The Knights are scary good right now. Ponga playing fullback and just roaming the field is terrifying defences. They have a tough pack, maybe the form centre combo in the comp, and good wingers as well. If they keep this up no one is going to be happy to face them in September.
@mariner4life and Tohu out with back injury maybe not even back for finals
Knights look good, luckily for those they play, they do have defensive brain saps like us and guys like Marzhew who are awesome tackle busters and try scorers are not that great defending..still you have to manage Ponga which is easier said than done
Go Broncos.. if they win, we might actually rest a few players
@bayimports said in NRL 2023:
@mariner4life and Tohu out with back injury maybe not even back for finals
Worst news this year. He’s been a colossus. Not sure we have a player on our roster that can do half of what he does on both sides of the ball.
his ball playing has improved as the year has gone on, which it needed to as Webster has him playing the Yeo role.
I think he over did it a bit on the weekend, but that's such a minor quibble. Our shape will be very very different if he can't play. Walker to play through the middle?
I would imagine Walker is the obvious choice, ball playing will let no one down, adds more impact off the bench, but as a stop gap might be enough and hopefully Tohu back the following week.
A lot of speculation around teams to be named today. Broncos and Storm resting players, Broncos especially resting half the team. Ponga out injured for Newcastle, speculation Cleary to be rested as well. Cowboys watching with interest 
I wouldn't be surprised if we follow suit and a few fringe players also get a run. Williame finally free of injury, Kalani Going and Sifakula could get a run. Barnett could be back after his injury as well and may completely swap out AFB as well.
Everyone who can is resting players!
Brisbane v Melbourne is basically a Q-Cup game
Except Penrith. Because apparently fuck the cowboys
There are rumours of Clearly being a late out, but that's all they are right now, Edwards back is a big in for them anyway.
Edwards had last week off so they will play him. I am more surprised that the starting props and Yeo are named.
Not ideal about Luke. And while I’ve been critical he has been a part of a winning team this season.
We will miss him because the last thing I want to see is an over use by SJ. Luke had been a good foil for SJ because at the very least Luke had the confidence to make a play especially to run.
@ACT-Crusader said in NRL 2023:
Not ideal about Luke. And while I’ve been critical he has been a part of a winning team this season.
We will miss him because the last thing I want to see is an over use by SJ. Luke had been a good foil for SJ because at the very least Luke had the confidence to make a play especially to run.
What's Roger doing right now....?
well, we spoke a couple of weeks ago about the disappointing season at the Bulldogs. If the Roosters make finals, i reckon the Dogs are the prime contenders for biggest disappointment
The last couple of weeks has been a shitfight. And, if you read it all a certain way, the new coach has come in, tried to set some standards (maybe using the wrong methods, but at least trying) and the guys coasting do not like it at all. TPJ straight up retired to avoid it.
They are in an absolute hole. They got the coach they wanted. They bought high profile players. And they suck.
@mariner4life I don't have a problem with Ciraldo's methods. Clearly he is trying to get them to take ownership for their own actions, build discipline in their own lives etc. They obviously do need a clean out with some serious non performers including big names just not willing to put in the effort. I don't support the Bulldogs but I would be happy to see the back of TPJ and Topine if I was a supporter. It may well serve as a warning to the rest that things also have to change.
@mariner4life it’s nice to be the club that they aren’t talking about having a bad culture, poor management and crap coaching.
Hard to see where the light at the end of the tunnel is for the Dogs. A few players that don’t want to be there but on biggish contracts that will unlikely get picked up by other clubs.
Karma is a Dog
Congrats to Kalani Going, who was completely shafted over the past couple of years by Northland. He should have had a decent crack in the midfield ahead of another consistently rubbish player, who for some reason keeps being picked.
Decent bloke to boot, stoked for him!
Cant see it happening but I am hoping both the Raiders and Cowboys get up this weekend..just pushes Roosters out again. Roosters not back to best but on a roll for sure, like to see that squashed
Sure we are resting a few top players, but getting hammered at the moment. However If the Phins were any good they would have probably triple the score by now.
12 -0
I know we had plenty of frontline talent out, but it was still frustrating to watch because I thought we created a number of chances but then let ourselves down with a few poor errors.
So with us losing we will finish 4th. As it sits right now we are a chance to play either the Panthers or the Broncos.
@ACT-Crusader Penrith already appear to be saying Warriors please!
Think the Storm might have a good record against the Broncos too
@bayimports said in NRL 2023:
@ACT-Crusader Penrith already appear to be saying Warriors please!
Think the Storm might have a good record against the Broncos too
Hopefully their injuries affect them and Webster knows them well so perhaps he can find us ways to hurt them
@bayimports said in NRL 2023:
@ACT-Crusader Penrith already appear to be saying Warriors please!
Think the Storm might have a good record against the Broncos too
Yeah storm have a very good record against the broncos but most of that time had a much better team than now,
but I was reading online comments from broncos supporters who clearly don’t want to play them claiming they are their official bogey team .
final weekend of the regular season was an absolute fizzer.
Broncos B v Melbourne B was actually a good game, with the baby storm winning to keep one of the more remarkable streaks alive.
Manly thumped the inept Tigers
The Roosters won the elimination final against the Bunnies, who fell a loooong way down the table.
The Warriors reserves got pumped.
The Cowboys failed to turn up when it mattered again, and got fucking flogged by Penrith. Something is wrong in NQ.
Newcastle are flying in to finals, and if Ponga is right, they are a chance of going all the way to lose to Penrith in the GF
Apparently the Titans and the Bulldogs played yesterday, but no one cares
Canberra lost to the Sharks, but limped in to the finals with a disgraceful points diff. The rest of the comp should be embarrassed.
And so week 1 of the finals
Friday is Melbourne v Broncos in Brisbane. The Storm have beaten the Broncos like 14 times in a row or something.
Warriors get the 4pm slot on Saturday when we shock the Panthers
Saturday night is the Sharks v the Roosters
and the weekend finishes up with the Knights and Raiders
Brisbane
Penrith
Roosters
Knights
Think those predicted winners look right.
Sharks could beat the Roosters, but have no confidence in tipping them.
Knights on fire
@mariner4life said in NRL 2023:
@bayimports said in NRL 2023:
Hard to pick the order of the res
got to have a go though aye?
Cronulla
Penrith
Roosters
Cowboys
Souths
Melbourne
Brisbane
Manly
Parramatta
Gold Coast
Bulldogs
Raiders
Tigers
Warriors
Dragons
Knights
DolphinsCowboys beat the Roosters in the GF
there ya go, total shit show.
overrated the Sharks and definitely the Cowboys and Souths
Did pick Parra to miss the 8.
Hugely underrated us and the Knights
@bayimports said in NRL 2023:
@mariner4life for when we laugh at how far off we were
Roosters
Cronulla
Penrith
Melbourne
Cowboys
Souths
Parramatta
Bulldogs
Brisbane
Manly
Raiders
Warriors
Gold Coast
Tigers
Dragons
Knights
Dolphins
@mariner4life I think I was worse than you for sure lol
@mariner4life yeah I thought I would choose one improver who was outside the eight..clearly chose the wrong one
probably strongest team we could field and thankfully no ginger work experience ref
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