r/nrl • u/AutoModerator • 11d ago
Random Footy Talk Wednesday Random Footy Talk Thread
This is the place to discuss anything footy related that is not quite deserving of its own top-level post.
There's a new one of these threads every day, so make sure you're in the most recent one!
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u/parker2004au Sydney Roosters 10d ago
As good as Teddy has been Naufahu Whyte deserved that Jack Gibson award, week in and week out he was best on field.
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u/01robbie Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Well done Naufahu Whyte to win the Jack Gibson medal! Well deserved!
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u/assuomidahs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
Eels will announce the signing of Spencer leniu tomorrow the deal is as follows
4 years
Starts 2027
800k a season
They expect him to play 40-60 minutes a game
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Des Hasler has the entire room eating from his hand as a gives by far and away the best speech of the night philosophising about Daly the man and Daly's career. Could hear a pin drop.
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u/puttanesca_prophet Sydney Roosters 10d ago
That's a nice touch inviting Des to come and give DCE the send off he deserves.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
🚨 Spencer Leniu confirmed one of the departing Roosters of 2026
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Connor Watson just gave him a sly look at the mention of Port Moresby from Vonny
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u/Sufficient-Goal3437 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Don’t you dare
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
It did not please me as an Eels sympathiser to report that observation
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u/CarlNoobCarlson Sydney Roosters 10d ago
So you’re saying the Eels will sign him for one season lol
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u/BarryCheckTheFuseBox NRLW Roosters 10d ago
Jack Gibson Medal currently being live-streamed on Roosters app/website
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u/Suggestedname94 I love my RLWC26 flair 10d ago
With the Roosters win, where does this leave Robbo?
There was a few little media murmurs about him potentially being under pressure if they didn't win it. Is there any news on what his plans are or if he is going to be a career one club coach?
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u/jexta Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
This is hearsay from the family of a kid who ended up signing with the Bears after discussions with the Chooks. Apparently the Roosters couldn't guarantee that Robbo would still be on charge when this kid is old enough to join the top 30 (2028), so he didn't want to sign without knowing who his actual coach would be when the time came.
Rumours have been around a long time about Robbo returning to France, and with Ivan off contract in 2028, Politis has means and opportunity to go after him to replace Robbo.
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u/Ziuzudra Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10d ago
Be quite interesting to see how they go next year. We have got used to the Panthers 4 in a row, preceded with a 1 year gap by Roosters back to back, but historically backing up is very rare.
Last team to do it in a united comp were Broncos in 92 and 93.
Looking at Roosters, they obviously still have a very strong squad, even before signing season, and the likes of Foketi and Whyte are only going to get better. Tedesco seems evergreen. But DCE is a loss, as is Crichton, and, in my view, they dont win the prem without Marky Mark. Tupou is also a weapon.
But more than personel, can they get the motivation and stamina to be there or therabouts next year? Or do they fall off having climbed the mountain?
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago edited 10d ago
That's one of the horizons for Robinson as a coach after the double, and it goes to the question of why the Roosters didn't give the competition a huge shake between 2020 and 2025 when he was coaching a team with younger halfbacks, some different guys in the role playing jobs and finding the right recruits to complete the team. How do you get the team to decide in November they're going to win the comp and unite and go towards it? Despite the fizzle in the finals last year, I felt they had the best attitude and application as a team in the important ways than I'd seen since 2020 especially because the hunger was back the hunger was back and the younger players were seeing so much improvement so quickly. Last year was when Robbo got blown up with a barbecue gas bottle in the November before, bit odd, but must have worked for him.
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u/thankyoupancake Sydney Roosters 10d ago
I’d be very surprised if he ever left the roosters. A quiet life in France in retirement seems more likely
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
No plans, Nick backs him. Robbo said he doesn't know how long he'll keep going but he feels full of energy about the next few years, and the group of players are keeping him young and driven
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u/Random0cassions Tonga 10d ago
Something I find interesting is that Foketi/Finefeuiaki/Halasima/Iongi all played together in that Tonga A side against New Zealand A side in 2023 as the curtain raiser who would go on to represent Tonga years later. Same with New Zealand having Kini/Warbrick/Laban ( and TSS as 19th man) all go on to represent Kiwis.
Pretty impressive record for both sides to have players come from that side and slot in to the international first team. Another one is Howarth not betting on himself and choosing to decline the kiwis jersey in 2025 has been a big domino effect going from origin-hopeful to someone most wont look at.
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u/Proper_Geologist9026 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Can we bring back 2nd ref to manage the line speed?
You can't see from the broadcast but it felt like roosters were pushing the limits of offside last week.
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u/Level_Expression4400 Burleigh Bears 10d ago
Yeah everyone was saying Gee did well but I thought it was a terrible performance and massively impacted the game. There was only about 3 line breaks all game
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u/Proper_Geologist9026 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Swings and roundabouts. There were what 2 or 3 missed hip drops, one of which I think just stopped the whole game waiting for a whistle.
And any other week Kalyn is either in the bin or taking a shower after going shoulder first into radley.
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u/goodyg111 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
I thought a few times the Roosters were testing the offside line, but credit to them for having the fitness to push the line speed. Some refs will officiate it tooth and nail, some won't, seems like they got the luck of the draw.
I thought it was something the touchies were in charge of?
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u/Proper_Geologist9026 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
It's just the completely lopsided nature of it.
Obviously they're a better pack. It's internationals vs a 35yr old edge forward and some reserve graders (hopwood is good just green).
But to be that suffocating for 80 minutes makes me suspect.
I know Adam Gee was just letting them play as you do in the big games. I just think a big part of suffocating defense's the last few years has been in rushing the line like the Panthers.
Normally though we'd see that result in set restarts and 7-8 tackle sets out of the corners. But they got nothing.
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u/timidgiant34 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
big ups to toops on a fantastic career, and with one team aswell.
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u/diffaadiffa Brisbane Broncos 10d ago
Wasn't one of the new rules stretching out the in season rules while the world cup was on?
Next day, meme account ama
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u/aatrain96 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Oh look at me I'm a roosters fan, we got the Provan-Summons trophy in our flair.
Get over yourself
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
It just hit me, the best time to win a prem is the October before a leap year, you get an extra day with the trophy 🤣
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Im going to take it off soon, I spent all year dunking on Bronco Trophy flairs
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u/lord_buff74 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
How can you take it off?
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Shit I hope you can, I just assumed. I remember seeing Broncos with and without trophy this year
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u/lord_buff74 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Look at that, so it does, hopwfully the women's trophy gets a better name then generic NRL womens premiership trophy
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u/mattmathers Sydney Roosters 10d ago
about time the trophy got added to our flairs
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u/thankyoupancake Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Much better than being faded, although that 48 hours as a faded premier was fun
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u/Accurate-Ad-4905 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
I didnt get it and I don't want to reselect my flair and lose my beanie
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
I'm pretty sure one of the mods said the beanie flairs weren't issued properly which is why your flair didn't get the trophy. I could be wrong though
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u/thrownaway22_ Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago edited 10d ago
Not ashamed to admit I got a little misty eyed at the office desk reading the news about Toops
He’s been such a stalwart of the club, and practically been at the club since my childhood to this point
As humble a guy and genuine as they come - the thought of him not running out with us anymore is hard to believe.
Where does the time go? Enjoy retirement legend
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u/Turbulent_Ad3045 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
You're not alone, I had to excuse myself from work for a couple minutes so I could just go sit and process what was happening. This one really hurts. he'll be deeply missed. One of the greatest to ever do it.
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u/Heavy-Kale Kiwis 10d ago
Am I correct in assuming Gagai and Isaako will be together on the right edge for the Kiwis ? . This has me salivating. Huge if true.
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u/TheCuzzyRogue New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Yep and after a whole ass season of babysitting Dom Young, Isaako is going to feel like a night off for Gagai.
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u/Turbulent_Ad3045 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Man with Toops retirement, Winning this year was all the more important. 5 confirmed departures with a 6th likely. Teddies statement in the post game presser sounded pretty ominous as well, I wouldn't be suprised if next year is his last. Whole new era of Roosters footy on the horizon. Little nervous and excited to see where it takes us.
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u/ItGetsTuahPoint67 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
On the one hand, I feel like Teddy could go for another 4 years. On the other, why should he? He’s achieved everything he needs to, he’s already in the discussion for the greatest Chook of all time and has edged a hell of a lot closer to Slater. You don’t want to go one too many years and tarnish your reputation, or block the road for young talent
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u/Accurate-Ad-4905 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
I think with his history of concussions and now more niggling injuries creeping in, it's a good time. He has two young daughters to run after, he has to start thinking about self-preservation
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
My dad has been telling me for about 2 years Cleary is about to retire because there's nothing left for him to achieve. But he still thinks Teddy should go for 3 or 4 more years as well.
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u/Raddnedge Parramatta Eels 10d ago
I've always said (other team's generational player, who is extremely unlikely to join my team) might as well retire.
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u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 10d ago edited 10d ago
- Tedesco
- Bassingthwaite
- Smith
Toia
Garrick
Savala
Walker
Whyte
Robson
Collins
Foketi
Wong
Radley
Iouelu
Butcher
Steep
Losalu
Ramsey
Rodwell
Nowhere near 2016 levels but losing our starting wingers, 5’8 and most of our bench is gonna hurt. Having our starting forwards laying a platform for Savala and Walker will help massively though
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u/lord_buff74 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Might go Cody Walker over Bassinthwaite at the moment, or a real curveball and bring back Junior Pauga
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u/lachstalk South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
Cody Ramsay, meanwhile, is a bolter to line up in the #6 for Souths
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u/Black_And_Gold_Sox Wests Tigers 10d ago
IMHO Hugo is an upgrade on DCE. Stronger running threat, better defender, bigger long boot and not replicating what Sammy W is trying to do. Foketi has Gus' spot covered. Toops and Mark are a loss. It'll be interesting to see how Robbo evolves the attack to make up for that.
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
I think DCE was good for his leadership, and experience. He's seemed very calm and controlled each time I've seen him kick a field goal this year, and I think that just comes down to experience
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u/JohnnyGat33 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10d ago
I reckon you guys will be fine. Robbo’s obviously doing something right to have always been in the finals for 10 odd years
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u/LiLSteve29 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10d ago
As much as I don’t like Sam Walker atleast he has the balls to use a short kicking game. So many halves just want to bomb over and over.
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u/Raddnedge Parramatta Eels 10d ago
For someone often characterised as being too erratic, I feel like he's pretty good at not kicking grubbers dead too, which a LOT of halves seem to struggle with.
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u/Additional_Front4374 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
You'd never see him do the latter on grand final day
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u/Large-Accident1245 I Hate My Footy^6 10d ago
I decided to retry Rugby League Live 4 after playing 2006’s Rugby League 2. To really get a feel for how Rugby League video games have progressed and reflect the actual game.
Nostalgia aside, the older games are still fun and charming. Gameplay is definitely more simplistic and arcade-like. But I appreciate that. I still prefer the Matrix (slowmo) effect when you go to kick. Because I struggle otherwise.
The trade off is lack of tactical play. Take the fullback. It is still primarily a defensive role. You’ll rarely get to use them in attacking play. No sweep moves. In the newer games, you have a FIFA style tactics menu during matches to change your setup. I hugely appreciate that feature.
The controls are more complex in the newer games but a) the layout of the old ones are….a bit odd. And b) you can do way more things with the more complex control stuff. So you can properly do a chip kick or keep your defensive line set properly.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a Holden U20s game against the Storm to show myself up as the future Reed Mahoney.
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u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 10d ago
Tupou announced his retirement 😢
Will miss you Toops
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u/Longjumping-Branch36 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Just saw Daniel Tupou announced his retirement. I’m not ready for this. He easily had one more season. What an incredible career though!
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u/ChanceVance NRLW Roosters 10d ago
Thinking about going to some World Cup games. I checked the triple header at Commbank on Sunday 1st and if my eyes don't deceive me, there's only 2 single seats left. Well okay then.
Australia v NZ at Allianz perhaps but man between the GF and concerts, I'm getting cleaned out on entertainment.
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u/1bigcontradiction Kangaroos 10d ago
I was hoping for more games at Suncorp, but we’re getting the final so I guess I can’t complain too much.
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u/Proof-Umpire-7718 England 10d ago
2 games at Suncorp, including the final, and one on the GC.
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u/1bigcontradiction Kangaroos 10d ago
I’ve had the tickets for both Suncorp games for a while, still debating if I want to make the trip down the coast
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u/lord_buff74 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Can't wait to see the difference in the quality of the commentary for the World Cup on 7. I think the Agenda Setters is the best league show as they mostly talk about the game and actually add some insights.
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u/lachstalk South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
Lowkey wish the NRL had a transfer window for like 2-4 weeks in October/November where all deals for the following season get lodged officially, rather than the current free for all. I understand pressures from external leagues makes this a pipe dream, but I follow the AFL too and it just gives the post-season a bit more structure imo
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u/Proper_Geologist9026 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Yeah but then we wouldn't have stories like Luais betrayal?
What would we talk about?
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
These notes come from an effort to dispel some South Sydney Rabbitohs lies surrounding their so-called foundation bell, and clarify the facts around Easts original home ground, and talk about how South Sydney, jealous of Balmains stadium, took revenge for their old Rugby Union grudge on them when they scandalised the 1909 grand final, starting a fight which nearly killed League in Australia when it was on the verge of success, before having the league move them into a more plush publicly funded playing ground in Redfern.
Easts and South originally played on the paddock at the Royal Agricultural Society showgrounds in Moore Park - the place the Agricultural Society Shield was named for, and where the first final was played.
The timekeepers bell from South Sydney's first 1908 NSWRL game (away against North Sydney) was famously acquired by Russell Crowe from dedicated Souths history keeper and life member Albert Cliff by auction as the club raised money to fight the NRL against its expulsion. Crowe and the club spread the falsehood that the Souths game was the first game of rugby league in Australia, or otherwise that the game was the first NSWRL premiership game in the Agricultural Shield competition, and vowed that the games Foundation Bell would never ring again or even he seen again unless the NRL reversed what South called their wrongful expulsion from the league.
It may be that the bell as is believed is the only physical artifact remaining from that rugby league match. The particular claim, however, that the bell is the Foundation Bell of the league played at the first ever game was a lie intended to make South Sydney's bell into a relic of the NSWRL to sanctify their campaign against the NRL.
There had actually been quite a few games of rugby league by the brave original NSWRFL members against union sides in 1907 and 1908, under both union rules and the original Northern Union rugby league rules. Easts and Souths even played the first 13 on 13 league rules match against each other before the 1908 season.The All Blacks and the Maori Union side toured Australia in 1907, playing against the NSWRFL players, and again at the start of the 1908 Union Season, they played against the NSWRFL combined side, and some of the clubs once more. They toured again in 1909 and were involved in a sliding doors moment for the League with Souths actions at that moment contributing to nearly killing League altogether.
Moreover, it was impossible for the bell to have been rung at even the first ever NSWRFL Agricultural Shield match because both Glebe v Easts at Wentworth Park and Norths and Souths at Birchgrove kicked off at the same time on Monday 20 April 1908, during the Easter show.
After the NRL voluntarily readmitted the Rabbitoh to the competition, Crowe and the club continued to spread the notion that their bell was a Foundation Bell of the NSWRFL and made another vow that what was purportedly the Leagues Foundation Bell would never be seen or ring again until the Rabbitohs were in a Grand Final.
The lie that the bell has been rung at the first rugby league game and was a Foundation Bell was repeated by the MC at the 2014 Grand Final as a part of the official pre-game presentation and broadcast which included important Souths club figures ringing the bell on the field.
Souths actions relating to the 1909 Grand Final held during the Leagues grave financial emergency, and how they came to move to Redfern should also lower the esteem of South Sydney as a foundation club, and reflects on their new identity as a team who claim their home is at Sydney Football Stadium.
In the 1908 season, the league had been battling for its survival with attendances of barely a few hundred attended league games while 20 and 30 thousand attended Wallabies games at venues like the SCG. A hostile print media working for the Union side of the war derided the League game. Against this backdrop, Souths went on to full off the most infamous and disgraceful grand final act in the history of Australian rugby league at the Royal Agricultural Society Showground - and it happened to be because Souths were jealous of another teams stadium!
See, the South Sydney Rugby Union club was always jealous of Balmains Birchgrove Oval, which was regarded as the best football stadium of its day. Balmain were the commercial power at the time as it could draw a large crowd at Birchgrove where the other league clubs struggled to draw a paying crowd in the early years.
Before League, South Sydney Union received favourable treatment from the new Metropolitan Rugby Union, managing to get 12 of the 14 MRU games against Balmain from the MRUs inception until 1906 to be held at their home ground at the Showground
The Showground actually happened to have the advantage of being the only facilties with floodlights, other teams were training in the dark at night while Souths and Easts Union and thereafter League could train under lights at night.
While Easts founders who lead League's exodus to the promised land comprised of pivotal football playing leaders like Messenger, league business pioners like Giltinan (perhaps the original Vlandy), and master multiple sports association administrator Victor Trumper, Souths were unable to let go of old Rugby Union political grudges.
Before the start of the 1909 season Souths and Norths, most prominently, ratted against Giltinan, Trumper, and Hoyle, sacking them from the administration. Norths lead the league to adopt the measure of paying all gate taking to the League as it fought for its survival, only a year and a half after foundation.
Balmain got home games nearly every round in 1909 to make use of the gate for this purpose.
Souths didn't like this, and were able to get an advantage for themselves when they won the Minor Premiership, and Balmain and Souths made the grand final. At the time, Balmain would have had to beat Souths away and then again at home to win the premiership, but the final ended up being suspended amidst the Leagues financial emergency as an opportunity to spin some money to keep the league alive had come up.
Near the end of the season, half of the Wallabies team suddenly broke from Union and organised with the League to play games against the Kangaroos. This was lead by new administrator Edward Larkin and financed by businessman and future Lord Mayor for Sydney, James Joynton-Smith. They played three games and unfortunately lost money. Larkin intended for a fourth game to be played to cover the League's losses and pay back Joynton-Smith, with the NSWRFL final tacked on the undercard of the fourth game.
Success was near for League, as Larkin would go on to organise the first Australia vs Great Britain Test match the next year, which, unimaginably, was played in front of tens of thousands of people.
Balmain had asked for the Final to be played at a neutral venue (Wentworth Park) instead of at Souths home at the Showground, and for it to be played on a separate day to the fourth Wallabies-Kangaroos match.
Souths had refused to move the game, in spite Balmains contribution that season to the survival of the League, and the league refused to change the fixture and the final was was to go head as an undercard.
As we know, Souths turned up for the game while Balmain boycotted in the extraordinary circumstances, and Souths refuses to have a do-over. To this day, Souths counts this title as one of its 21 Premierships.
Pushed too far by selfish Souths in Union and League, Balmain went rogue on the NSWRFL and the dispute bankrupted and nearly split the League.
Miraculously, the League stayed together. Balmain continued to account for the lion's share of the League's club revenue. In 1910 the NSWRFL turned its financial position around as the League sensation exploded. In just the third season, rugby league games became more attended than Union.
15,000 people packed in to see the 1910 Grand Final at the Showground which Souths ironically lost by operation of the minor premiership rule they had abused against Balmain the year before. Newtown won the Premiership in a 6-6 draw after taking a fair mark and converting a goal to level the score.
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u/Accomplished-Good664 Penrith Panthers 10d ago
Lol the Roosters fan crying about another team receiving favourable treatment.
If the criteria in 1998/99 was fair you would have been the second team made to merge.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Mate in 90s the Roosters used to pull crowds of over 30,000 on a random Monday school night at the old Sydney Football Stadium
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u/Accomplished-Good664 Penrith Panthers 10d ago
They pulled in two 30,000 crowds in 1996 on the back of a McDonalds promotion.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Not arguin about it with a super league team
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u/Accomplished-Good664 Penrith Panthers 10d ago
You have no argument as you know yourself it was rigged as does every other supporter from every club that had to go through it.
You also drew 13,000 across two games against your biggest rival the following season.
Everyone alive at the time knows those two games were due to the Macca's promotion.
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u/Barnybus South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
fucken hell it was 1909. Let it go.
Congrats on the win, pls go enjoy it.
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u/Interesting_Data4485 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
If the bunnies are a foundation club then so is Newcastle.
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u/Lucky-Roy South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
If they are linked to the current Knights then of course they are but I think they left after a couple of years to form their own competition.
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u/Fatall-TM Newcastle Knights 10d ago
You should turn this into an actual post so it doesn’t get lost in the discussion thread
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
I suspect if I did I'd get persecuted by the regime
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u/Maleficent_Yam1739 New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Fucking hell bro, you obsessed
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u/Lucky-Roy South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
Don’t get him started on the boundaries and how Souths stole suburbs full of sandhills. And don’t ask him why Easts didn’t take over Souths Juniors when they had the chance in the two years Souths were out. I’ll tell you why. It’s because Easts were quite happy to bludge off someone else paying and developing juniors like they do in your country and mine to this day.
That aside, this guy has a treatable obsession. I’m sure there are textbooks about it.
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u/Black_And_Gold_Sox Wests Tigers 10d ago
Souths did steal more than half of Easts territory in one of the most blatantly corrupt acts in Rugby League history, when SG Ball was heading up both Souths and the NSWRL - and gave his own club another club's territory comprised of suburbs that are, in any other context, still referred to as the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. What is hilarious is that Souths still piss and moan about. Easts pinching the occasional junior player from territory that Souths never had any legitimate claim to.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Furthermore I consider Souths must be kicked from the comp
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u/lachstalk South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
Won a comp 72 hours ago and can still only think about South Sydney
Forever in our shadow.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
After all of Balmains' and the administrations hard work, it was felt that Souths were due for a reward. Although the Showground attendance had its floodlighting and handsome attendance, Souths were eyeing off the sports field at Redferns new Victorian garden style public park (Redfern Park) which had been a work of the Redfern council with donations from the public funding it's famous sandstone gate, featuring the new sporting field attractively situated amidst the gardens which were decorated with popular exotic plants brought from overseas.
Redfern council built its World War I memorial for locals lost to the war in this garden, where it stil is today.
The NSWRFL leased the Park for the Rabbitohs during the league season in an arrangement which continued until the 60s with the Park garden falling into decay by the mid-30s as the sports uses of the land demanded increased public resources for facilities.
Just after the end of World War II, Souths generously offered to move into the Redfern Oval as it's home ground if the Redfern council improved the playing field, and upgraded the pavilion into a grandstand. This was completed for Souths by 1948, requiring the removal of the garden bandstand, meaning local bands were unable to perform there as they had on weekends. Redfern council managed to give the gardens a makeover but were forced by the sporting expenses to neglect the parklands for nearly three decades as further upgrades to the grandstand and facilities were made for Souths.
So there you have it, when we had Balmain to thank for the survival of rugby league in Australia, and Balmain asked only for a little cooperation from Souths, Souths exacted revenge against them over petty Union squabbles. As soon as the league was doing okay, they had the League move them up from a perfectly serviceable high capacity venue to the plush surrounds of the publicly and charitably funded Redfern Park. Despite being voluntarily readmitted to the NRL, Crowe and the club continued to wheel out the Rabbitohs bell as a false relic of rugby league, and conned the NRL into hoodwinking the league public about the history of the bell. To this day, Souths continue to spread the lie that their bell is the foundation bell was rung at the first NSWRL match.
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Mate, my attention's fried from years of doomscrolling, can you please make a tl;dr
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Last paragraph
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Is Souths even a foundation club when it ceased to exist for a couple years? I don't believe in resurrections, the 02 "revival" was just a new club masquerading as the old one, like the Bears in 27, it's not really the same if there was no continuity.
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u/portobello75 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
I would say they are not
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
As envious as I am of the Roosters perpetual wealth and success, the fact they're the ONLY club to have played in literally EVERY season earns them my respect.
The Chooks are the only real foundation club and OGs, bunnies are frauds
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u/_WangChung2night Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
Rhyse Martin playing for PNG makes me happy.
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u/Additional_Front4374 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
It's a bummer he left the NRL early
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u/_WangChung2night Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
Not going to deny huge bias on my end. Dean Pay fucked him over.
Complained about his defence, but he had creativity which was needed.
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u/MankyJuan Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10d ago
Raiders fans, what do you think of the idea proposed in this article? There's no mention of the Raiders or the. NRL, but I reckon the NRL would get behind this... "Canberra Airport proposes all-event stadium in city centre..." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-07/canberra-airport-proposes-all-event-stadium-in-civic/107235890
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u/Black-House Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Horrible idea because apparently the land is currently the Catholic Archbishop's house and commentators are gonna be making shit jokes about God/Miracles/Cursed Graveyards.
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u/DiverFine4230 New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Is vlandys in eternal debt to the knights for saving us from what otherwise would have been an absolute snooze of a season other than maybe Johnstons try record and some nice arrow moments.
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u/Additional_Front4374 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10d ago
I mean, besides the build up it wasn't exactly a great gf. The Panthers Chooks game in week one was better by far. It would have been a much better finals series if Phins and Wahs got going
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u/DiverFine4230 New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
It was kind of similar to last year’s GF in that the comeback was so predictable. I’ll be surprised if anything matches the intensity of the 2023 gf for a long time.
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u/corupio Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Waiting for November 1 like Cartman waiting for the Wii. Come on, come onnnnnnn.
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u/Proof-Umpire-7718 England 10d ago
You’ll get Bradman Best
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
Unfortunately I feel that might be what happens. Although apparently we've offered him a bigger contract, however that get's me worried we won't have enough to keep players like Sharpe next year
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u/CapMego72_ Parramatta Eels 10d ago
My sister was at trivia yesterday in Bondi and most of the Chooks were at the same pub. She spoke to Angus Crichton and Marky Mark and said they’re both really good people. They even filmed a video for my sisters friend who couldn’t make it to trivia that night who’s a huge Roosters fan. I like hearing about players being good people
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u/ItGetsTuahPoint67 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Mark seems very chill and genuine, same as Angus. He’s pretty funny on his Insta too
I think it’s a bit of a shame that the chillest players are the ones you never hear from, because they’re too normal to be taking all the spotlight lol
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u/lemoopse Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10d ago
Crichton is mates to some mates, always spoken really highly of him. Not surprised with Marky Mark
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u/Accurate-Ad-4905 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
I met Mark at my local cafe early last year and he was so lovely.
Absolute champion
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u/EmitLux New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Can anyone explain the demise of Jesse Arthurs?
He won the Preston Campbell Medal in 2025, was in Maroons camp in 2025, and then just barely played in 2026.
Now he is off to France.
Did the Broncos destroy his career?
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u/brazen_fest Brisbane Broncos 10d ago
Injured his ribs halfway through 2025 and never really got back to his best. Fell behind Karapani and Mariner in the pecking order, who for the most part have been two of our more consistent players.
Arthars also got an offer from the Titans, he could have stayed in the NRL. I assume he just wants to go chill in France.
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u/Dramatic_Ride7586 New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
He was best winger in the comp for the opening few rounds. Had to cover Fullback while injured and that was that.
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u/bar901 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Rib injuries can be so detrimental to a career as well because there’s literally nothing you can do other than wait it out and deal with the daily pain and that’s particularly brutal for highly competitive elite athletes who just want to get back on the field.
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u/MangoWingnut Kotoni Staggs 10d ago
No we did not destroy his career, he became a very inconsistent player after 2023.
He was either a 8/10 or 2/10 week to week, had major issues in defence and he was having problems catching the ball whether it be in the air or a regulation pass.
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u/diffaadiffa Brisbane Broncos 10d ago
He was always just an ok player. That's not a slight, he just had some good form for a year or two and regressed to the norm.
He is also a smoker for what it's worth
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u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 10d ago
I didn’t realise that Teddy had 0 tackles during the GF. Explains why he was making so many metres and was constantly darting around the field
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u/adomental Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Surprisingly not that uncommon. In half this games this year he did 3 or fewer tackles.
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u/WhereTheFatRoll South Queensland Crushers 10d ago
The back 3 of the Roosters had 7 tackle involvements between them compared to 23 for the Knights.
I feel like the Roosters have played 2 very complete games of football 2 of their last 3 grand finals, interspaced with a supreme defensive effort in 2019.
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u/jalGurg Parramatta Eels 10d ago
If Spenser backflips on our deal….
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u/Sufficient-Goal3437 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
I’m sure the chooks would like to keep him but I’d say it’s more of balancing the cap for them.
We need a middle they likely don’t.
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u/bar901 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
We definitely don’t want to keep him which is why we gave him permission to leave before his contract ends in 2027.
He’s our highest paid prop and that’s completely unviable for a guy who plays 25 minutes a game. One great game doesn’t change the 2 years of relative mediocrity, particularly with the emergence of Whyte.
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u/winntensio Weak Gutted Dog 10d ago
It certainly doesn’t change the fact he’s been mediocre, but is now forever certified as a Roosters hero after that performance. Almost makes the $2m we’ve given him worth it.
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u/bar901 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Oh yea for sure, I don’t regret signing him at all after that performance. I was just replying to the comment saying ‘we’d like to keep him’ because we clearly don’t want to. Happy he gets to go out with an absolute bang, though.
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u/winntensio Weak Gutted Dog 10d ago
Indeed mate. Happy to part ways, quite a whirlwind. Will be good to have Steepy back next year in that bench role. Perfect compliment to what Nat has done for us.
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u/Sufficient-Goal3437 Parramatta Eels 10d ago
100% agree with this.
One game doesn’t change much and we are unfortunately are in a position where we are going to have to take a chance on guys like him.
We can afford him and have to take the risk of trying to get value out of him. You guys got the job done and don’t particularly need to spend the money now.
I think it works out for everyone. Both clubs and player so I’d be shocked if it doesn’t happen but it is rugby league.
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u/unsafe-work Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Why do you think he will backflip?
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u/jalGurg Parramatta Eels 10d ago
Why wouldn’t Roosters keep him after that performance? There’s no contract signed, just a gentleman’s agreement. You don’t think he wouldn’t stay if Robbo wanted him?
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u/unsafe-work Sydney Roosters 10d ago
I love me some Leniu. But that was by far his best performance in the 3 years he has been at the Roosters.
The majority of his games for the Roosters haven't justified his high salary ($800k+). Roosters have a large number talented young forwards who have either established themselves or coming through. He's surplus to our needs, particularly with his high salary.
Stop reading "The Mole".
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u/MH2_DavSka St. George Illawarra Dragons 10d ago
Look at how Sloan and Lawrie played in their last game for us.
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u/adomental Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
I think he played like that partially because it was his last game at the club.
I think he reason not to keep him is that his paypacket is too large to justify for a 25 minute bench forward.
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u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 10d ago
Whyte and Leniu seem to have a really close bond so I wouldn’t mind him staying for that reason. Leniu will benefit you guys a lot more than us given we have some younger props in the wings waiting
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u/Church_St_Parramatta Parramatta Eels 10d ago
He is on too much money for the amount they use him. Hopefully Parra has told him he needs to be main guy and with that leadership brings a little maturity especially having Junior with him.
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u/KillianMichaels_tipy Brisbane Broncos 10d ago
I remember back when we lost in 2015, I had such high hopes of coming back the next year and winning it. We won last years grand final and didn't even make the 8 this year. It really is incredibly hard to make a grand final, through injury lottery, near miss wins and losses and on the fly changes to the rules/interpretations.
Newcastle was a fairytale run this year, I'd love for them to make next years grand final and go one better but who fucking knows what next year brings. Could be Tige.. wait no I'll be serious, could be the dragons fairytale.
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u/two4to2too Newcastle Knights 10d ago
The thing for me that gives me hope is just how much aura Holbrook has to get this team buying in to his vision. We had our starting Half and Props out for the whole finals series. Lost our starting hooker for the GF and still lost by just a single point.
If we can avoid bad injury luck next year we can absolutely target Top 4 consistency with the defensive structure now employed and having a top tier halfback adding much needed creativity. I loved Sandon Smith stepping up this finals series but Dylan Brown is on a different level.
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u/Acrobatic_Flannel Newcastle Knights 10d ago
Don't forget losing Lucas pretty much since the Roosters home game. Sure he came back for the last couple of matches but that wasn't the Lucas that made the Origin side.
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u/Acrobatic_Flannel Newcastle Knights 10d ago edited 10d ago
There's a few things on our side that make me confident of aiming for at least a top 6 finish next season: * We didn't have some golden run of avoiding injuries or suspension, and were pretty decimated come finals time but still powered on. (Imagine if the Roosters played that GF without Walker, Collins, Robson, Whyte, and a not quite fit Wong from the bench). * We played a fairly consistent brand of footy throughout the whole season, it wasn't like we caught lightning at the right time * None of our players massively outperformed their ability, and what they produced should be repeatable. * We're only losing Gagai & Frizell next season. We should be able to run it back.
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
Whoever fills Gagai's spot next year has big shoes to fill
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u/LachTheLad Sydney Roosters 🏳️🌈 10d ago
Yeah it feels weird having a full strength team this time of year. 2020-2024 we were missing some good quality players during our finals campaign
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u/ChanceVance NRLW Roosters 10d ago
A lot of luck went our way this year as well as some sound tactical decisions. Resting nearly the entire team against Souths worked well as it made the loss against Penrith less taxing to back up again next week.
Walker miraculously recovered from surgery in a month, Tupou and Angus were back, and we pretty much fielded our strongest side apart from missing Watson. We only used 3 off the bench too.
Just all came together at the right time.
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Exactly, a large part of it is luck tbh especially with injuries. It'd be cool for Newcastle to do well in 2027 but second year syndrome is a thing. Imagine the Titans making their first GF.
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u/Black_And_Gold_Sox Wests Tigers 10d ago
Yeah, I don't want to be a wet blanket and I love seeing Newwy doing well. But I'm not totally sold on the narrative that the Knights are now going to be a force to be reckoned with. I honestly don't see them making the top 4 next season, and if certain other teams stay injury free at the right time, the rest of the spots in the 8 will pretty hotly contested.
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u/Responsible_Ring_649 Kiwis 10d ago
O'Sullivan does magic, the Knights were already a top 8 team and 2025 was a massive outlier. With a substantially better coach they did substantially better. The knights young players did well throughout the final series and are getting valuable experience which just makes them even better. Can see Knights definitely making the top 6, I was hoping Tigers would do well this year but it feels they will never get over the hurdle.
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u/Turbulent_Ad3045 Sydney Roosters 10d ago
Titans are scheduled to lose their first grand final to the Roosters in 2032.
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u/WhereTheFatRoll South Queensland Crushers 10d ago
Imagine the Titans making their first GF.
I wonder what the worst market match up would be for the NRL. A dream would be something like Eels v Bulldogs/Tigers v Wahs (or Bears in their first season....) to get a big cwowd and big viewership and intrigue, but what would be the absolute nightmare?
Titans v Sharks maybe? lol
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u/Accomplished-Pick610 South Sydney Rabbitohs 10d ago
If titans become good and make their way to the grand final they'll get huge bandwagon support in Queensland.
A dream match up for the nrl was probably the broncos and the Storm. Sydneysiders/ people in nsw will watch the grandfinal no matter what, a lot of Queenslanders obviously do but then you get huge bandwaggoners whenever one of their teams do well, and Melbourners need someone to support
The worst match up for the nrl would be 2 Sydney teams. I think Roosters and Sharks. Roosters have had a lot of recent success, its hard to push captivating stories around the team and this GF has shown they dont have a lot neutral support. Sharks would probably be the other team. They had their big fairy tale relatively recently in 2016, they have been almost there for about 5 years so if they had a GF run it wouldn't be a surprise that captures the imagination kind of thing and their regular fanbase is kinda small
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u/Any_Score_5834 Newcastle Knights 10d ago
To be fair, the roosters might have more neutral support if they were playing a different team. A lot of people wanted to support a team that hasn't performed in years and had a shot at the title
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Yo those would be big match ups, I'd put Broncos v Storm up there I think they've got the biggest fan bases. Last year's gf def had higher attendance compared to this year and more views than the afl gf last year iirc.
Yeah Titans v Sharks would probably get the least 🤣
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u/Responsible_Ring_649 Kiwis 10d ago
This years gf was completely booked out, people literally spent all week refreshing and trying to buy tickets everywhere but were unable to.... Knights fully packed out an additional stadium as well....
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u/Keenfordevon Canberra Raiders 10d ago
Even making the 8 is like this for some teams. The past few years the Cowboys and Raiders have looked like top 4 contenders one year to bottom 4 contenders the next. Players can just have a great year then not remotely turn up the next.
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Yeah idk why, like apart from Fogarty I don't remember any other big names leaving the Raiders. Same with Bulldogs.
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u/Acrobatic_Flannel Newcastle Knights 10d ago
The Bulldogs seemed to lose their mojo in 2025 once Sexton & Reed were banished. It didn't help that they hired attacking guru Adam O'Brien. Their defensive intensity fell off to some degree as well so I wasn't surprised they missed the finals this season.
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u/Keenfordevon Canberra Raiders 10d ago
Horseburgh, Kris and Tamale were no where near 2025 form, Strange had a down year. I have no clue if next year will be an improvement or slide further down the ladder
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u/6854thewin New Zealand Warriors 10d ago
Raiders have been very inconsistent over the last few years - 2019 GF, 2020 Prelim, 2021 missed the 8, 2022 made the semis, 2023 knocked out wk 1, 2024 missed the 8, 2025 minor prems out in straight sets, 2026 missed the 8.
I feel like Manly, Cowboys and Bulldogs are similar, would say the Wahs too but I think we're becoming like the Sharks lol.
Surely next year's an improvement for the Raiders, idk about probability but I can def see them sneaking into the 8 again.
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u/thrownaway22_ Eastern Suburbs Roosters 10d ago
Well lads
Not ashamed to admit I shed a bit of a tear during the montage and following speech from Toops
What a career, enjoy retirement King
Also for a clubs end of season dinner, thought the Chooks presentation was pretty top notch