General Will we make the 8?

[wizard of Tauranga]

If we finish 4th, we'd be playing the winner of 5th vs 8th. At this stage, I'm putting my money on Cronulla being that opponent given that Brisbane still have to play Melbourne with Hughes coming back into the side and Penrith look like they are resting players now.

I know this might seem like a bad take for some. But if we finish 4th, I would seriously think about resting key players against the Raiders. We would be long odds to win that game anyway, so it would be best for us to take the long-term perspective and load up for the week 2 home game. We did the same thing in 2023 I remember with SJ. SJ probably could have played the week 1 final against Penrith that year but Webby made the decision to keep him fresh for the Newcastle mauling the week after.

The season is already a success by any metric. Making it to a 2nd prelim final in 3 years would be amazing for our young stars just to get finals experience which will serve us better for an even more serious push next year and beyond.

I don’t believe in resting players in regular season and definitely not finals.

It undermines the integrity of the competition. We could miss 4th spot if Penrith rest players which is no different to what B Smith is being had up for.

You must go out to win every game. Just because you can legally deliberately lower your chance of winning games doesn’t make it morally right.

Websters philosophy is you play players if fit (to the point of exhaustion) as the combinations and game time is more important than fatigue and I don’t see any difference during finals.

 

[John Nick]

I don’t believe in resting players in regular season and definitely not finals.

It undermines the integrity of the competition. We could miss 4th spot if Penrith rest players which is no different to what B Smith is being had up for.

You must go out to win every game. Just because you can legally deliberately lower your chance of winning games doesn’t make it morally right.

Websters philosophy is you play players if fit (to the point of exhaustion) as the combinations and game time is more important than fatigue and I don’t see any difference during finals.

Further to this point while I'm an admirer of Bunty I would only play him for his final hooray if I thought it was in the best interests of the team winning

 

[Kav1]

I don’t believe in resting players in regular season and definitely not finals.

It undermines the integrity of the competition. We could miss 4th spot if Penrith rest players which is no different to what B Smith is being had up for.

You must go out to win every game. Just because you can legally deliberately lower your chance of winning games doesn’t make it morally right.

Websters philosophy is you play players if fit (to the point of exhaustion) as the combinations and game time is more important than fatigue and I don’t see any difference during finals.

There is always a calculated risk in resting your best players; be it for physical or mental reasons. At this time, with two rounds of the regular season to play, Cleary has decided that Penrith have little hope of gaining top 4 and no chance of missing top 8. It is in their interests to rest some key members for the finals ahead, particularly those with minor injuries which they don't want to risk worsening.

 

[snake77]

If you work through the ladder predictor, there are some big swings on certain games that could move other clubs up or down a few spots.

Some nice matchups coming up that could look different with players rested. As good as it is knowing your team is in the finals, it can mean getting smashed like we did in 2023.

Clubs resting players has become a bit more of a thing the last few years as teams prep to get at their best for the finals. A few weeks ago, you likely didn't take it into account as much until the last few rounds, as it gets mentioned more.

Hopefully, we take care of our own results.

 

[MXRecord]

We're guaranteed a spot in the 8 which has completely exceeded my expectations. I'm happy regardless.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

We're guaranteed a spot in the 8 which has completely exceeded my expectations. I'm happy regardless.

I'd love top 6 for a home game.

 

[CWC]

If we don't think we are going for the title this year then surely we play everyone R1, because we might be bundled out in 2 games anyway, why are we letting our young boys play R2 only?

 

[sup42]

If we finish 4th, we'd be playing the winner of 5th vs 8th. At this stage, I'm putting my money on Cronulla being that opponent given that Brisbane still have to play Melbourne with Hughes coming back into the side and Penrith look like they are resting players now.

I know this might seem like a bad take for some. But if we finish 4th, I would seriously think about resting key players against the Raiders. We would be long odds to win that game anyway, so it would be best for us to take the long-term perspective and load up for the week 2 home game. We did the same thing in 2023 I remember with SJ. SJ probably could have played the week 1 final against Penrith that year but Webby made the decision to keep him fresh for the Newcastle mauling the week after.

The season is already a success by any metric. Making it to a 2nd prelim final in 3 years would be amazing for our young stars just to get finals experience which will serve us better for an even more serious push next year and beyond.

We cannot afford to rest players.

Our biggest weakness is a lack of combinations and form by virtue of a constantly changing spine and other key positions.

We only just started to look as though things are clicking under Boyd and CHT. The more they play the better our chances, including a respectable loss to the Raiders.

I also have concerns about our response to giving ourselves an artificial bye week, we are not clearly better after a bye.

Lastly I think it sends the wrong message, I would rather we went out bravely in both sets than have a flogging on our record and a loss the week after. That would be a terrible end to the season imo.

 

[Sammyw]

if we beat the eels i can see an argument for resting players against manly, but absolutely not in wk1 of finals. any team is a fighting chance, wouldnt put it past us to upset the raiders in wk1.. imagine, we then have a game in NZ to qualify for the GF.... also, any experience gained in finals games is super beneficial.

 

[sup42]

if we beat the eels i can see an argument for resting players against manly, but absolutely not in wk1 of finals. any team is a fighting chance, wouldnt put it past us to upset the raiders in wk1.. imagine, we then have a game in NZ to qualify for the GF.... also, any experience gained in finals games is super beneficial.

Yep, another way to look at it is we are almost zero chance of winning the comp, like actual less than five percent chance.

Given that, what is there to lose by going for it and putting our best foot forward in both our finals games (should we end up with two games per top four).

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

2023 Johnson was a special case, we don't have a player of that importance to manage this time, i dont see what you gain from resting. Also playing the raiders in their first home finals game in a while would be a hostile environment, would be a good experience for the youth.

But see 5th being quite likely. the storm-roosters game this friday night would have big implications for who we might play in the 5-8.

Reasonable chance its the dolphins again. If we are 5th the Sharks are likely to be 4th, and going to shark park in week 2, wouldn't hold any fears for the team.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

I'm like 70% sure this is right.. lol

To finish 7th: (Away Week One vs. Broncos, Sharks, or Panthers)
We lose both of the remaining games, and the Panthers win both of their remaining games, and the Broncos win one of their remaining games, and the Sharks win one of their remaining games.

To Finish 6th: (Home Week One vs. Broncos, Sharks, Panthers, or Roosters)
We lose both of the remaining games, and the Panthers lose one of their remaining games, and the Broncos win one of their remaining games, and the Sharks win one of their remaining games, OR
We win one of the remaining games, and the Broncos win both of their remaining games, and the Sharks win both of their remaining games.

To Finish 5th: (Home Week One vs. Broncos, Sharks, Panthers, Roosters, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, or Tigers)
We lose both of the remaining games, and the Panthers lose one of their remaining games, and the Broncos win one of their remaining games, and the Sharks lose both of their remaining games, OR
We lose both of the remaining games, and the Panthers lose one of their remaining games, and the Broncos lose both of their remaining games, and the Sharks win one of their remaining games, OR
We win one of the remaining games, and the Broncos win both of their remaining games, and the Sharks lose one of their remaining games, OR
We win one of the remaining games, and the Broncos lose one of their remaining games, and the Sharks win both of their remaining games.

To Finish 4th: (Away Week One vs Raiders or Storm)
We win both of the remaining games, and the Bulldogs win one of their remaining games, OR
We win one of the remaining games, and the Broncos lose one of their remaining games, and the Sharks lose one of their remaining games, OR
We lose both of the remaining games, and the Broncos lose both of their remaining games, and the Sharks lose both of their remaining games.

To Finish 3rd: (Away Week One vs Storm or Raiders)
We win both of the remaining games, and the Bulldogs lose both of their remaining games.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

To Finish 3rd: (Away Week One vs Storm or Raiders)
We win both of the remaining games, and the Bulldogs lose both of their remaining games.

This is the funniest and by proxy, the only acceptable scenario.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

This is the funniest and by proxy, the only acceptable scenario.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

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