NRL 2025

bayimports

Our left edge defence got to be close to worst in the competition. DWZ injury allows an upgrade in winger for next week but today even those covering were just as poor.
As soon as Metcalf was injured attack also stalled. Hopefully not serious and hopefully Marata has no further issues after failing the cat 1 .
Penrith were good for a change today but we still should have put them away. Missed opportunity

African Monkey

@bayimports said in NRL 2025:

Our left edge defence got to be close to worst in the competition. DWZ injury allows an upgrade in winger for next week but today even those covering were just as poor.
As soon as Metcalf was injured attack also stalled. Hopefully not serious and hopefully Marata has no further issues after failing the cat 1 .
Penrith were good for a change today but we still should have put them away. Missed opportunity

Yeah especially that Penrith side they sent over......

Nepia

I'm going to the Roosters v Cowboys game tomorrow ... I was planning to take an Irish and English mate of mine to a Warriors game but none of their Sydney matches have worked out (first one we can all get to is the final round) so we picked the Roosters as obviously due to the fact they're Irish and Pom they live in the Eastern suburbs.

So anyway, which team should I support? Given that they're bound to lose I might go for the Cowboys in honour of @mariner4life.

mariner4life

Carn the cows!!!

mariner4life

Latrell is genuinely the best natural footballer in the comp

That pass was ridiculous

mariner4life

Fuck if you're not watching he's put on a master class

He just missed a field goal from 50 that would have made it from 60

African Monkey

@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:

Fuck if you're not watching he's put on a master class

He just missed a field goal from 50 that would have made it from 60

And Rabbits fans wanted Jye Grey at the back instead of him lol.

African Monkey

Funny game that. Melbourne looked like they were gonna put 50 on, but we're more worried about trying to put as many points on as they could as opposed to doing the hard work, and let the Bunnies in stupidly which changed the momentum of the game.

Still, an important win for Melbourne.

Nepia

Sorry Cowboys fans, I not only fucked you by cheering for you today but ensured you'd get beaten like a red head stepson.

mariner4life

that's two coaches in a foot race to see who gets fired first.

bayimports

Ironically AOB safe for now, not for ability or results but because of what it would cost the club to get out of contract and he should be in the race.
Siebold probably still in front by a nose from a Manly legend in Des and probably 2 lengths back but cant imagine Payten not far away now either

so Im calling three horse race

African Monkey

Some pretty good teams with losing records. Parra are really building nicely for the future, the Tigers were impressive despite going down to the Raiders, and the same goes for Souths, and dare I say even Newcastle are starting to turn a corner somewhat

It's a very tough comp this year where there are next to no easy games (apart from the Titans and Cows currently).

mariner4life

meanwhile, a certain team is now in the 8

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and everyone is worried. Penrith are fucking back. If they can roll the Dogs on Thursday then the whole comp will shudder.

its a weird season because the teams at the top aren't dominant. Yes the Dogs have only lost twice, but they have been belted. The Storm have already lost four times. The Broncos are somehow 5th, but with a 7-7 record. The shitty Titans are last, but only 3 wins back from the Broncos.

It is very even in its averageness. The post-Origin period where the real teams start to get going will be very interesting. Normally you are sure you know who will play the prelims. Right now i could not confidently pick four teams i trust in elimination games.

African Monkey

I think if Melbourne finish in the 4, they win the comp.

mariner4life

certainly they are the "most likely" but they are making some very un-melbourne errors and defensive efforts. Maybe they are coasting a little before heading to the finals, but that doesn't seem very Bellamy-like.

I do wonder if their pack is good enough to win big finals? It wasn't last year.

African Monkey

@mariner4life said in NRL 2025:

certainly they are the "most likely" but they are making some very un-melbourne errors and defensive efforts. Maybe they are coasting a little before heading to the finals, but that doesn't seem very Bellamy-like.

I do wonder if their pack is good enough to win big finals? It wasn't last year.

I think this year, yes. They ran into a Penrith defensive machine last year, but Penrith are unlikely to get into the 4 and their big players are going to have to do a lot to go deep compared to previous years, where they could afford to coast along until the crunch came. Brisbane should be a premiership threat, but are their own worst enemies a lot of the time and you don't know what side will turn up. Wouldn't surprise me if the get done by the Wahs this week. The Dogs and Raiders are punching above their weight, but they don't scare anybody. I'd be more worried about 5-8 instead of them.

They got complacent against Souths after racing out to a lead, but importantly, won and that's off the back of Origin.

mariner4life

Penrith are now $7 to win the comp.

Absolute grind of a game last night, ref put the whistle away and the boys just ran at each other. Not one for the fans of open attacking footy.

African Monkey

I really enjoyed it. Real finals feel to that game. Defence from both sides was insane.

Casey McLean will be a star when he learns to distribute.

mariner4life

it was good to watch, tense at the end with the Dogs hammering away.

bayimports

Great game and some big hits throughout. Penrith have found that next gear that has been missing for them most of the season. Finals have come early. Will also dent Canterbury's ego at the top of the table.

The Silver Fern

NRL 2025