Warriors first trial game in Napier.
A lot of reserve graders playing, and it’s wet, but a lot of ugly and lazy errors coming from the Warriors, especially on tackles 1 and 2 in that first half.
Real bad news for warriors fans is the coach declaring they've never come back fitter.
We all know what happens after that
@mariner4life that score was pure training the house down
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
Tigers pump the roosters.
Early entry for finish of the year too
That try is why NRL took 800 mil last year, that was a pure bums on seats try
Hull KR beat Brisbane to win World Club Challenge
aaand we're back! NRL kicks off this weekend in Vegas. While scoffed at by many, the season opening weekend in Vegas has been a roaring success. Which is why it is so surprising that the NRL has set out to actively sabotage it this year by taking the Knights, the Cowboys, the Dragons and the Bulldogs supporters over. 3 of these teams will fight out the spoon, at there is a huge probability that two of the teams will sack their coach this year. And yet the biggest crimes will probably be Dogs supporters at the Casino. Wait, actually, most of them probably won't get past US Border protection on looks alone.
What does the season hold? fuck knows. Preseason is completely meaningless, except maybe for Nathan Cleary who is looking at 3 weeks for a shoulder to the head. Ivan probably didn't get him maccas on the way home after that one.
how will everyone go? fuck knows.
Brisbane roll in as defending premiers. They won the comp on the back of being able to blow teams away at the back end of games with all out attack. They tried that last week and came up just a little short. Need to find a way to play with a little more control. It would be a brave man who calls them to fall away given the talent they have on board.
Melbourne were the beaten grand finalists. Melbourne never fucking die. Papi is gone from fullback, they've lost quality depth players, who have not been replaced. For all that, they still have Hughes, Munster and Grant, and that will take you a long way. Katoa may be their biggest loss given how many points he contributed from an otherwise workmanlike pack last year.
Penrith are back with almost the same main team. They've been up for a while, but that is a ridiculous roster still, and guys like McLean are getting better. As long as they stay injury free they should be favourites.
Cronulla are the same team as last year, and will be the same team as last year, probably consistent enough to make the 8, not good enough to win it. AFB will play Origin this year though.
The Dogs have been building over a few years. I still think they lack the spine to be a genuinely good team, but they "mostly" defend well, and have a few points in them when required. Will make the 8 but again i don't expect them to really push on.
Canberra were last year's surprise packets, and then went out in straight sets. Ricky took the shackles off last year and let the boys play, and they were genuinely fun to watch. The Green Machine are stacked with young talent, but here's the kicker. They released their halfback, who genuinely ran everything last year. It cannot be underestimated how big a move this is, Fogarty had his best season ever and kept the Raiders in the right parts of the field that allowed that talent to shine. A fall could be on teh cards.
Where are the Wahs? Overachieved last year on the back of a few player surprises. Barnett, Fish and Clark is an elite starting middle, and we play so well off that. Is there the depth behind them now to not rely on them completely? Metcalf came out of nowhere to be a genuinely good 7 as well. Usual problems persisted, not enough points, beyond leaky edges. There is young talent there, if Webby can take the handbrake off they might be in a good spot. If he persists with the old guys, and a safety first game plan we could go south. I don't think we make the 8.
The Roosters made the 8 last year despite losing everyone last offseason, and then getting smoked by injury. They released a good young half to sign DCE i guess hoping for that Cooper Cronk bump? Will that work? Can Walker stay fit for longer than a month? Signing Robson will help their ruck work out. They still have quality everywhere, will probably pick up some good free agent on "unders". I reckon they play top 4
The Dolphins, injury luck turning around, should be the big movers from last year. They get their forward pack back after they got smoked last year. They added Cobbo to help out the backs with some depth. If Nikorima has another good year, and Marshall-King doesn't take too long to come back, they could race up the table. Need to defend way better than last year though, you can't just outscore everyone every week.
I'm backing Manly to plummet without DCE, and Seibold to get fired. I think the Turbo boys are still chewing too much cap, their middles are soft, Brooks is hopeless, and they are hoping Fogarty can hold the joint together. Still have mad wheels out wide so will score pretty tries, but also give up points in clumps.
Parra, if Moses stays fit, should push on. Hard calls were made last year and i think they paid off. Young Pezet looks a good player to play off the bench. They finished last season looking really good, and i honestly rate Moses as the best half in the comp. If he plays 80% of the season they will play finals.
The Cowboys? Massive underperformers last year. Spud coach. Can't defend. Added Matt Lodge. I don't have much hope for the Townsville lads. Surely Payten gets fired. Dearden deserves better.
The Tigers have looked okay in preseason. I still don't reckon Benji is much of a coach though. I think they will be a marginally better team than last year, maybe even get back to their historical 9th. Doueihi at halfback might be a shrewd move for them.
Souths? Smashed by injuries last year. Haven't lost anyone. Have gained the big "what if" in Dave Fifita. If Wayne can get Dave back on track then their left edge will be frightening. I am not sure what their halfback situation, and they will rely on Cody Walkers old legs. Could be anything this year.
St George are my favs for the spoon. They have a shit squad, their first grade side got humped in a trial by a NSW team. They have a shit coach who will be short in the first fired market. Dark days ahead.
Somehow Gold Coast avoided the spoon last year. Des got fired. They got the gun coach hire (well, that's what everyone expects). Got rid of the Fifita headache and started trimming the squad. They have a few good players but i think they are still a weak squad who will not move far this year. They need to show something though to attract some talent.
Newcastle finished last and fired their coach. They have a retread at the helm. They've got Brown in on maaaaasive money, meaning approximately 90% of their cap is in two players. For too long it's been Ponga or nothing, and if it's the same this year they're fucked. They've shed a few list clogging halves so that might provide some clarity. But i can't see them climbing that far.
Picking a ladder is always fucked, because this league can be both predictable, and unpredictable at the same time.
Penrith
Dogs
Roosters
Cronulla
Dolphins
Broncos
Melbourne
Eels
Raiders
Souths
Warriors
Tigers
Cowboys
Manly
Titans
Knights
Dragons
I agree with you both in that the Warriors aren't going to make the 8.
I'm interested to see how Metcalf goes when he comes back, I've said all along I think he was in an unmaintainable purple patch last year, so hopefully I'm proved wrong, I was proved wrong on Egan ... well for one season at least.
I'll be continuing my Ford and Capewell errors, penalties and missed tackles watch this year. 
Hopefully the young forwards get decent game time. Same with Ali in the centres.
Worryingly I may be losing my access to Kayo. My mate's account was closed down for sharing passwords. He updated the password, and I've had access since then, but sometimes I get a sharing passwords warning. I only watch league on Kayo, and mostly just the Warriors and one other game a weekend if I have time, so I'm not really that keen on shelling out $30 a month just for that. I checked out 9's coverage to see how many Warriors games they're playing this year - 2.
For all the complaints about Sky in NZ, at least you have the rugby and league in the one place.
@antipodean said in NRL 2026:
Tigers make the top eight this year.
I'm on board mate. Them and Parra big movers for me (despite the things happening off the field for the Tiges).
Good write up @mariner4life . Dont have time to do one of my own this week, so will just come with my prediction list
Don't think Sticky will fall, think squad will largely improve, even without Fogarty (who I agree team was based around)
While Walsh is fit, Broncos to find a way. Penrith will be back. Souths assuming stay injury free will mount a resurgence. Similar to other leading contenders. Hence while I think Moses and Douehi are core to respective teams, I doubt either stay fit for an entire season. Siebold first coach fired.
Warriors only rated this high as I assume when Metcalf does come back we climb someway back up the ladder. I dont expect us to start well especially if we end up playing key forwards in the centres and DWZ on the wing. We will score tries but we will unfortunately leak them as well
Roosters
Raiders
Broncos
Dogs
Cronulla
Penrith
Melbourne
Souths
Dolphins
Eels
Warriors
Tigers
Cowboys
Dragons
Titans
Knights
Manly
@antipodean They'll improve without the Galvin circus dragging the club down but are a good player or two from being a top 8 side.
Makasini looks a absolute unit and have him rookie of the year.
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
Good write up @mariner4life .
Agree. Picking up where sneak left off. Did we ever work what happened to sneak?
@MacDazzler said in NRL 2026:
@antipodean They'll improve without the Galvin circus dragging the club down but are a good player or two from being a top 8 side.
Makasini looks a absolute unit and have him rookie of the year.
Makasini is a weapon by all accounts was a union boy who drifted to the dark side
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
FUCK
Barnett to be released a year early.
Really? Ouch he added real starch. Hopefully frees up some big money
to buy who? There aren't a lot of like-for-like replacements. Tapine sounds good.
Brisbane just had a shit ton of front row cap freed up...
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
to buy who? There aren't a lot of like-for-like replacements. Tapine sounds good.
Brisbane just had a shit ton of front row cap freed up...
Season has just started I’m sure some one will get sick of their contract soon. We do need a strike centre
I’m up for spreading rumours that wolf was seen with Herbie’s girlfriend
as long as it's not another 32 year old broken kiwi wanting us to fund their move back home.
More Fish, less Blair
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
FUCK
Barnett to be released a year early.
That's not good news. Hopefully they and buy some washed up OG just wanting a last paycheck. They need a tough guy they can build around
TSF Superbru tipping comp is here if you fancy it
Join TheSilverFern, my NRL Tipping league on Superbru! You can find my pool here:
or by downloading the Superbru app and searching for the pool with code:
grabsour
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
as long as it's not another 32 year old broken kiwi wanting us to fund their move back home.
More Fish, less Blair
apparently we're trying to do a player swap...with anyone interested
Why anyone wants to sign Zac Lomax i don't know. Can he play? yes. Does he seem to be a massive drama going somewhere to happen? Also yes.
Parra have subpoenaed the NRL for all correspondence with Melbourne around their attempt to sign Lomax. Delicious.
Parramatta and Brisbane were the first two teams to contact the warriors re Mitch and swap deal. Newcastle for me still seems most likely.
In saying that I can see a world where Warriors give Mitch to Parra, announce a big signing like Lomax only for him to disappear a year later as he goes to next venture.
So Vegas has started. I feel for the cows as that game felt like it will be a long season for them. Newcastle on the other hand if can keep fit could cause a few upsets.
Dogs continue to play the least attractive footy in the competition. Currently in a slugfest with the Dargons
Golden point comes to Vegas. Dogs will do well again this year based on their strong defence. Their attack will again be why they are one of the first out of the finals
@bayimports said in NRL 2026:
Golden point comes to Vegas. Dogs will do well again this year based on their strong defence. Their attack will again be why they are one of the first out of the finals
Pretty much this. They're in the same bracket (slightly better) as the Wahs. Both fight hard on D and have grit, but are like a heavyweight boxer with no power in their punch(es).
A day of two games
First was pretty entertaining really, Newcastle jumped out of the blocks and looked a million bucks, while the Cowboys looked like they came straight from the airport. Had a two try lead and all of the play very quickly. Then Sharp gets hurt and the entire game changes. Cowboys right on top but, as is usual for them, they were their own worst enemies. Way too lateral on attack. Dearden unusually quiet (having him parked on the right hand side is a waste of his talent). Purdue is a dogshit centre, Drinkwater needs to be rissoled. Set after set on teh Knights line wasted. The flip side of this is, the Knights have learned how to defend. Ponga played well, and the Knights managed to pull away for a good win.
The 2nd game was just a bad game of rugba league. The Dragons stink, the Dogs have no attack, so it turned in to a shitty arm wrestle. The Dogs were absolutely kissed on the dick by the ref all afternoon, getting not only the 50/50s, but the fucking 30/70s turned in their favour as well. I picked the Dogs for the top 4, but if they don't get new halves, then the refs are going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting for them.
Once again Vegas seems a success, 40+ thousand through the gates for the day is good. Thought it was telling that the English supporters provided so much to that crowd, and it was noticably flatter when they finally left.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
The Dogs were absolutely kissed on the dick by the ref all afternoon, getting not only the 50/50s, but the fucking 30/70s turned in their favour as well.
Setu Tu gets hit high, in the first game thats a yellow, if its a warrior thats a yellow but no..precious dogs captain doesnt get anything.
Not to mention the host of smaller decisions that also went their way.
Dont think it will be the last time this year the dogs will be involved in some controversy
i am not one to buy in to the conspiracy rubbish, but i do think the NRL treats star players way better than anyone else.
Crichton is a star, he's not getting binned there. I would be willing to bet if it was Tu hitting Chrichton we would get "direct contact with the head" and a binning.
The first test of the season is going to be the Cowboys winger who got binned for hit his shot on Ponga. Again, regular first grader v name player. I very much doubt he gets the Cleary discount from last week for an identical hit.
oh look, judiciary charges are out
Chrichton gets nothing
Cowboys winger gets 2 weeks.
Tyson Frizzell destroyed a guys knee and gets a fine
two related "stories"
The Zac Lomax "saga" is over, with an agreement reached where he is free to return to the NRL next season. No reports of what he will do for the rest of 2026. The Eels held firm, Melbourne didn't get their man, and Ryan Matterson copped strays caught in the middle of it (no wants Ryan). Clint Newton, president of the players union has made comment and got absolutely slated for it. Apparently this is too unfair for poor old Zac. Where was the union when Zac was walking out on his last two contracts Clint? This is only an issue because Zac and his manager thought R360 was a thing, and he jumped early. Dumb ass.
In an interview with Joch Hannay i heard this morning, the first question was what part of being a head coach was not what he expected, and Josh did not hesitate to say "dealing with player managers every day". Player managers are an absolute stain on the game in rugby league. There are a few big ones who appear to be absolute germs, constantly agitating or holding clubs to ransom. Look, i get players have a shelf life, but contracts are supposed to be contracts, and just because you think you can get more after a year doesn't mean you get to just whinge your way to another club. Throw in huge conflicts of interest like Anasta also hosting the biggest daily show in rugby league and it must be a fucking minefield.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
two related "stories"
The Zac Lomax "saga" is over, with an agreement reached where he is free to return to the NRL next season. No reports of what he will do for the rest of 2026. The Eels held firm, Melbourne didn't get their man, and Ryan Matterson copped strays caught in the middle of it (no wants Ryan). Clint Newton, president of the players union has made comment and got absolutely slated for it. Apparently this is too unfair for poor old Zac. Where was the union when Zac was walking out on his last two contracts Clint? This is only an issue because Zac and his manager thought R360 was a thing, and he jumped early. Dumb ass.
In an interview with Joch Hannay i heard this morning, the first question was what part of being a head coach was not what he expected, and Josh did not hesitate to say "dealing with player managers every day". Player managers are an absolute stain on the game in rugby league. There are a few big ones who appear to be absolute germs, constantly agitating or holding clubs to ransom. Look, i get players have a shelf life, but contracts are supposed to be contracts, and just because you think you can get more after a year doesn't mean you get to just whinge your way to another club. Throw in huge conflicts of interest like Anasta also hosting the biggest daily show in rugby league and it must be a fucking minefield.
To be honest I love how this played out with Parra holding firm. At last a front office with balls
Ryan not going to Storm because they wouldn't give him a firm second year (while knowing he is also on the outer at Parra is ridiculous)
didn't he leave the Tigers because training was too hard? That kind of player isn't going to want to go play under Bellamy
@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:
didn't he leave the Tigers because training was too hard? That kind of player isn't going to want to go play under Bellamy
yeah same player who decided to take ban rather than pay fine to help his team for Parramatta as well.
a real team player lol
Right for anyone thinking its our year and getting off to a flyer...
We don't often win game 1 and we have lost the last 8 out of 9 against the Roosters
Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will make his 150th appearance for the Warriors and unfortunately we dont often do milestone games well.
First time we see the 6 man bench in action for use though. I dont expect any of 18 or 19 to play unless someone gets injured. I also suspect even on the interchange Leka may have a spell at centre. I do think we will get into a grind and be relatively competitive but that backline doesnt give me a lot of faith that we fixed our end of season defensive problems. AKP had concussion, likely next week
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Chanel Harris-Tavita, Tanah Boyd, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Kurt Capewell, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark
Interchange
Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Taine Tuaupiki, Morgan Gannon