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NRL Rd 14 2025 - General Non-Warriors Thread

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,760
It's crunch time for a few teams and, halfway through the season, that's about right. Knights, Titans, Eels, maybe more. If they want to play finals then they need a couple of back-to-back wins. Even the Tigers need to do this really, if they can truly say, 'were better than last year'.

Tonight, Newcastle host Manly. There's '97 flashing in my head again but I need to let that go. Manly may as well be the Mayans as far as how long ago that feels now!

Friday, how good are the Storm? Awesome or not quite there, so always beatable? The Cowboys are the perfect opponent in this context. Redcliffe v Dragons, a lot of red on display, you'd feel like you were at one of those Tongan turncoat games in 2017! Yuck.

Saturday, a moment of truth for the Warriors at Shark Park. We can't be the side we were, ten years ago, when Johnson fell. Back then we instantly collapsed, this year I think we're made of tougher stuff. Let's hope so.

Brisbane v Gold Coast, rockstar Broncos v Dessie's desperados. I've picked the latter.

Sunday, Canberra are hot picks for the premeirship, or at least the grand final. They're gnarly and talented, have pacy backs and tough, mobile forwards. Will Latrell have another monster game? Wests must win, but the same is said for Penrith, so you go for Penrith's experience, which means nothing's changed for the Tigers!

Monday, what a long weekend. Sydney fare, Canterbury v Eels. No Galvin on the field but his saga will still permeate. Gould is starting to stink over this, so Parra might take advantage of the rot.

Enjoy!
 
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10,801
Hasler given a final warning from the NRL about his referee opinions. “Who was in the bunker ?” “Kasey was it, well Kasey got it wrong, again” the crime this time, what a joke. Badger has been relieved of her bunker duties this weekend

2 players managers have been hit with sanctions as well

Has been revealed Tevaga has been playing the last month with a fractured rib, and intends to keep playing, madness
 
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Blair

Coach
Messages
11,760
And the Rabbitohs want to move 'back' to Allianz. They've been gone since the '90s (?) but, with Redfern gone and Accor way too big, I can see their point.
 
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10,801
Olakau’atu is like watching the Under 8s at times

Koula not a bad 3rd string fullback

Looks like it will be a miracle for Newcastle not to get the spoon, they look so bad
 

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,760
16-0, Manly. Halftime.

OK, this is huge, the Knights were booed off the field. Has that ever happened before? You'd think so but I can't recall it.

O'Brien the first coach sacked? Not likely because I heard his contract has another two and a half years to run and he'd have to be paid out in full. That's more than $2M.
 
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10,801
Have said it before, I’ve never known a coach with an 80% record of making the finals to be constantly under pressure like O’Brien is, but it is deserved currently

Joey in commentary is absolutely spot on, they are running through all their set plays and attacking moves, but every pass is made 3m in front of the defensive line so it is picked off so easily. Nobody goes straight at pace or go from dummy half, it all looks slow motion
 

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,760
Have said it before, I’ve never known a coach with an 80% record of making the finals to be constantly under pressure like O’Brien is, but it is deserved currently

Joey in commentary is absolutely spot on, they are running through all their set plays and attacking moves, but every pass is made 3m in front of the defensive line so it is picked off so easily. Nobody goes straight at pace or go from dummy half, it all looks slow motion.

It's the same commentary from the ABC, 'so predictable in attack' and 'Ponga and Best* ignored', with 'non-existant wingers outside their centres'.

*When Best played.
 
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10,801
Jayden Brailey has been awesome this half, he is completely wasted behind Crossland

Letting Pearce-Paul leave at the end of the year looks a crazy decision from them too

Righto DCE, you want your origin spot, get this game home
 

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,760
22-all, four mins to go. What a finish...you'd think the big home-crowd brings Newcastle home. Or, as Beave said, DCE?

...extra time...Knights kicking off...
 
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10,801
Well done O’Brien at halftime taking the shackles off them, they threw it round and Brailey was huge out of dummy half. Well and truly exploited the big 2nd rower out in the centres too. They should learn from it and keep playing that style
 
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10,285
Messages
10,801
O’Brien used his press conference to get stuck into Newcastle fans, declaring that those that booed at halftime have no idea about rugby league. That will get them on your side champ

Maguire apparently looking at dropping Selwyn Cobbo this week

David Fifita cleared by the Titans doctors to play, he is refusing saying he needs more time. Think that whole situation is about to get very untidy
 

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