sharks, which they should. Both Storm and Bulldogs have key injuries, although the storm "may" get Hughes back just in time.

I was pretty ill just when Warriors are down by only 4 after the Leka try, and the tide swinging the Warriors way fast after some long tough defending, the ref standing right next to what to me was a 3m forward pass "blinks". I hate complaining about refs, happens to all teams, just after 2 games already this year being decided by incorrect decisions it does crush the spirt as we will never know what "might" have been. Panthers ended any chance of a come back with 10-15min to go but it was that 8-12 forward pass try moment that really ended it. But thats Rugby League, greatest game on earth.

Regardless, Warriors had their chances mid season at 10w/3l, rest of season was just not what I think fans were expecting. Personally I was expecting offensive intensity to lift.

They finished 12th overall in offense, which pretty much says it all (esp given the high territory rate), the defense got them to the 8 but they are lacking enough X factor and creativity in offense (which is odd for the Warriors), especially in the backline to get them more points. Its a conundrum for Mr Webbie. The players when all fit are there, Ali Lietaua, Berry and Metcalf are the point of difference, with Lieataua especially being a very creative centre feeding off Metcalf, Leka playing out wide, Metcalf plus CNK backing up off the hip of the known offloading Forwards in middle 3rd (Leka, Vaimauga, Clark etc), Barnett back will just make the forwards even more dominant. Throw Sam Healey in at the final 20m for ruck and offside retreating defense carnage, Tuaupiki imo needs a spot on wing and with contracts ending next year may get an oppurtunity, Boyd also being a quality 7 if needed, its all there if the Coach flips the switch on offense.

You have 3 teams all using similar defense as Ciraldo was the defensive Coach for Cleary's Panther and clearly Webbie was also an assistant coach.

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#3415285 16-Sep-2025 08:12

TeaLeaf:

I still think Raiders are a strong chance provided they beat Sharks, which they should. Both Storm and Bulldogs have key injuries, although the storm "may" get Hughes back just in time.

Regardless, Warriors had their chances mid season at 10w/3l, rest of season was just not what I think fans were expecting. Personally I was expecting offensive intensity to lift.

Yea, favourites at home but the Sharks are playing great and on a run of 8 wins from last 9 games. Sharks are my 2nd fav team so it will be a hard watch. Sadly I have a theatre function on Saturday night and for the first time this season I will not be able to watch the game at all :-(

Panthers are big favs vs the bulldogs, but if they can fix up the Galvin/Sexton area that game in front of a potential 80,000+ will be HUGE.

On the warriors season you got it 100% right, you have to have the attack to win games and sadly they didn't. Some big work on's for next year.

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#3415301 16-Sep-2025 10:50

JPNZ:

Yea, favourites at home but the Sharks are playing great and on a run of 8 wins from last 9 games. Sharks are my 2nd fav team so it will be a hard watch. Sadly I have a theatre function on Saturday night and for the first time this season I will not be able to watch the game at all :-(

Panthers are big favs vs the bulldogs, but if they can fix up the Galvin/Sexton area that game in front of a potential 80,000+ will be HUGE.

On the warriors season you got it 100% right, you have to have the attack to win games and sadly they didn't. Some big work on's for next year.

Yeh it was Sharks or Roosters as the dark horse for me about 4 weeks out from Finals, when Sam Walker got injured again I moved to Sharks, Hynes is equally as classy as Cleary imo, clutch halves who show patience. Raiders just need to get back to using offense as their means of defense and they should go well. Its looking like another cracker of a game either way.

I think the Bulldogs depends on its halves more than any other team even though a defense being their strength, if Chricton it is out surely they can make it work given how good Sexton was/is for them. I still think it was one of the stranger signings this year. Its hard to imagine a fit Panthers side losing, but cant write the Bulldogs off after leading the comp for much of the year.

I hope Hughes will be able to play for the Storm as that will be a cracker of a prelim if he does, whoever they face.

The Broncos will be very hard to get passed now, Walsh is just an agent of adlib chaos. They much depend on him for their x factor obviously.

Sucks you will miss the game, be sure to not accidentally stumble upon the score when looking for the replay.

I was thinking about the Warriors offense, it was Ali Lieataua offloading to Metcalf under the posts for our first try at home this season. I see that being a massive combination in the future back on the inside. But Im looking for one more X Factor player to put fresh pace and ruggedness outside Rocco Berry if RTS retires next year. For me the player to watch in NSW Cup is Kali. Very interested to see if he gets some first grade time next year. Tu was also quite exciting at times when replacing Tuaupiki at FB.

I think in 26 the exciting Centres Berry and Lieataua especially, feeding off Metcalf, CHT, Egan and Healey, along with flashy DWZ who still is a great finisher, having some genuine pace on the other side could provide more options, along with CNK joining in the back line sweep makes for an extremely potent backline. Throw Leka in that out wide and its hard to see the creativity not returning. The forwards were super solid. Next year with JFH (C) and Barnett returning after the ACL being a big player who can produce big minutes, Clark has been massive since joining the team, the young forwards Leka and Vamauga, all who have played have stood up and been excellent and should provide the go forward next year even better than a great job this year. Laban hopefully heals well too.

Interesting signings for 26 in 19yo 5/8th from Newc for 3 years, supposedly hes quick and has a solid running game. Interesting to see how the 19yo develops. And the other interesting one for me is the 21yo Rabbitohs winger returning to Auck, hes tall at 6ft4 and imposing at 100+ kg, could provide somebody else to contest the high ball in time. Hes also signed 3yrs. Lastly a 21yo 2nd rower from Leeds UK, Gannon. I think they sound like promising signings.

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#3417314 22-Sep-2025 10:17

Man the Panthers just put a warning out to the comp!

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TeaLeaf

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#3420272 1-Oct-2025 15:04

JPNZ:

Man the Panthers just put a warning out to the comp!

Yeh they sure did, it was looking like the first time a team may win the Premiership from that spot in the 8 AND not since the great St George team to win 5yrs in a row. Nek minut, the Broncos game. Again some very odd decisions from the ref. I thought at 14-0 the Panthers were going to win and more than likely win the Grand Final. But as I kept saying late in reg season, the Broncos were becoming disturbingly X factor, some would say desperate football, but passes and plays that should normally have finished turned into tries yet again for them.

With just Walsh I wouldnt have factored them to beat the Storm, but now with Reynolds back, the class of one of the best halves of his era just adds more structure into their offense, meaning they dont need to rely on Walsh throwing hail marys to score points, as much.

I honestly can't split them. Broncos have to play loosey goosey footy to win, Storm are a much better traditional League team. But both sides have need their #7's back to have any chance of reaching the GF and now possibly winning it. For me the Storm are the better team across the park on paper, but the Broncos are a very good hot potato high risk high reward team. I expect whoever wins will need to score 20+ to win it. The Broncos have a pretty good Spine, but for me its the experience and polished X factor of the Storm spine that stands out with 1. Papenhuyzen 6. Munster 7 Hughes 9. Harry Grant. You could chuck most NRL players in and around that spine and expect good results. Not to forget the the flying big frame of Coates on the wing.

2/3 of reg season in I would not have expected either of these teams to win the GF, or Broncos possibly also to miss making the 8. But Walsh changed that. Will structure, polished big name spine and strong defense win or will it be the excitement machine that cannot be written off with enough time left on the clock in the Broncos.....

Another reg season fact, Points differential reg season #1 Storm 671/459 +212, #2 Broncos 680/508 +172

Too tight, its polished experienced Storm vs a Broncos side kind of similar but lacking the polish but still plenty potent on offense.

This is the 6th GF appearance in 10yrs from the Storm, if it wasnt for Cleary's Panthers they would have won even more premierships. Its been a long time between drinks for the Broncos.

Last time these sides played the Broncos got the job done in a good spread of points, dominated by penalties and sin bins.

TLDR: It should be an epic grand final with plenty of points being scored and big time high risk passes being made to break strong defenses on both sides.

JPNZ

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#3420273 1-Oct-2025 15:16

I think the Bronco's will win. I also think it will be high scoring. Storm are not the same team as previous years, they don't have the same defense anymore.

Broncos 13+ for a smokey...

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#3420428 1-Oct-2025 21:36

JPNZ:

Storm are not the same team as previous years, they don't have the same defense anymore.

To me the biggest difference is in their offense, fantastic spine still, but they dont have the across the park X factor outside Coates, who Im thinking will score. Defensively they were still one of the best im reg season, but I hear ya, I think its for the same reason, much like Panthers, Storm have lost of a host of experienced players.

I dont wanna give a tip because I think it could end up very close, the flip side I also think if the Broncos do win, it could be like that last time they played.

I can see it being a close one, conversely I can see a blow out.

If Broncos are in the final the better team for a GF would have been your Raiders. Conversely for Storm I think the similarity team would have been Penrith. I really wanted the NZ Panther bros to win that last game, that would have set up an epic pressure game with 5 in a row being a huge motivator, they had that game but just let the Broncos in with a sniff which is all they need.

Which will be the same if the Storm do not dominate field position and ball possession, they need to strangle the opportunity for Broncos field position and ball possession. That will also force a high error count. Hughes has to be at his best, Munster needs to be at his grubbery best at the line, Papen needs to be supporting the ball runners for offloads (which imo hes the best in the game at), Grant needs to be stealing metres and causing havoc around the ruck getting relieving penalties and catching tacklers retreating offside with his electric speed off the mark.

In some ways having two different styles of play is possibly the best promotion of a Grand Final. It shows while its a basic sport on the surface, but how you play the game is what adds the complexity and strategy.

Cant wait.

TeaLeaf

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#3420919 3-Oct-2025 11:26

JPNZ:

I think the Bronco's will win.

On that note, I saw today Petero claiming if Haas leads his side to victory he takes a big step toward the Greatest Prop of all time, alongside Lazarus, who imo was at his best at the Raiders not the Broncos, although 5 premierships across 3 teams.... pretty good. Haas has 5 dally m's, not quite as impressive, but dominant no doubt, I do think they favour Aussie players for Dally M however. It feels more like, 'who are the best Aussie players' this year at times.

I think its just a G up to try and get the guy motivated, unlike the big minute props like JFH, boppers tend to go through very quiet periods. I think Haas the two years prior was not at his peak. In fact imo in 23, AFB was the most consistent dominant big man. Haas has been better this year and claimed another Dally M.

Either way, can't wait to see if he dominates the middle 3rd, being a hard man to bring to the ground if you do not get around those big legs, a waste high tackle is when he just carries players with him. Need one high, one low and possibly another on the torso to add weight to bring to the ground. He definitely is a strong guy.

Pat Carrigan will be back from suspension (how convenient) for Sunday night to play alongside Haas.

TeaLeaf

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#3422220 6-Oct-2025 16:50

Just an insane final.

Walsh literally deserves the cup for not just being involved in nearly every try, then tackling the Storm player to force a drop of the ball over the goal line to win it, but not only all that his defense overall was next level.

But the real reason he (and of course his team mates) deserve it, is because 5 rounds out from finals the Broncos went on a charge well outside the 4. without Reynolds and it was Walsh who got them into the top 4 with the Warriors going really flat and out of the 4.

Im still a little salty on the guy, breaking his contract with the Warriors along with a mass exodus post Brownie, but hes young and this stuff happens. :-)

I do not know how he has not done more major injury's by now with the way he plays, they call him the rubber man, he literally is. He isnt well built or displays a classic hard gym worker body yet he is naturally strong. Teams just have to expect "ANYTHING" from him when he looks shut down because he could run flat out into a brick wall, bounce back and throw a 15m pin point pass to an unexpected player with an open goal line in front of them.

Of course there were other players for the Broncos but if you go back and look at the highlights, Walsh was involved in nearly every score or major defensive plays for them so its hard not to highlight his play.

There is so much more to the final, the Storm were fantastic, Hughes playing with the broken arm and jaw and scoring, at one point yet again I thought the storm would just run away with it when they were up two converted tries. And I thought that try that was dropped live was a score and likely the win, but no.

Well worth watching the highlights.

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#3422306 6-Oct-2025 18:37

Agree was an outstanding GF!

Some interesting calls, the sin bin (and lack of as well) not sure they were game changing overall (outside of Walsh being binned or marched).

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JPNZ

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#3432561 10-Nov-2025 07:39

Kiwi's pacific champs again! What a brilliant game of league last night. Bring on the world cup next year already!

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JPNZ

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#3456874 29-Jan-2026 08:26

Do we need a 2026 NRL thread or happy to keep going in this one?

Las Vegas opening round is only 31 days away :D

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maoriboy

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#3456897 29-Jan-2026 09:56

Keep it in this thread I reckon..I'm stoked that the start of the rugby and league seasons are just around the corner. Looking forward to the highs and lows of being a Hurricanes and Warriors supporter hahahaha.

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