General Will we make the 8?

[FormerlyJamesW]

I don't think we can understate how much of an achievement that is.

We lost a lot of experience pre season.
We were pinned for the spoon.

We lost a lot of experience mid season.
We were pinned to drop out of the 8.

Webby is now the most successful Warriors coach, since Ivan Cleary.

It's a low bar, but he's jumped over it.

 

[Jaffa J]

I hope we can hold out for 4th I know we’ve lost to raiders twice this year but I wouldn’t mind having another crack at them if it’s Melbourne I’d rather rest players and prepare for the semis like 2023

 

[CWC]

Webby is the No.1 priority contract for the club, maybe McFadden No.2. The rest fall into place with these 2 at the helm

 

[Ryno 2.0]

I learnt my lesson after Cleary, regularly making the top 8 is such a nice feeling after the last 10 years.

 

[sup42]

I don't think we can understate how much of an achievement that is.

Only happens once every ten years or more.

This guy is capable of making it a permanent state of affairs for the Warriors.

He is the best thing that has ever happened to this club, him and McFadden.

 

[juju]

I'm keen to start the thread on how to get playoff tickets but still way to presumptuous

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

This guy is capable of making it a permanent state of affairs for the Warriors.

Our younger players are going to benefit heavily by regular finals appearances.

The club will become more attractive as a prospect to play for.

League will become more attractive at grass roots level in NZ.

It's the long term implications of being a consistent finals bound team that I'm most excited about.

 

[juju]

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/comments/1mz8z0h/2025_r25_how_high_low_can_they_go/#lightbox

Another How High / Low Graph.

With an added % for likely finishing spot.

 

[miket12]

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/comments/1mz8z0h/2025_r25_how_high_low_can_they_go/#lightbox

Another How High / Low Graph.

With an added % for likely finishing spot.

Juju... thanks so much for putting these graphs up.... it's far, far better looking at whether we'll stay in the Top 4 than looking at some mathematical chance that the Wahs might somehow squeeze into the last finals spots like most seasons!!!

 

[BlackToko88]

Didnt know where else to put this up but sounds like panthers are resting a lot of their players. So if they lose and we end up losing both games we still finish 6th

 

[Pop Dukez]

Didnt know where else to put this up but sounds like panthers are resting a lot of their players. So if they lose and we end up losing both games we still finish 6th

They could probably rest the entire squad on that chin

 

[juju]

Didnt know where else to put this up but sounds like panthers are resting a lot of their players. So if they lose and we end up losing both games we still finish 6th

Crazy they're giving up on the Top 4 given the likely hood of winning it outside the Top 4.

 

[CWC]

Didnt know where else to put this up but sounds like panthers are resting a lot of their players. So if they lose and we end up losing both games we still finish 6th

Ahh dogs then secures top 4 and rest their players against the sharks who are right on our ass

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Ahh dogs then secures top 4 and rest their players against the sharks who are right on our ass

Dogs shouldn't get too excited. Remember Penrith beat us without their stars when we were flying after annihilating Cronulla at Shark Park. Penrith juniors are solid: they beat our cup side last week. So I can see the dogs cocking it up if they take them lightly without Cleary.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Crazy they're giving up on the Top 4 given the likely hood of winning it outside the Top 4.

Considering there is no Penrith stadium this year, how much does a home final mean to Penrith? Commbank is not the same and their record there isn't flash. Taking the rest now makes a lot of sense for them. Winning outside the top 4 is still more likely than winning 4 straight prems. So if a team could do it, it's certainly them.

 

[Inruin]

Considering there is no Penrith stadium this year, how much does a home final mean to Penrith? Commbank is not the same and their record there isn't flash. Taking the rest now makes a lot of sense for them. Winning outside the top 4 is still more likely than winning 4 straight prems. So if a team could do it, it's certainly them.

After the start they had to the season and how hard they have had to work to get in to the top 8, their players involved in origin, I think Ivan has enough runs on the board for people to think he knows what he is doing. You wouldn't write them off winning it from the bottom half of the 8 even though they don't look as dominant as they have on previous seasons

 

[sydneywarrior92]

After the start they had to the season and how hard they have had to work to get in to the top 8, their players involved in origin, I think Ivan has enough runs on the board for people to think he knows what he is doing. You wouldn't write them off winning it from the bottom half of the 8 even though they don't look as dominant as they have on previous seasons

it could go one of two ways. The argument for them getting 5 straight is obviously the experience argument.

However the argument against is that they might too knackered to get it done this year. They've been basically playing finals games every week since origin given their poor start. Having had to win 9 straight just to get into top 4 contention alone is impressive but you can see that they are starting to run out of puff. Edwards is doing dumb shit he never used to do and Cleary is starting to miss tackles for the first time in years.

That's the mark of a team that is running out of energy. It reminds of Newcastle in 23 who had to win like 11 straight just to get into finals. By the time they got to MSS for week 2 they were already gone and we absolutely smoked them to break that crazy streak. Could see that happening to Penrith in week 2 or 3 of the finals series.

 

[Makasene]

The Penrith discussion is interesting.

There is a huge chance they would come to Mt Smart week 2 of the finals (if we finish 4th and lose week 1)

 

[sydneywarrior92]

The Penrith discussion is interesting.

There is a huge chance they would come to Mt Smart week 2 of the finals (if we finish 4th and lose week 1)

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.

 

[Nakiproud]

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.

Is it time to change this chat to 'will we make the top 4?'