2025

[Fangs]

Prior to the knights game our for and against was pretty good, a win would have been 1 point away from 8. So now that we are here do we think we can make the 8 still? It's pretty much panic stations right now in my opinion regarding our depths and I am hoping management looks at this season and see we need to fill some holes.

Of course we can.

But time is slipping away. That 1 point we threw away against the Cowboys might end up costing us. Along with other losses that never should have happened like Roosters round 2.

We might have a weird scenario where we beat all the top 4 teams this year and miss the finals. Big game DNA is still there and if we scrape the 8 every other team will be shitting their pants. But we've lost the opportunity to coast through the rep season. It's all hands on deck.

That NZ away game is shaping up as our grand final. In the pre-season we would have marked that one down as a loss with no players backing up. Considering the circumstances if Cleary and co are fit they are playing. I'd back them to win it but the cost on recovery and injuries will catch up with us.

 

[betcats]

There is no way the origin guys are playing in perth on wednesday and then NZ on Saturday, not a chance in hell, it would be negligent to let them.

 

[BossleyPanther]

Of course we can.

But time is slipping away. That 1 point we threw away against the Cowboys might end up costing us. Along with other losses that never should have happened like Roosters round 2.

We might have a weird scenario where we beat all the top 4 teams this year and miss the finals. Big game DNA is still there and if we scrape the 8 every other team will be shitting their pants. But we've lost the opportunity to coast through the rep season. It's all hands on deck.

That NZ away game is shaping up as our grand final. In the pre-season we would have marked that one down as a loss with no players backing up. Considering the circumstances if Cleary and co are fit they are playing. I'd back them to win it but the cost on recovery and injuries will catch up with us.

We do have the Big game DNA, I wish during Origin, none of our players get injured.

 

[BossleyPanther]

There is no way the origin guys are playing in perth on wednesday and then NZ on Saturday, not a chance in hell, it would be negligent to let them.

If they do, they would need alot of rest

 

[betcats]

If they do, they would need alot of rest

Even if they flew out directly after full time on wednesday night they are getting to sydney until thursday. And lets be realistic they arent going to fly out of perth wednesday night. It just not happening, mark that NZ game as a loss and move on.

 

[Fangs]

There is no way the origin guys are playing in perth on wednesday and then NZ on Saturday, not a chance in hell, it would be negligent to let them.

I was 100% sure of this until our season unravelled.

Imagine Nathan Cleary being fit to play and told he can't. That isn't going to happen either. We will play anyone who can stand and suffer the consequences. I hope you are a God fearing man. Keep our team in your prayers.

Call it negligent but Ivan has done it before. All clubs do it they can't help themselves. It'll happen again.

 

[betcats]

Mate its not gonna happen. Its to big a risk with the two day turnaround and then flights. No physio or trainer is going to say they are fit play, why would we risk it anyway they wont be at their best and the chance of them getting injured playing under those circumstances must skyrocket.

 

[BossleyPanther]

Even if they flew out directly after full time on wednesday night they are getting to sydney until thursday. And lets be realistic they arent going to fly out of perth wednesday night. It just not happening, mark that NZ game as a loss and move on.

For some reason I thought we had the bye this weekend. That's a tough one going to NZ. On that we going to miss the 8, we just having a season of hell. This stadium stuff is always a issue, nothing done, we could have played 5 games there and it would have made a difference. It is what it is now!

 

[betcats]

For some reason I thought we had the bye this weekend. That's a tough one going to NZ. On that we going to miss the 8, we just having a season of hell. This stadium stuff is always a issue, nothing done, we could have played 5 games there and it would have made a difference. It is what it is now!

Terribly scheduling for us. Anyway i just dont see us budging on those guys playing that game.

Also we have to be realistic here, even if we had a week long uninterrupted prep with all players fit and available we would be long odds to beat the warriors in NZ. Are we really going to risk our most expensive players two days after origin going from perth to nz when it wouldnt even make us favourites, we'd still be pushing shit uphill trying to win that game.

 

[Oldpanther86]

I was 100% sure of this until our season unravelled.

Imagine Nathan Cleary being fit to play and told he can't. That isn't going to happen either. We will play anyone who can stand and suffer the consequences. I hope you are a God fearing man. Keep our team in your prayers.

Call it negligent but Ivan has done it before. All clubs do it they can't help themselves. It'll happen again.

This is just an emotional reaction to the season talking. They're not going to play because we want to see the team win. It's not happening.

 

[Fangs]

Mate its not gonna happen. Its to big a risk with the two day turnaround and then flights. No physio or trainer is going to say they are fit play, why would we risk it anyway they wont be at their best and the chance of them getting injured playing under those circumstances must skyrocket.

This is just an emotional reaction to the season talking. They're not going to play because we want to see the team win. It's not happening.

Preaching to the choir gentlemen.

Not normally one to toot my own horn (Plenty of others do that for me) but I believe I was the first on here to call this out when the draw was announced last year.

I'm also a bit of a broken record on this topic. My official position is that backing up post Origin should be banned until they sort out the schedule. I'm surprised the RLPA doesn't make more of a song and dance out of it. All the talk about short turn arounds yet coaches every year have players backing up 48-72 hours after Origin.

Either 2023 or 2024 I can't remember which. Ivan did a presser and openly said the days of backing up are probably gone. Despite that he has still gone ahead and done it regardless. When things are desperate you make desperate decisions if it's available to you.

Put it this way. Hook 2018 backing up our players in Canberra 48 hours after Origin I in VIC was a stinker of a decision. We won the game and past that point our season nose dived. If that was a bad call then sending players from Perth to NZ on less than 72 hours is worse.

 

[BossleyPanther]

Next season we will be better for it without player September football.. but replacing the deadwood with up and comers from other clubs has to be part of the plan.

 

[age.s]

2025 sucks.

 

[Chins]

2025 sucks.

Just need to enjoy the small good parts when we can. Things like watching Casey develop

 

[Oldpanther86]

Just need to enjoy the small good parts when we can. Things like watching Casey develop

Man he looks so strong already. Multiple defenders struggle to wrestle him.

 

[blue bags]

There is no way the origin guys are playing in perth on wednesday and then NZ on Saturday, not a chance in hell, it would be negligent to let them.

It's happened before
3 days break

 

[Chins]

Man he looks so strong already. Multiple defenders struggle to wrestle him.

Not passing to his winger is the biggest issue and that's such an easy fix. I don't believe he's hog just not confident throwing it. He'll get there and it won't take long

 

[Old and Disgruntled]

Not passing to his winger is the biggest issue and that's such an easy fix. I don't believe he's hog just not confident throwing it. He'll get there and it won't take long

Problem solved, put him on the wing.

 

[age.s]

Problem solved, put him on the wing.

Can he catch?

For me his biggest issue has been defensive decision making, but centre is a notoriously difficult position to defend, so if he can catch a move to the wing kills two birds with one stone.

 

[The Realist]

Just need to enjoy the small good parts when we can. Things like watching Casey develop

For me I am more excited by Luron Patea. He will be our new 'wrecking ball' style Prop. Not sure if he can develop the motor to be a starter but I really like what I've seen from him already.