NRL 2025
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Round 2 Wrap Up: Send the memes
We started with the Knights flogging the very average looking Dolphins. Knights look ok despite the soft start to the year, but the Dolphins have serious attack issues and look in the Spoon pool.
Friday night it all got weird.
Firstly we had the hottest team of Rd 1 taking on one of the shittest. And to start it looked ominous, with an early sexy long range Manly try, another pulled back for a forward pass, and space on the edges anyone could run in to, let alone Tommy T and Saab. But then Manly made errors, and dragged the Warriors in to it. And lo what the fuck? The Warriors not only win, but flog them
Then in Sydney we had the 4-time premiers who looked good in Vegas playing the Roosters who looked dogshit a week ago. And in a game with 70 points scored, the score wasn't 60-10, somehow the Roosters kept finding holes in the previously impregnable Panthers defense. Despite the refs trying so very hard to get Nathan Cleary home, the Roosters hang on for a huge win.
Saturday's early game was a bit of a bludger skill-wise, but Wayne's wounded bunnies beat Flannos old man Dragons with a late field goal.
Saturday arvo i sat to watch the Cowboys show a response to their pathetic Round 1 "performance" and instead i watched a coach get fired in real time. They were absolute dogshit, and if they didn't have the most loyal fans in teh comp they would have been booed off the field. Sharkies were pretty sharp though, Nicho Hynes ran around doing pretty much what ever he wanted.
Saturday night the Raiders hosted the Broncos, both teams coming off a big Rd 1 performance. And it was the Raiders who were the better side throughout i thought, just swarming the big name Broncos out of it with boundless enthusiasm. Ricky is coaching a blinder so far with this group, he's letting them play, and they look good doing it. Broncos weren't terrible, they will still be at the pointy end, but this was a good early reality check that they can't walk it home. Also Reece Walsh is the most overrated player in the comp. Gets sucked off like he's an absolute superstar because he's fast and wears makeup. But he's a dogshit footballer with very little brain. He had a genuine stinker on Saturday, and his error count alone would make most teams blush.
Yesterday we had our first spoon bowl, and the first half an our looked like it. Errors, penalties, shit play, the Eels and the Tigers served it up in large bowls. But the Tigers sort of worked out they have a few pretty decent players, and proceeded to tear the Eels to bits. There is a shit load of talent out there, and they are fast. I saw enough yesterday to say the Tigers won't be near the bottom of the ladder this year, and should look at playing finals in 2026.
The last game saw the Titans start their year at probably the most hostile ground in the comp. And the Bulldogs were not welcoming, scoring almost instantly, and putting up 40 in basically 3 quarters of football. The Titans have huge issues, but they do have a lot of attacking talent, and big Tino coming back and running hard will warm a few hearts. It was costly for the Dogs though, as they may have lost Burton and Kikau for a spell.Good luck betting on the NRL this year.
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On the Warriors
That was a stirring win that, despite the score, was in the balance for far too long (or maybe thats just our PTSD talking).
But you know what? There is the making of a decent side there.
I still maintain that to really improve it is time to move CNK and CHT out of the team. This game was tailor made for CNK, a winnable game where the biggest thing was emotion, he feeds off that shit (see Penrith last year). But he is still a very average fullback. Tuapiki is completely wasted on the wing. So is Roger to be fair.
CHT did absolutely fuck all on the weekend, Metcalfe was everything.
Niukore and Capewell are bog average and need upgrades.But on the flip side Erin Clark made me a believer, he had a huge game, smashed in to everything, and if he can keep that up our starting middles are real good. Egan was back to his best, and Walker is so important off the bench for us. I think the young forwards need more time as well.
That was a good win, but it wasn't really built on antyhing sustainable. Manly got complacent when it looked like they would just continue of from Week 1, and then when the error counted mounted, they couldn't switch back on, and we took advantage of repeated opportunities, a loud crowd, and the emotion of the occasion.
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On the Warriors
That was a stirring win that, despite the score, was in the balance for far too long (or maybe thats just our PTSD talking).
But you know what? There is the making of a decent side there.
I still maintain that to really improve it is time to move CNK and CHT out of the team. This game was tailor made for CNK, a winnable game where the biggest thing was emotion, he feeds off that shit (see Penrith last year). But he is still a very average fullback. Tuapiki is completely wasted on the wing. So is Roger to be fair.
CHT did absolutely fuck all on the weekend, Metcalfe was everything.
Niukore and Capewell are bog average and need upgrades.But on the flip side Erin Clark made me a believer, he had a huge game, smashed in to everything, and if he can keep that up our starting middles are real good. Egan was back to his best, and Walker is so important off the bench for us. I think the young forwards need more time as well.
That was a good win, but it wasn't really built on antyhing sustainable. Manly got complacent when it looked like they would just continue of from Week 1, and then when the error counted mounted, they couldn't switch back on, and we took advantage of repeated opportunities, a loud crowd, and the emotion of the occasion.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:
On the Warriors
That was a stirring win that, despite the score, was in the balance for far too long (or maybe thats just our PTSD talking).
But you know what? There is the making of a decent side there.
I still maintain that to really improve it is time to move CNK and CHT out of the team. This game was tailor made for CNK, a winnable game where the biggest thing was emotion, he feeds off that shit (see Penrith last year). But he is still a very average fullback. Tuapiki is completely wasted on the wing. So is Roger to be fair.
CHT did absolutely fuck all on the weekend, Metcalfe was everything.
Niukore and Capewell are bog average and need upgrades.But on the flip side Erin Clark made me a believer, he had a huge game, smashed in to everything, and if he can keep that up our starting middles are real good. Egan was back to his best, and Walker is so important off the bench for us. I think the young forwards need more time as well.
That was a good win, but it wasn't really built on antyhing sustainable. Manly got complacent when it looked like they would just continue of from Week 1, and then when the error counted mounted, they couldn't switch back on, and we took advantage of repeated opportunities, a loud crowd, and the emotion of the occasion.
Start with this first. Boyd and TMM fit in reserve grade and CHT plays 5/8. I really dont understand this. I suspect because they think he can defend better, its the only reason I can logically come up with.
Metcalf, I have to give it to this kid, smashed from pillar to post by fans and media and then delivers a performance like that, I have to love his enthusiasm too at the end, getting the fans. Still a 6 in a 7 shirt but there is effort.
I think the only reason we win this though, is that our forwards were much better this week, if they dont get us on the front foot, the Egan cant work his magic and I think his confidence and leadership helps Metcalf. I suspect the form of both will be linked this year and both need the forwards to win it up front.
So as much as I think the forwards did well, I cant help but agree with Mariner that Capewell is busted and Nuikore is off the mark. It doesnt amuse me to see two young forwards on the bench getting 15 minutes each that both could provide a larger impact if were asked.
CNK isnt the answer at fullback, just inst busy enough, nor a decent ball player. He is all effort but not showing any skills.
Still gutsy effort, can we repeat against the Roosters, before week 2 I thought we might, after week 2 I am not confident however I give us a chance, but again we need to win the forward battle. If we dont, we dont compete.
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oh we have the Roosters? Marky Mark is going to tear our edge defense to pieces. Ouch.
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As for the rest..Home advantage seems important early in the season.
Ricky has the Raiders fit and firing, they look very good.
St George havent won a game but look likely
Bulldogs lose 2 key players but will still win by 30 this week
Tigers show massive improvement but havent played a top team yet
Cowboys in real trouble, only the Eels arguably until Moses is back look worse
Manly like last year, hot at home, different team away
Storm didnt play this week, could Penrith lose 2 on the trot?
Titans wont win the comp but have points in them, against a team not so defensively strong, I suspect they tear a few upsets, even if Des cant manage his bench -
oh we have the Roosters? Marky Mark is going to tear our edge defense to pieces. Ouch.
@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:
oh we have the Roosters? Marky Mark is going to tear our edge defense to pieces. Ouch.
true, however I suspect we put all our attack down Toia's side. Could be a high scoring game with defence optional
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:
oh we have the Roosters? Marky Mark is going to tear our edge defense to pieces. Ouch.
true, however I suspect we put all our attack down Toia's side. Could be a high scoring game with defence optional
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Toia's side
he can play as well. Fucking Roosters lose Manu and Soialii and still have incredible attacking centres. Where to they find them?? And why can't we have some?
If the forwards aim up we can take their halves out of it, i mean one of them is the Chad FFS -
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Toia's side
he can play as well. Fucking Roosters lose Manu and Soialii and still have incredible attacking centres. Where to they find them?? And why can't we have some?
If the forwards aim up we can take their halves out of it, i mean one of them is the Chad FFS@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Toia's side
he can play as well. Fucking Roosters lose Manu and Soialii and still have incredible attacking centres. Where to they find them?? And why can't we have some?
If the forwards aim up we can take their halves out of it, i mean one of them is the Chad FFSToia is a weapon on attack, but like a lot of young centres I think has one of the highest amount of missed tackles, just look at round one alone.
Fuck we whinge about CHT, but seriously the Chad, surely we can outplay him
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Watching busted Capewell play and then reading this, irks me
Jacob Laban was enormous in his 80-minute effort with a try assist, a linebreak, four tackle busts, 177 metres and 41 tackles, while Rocco Berry looked dangerous in the centres, finishing with a try assist, three linebreak assists, a linebreak and 103 metres.
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Watching busted Capewell play and then reading this, irks me
Jacob Laban was enormous in his 80-minute effort with a try assist, a linebreak, four tackle busts, 177 metres and 41 tackles, while Rocco Berry looked dangerous in the centres, finishing with a try assist, three linebreak assists, a linebreak and 103 metres.
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
Watching busted Capewell play and then reading this, irks me
Jacob Laban was enormous in his 80-minute effort with a try assist, a linebreak, four tackle busts, 177 metres and 41 tackles, while Rocco Berry looked dangerous in the centres, finishing with a try assist, three linebreak assists, a linebreak and 103 metres.
where is the downvote button FFS
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Brandon Smith to Souths looks like a done deal.
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massive shock...
Also Francis Molo got his release from the Dragons after he repaid and advance, and is off to the Dolphins
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massive shock...
Also Francis Molo got his release from the Dragons after he repaid and advance, and is off to the Dolphins
@mariner4life yeah, hard to know who to believe on this one, did the dolphins approach him earlier with a good offer, or did he really not like the way the coaches talked to him about the end of year drinks..
just weird and the whole thing seems dodgy
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Brandon Smith to Souths looks like a done deal.
@African-Monkey said in NRL 2025:
Brandon Smith to Souths looks like a done deal.
unlikely to play this year though, apparently that part wasnt agreed to
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@mariner4life yeah, hard to know who to believe on this one, did the dolphins approach him earlier with a good offer, or did he really not like the way the coaches talked to him about the end of year drinks..
just weird and the whole thing seems dodgy
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
just weird and the whole thing seems dodgy
bro, have your read Francis' history? oof
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@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
just weird and the whole thing seems dodgy
bro, have your read Francis' history? oof
@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:
@bayimports said in NRL 2025:
just weird and the whole thing seems dodgy
bro, have your read Francis' history? oof
well he wouldnt make the ABs great guy criteria, wasnt sure that was linked though, who knows maybe it is, maybe that's why he wants out
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Oh dear, still he is innocent until proven guilty.
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Interesting game tonight, Melbourne looked rampant giving the Eels and absolute bath in Rd 1.
And then Rd2 happened, and all the other hot winners from the first week got tipped over, and the Tigers proved smacking the Eels means fuck all.
And Penrith lost to the worst Roosters side in decades, so will be looking for an immediate bounce back. They've lost Dylan Edwards which is usually massive, but he's actually started the year pretty average anyway. Now his replacement Laurie is out as well. A chance Blaize Talagi makes his Panthers debut.
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Expect the Storm, Broncos and Bulldogs to al win comfortably this weekend.
Eels and Cowboys look awful. I'd normally tip Penrith to bounce back but going to Melbourne to play the Storm is a difference kettle of fish.
