TEAM vs. BRONCOS

[R-15-3]

I don’t think your bench utility needs to be able to cover your half’s as their main position.
You can win games with 1 half, it’s when you lose an outside back that it will cost you more games than not.
Id rather a rookie winger on the bench than Atkinson if the sole purpose of being on the bench is injury cover.
If you want 15 min in the middle and possibly injury cover u play Hohepa.
Only world where Atkinson plays is if our half’s are carrying injury.

 

[glenmoresharkie]

I sometimes wonder if Fitzgibbon is actually watching the games or he just sits in the box and stares off into space.
No way can someone think Kaufusi and Atkinson should be playing.

He’s thinking too much about hitting copy/paste on the team sheet the following Tuesday

 

[sladden road]

Tartare is good.

Atko, no so. Never liked him.

 

[1990 sharkie]

Sifa finally starts against the one man who tore him to shreds in the centre position. Probably his hardest match up in the nrl

 

[Bookie]

I dont think we're in a position to dump Oregon atm, I would like to see him benched to send a message though.

Burns either starts or doesn't play, no point having an edge backrower on the bench when both ours play 80 and we have JC who can play edge, plus we have Sifa .

Having Sifa on the bench was the main reason why people didn't like Atko there because Sifa could be that utility , albeit as not as clean as using Atko.

Now Sifa is starting if we went four forward with no utility value we'd be in trouble. A bench of Puru, Rudolf, JC and Uele doesn't help if we lose a back or a half and we've needed to use Atko for both those positions a few times this year. Puru has some utility value but not the same as Atko

Not to mention that JC, Uele and Rudolf can all play 40 minutes easily with AFB playing 60, Nikora and Tieg playing 80 and Oregon able to play 40 too there's no need to have a forward for those minutes.

Uele can play 40 minutes?!
Did you add a 0 there?

 

[bad boy bubby]

A timely article before the game on Sunday maybe, or maybe not. See which way the views take it.


Do NRL referees really give the better teams in the competition the rub of the green?
Or is it merely a refereeing conspiracy theory held by mostly disgruntled coaches and fans.

In the wake of the Wests Tigers 18-14 loss to Penrith in Round 14, Tigers boss Shane Richardson suggested two decisive penalties handed to Jarome Luai were influenced by the club’s spot on the ladder.

“I’ve learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you’re battling up the ladder,” he said.


But CODE Sports NRL stats reveal that only one club has received more penalties in their favour than the Tigers in 2025.

On Sunday, Cronulla (first) and Brisbane (seventeenth) - a club fighting to turn around its on-field fortunes - will test the theory as the clubs with the best and worst record for infringement differentials, respectively.

We take a look at how your club is faring, and where your side ranks by the infringement differential (the difference between penalties and set restarts awarded to those conceded), when it comes to the referees whistle and the set restart bell in 2025.

Sharks​

1st​

---

Penalties Conceded: 79 (5th)
Penalties Awarded: 99 (1st)
Set restarts Conceded: 26 (15th)
Set restarts Awarded: 45 (5th)
Infringement Differential: 39, (1st)
Cronulla have won the penalty count 10 times from 14 games so far on the back of a whopping 99 penalties awarded.
Addin Fonua-Blake, who is the leading forward in the NRL for run metres, is generating plenty of momentum which is contributing to the big number of set restarts going Cronulla’s way along with quick darts out of dummy half from hooker Blayke Brailey.

Broncos​

17th​

---

Penalties Conceded: 81 (2nd)
Penalties Awarded: 67 (14th)
Set restarts Conceded: 50 (2nd)
Set restarts Awarded: 35 (11th)
Infringement Differential: -29, (17th)
The Broncos can’t catch a break, not only does the side have the worst infringement differential Michael Maguire’s men have lost 8 penalty counts from 13 games so far. Even though the side boasts damaging runners like Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs, the restarts aren’t coming Brisbane’s way.

No Cookies | CODE Sports

No Cookies | CODE Sports

www.codesports.com.au

 

[Tiger Shark]

Uele can play 40 minutes?!
Did you add a 0 there?

Ha, ok 30 … 40 if we were desperate

 

[Stake Removed]

A timely article before the game on Sunday maybe, or maybe not. See which way the views take it.


Do NRL referees really give the better teams in the competition the rub of the green?
Or is it merely a refereeing conspiracy theory held by mostly disgruntled coaches and fans.

In the wake of the Wests Tigers 18-14 loss to Penrith in Round 14, Tigers boss Shane Richardson suggested two decisive penalties handed to Jarome Luai were influenced by the club’s spot on the ladder.

“I’ve learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you’re battling up the ladder,” he said.


But CODE Sports NRL stats reveal that only one club has received more penalties in their favour than the Tigers in 2025.

On Sunday, Cronulla (first) and Brisbane (seventeenth) - a club fighting to turn around its on-field fortunes - will test the theory as the clubs with the best and worst record for infringement differentials, respectively.

We take a look at how your club is faring, and where your side ranks by the infringement differential (the difference between penalties and set restarts awarded to those conceded), when it comes to the referees whistle and the set restart bell in 2025.

Sharks​

1st​

---

Penalties Conceded: 79 (5th)
Penalties Awarded: 99 (1st)
Set restarts Conceded: 26 (15th)
Set restarts Awarded: 45 (5th)
Infringement Differential: 39, (1st)
Cronulla have won the penalty count 10 times from 14 games so far on the back of a whopping 99 penalties awarded.
Addin Fonua-Blake, who is the leading forward in the NRL for run metres, is generating plenty of momentum which is contributing to the big number of set restarts going Cronulla’s way along with quick darts out of dummy half from hooker Blayke Brailey.

Broncos​

17th​

---

Penalties Conceded: 81 (2nd)
Penalties Awarded: 67 (14th)
Set restarts Conceded: 50 (2nd)
Set restarts Awarded: 35 (11th)
Infringement Differential: -29, (17th)
The Broncos can’t catch a break, not only does the side have the worst infringement differential Michael Maguire’s men have lost 8 penalty counts from 13 games so far. Even though the side boasts damaging runners like Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs, the restarts aren’t coming Brisbane’s way.

No Cookies | CODE Sports

No Cookies | CODE Sports

www.codesports.com.au

That will be evened up by the end of the game

 

[Quigs]

Ha, ok 30 … 40 if we were desperate

There will be a lot of breaks in play due to dropped balls though.

 

[carinashark]

Burns has got to be a better choice the Uele.

 

[cb4]

Small chatter this afternoon that Chris Vea’ila will be a late inclusion.

 

[bluefox68]

Oregon OUT
Puru IN

 

[Ozzi_78]

Woah

 

[glenmoresharkie]

Hmm, a forced change? Or has Oregon just been given a kick up the ass?

 

[glenmoresharkie]

Forced change. Kaufusi injured.

 

[Don Tweddle]

Love it! Although my preference would have been for him to replace Atkinson.

 

[bluefox68]

Love it! Although my preference would have been for him to replace Atkinson.

Ideal world - cb4’s mail is correct, and Talakai goes to the bench (alongside Puru) and DA drops to 18th man.

 

[glenmoresharkie]

CV isn’t in the extended squad so I don’t see how he can play

 

[shadowboxer]

Forced change. Kaufusi injured.

Moylan injury?

 

[Frenzy.]

Forced change. Kaufusi injured.

Since Round 3.