Rd20: 3pm Parra v Canberra GAME DAY THREAD @ GIO Stadium 19/7/25

[Twizzle]

Dude, you really are a glass half-empty kinda guy, aren't you?

half ?

 

[85 Baby]

I can’t believe people still don’t think there is a god. There obviously is and they hate our f**ken guts.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Yeah, but you were all predicting (in the Season Predictions thread) Top 8 finishes when I predicted bottom 4-6.

As Moses has missed most of the season, this is now a bottom 2 predicament.

I also predicted our season was over after 3 rounds in 2024 when Moses got injured, and there was a possibility he would never play another game with BA as coach. I seem to be the one getting the predictions right, because I just see things how they are without Blue and Gold goggles on.

At this stage, with the current squad as it is, it will be the same for 2026, bottom 6. Where in that bottom 6 depends how many games he gets to play.

Top of the bottom 6 is pretty close to knocking on the door of the Top 8.

 

[Chipmunk]

Top of the bottom 6 is pretty close to knocking on the door of the Top 8.

Do you consider either of the Dragons or the Tigpies are knocking on the door of the Top 8?

 

[hindy111]

You’ve really latched onto my one comment about how the media has played out the Dogs rise calling it a Cinderella story.

Take a breath, carry on with your day.

They just bought a new side and raided everyone's best juniors. It's bullying basically. Nobody can compete with Laundys TPAs. Hardly a Cinderella story at all

 

[hindy111]

Top of the bottom 6 is pretty close to knocking on the door of the Top 8.

If Moses is fit i would rate us just below Roosters,Sharks,Dolphins and Manly.
11th. Id say we are capable of joining that group next year but the jump from that to title chance is bigger.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No more than last year.

Statistically (the only objective measure), the following players are contributing significantly more (per game) than last year:

Paulo
Tuilagi
Doorey

These guys are contributing significantly less per game:

Brown
Penisini
Hopgood
Matterson
Lane
Cartwright

Moses will probably be more available than last year (he only needs two more games to match last year's 8 appearances), and Hopgood is on track to double his 2024 total (though contributing less per game).

Lane, Matterson and Cartwright have barely played.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The calibre of players the Bullodgs have signed since 2023 has nothing to do with their improved position on the ladder?

The calibre of player you previously referred aren't remotely close to the calibre of player the Bulldogs have recruited since 2023

Our current Wooden Spoon contender squad is no better than Bottom 6 bound for 2026.

Do you think it's a coincidence that the Bulldogs went on a spending spree after several years at the bottom of the table?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But I do suspect we are holding back some decent cash for a big signing, more likely a forward but waiting to see what is available. Along with a couple more dog level "average" nrl player type signings (for example interest in Garner)

And obviously only shit clubs sign depth players.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah, but you were all predicting (in the Season Predictions thread) Top 8 finishes when I predicted bottom 4-6.

As Moses has missed most of the season, this is now a bottom 2 predicament.

I also predicted our season was over after 3 rounds in 2024 when Moses got injured, and there was a possibility he would never play another game with BA as coach. I seem to be the one getting the predictions right, because I just see things how they are without Blue and Gold goggles on.

At this stage, with the current squad as it is, it will be the same for 2026, bottom 6. Where in that bottom 6 depends how many games he gets to play.

Well good on you for predicting our most expensive player and captain would become injury prone. Pat yourself on the back.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Do you consider either of the Dragons or the Tigpies are knocking on the door of the Top 8?

Not this year but the last few years the 12th placed team was only a couple of wins out of the eight.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Do you consider either of the Dragons or the Tigpies are knocking on the door of the Top 8?

I didn't say that the top end of the bottom 6 = knocking on the door of the Top 8.

What I explained that its pretty close to knocking on the door. I think this is a reasonable statement because:

# It is only a couple of places on the ladder away from the teams knocking on the door.
# In recent years the team at the top of the bottom 6 is generally pretty close to the teams knocking on the door of the Top 8 (usually within 2-4 points).

There is the odd exception to this.

 

[Parrapat]

Yeah, but you were all predicting (in the Season Predictions thread) Top 8 finishes when I predicted bottom 4-6.

As Moses has missed most of the season, this is now a bottom 2 predicament.

I also predicted our season was over after 3 rounds in 2024 when Moses got injured, and there was a possibility he would never play another game with BA as coach. I seem to be the one getting the predictions right, because I just see things how they are without Blue and Gold goggles on.

At this stage, with the current squad as it is, it will be the same for 2026, bottom 6. Where in that bottom 6 depends how many games he gets to play.

All we need are two more wins this season and we're at exactly the same point of redevelopment the Dogs were when the handsome prince Ciraldo began his reign under fairy godmother Gus Gould's magic pixie dust.

If we could just Wingardium Leviosa ourselves an easy draw in 2027 like the Dogs this year and beat all 2026's bottom 6 twice we're in with a chance at our own Cinderella story.

 

[emjaycee]

Need a conference system.
Draw shouldn't determine finals places.

 

[JokerEel]

Need a conference system.
Draw shouldn't determine finals places.

I think the NRL is too scared to try the conference system..

They will likely go with playing just each team once when they get to 20 teams

 

[85 Baby]

Need a conference system.
Draw shouldn't determine finals places.

… wouldn’t the draw still determine finals places? On top of that the strength of your conference will determine your finals place?

 

[85 Baby]

I think the NRL is too scared to try the conference system..

They will likely go with playing just each team once when they get to 20 teams

19 game season - 8 week finals series

 

[JokerEel]

… wouldn’t the draw still determine finals places? On top of that the strength of your conference will determine your finals place?

My conference draw has you playing everyone in your conference twice and then the other conference once..

So it would even out the conference you are in..

But yes you can't be a shit team

 

[JokerEel]

19 game season - 8 week finals series

Now we just need to bring in a trade window and a draft!

 

[85 Baby]

My conference draw has you playing everyone in your conference twice and then the other conference once..

So it would even out the conference you are in..

But yes you can't be a shit team

I just liken it to the NBA (who with play-in have at least evened it out for who does and doesn’t make it) where the 8th placed team in West would’ve finished 5th in East. Invariably one conference is going to be tougher so your finals place is largely going to be determined by your conference and draw