Little grubber would’ve been better there.
Blocker reckons we tried to go around Samoa in the first half, and went up the guts in the second. Who knew that the direct approach works best?
Nikora is some player. Defensively he’s basically as good as Mannering but on attack he has a bit of Shontayne Hape in him.
Very satisfying win after a brutal physical first half. The crowd and support for Samoa was fever pitch and it was good seeing our boys stay in the fight.
Second half we really stepped up our attacking intensity. Our bench forwards bought some heat and I think stayed on a little longer because of how they were performing. Then our starters came back on and it was lights out.
Our left side was dominant.
Just watched it, without knowing the result.
Wow what a performance from the Kiwis.
Weathered a fucking horrendous Samoan storm in the first 20-30 minutes, but started getting on top towards the end of the first half.
That second half, some of the best league I’ve seen. 30 unanswered points, just well and truely shut the door on Samoa, didn’t give them a sniff.
Stoked for Foran to sign off with the fairytale ending.
What a shame we don’t get to play Aussie, the form we’re in, we’d be bloody hard even for them to stop.
Oh and what an absolute dog shite fluffybunny Luai is.
I forgot who it was on, but that headlock tackle was bad. It was deliberate and prolonged, by far worse than any accidental head contact that gets the culprit 10 in the bin.
Scum
That was a quality game of footy.
We were good for that win and that margin. Can't undersell Foran's knowledge about when to not try something and just dig Samoa in to the grind they were losing.
Brown good. Kini good. Bench very good. Nikora good. Things are looking up for next year if Hughes is fit.
Jerome Luai can get in the bin, mouthy grub who is also a diver, and frankly he had a shit game today.
Good to read this thread and have my thoughts about Samoa getting away with stuff be echoed by others. I couldn't complain too much at the ground because I was surrounded by Samoans.
Worrying first half but was awesome once we got cooking in the second half. I think that's the best I've seen Nikora play, and Papali'i was on fire as well. I think Whyte is my new favourite league player (I haven't had one since Bromwich retired), he just gets stuck in and keeps going. Kini seemed to be getting hit a lot at the ground, but looks like he was creating space, I do wonder if Mulitalo's injury saved our campaign, in saying that CNK seemed like he was going ok but will have to check when I watch a replay.
Luai burnt his team with his Hollywood at the end of the second half, as it meant that their similar shots started getting noticed. Definitely seemed like the ref was squaring up the ledger in the second half but the TMO 50/50 seemed to go our way.
Atmosphere was pretty good, probably more Kiwi fans there than it looked on tv. But, the day was completely geared towards Samoa. Supposed to be a neutral ground for a final, but the organisers decided it was a Samoan home final. The ground announcer was Samoan, and he wouldn't shut the fuck up all game, even the Samoan fans were over him, he did slip in the odd Kiwi song (E papa, Tutira mai nga iwi), and the half time entertainment was all Samoan.
Many of the Samoan fans sitting in my area were embarrassed with the booing during the haka.
Anyway, capped of a good day of Black results.
Courier mail spreading rumours the warriors making a play for NAS.
My first gut reaction was WTF?!
My next thought was, who else is leaving? As we have 30.
Hoping this one not true
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Courier mail spreading rumours the warriors making a play for NAS.
My first gut reaction was WTF?!
My next thought was, who else is leaving? As we have 30.
Hoping this one not true
I thought a few of our 30 have been given permission to check out the market.
I don't mind NAS, he's a NZer and everyone knows my feelings about one of the guys we have playing prop, plus we don't make the grand final so we don't have to worry about him being suspended for it.
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Courier mail spreading rumours the warriors making a play for NAS.
My first gut reaction was WTF?!
My next thought was, who else is leaving? As we have 30.
Hoping this one not trueI thought a few of our 30 have been given permission to check out the market.
I don't mind NAS, he's a NZer and everyone knows my feelings about one of the guys we have playing prop, plus we don't make the grand final so we don't have to worry about him being suspended for it.
Right now he gets penalized even for doing nothing wrong because of who he is, changing the refs view is also hard.
I believe they are still contracted for 2026, but yes as of Nov 1 can look for 2027.
This would mean one goes early unless its someone else. Dont mind if on a massive discount and if Webby can turn him around like Barney, big ask though and for me depends on who he replaces..
We don't need him. JFH is there to bring the new boys in the forwards on. No more expensive vets ready to mail it in
This Pacific Championship has certainly bought the passion out. This one made me laugh
The ARL Commission allowing those boys to play Origin and for the Islands is the best thing that ever happened to International Rugby League.
Having someone like Haas, a first pick Origin and Kangaroos player, play for Samoa whilst still in his prime is going to mean others will follow now and for years to come.
@ACT-Crusader said in NRL 2025:
Having someone like Haas, a first pick Origin and Kangaroos player, play for Samoa whilst still in his prime is going to mean others will follow now and for years to come.
I thought the competition was a huge success
We have a few guys coming back to, Hughes was a big loss
Yeah Hughes and JMK will make a big difference, we just have to hope players aren't rubbed out via injury and suspension come RLWC time. The Origin eligibility might have changed by then too, so we'll have some depth at fullback.
Hughes and Brown in the halves, yes please. And I was a little harsh on Foran even though he could barely run or take the ball to the line, he marshalled a few good plays for us. Plus he’s an active talker out there which was important particularly for some of our younger boys.
@ACT-Crusader I agree on Foran. I had my doubts with him, but he organised & did the basics well, and his kicking game was mostly on point. Just what you want from your veteran half.
The Parramatta Eels can confirm that Zac Lomax has been granted an immediate release from his playing contract to pursue opportunities outside the NRL.