NRL 2026

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

Any time all the hyphens are named i just assume we're fucked.

Parramatta's fundamentals have been dreadful and defence not much better.

what idiot picked Parra to be big movers this year? Absolute dogshit from them. Melbourne played at a different speed than the Eels, and Parra's middle defence just straight up disappeared.

And who picked Melbourne to slide? They look fucking better than last year. Where did all those dynamic young forwards come from?

First team eliminated from premiership contention and it's only the 3rd game.

Craig Bellamy is a fucking marvel.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:

what idiot picked Parra to be big movers this year? Absolute dogshit from them. Melbourne played at a different speed than the Eels, and Parra's middle defence just straight up disappeared.

And who picked Melbourne to slide? They look fucking better than last year. Where did all those dynamic young forwards come from?

First team eliminated from premiership contention and it's only the 3rd game.

Craig Bellamy is a fucking marvel.

i believe hes now at 23 wins and 0 losses for first round games
thats bloody impressive

Kevvie Walters said on radio this morning that they treat the week of trial games like another week of preseason. So they are pretty fucked come trial game time, and their form can be completely ignored. They then freshen up on the vegas week to prep for round 1.

Every pre season challenge winner apart from last year has gone on to finish 12th in the regular season.

@mariner4life said in NRL 2026:

what idiot picked Parra to be big movers this year? Absolute dogshit from them. Melbourne played at a different speed than the Eels, and Parra's middle defence just straight up disappeared.

And who picked Melbourne to slide? They look fucking better than last year. Where did all those dynamic young forwards come from?

First team eliminated from premiership contention and it's only the 3rd game.

Craig Bellamy is a fucking marvel.

I had Parra in my top 4! And still do lol. They fluffed their lines badly yesterday, but it's also round 1 away at Melbourne. A bad one, yes, but, they also have a tough fixture out of the way early. They were messy, Grant did what he wanted, and they looked to score off every play. I'd say they were more underdone than anything. One thing I will say about Parra though on attack is how much Tallin Da Silva fucks up their attack from dummy half. He ain't on the same playbook as the rest of the team. Just play Riley Smith for 80. He's a dud pickup for them so far.

I also have Melbourne 3rd. They won't ever collapse under Bellamy, and their spine is still stronger than ever. Expect a lot more play to come through Harry Grant this year, and it was evident last night. As long as Melbourne's spine is strong (which it is), then they will never collapse out of the 8.

The Tigers letting TDS walk and shuffling off Galvin don't look like bad moves.

Agree with the above. Melbourne spine were playing like it was finals football in round one. Chan and Lisati both showed what a dud Blore is (another Tiger offload). I doubt any team matched the Storm last night, question is, can they maintain the momentum especially if injuries to Grant, Hughes or Munster

Blore and Loiero the big losers from last night.

@bayimports said in NRL 2026:

Agree with the above. Melbourne spine were playing like it was finals football in round one. Chan and Lisati both showed what a dud Blore is (another Tiger offload). I doubt any team matched the Storm last night, question is, can they maintain the momentum especially if injuries to Grant, Hughes or Munster

In order, I have Grant, Hughes then Munster in terms of importance. Grant has an ability to carry the team on his own if need be. Hughes gives the side direction and can get his side to the right parts of the field, but if you take away Grant, it gives Hughes too much to do and allows sides to gang up on him at first receiver, and as much as I rate Munster, he don't function as well without those other 2.

@African-Monkey don't disagree here at all. On the flip side I think Munster's 2nd half last night will be overlooked because of how easy they had it, but he gave them kittens and was at the heart of everything.

An underlooked offseason non-move for the Storm was managing to somehow keep Wishart. He's so valuable as a bench player.

@African-Monkey said in NRL 2026:

@bayimports said in NRL 2026:

Agree with the above. Melbourne spine were playing like it was finals football in round one. Chan and Lisati both showed what a dud Blore is (another Tiger offload). I doubt any team matched the Storm last night, question is, can they maintain the momentum especially if injuries to Grant, Hughes or Munster

In order, I have Grant, Hughes then Munster in terms of importance. Grant has an ability to carry the team on his own if need be. Hughes gives the side direction and can get his side to the right parts of the field, but if you take away Grant, it gives Hughes too much to do and allows sides to gang up on him at first receiver, and as much as I rate Munster, he don't function as well without those other 2.

They played without Grant for a lot last year (and when he was there he was below his best). He was certainly the pick last night though. Hughes though the last two years has been the great conductor for me, hence would rank him number one. Also having Katoa on his shoulder and catching high balls has also helped. If either of Chan or Lisati (or both) can add that aerial skill, then watch out the rest of us.