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
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
Such a shame he’s so injury prone, I rate him when he’s firing.
Surely he’ll be shopped to the Super League when his contract is finished.
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
Such a shame he’s so injury prone, I rate him when he’s firing.
Surely he’ll be shopped to the Super League when his contract is finished.
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
Such a shame he’s so injury prone, I rate him when he’s firing.
Surely he’ll be shopped to the Super League when his contract is finished.
End of season form was poor and I think injured himself making an error but you're right he scrambles well when on form and can feed his wingers well, just not consistent enough last year. Probably let go unless he re finds his mojo.
there is always Perth and PNG as an option too
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
Such a shame he’s so injury prone, I rate him when he’s firing.
Surely he’ll be shopped to the Super League when his contract is finished.
I've said it before, but of all players hyped across all sports Berry is the one I don't get. I've never seen anything from him that makes me think he lives up to the hype. He doesn't have express pace, he doesn't beat players at will, his defence is average, he's not hard like his old man, but apparently he's good at chasing kicks (and according to @bayimports good at feeding his wings).
The simple (sad?) fact is the Warriors best centre is Pompey, and who the hell would have believed that if someone predicted it 3 or so years ago. 
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
@bayimports arrgggh bugger, didn’t know Tuapiki was injured
yes him and no ones surprise Berry lol, currently the new (ish) injuries
Such a shame he’s so injury prone, I rate him when he’s firing.
Surely he’ll be shopped to the Super League when his contract is finished.
I've said it before, but of all players hyped across all sports Berry is the one I don't get. I've never seen anything from him that makes me think he lives up to the hype. He doesn't have express pace, he doesn't beat players at will, his defence is average, he's not hard like his old man, but apparently he's good at chasing kicks (and according to @bayimports good at feeding his wings).
The simple (sad?) fact is the Warriors best centre is Pompey, and who the hell would have believed that if someone predicted it 3 or so years ago.
Berry was awful probably even by his own standards last year, when he is on, he shows glimpses of what he could be, but if we're honest we haven't seen nearly enough.
Agree with you that Pompey appears to be clear number 1, but hoping Ali L stays injury free this year, he looked good in the small amount of game time we did see of him