NRL 2025
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Te Whare seems to be going ok.
Huh, he was a rugby player who went to league so not really comparable to Manu.
Japanese rugby has managed to get his weight down which was something even Bennett couldn't do.
Anyway, this is all speculation from the Mole so who knows if it's even remotely close to the truth.
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So the Maori All Stars team have looked at Websters small man bench tactic and said hold my fucking beer:
- Kalyn Ponga
- Will Warbrick
- Dane Gagai
- Mawene Hiroti
- Jesse Arthars
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Kodi Nikorima
- Royce Hunt
- Jeremy Marshall-King
- James Fisher-Harris
- Jordan Riki
- Jacob Laban
- Leo Thompson
14. Keano Kini
15. Jazz Tevaga
17. Zach Dockar-Clay
19. Kurtis MorrinJazz is the giant of that bench.
CNK at 6?
I wonder if it's too late to get a refund.
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If it was a normal match you would suggest bigger minutes for starting pack. However its more of a trial with more feeling. Cant say indigenous pack is huge either, but you're right Morrin and Jazz probably dont break 100kg and Zach and Keano are probably 100 between them lol.
I would say ZDC and KP are both better ball players than CNK, at least one starts -
Well Webby won’t drop CNK from fullback but playing CHT at 6 and TMM at fullback with Metcalf at 7 looked really good against an admittedly well below strength Melbourne. Good confidence builder anyway
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@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Well Webby won’t drop CNK from fullback but playing CHT at 6 and TMM at fullback with Metcalf at 7 looked really good against an admittedly well below strength Melbourne. Good confidence builder anyway
The lengths he's going to not play RTS there is fucking strange.
They'll learn little from that, it was slightly opposed training run.
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@Nepia it’s funny I actually think our squad is relatively strong, but Webster doesn’t seem to take any learnings into account and will undoubtedly select a team that looks like it gets in each others way and under deliver again.
No big injuries and confidence probably only positives
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@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
@Nepia it’s funny I actually think our squad is relatively strong, but Webster doesn’t seem to take any learnings into account and will undoubtedly select a team that looks like it gets in each others way and under deliver again.
No big injuries and confidence probably only positives
I'm much less confidence in the strength of our squad this year than you.
Webster didn't adjust last year when the 2023 game plan was worked out so I agree with you final comment.
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Right I’m calling my ranking early for this before pre season ends, needless to say a bit controversial at the bottom end. To be honest I think you could throw a blanket over the bottom seven.
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Broncos
Sea eagles
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Dolphins
Raiders
Cowboys
Dragons
Roosters
Tigers
Eels
Warriors
Titans
Knights -
Pleased we were able to hold on. Some desperation plays saved the day.
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@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Right I’m calling my ranking early for this before pre season ends, needless to say a bit controversial at the bottom end. To be honest I think you could throw a blanket over the bottom seven.
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Broncos
Sea eagles
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Dolphins
Raiders
Cowboys
Dragons
Roosters
Tigers
Eels
Warriors
Titans
Knights@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Right I’m calling my ranking early for this before pre season ends, needless to say a bit controversial at the bottom end. To be honest I think you could throw a blanket over the bottom seven.
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Broncos
Sea eagles
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Dolphins
Raiders
Cowboys
Dragons
Roosters
Tigers
Eels
Warriors
Titans
KnightsHope you are right in regards to the Roosters.
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So after the transport kerfuffle, made it out to Parra for the match - west connex does make for a quick, if expensive drive. Made the mistake of eating pizza nearby and then getting to the ground and there being way better food options, and reasonably priced too - they have franchise options like Ribs n Burgers, Roll'd etc.
Game was a mostly fun watch but a pretty low standard Baabaa type game but with weirdly not many points. Didn't click it was being playing in quarters so thought the first half went by really fast. I also didn't click that it was Ponga at 1 for the first half and not CNK. We got the result in the end though so that's what counts.
Possible GOM thread: a big problem with Commbank, the vaping is out of control and the security staff don't do anything about it. I will seriously rethink going to another match there due to it. I wear contacts and vaping is not great on the eyes.
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Māori repel Indigenous All Stars in gripping clash
Māori captain Dane Gagai delivered on a promise to win for his mum with a try saving tackle in the dying moments of Saturday night's gripping All Stars clash.
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@African-Monkey said in NRL 2025:
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Right I’m calling my ranking early for this before pre season ends, needless to say a bit controversial at the bottom end. To be honest I think you could throw a blanket over the bottom seven.
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Broncos
Sea eagles
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Dolphins
Raiders
Cowboys
Dragons
Roosters
Tigers
Eels
Warriors
Titans
Knights@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Right I’m calling my ranking early for this before pre season ends, needless to say a bit controversial at the bottom end. To be honest I think you could throw a blanket over the bottom seven.
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Broncos
Sea eagles
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Dolphins
Raiders
Cowboys
Dragons
Roosters
Tigers
Eels
Warriors
Titans
KnightsHope you are right in regards to the Roosters.
They are relying on Chad and a youngster in the halves with no Manu as back up. If there is ever a time they fall I think it is this year. Could be wrong but thats my bold prediction
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@Nepia quite enjoy the Parramatta stadium, haven't had a problem myself with vaping but I get it. Pretty easy fix too.
Pretty intense game for a pre season hit out though, as you say a win is a a win
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@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
@Nepia quite enjoy the Parramatta stadium, haven't had a problem myself with vaping but I get it. Pretty easy fix too.
Pretty intense game for a pre season hit out though, as you say a win is a a win
Oh yeah everything else about it is great, the (normally) easy access from the city, get a great view of the field, I've now learnt it has good food options, lots of amenities etc.
I might have to send the GOM message about the vaping.
Yeah good to get a win, especially as we arrived to see the Maori woman's team lose in the final play of the game.
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276K views · 3.3K reactions | Married at first sign NEW ZEALAND 😂😂 |...
Married at first sign NEW ZEALAND 😂😂.
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Preview time!
One week until opening round in Vegas. Pretty sure the playing teams are already there, or at least on their way. We've had a couple of weeks of trials that mean fuck all because most big names sit them out, and it's watching Q-Cup and NSW-Cup players run around.
Club by club i guess last season's ladder is a good place to start
Storm: Well beaten in the GF no matter what the score. The least affected by the off-season, have added a little bit more back talent, now it's fitting them in. I thought last year their weakness was the middles, and Cam Munster being a bit shit. They've added a talent who didn't want to be at the Tigers, so he'll probably be a rep player by the end of the year. Currently the favourite, and will good reason. Bellamy is still the coach, they have a great spine. Will definitely finish top 4.
Penrith: Coming of a four-peat (remember when it was impossible to go back-to-back?). As with all successful teams they are getting picked off. This time they have lost their heart in Luai and Fish. Still a loaded squad, and the Yeo/Cleary/Edwards trio are the best winners out there. Martin and To'o are in the conversation for the best in the league in their positions. That's a lot of international level talent. BUT, Cleary can't take a month off this year to freshen up without Luia to carry the load. They have signed a couple of really good players to fill in, but for once their team isn't just a role-call of rep players. Shit, surely this year they can't win? Will still make top 4 unless their injury luck runs out.
Roosters: The first of our big fallers. Managed to finish 3rd last year, then went out after a hiding from Melbourne in the prelim. They are without halves with Walker broken, and Keary in England. They have signed The Chad but what does that do? Manu is gone. Suaalii Half their pack is gone. They looked ordinary for large parts of last year, and they haven't signed much. Lots resting on Collins, Leniu, Butcher and Radley. Can easily see them missing the 8.
Sharks: There or thereabouts for the last 2 seasons before doing little in the finals. Their middles are an issue, so they went and got AFB off us. Everything rests on Hynes at 7. Origin has ruined that poor boy, so hopefully for him he isn't even thought about in that arena this year and he just plays club football. Will finish top 4 and should push for a GF.
Cowboys: The first real "who the fuck knows" clubs. They have rissoled the Chad which will improve them. But they have lost a bit of talent. Val Holmes is in Illawarra. Luki broke his knee. Jury is still well out on Peyton as a coach too. Can see them sliding, can't see them finishing higher than last year.
Bulldogs: Just keep buying Penrith players until you win. They have offloaded the naughty JAC to the Eels, and signed a couple of experienced pros. Defensively they are really good, but i think their attack is a bit shit. Should make the 8.
Manly: More questions than answers. Got towelled by the Roosters in their last game last year. Does DCE have one more good year in him? Can Tommy Turbo survive a year. Is Seibold a good coach? Manly were scitzo last year, in the same game they would look sublime, and then fall completely in a heap. They've really bolstered their pack by signing Jazz off us. They haven't really lost anyone. They should make the 8 but i wouldn't be at all surprised to see them finish 10th
Newcastle: As usual, among the favourites for the spoon. They haven't signed any needle movers. Their halves options are among the worst in the comp. As usual, it's "can Kalyn Ponga" make it through a season? If he goes down, Knights for the spoon, and AOB first coach sacked.
Raiders: Sticky Ricky and his merry bunch of battlers. They have lost a bit of experience around the place, guys like Cotric and Rapana, and they will be pretty young. The Raiders do have some shithot young players at their disposal, and while Ricky's teams aren't good to watch, or score too many, they are seldom easy to beat. Hovering around the edge of the 8 as usual.
Dolphins: Will Christian Woolf be the first coach to buck the Bennett curse? The roster is actually in a decent spot, so he is better placed than most. They have lost some decent forwards in Aitken and Bromwich, but they have added some nice pieces like Finefeuiaki and Saifiti. They will rely on the rest of the veteran forwards standing up, Katoa to continue to develop, and Hammer to be the showpiece.
Dragon: Early spoon favourites believe it or not. Lost Hunt to the Broncos, and Lomax to the Eels, who were their best players last year. They have added the oldest cohort in the league in Cook, Gutherson and Holmes. Gutho's knees are cooked, but the other 2 have something to offer, and at least Gutho never stops trying to win. Their halves look like they will stink, and i hope all sorts of bad luck happens to Flanagan. Bottom 4
Broncos: The biggest question mark. You will rarely see a team operate so far below its talent level as the 2024 Brisbane Broncos. Kevvie lost his way, and you could see their effort dropped. So they bought in Madge who is a hard-ass, and so we find out what happens when a bunch of pampered pretty boys meets a guy who just wants to yell at them. They have added Ben Hunt to cover the half the season Reynolds is not available, and they didn't really lose anyone. They need middles to not rely on Payne Hass and Pat Carrigan to do absolutely everything. They need backs who care about effort and defending. They need a hooker who can pass (ie not you Billy). If it goes will, they will finish top 4. If it doesn't the blow up will be spectacular.
Warriors: Eesh. We're in the spoon fight boys. Last year was a disaster. We lost the best attacking prop in the game. At least we replaced him with a guy who commands immediate respect. Harris and SJ are gone, but they had poor years. We haven't added much in the way of needle movers, so we are hoping for internal improvement. I think the pack will be solid, if lacking in edge threats. I have grave concerns of our halves, CNK at FB, the attacking threat our centres provide, and the speed of our outsides. Webby will have to coach his ass off. This side cannot play the patient pressure game he tried last year, we need action and we need points. Expect little.
Titans: A spoon contender if ever i saw one. Des will be in the gun early. Questionable halves. Too many fullbacks. Big name forwards on big money who don't always turn up. Tino is apparently playing this weekend which is a huge in. They better hope a couple of others come back too. Does David Fifita even want to be there? Have they learned to tackle yet? I don't see much hope on the GC
Eels: last year was ugly, it cost their coach his job, and they did not improve. They got the coveted signature of Jason Ryles, and he wasted no time stamping his mark. Gutho is out. RCG is out. Couple they wanted to keep are gone too in Talagi and Sanders. Zac Lomax is in, but he brings the headache of being one of the best wingers in the comp who wants to play centre, where he is average. This team lives and dies on Mitch Moses. If Mitch gets hurt they are going nowhere.
Bunnies: Wayne is here, prepare the parade!!! i am not sure 100 year old Wayne Bennett has the energy for this. the squad is definitely better than 2nd last, but they are light in the halves. They let Cook go. And now Latrell is out for a while with a hamstring, and Cam Murray fucked his knee and might miss the year. Both in one training session. Fucking ouch. Aitken is a good get. They got a young half from St Helens. But i think the squad is a bit light, especially when you stick their injuries on top of it. Will take a miracle for them to compete.
The Tigers: Ah the Tigers. Is this the year they rise from the bottom? It was supposed to be last year after they got rid of the Board, and they won 6 games, and in their "final" ie the game that might let them avoid the spoon, they got belted. Can Benji even coach? They have added some decent pieces. Jerome Luia is obviously the biggest. He's bought Turuva with him from Penrith. Bird, Hunt, Skelton and May will all go straight in to the 17. Word is they are trying to offload Klemmer before the season even begins. They have good young players with a solid core. If not this year then probably never and they should just fold the club.
