NRL Finals 2025

[Philip_Smith007]

Guess I'm back on the Panthers bandwagon

Clinical first half.

 

[Blair]

46-26, Panthers. Final.

It was 40-8 at one stage. Sadly, I think we would've beaten the Dogs today too. It's all a bit predictable with Penrith though. I hope someone can stop them.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I’m relieved I don’t have to feign support for the “underdog” Raiders anymore tbh. Absolutely wankerish group of players, coach, and fans, and have been for decades. After the way they carried on and the filth they got away with in the Mt Smart game this year it was frankly ridiculous for Warriors fans to be supporting them.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

46-26, Panthers. Final.

It was 40-8 at one stage. Sadly, I think we would've beaten the Dogs today too. It's all a bit predictable with Penrith though. I hope someone can stop them.

I don’t want anyone to stop them, because that would likely mean a Broncos or Storm win

 

[Blair]

Week Three:

Fri: Storm v Sharks in Melbourne, 7:50 pm.
Sun: Broncos v Panthers in Brisbane, 4:05 pm.
(AEST).

If anyone's wondering the AFL GF is on the Saturday, hence no NRL game.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

If anyone's wondering the AFL GF is on the Saturday, hence no NRL game.

Watched both AFL prelim finals this week, second one on replay, and actually enjoyed them both.

Still don’t understand a lot of it but the GF might be a worthwhile ‘curtain raiser’ for the Bledisloe.

 

[Blair]

Watched both AFL prelim finals this week, second one on replay, and actually enjoyed them both.

Still don’t understand a lot of it but the GF might be a worthwhile ‘curtain raiser’ for the Bledisloe.

As a way of protesting the NRL - Warriors (and other battling clubs) Lives Matter - I wore my St Kilda guernsey out walking while the Bulldogs-Panthers final was on. I was amazed at how many people reacted to it. Then the penny dropped, all the league fans - almost the whole town - were watching the game.

My little protest is done now. Life's too short. Go Sharks!

 

[Philip_Smith007]

I don’t want anyone to stop them, because that would likely mean a Broncos or Storm win

2 of 4 GF scenarios have been before.
Broncos v Sharks
Broncos v Storm
Panthers v Sharks
Panthers v Storm

 

[JJ]

Clinical first half.

That level is something nobody can handle imo, but if they button off with a big lead, the likes of Brisbane are more dangerous than the Dogs

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

As a way of protesting the NRL - Warriors (and other battling clubs) Lives Matter - I wore my St Kilda guernsey out walking while the Bulldogs-Panthers final was on. I was amazed at how many people reacted to it. Then the penny dropped, all the league fans - almost the whole town - were watching the game.

My little protest is done now. Life's too short. Go Sharks!

I could see myself following fumble ball a bit more next season tbh. Need to find a team to get in behind though.

My aunt lived across the road from Moorabbin Park years (decades...) ago and I remember kicking the ball around the carpark as a kid whenever we visited. That's the closest connection I have to any AFL club... reckon St Kilda's worth following?

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

That level is something nobody can handle imo, but if they button off with a big lead, the likes of Brisbane are more dangerous than the Dogs

Yea that first 40 was special wasnt it. Losing Crichton and having Xerri switch sides to accommodate Burton wouldn't have helped the Dog's defensive combinations on each edge, but Penrith were the epitome of clinical in the first half.

 

[vvvrulz]

We should take heart from our finals performance - the woofs got flogged like a reserves side while we (largely) stood toe to toe. Penrith are a scary team when they're set, 5-peat is on.

 

[Blair]

I could see myself following fumble ball a bit more next season tbh. Need to find a team to get in behind though.

My aunt lived across the road from Moorabbin Park years (decades...) ago and I remember kicking the ball around the carpark as a kid whenever we visited. That's the closest connection I have to any AFL club... reckon St Kilda's worth following?

Yeah, go Saints. They haven't won a flag since 1966 - a one-point win over Collingwood, and their only premiership - so if you're there when they win again (like, never) it'll be joyous chaos.

As I've told the others here I never watch AFL, nor follow the results, but I get my kick from the crazy fan culture and history.

League's my game, have no doubt about that.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, go Saints. They haven't won a flag since 1966 - a one-point win over Collingwood, and their only premiership - so if you're there when they win again (like, never) it'll be joyous chaos.

As I've told the others here I never watch AFL, nor follow the results, but I get my kick from the crazy fan culture and history.

League's my game, have no doubt about that.

Having lived in Melbourne now 3 months, through the winter AFL months, I have absolutely zero interest for AFL in terms of the game, the fan culture, the vibe etc - full respect for the history but I just cannot get into the game. It's just so messy, especially in the wet.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

On the Dogs, I can't wait to hear Gus explain how the season spiralled from the point he played dumb on Galvin then blew up the joint to get him in. From that point, the Dogs beat a top 8 team once - us (I'm not counting the NSW Cup Penrith side they got). Losses v top 8 sides in that period: 7.

Or even better, as per another thread:
Dogs win 10 from 12 without Galvin (82%)
Dogs win 6 from 14 with him (42%)

But most people are scared of Gus and he won't talk to people who hold him to account (Chammas) so that'll never come

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

On the Dogs, I can't wait to hear Gus explain how the season spiralled from the point he played dumb on Galvin then blew up the joint to get him in. From that point, the Dogs beat a top 8 team once - us (I'm not counting the NSW Cup Penrith side they got). Losses v top 8 sides in that period: 7.

Or even better, as per another thread:
Dogs win 10 from 12 without Galvin (82%)
Dogs win 6 from 14 with him (42%)

But most people are scared of Gus and he won't talk to people who hold him to account (Chammas) so that'll never come

Suspect Gus will be in as much denial as Ciraldo was in the after match presser yesterday.

If that was simply to protect his players then I can respect it, but if he genuinely believes that then fk I dunno what’s going on there.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Suspect Gus will be in as much denial as Ciraldo was in the after match presser yesterday.

If that was simply to protect his players then I can respect it, but if he genuinely believes that then fk I dunno what’s going on there.

He'll probably just say 'we lost our captain, and that made all the difference' and move on.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I’m relieved I don’t have to feign support for the “underdog” Raiders anymore tbh. Absolutely wankerish group of players, coach, and fans, and have been for decades. After the way they carried on and the filth they got away with in the Mt Smart game this year it was frankly ridiculous for Warriors fans to be supporting them.

Yeah that Mt Smart game revealed a bit of character. Tamale (I think ) got a driveby on social media from the Sky Sport account, of all things.

I hope the Panthers win 5 straight. I'd hate to see a premiership on Reece TV, Melbourne are my 17th club (only confirmed by sitting with them at AAMI Park - f**k they know nothing about league at all) and the Sharks, well nothing against them but also f**k AFB.

 

[Blair]

...I hope the Panthers win 5 straight. I'd hate to see a premiership on Reece TV, Melbourne are my 17th club (only confirmed by sitting with them at AAMI Park - f**k they know nothing about league at all) and the Sharks, well nothing against them but also f**k AFB.

It's often ugly at this time of year. That whole paragraph is a horror show. Remember heading into round one with all that excitement and anticipation?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

We should take heart from our finals performance - the woofs got flogged like a reserves side while we (largely) stood toe to toe. Penrith are a scary team when they're set, 5-peat is on.

Thats how I was feeling by half time in that game. One thing we can definitely say about our season, we were often outgunned but the side always dug in and never gave up. The Storm game was the only time all season we were really out of it all game and even then we won the second half.