NRL NRL Round 26, 2025 Discussion

[wizard of Tauranga]

I don't like it personally. However it isn't against the rules and if Cleary believes it is in the best interests of the team and winning the whole thing then he is entitled to do it.
If Webby was to do similar and win the GF I would be fxxkin delighted

The rule is you try to win every game.

In what world is a $10m Bulldogs team playing a $1m Panthers team in the best interest of the competition?

Sam Walker running backwards down the field was within the rules as well and he was ridiculed so it never happened again. I’m doing the same for this!

 

[John Nick]

The rule is you try to win every game.

In what world is a $10m Bulldogs team playing a $1m Panthers team in the best interest of the competition?

Sam Walker running backwards down the field was within the rules as well and he was ridiculed so it never happened again. I’m doing the same for this!

Agreed it wasn't in the best interests of the game but not against the rules.

 

[CWC]

Kiraz not looking good with syndesmosis injury

Savage fractured shoulder season over

 

[regenerated borg]

win or lose, its the Cows final game of the season. Just hope they go out on a high and bitch slap the Broncs..
Could be worth a punt... hmmm

 

[Old Sid]

win or lose, its the Cows final game of the season. Just hope they go out on a high and bitch slap the Broncs..
Could be worth a punt... hmmm

Painful memories of our early exit last year with no finals and the bye in the last round . Sucks big time for them having such a long off-season. Definitely not a fan but hoping they go out with a sensational win this weekend!

 

[sydneywarrior92]

All tradesmen do cash jobs… is it right if I do it?

If I slack off at work and say I’m saving myself for the Christmas rush, will the boss say great idea, let’s close for a few weeks???

If the Panthers ran a second stringer with the preplanned idea to cripple a top 4 main playmaker, not caring if they are banned, do we shrug and say, they are working towards winning the grand final…

I’m so many way, I think it’s wrong.

It's been going on for years. Manly used to do it a lot back in the days when they were the powerhouse. I remember back in 2007 we played them at Mt Smart in the second last round. They were a clear 2nd behind Melbourne that year without any prospect of finishing 1st and we were battling it out for 4th place with Parra I think. Since they were secure in the top 2, Manly decided to rest all their players and essentially throw the match to us, giving us the edge in the 4th place battle. Parra threw a huge hissy fit about it at the time.

Not saying it's right but it is what it is. Nothing you can really do about it.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Not saying it's right but it is what it is. Nothing you can really do about it.

Simple new policy:

All teams must field their best available players with the intent to win every NRL game. Any unavailable players must, upon request, provide evidence to the NRL supporting their inability to play to the satisfaction of the NRL.


As far as I’m concerned, games like yesterday undermine the integrity of the competition and ladder.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Simple new policy:

All teams must field their best available players with the intent to win every NRL game. Any unavailable players must, upon request, provide evidence to the NRL supporting their inability to play to the satisfaction of the NRL.


As far as I’m concerned, games like yesterday undermine the integrity of the competition and ladder.

did we undermine the integrity of the game when we fielded a cup side in the final round of 2023 against the Phins when we had top 4 sown up that year? Or when we decided to rest SJ in the Penrith qualifier to save him for the home final the week after?

What you're suggesting is a bureaucratic nightmare. Coaches need some flexibility when it comes to picking their teams. Making them provide evidence justifying their selections every week is going to lead to suboptimal decision making that isn't in the best interests of the team.

 

[Inruin]

Simple new policy:

All teams must field their best available players with the intent to win every NRL game. Any unavailable players must, upon request, provide evidence to the NRL supporting their inability to play to the satisfaction of the NRL.


As far as I’m concerned, games like yesterday undermine the integrity of the competition and ladder.

What about teams having different byes at different times? What about teams playing different teams twice in a season and at times just weeks apart? What about teams that don't leave their home town or state for months on end? What about SoO taking the best players out if the competition?

If teams are in a position to rest players then good for them. No one gives a shit whether a team win their round 26 game or not. Winning the premiership is the goal. How teams want to try and achieve that is up to them. I wish Cuddle's was as ruthless as Ivan.

 

[Old Sid]

Or, view it a different way (admittedly a nightmare to police) is to force every team to play every one of the top 30 squad members, say 5 games minimum per regular season (barring obvious injury )

Clubs will be hesitant then to hold the lesser mortals back until the later rounds. Positional roles can be pre-nominated at the start of the season.

Imagine the corruption that could introduce

(You can also throw in that if any trainer gets involved in the play, then he/she has to play 40 mins 1st grade the following week)

 

[John Nick]

I don't like the fact that Webster is getting called Andrew Webster but it's a fact that some of the younger guys need a cuddle these days and Bennett has been doing this in a way for a long time now. Eg Des,s manner along with the likes of Madges are not working anymore .
Just leave the naming of teams as it is please. Just opening up other options to rort the system

 

[Ref]

Should sign Laurie

I prefer Taine. Similar players.

 

[Worried2Death]

I don't like the fact that Webster is getting called Andrew Webster but it's a fact that some of the younger guys need a cuddle these days and Bennett has been doing this in a way for a long time now. Eg Des,s manner along with the likes of Madges are not working anymore .
Just leave the naming of teams as it is please. Just opening up other options to rort the system

I thought we weren't calling him that now. He's not nice, he's shown that by never picking Tom Ale. Souths fans think he looks like a ruthless meth dealer with ice in his veins.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

did we undermine the integrity of the game when we fielded a cup side in the final round of 2023 against the Phins when we had top 4 sown up that year? Or when we decided to rest SJ in the Penrith qualifier to save him for the home final the week after?

Yes and I was vocal about it at the time!

What you're suggesting is a bureaucratic nightmare. Coaches need some flexibility when it comes to picking their teams. Making them provide evidence justifying their selections every week is going to lead to suboptimal decision making that isn't in the best interests of the team.

There is not problem with occasional players rested and rotated if they are fatigued. That is a different case to everyone having a week off and stuff the competition. The NRL would only use the policy when there are an abnormal amount of players out (eg end of season).

No one gives a shit whether a team win their round 26 game or not.

I do as it cost us a shot at 3rd! It still grates we dropped to 4th instead of third in 23, these things matter to us passionate historians!!!

Winning the premiership is the goal. How teams want to try and achieve that is up to them.

Respectfully disagree if it impacts other teams results on the ladder. Penrith have manipulated the end of year ladder which is cheating in my opinion. I would deduct 10 competition points and throw them out of the finals all together

How teams want to try and achieve that is up to them. I wish Cuddle's was as ruthless as Ivan.

Personally think Cleary had a hissy for after losing to the Storm and Canberra in close games and didn’t want to lose 3 in a row (with their best team). Ivan’s a chicken and Andrew Webster shouldn’t copy him

 

[Worried2Death]

Personally think Cleary had a hissy for after losing to the Storm and Canberra in close games and didn’t want to lose 3 in a row (with their best team). Ivan’s a chicken and Andrew Webster shouldn’t copy him

Could be onto something there Wiz, he's either a genius or a total fraud.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I prefer Taine. Similar players.

Laurie surely is bigger than Taine.

 

[Inruin]

Yes and I was vocal about it at the time!

There is not problem with occasional players rested and rotated if they are fatigued. That is a different case to everyone having a week off and stuff the competition. The NRL would only use the policy when there are an abnormal amount of players out (eg end of season).

I do as it cost us a shot at 3rd! It still grates we dropped to 4th instead of third in 23, these things matter to us passionate historians!!!

Respectfully disagree if it impacts other teams results on the ladder. Penrith have manipulated the end of year ladder which is cheating in my opinion. I would deduct 10 competition points and throw them out of the finals all together


Personally think Cleary had a hissy for after losing to the Storm and Canberra in close games and didn’t want to lose 3 in a row (with their best team). Ivan’s a chicken and Andrew Webster shouldn’t copy him

So my argument boils down to a team doing whatever they can to win the competition within the rules and yours boils down to..... Exactly the same thing

 

[Ref]

Laurie surely is bigger than Taine.

What by a kilo and a centimetre. I jest of course.
Both decent players with the same skill set.
I think Taine has X factor and seriously underrated.