New pre season underway
Signings happening, rumoured to be happening and who plays where for 2026? SO whats been happening recently
Haas signs short term contract only
Dargons still cant spell and sign "keon"
Curran now a Bear
Lomax with Folau lawyer trying to find a loophole to play for Storm
Closer to home, rumours Tuapiki to start at FLB with Metcalf out for early season. Can only hope this one is true CNK to centre works for me
The Lomax story is hilarious, and i am honestly astounded that the Storm want to touch him given his recent history. His agent and R360 fucked him good, what an absolute dumbass. I hope the Eels make him rot at the Western Force.
Yeah I agree complete making of his own volition, cant see the NRL making it easy for him either. Although there is a world where an extra player from the Storm also joins the Eels as a sweetener, the problem for the Storm is there is no one the Eels want right now that the Storm are also willing to let go
End of an era at the Storm it looks
Meaney and Wishart are off to the Bears.
Bellamy must also be on his last legs, unless the idea of a full rebuild actually excites him.
We've been predicting the death of the Storm for like a decade and we haven't been close to right yet
Bellamy and the Storm have been unreal, I would suggest we may have been predicting their demise for longer than a decade but still kill it. Depends on how long Bellamy also stays I guess. Big losses to the make up of that team but lets see
20 days later
Gave a lifetime to the role, but was well past his used by date for quite a while and somehow remained
New law changes for the NRL this year
Trainer rules – Trainers will be restricted from entering the field of play to prescribed and clearly defined circumstances. This will ensure player safety remains the priority while reducing unnecessary intrusions by Trainers carrying messages.
Interchange rules – Teams may interchange four players, up to eight times per match, from a squad of six players (players 14 to 19 inclusive).
Accidental breach (“zero tackle”) in-goal – There will be no seven-tackle set following a knock-on in-goal by the attacking team.
Restarting the tackle count – For certain infringements beyond the 20-metre line, the tackle count will restart, replacing the current 40-metre threshold.
Kick off rule not implemented
The biggest change for this year will clearly be the bench. You still only get to use four reserves, but the unexpected injury should be able to be covered, or you could tactically bring on a game breaker if your half hasn't been hit by the hammy sniper.
Looking forward to this change
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
Looking forward to this change
i hate it. two guys, probably young halves, instead of learning the game in Q-Cup, will sit and watch almost all games.
This only came about because coaches want to be able to stack their bench with middle forwards and a hooker, AND cover for injury. The NRL should have told them to get fucked and change their bench rotation or take the risk.
This is the equivalent of rugby having 10 on the bench but still allowing 8 subs. Rassie would sub the whole pack.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
Looking forward to this change
i hate it. two guys, probably young halves, instead of learning the game in Q-Cup, will sit and watch almost all games.
This only came about because coaches want to be able to stack their bench with middle forwards and a hooker, AND cover for injury. The NRL should have told them to get fucked and change their bench rotation or take the risk.
This is the equivalent of rugby having 10 on the bench but still allowing 8 subs. Rassie would sub the whole pack.
lol, I expect a few young halves will get minutes at senior level that they would have never have got previously at all. Yes, in a lot of cases it could mean sitting on a bench for weekends on end and not getting on, but I still think this is positive.
Certainly can understand the concern though and for all the rules rugby adapts clearly this is one that has been taken from union. I will only call this negative if by sitting on the bench they don't get to play NSWRL or Q cup
Not sure I’m a fan of the extras on the bench.
It lessens the role of the utility, could hurt the likes of TMM. They’ll chuck Healey and a specialist half on the bench, Boyd probably.
Upside is the dangerous Healey could see more game time I suppose.
I can see some sticking with their same core bench rotations and just having a specialist half and outside back on there as insurance.
It’ll be very interesting to see how it plays out, and the different tactics the coaches use.
Any inside goss on what the Warriors backline will look like?
I hope they start with
Tuapiki
AKP
Pompey
CNK
RTS
CHT
Boyd
But I think the coaches will go
CNK
AKP
Pompey
RTS
DWZ
CHT
Boyd
Shit, we’ll have a whole backline of double barrelled names soon!
are we facing ANOTHER year of CHT in the team?? shit
I hope to god DWZ doesn't play a minute. Please do not let CNK anywhere near the 1 jersey.
Given Tuapiki currently injured then dont see them playing CNK anywhere else. Backline seen in training has been lining up as the following
CNK
AKP
Ali L
RTS
Pompey
CHT
Boyd
forwards likely
JFH
Egan
Marata
Kurt
leka
Erin
then Healey, Demetric, Ford, Laban, and Morgan
Forwards could be any combinations, but likely anyway until Barney also back from injury
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
New law changes for the NRL this year
Trainer rules – Trainers will be restricted from entering the field of play to prescribed and clearly defined circumstances. This will ensure player safety remains the priority while reducing unnecessary intrusions by Trainers carrying messages.
Interchange rules – Teams may interchange four players, up to eight times per match, from a squad of six players (players 14 to 19 inclusive).
Accidental breach (“zero tackle”) in-goal – There will be no seven-tackle set following a knock-on in-goal by the attacking team.
Restarting the tackle count – For certain infringements beyond the 20-metre line, the tackle count will restart, replacing the current 40-metre threshold.
Kick off rule not implemented
The biggest change for this year will clearly be the bench. You still only get to use four reserves, but the unexpected injury should be able to be covered, or you could tactically bring on a game breaker if your half hasn't been hit by the hammy sniper.
Looking forward to this change
Yeah, I like it too. Will make teams think a lot harder as to how they will use them/combat opposition interchanges.
They sort of had 18 anyway.
Assuming that they dont name an 18th man now.
So only an increase of one, but that one will be a forward for sure.
Yes, Rassie would f'n love this.
All Stars teams named: https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/02/05/2026-harvey-norman-all-stars-teams-announced/
Māori All Stars (Men)
Jesse Arthars, Joe Chan, Zach Dockar-Clay, JoJo Fifita, James Fisher-Harris, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban, Casey McLean, Te Maire Martin, Trey Mooney, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Adam Pompey, Leo Thompson, Trent Toelau, Manaia Waitere, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Coach: Adam Blair
Indigenous All Stars (Men)
Josh Addo-Carr, Jayden Campbell, Tallis Duncan, Jamal Fogarty, Trai Fuller, Nicholas Hynes, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Josh Kerr, Kaiden Lahrs, Shaquai Mitchell, Oliver Pascoe, Joshua Patston, Hohepa Puru, Jesse Ramien, Ethan Roberts, Blake Steep, Braydon Trindall, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton, Brent Woolf. Coach: Ronald Griffiths
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
