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
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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