NRL finals footy discussion 2026

[happy_tiger]

Recruited well , junior development

In hindsight , how many would have spent an extra 100 k and got Dylan Brown instead of Luai
Manululea from Penrith , Trey Mooney and Sandon Smith

Just remember the Knights had avpretty bad injury toll last year

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Man I really enjoyed that, bit of controversy but a cracking final, knights really stood up well done to them.

Can they beat the Riff next week, it's going to be tough.

no chance, that was there GF

 

[wstigers11]

Holbrook brought in 20 new staff with him

They restructured the entire club

 

[Tucker]

If Kalyn Ponga can beat Penrith he will ascend into legend status. That was an insane performance from him against the Warriors. People forget that this guy is one of the best players in the game when he is not injured. Absolute superstar.

Kiwi hooker Phoenix Crossland had like 5 or 6 effort plays which saved tries for his team. Dom Young had a couple of crazy defensive efforts too, their whole team played like man men.

Best wasn’t defending very well on the left and towards the end of the game Crossland started appearing up there in cover. Smart player who works like a dog.
KP has been really good this year., arguably better than he was the year he won his Dally M.

 

[mtd#2]

Klein better retire before PNG comes in, he may not make it outta there alive if another effort like today occurs

Its an interesting point you raise. Its one thing to be an opposition player, but there is another level of risk being a referee. I wonder if they'll get extra money for those games?

 

[Yossarian]

You made me question myself, so I went back and watched it a few times.

I still dont think its a penalty.

He didnt change his line or take his eyes off the ball.

If he did either of those, then i agree its a penalty. But he didnt.

So there's no proof that he wasnt genuinely contesting. Just because he is a prop doesn't mean he isnt allowed to contest - he is as entitled as the next bloke.

I agree 100% he knew what he was doing, but i consider it smart footy. High footy IQ.

And lets flip it... Leka only had eyes on the ball and wasn't looking at players around him. So if its good for one, why not the other? Tyson doesnt need to give leka a free run - he just cant deviate his line or intentionally take him out... and I dont believe anyone can prove he did, because he had his hands in the air, eyes on the ball and kept the same line... smart play in my opinion

Agree to disagree I guess. If you watch the head on shot from Kayo he definitely goes across field. I thought the problem is clearly created by Frizell moving into Leka’s path. I still don’t think Frizell is genuinely trying to catch the ball. Yes I accept a prop can catch a bomb, no I don’t think he intended to and I’d doubt his coach would have been happy if he stopped his own fullback catching the ball.

The replay at 3:30:40 on the Kayo full game replay shows it best. He moves directly across field, halfheartedly puts his hands up for a ball landing some distance away and gets clattered into.

As I said agree to disagree. For me that’s a penalty,

 

[Flippedy]

In yesterday's game there were a lot of soft 6 agains. Virtually none called today. Extremely inconsistent application of the rules

Very inconsistent and yesterday’s game had zero bunker intervention, even the tries weren’t looked at like they usually do ad nauseum! Whereas today it was all bunker intervention making inane decisions and it completely ruined the game.

 

[mtd#2]

Agree to disagree I guess. If you watch the head on shot from Kayo he definitely goes across field. I thought the problem is clearly created by Frizell moving into Leka’s path. I still don’t think Frizell is genuinely trying to catch the ball. Yes I accept a prop can catch a bomb, no I don’t think he intended to and I’d doubt his coach would have been happy if he stopped his own fullback catching the ball.

The replay at 3:30:40 on the Kayo full game replay shows it best. He moves directly across field, halfheartedly puts his hands up for a ball landing some distance away and gets clattered into.

As I said agree to disagree. For me that’s a penalty,

The more I watch snippets on social media, I also wouldn't have been upset if it was given.

I have no empathy for the warriors though, we were knocked by a dubious call back in 2011 which they benefited from.

 

[Tucker]

Very inconsistent and yesterday’s game had zero bunker intervention, even the tries weren’t looked at like they usually do ad nauseum! Whereas today it was all bunker intervention making inane decisions and it completely ruined the game.

The game wasn’t ruined. The better team won. The more deserving team on the day won.
You can not rely on referee decisions and piggybacks to win the game for you.
People are crying over those 3 calls. For mine only the dropped ball called a strip was iffy. The other two were correct.

 

[Yossarian]

Very inconsistent and yesterday’s game had zero bunker intervention, even the tries weren’t looked at like they usually do ad nauseum! Whereas today it was all bunker intervention making inane decisions and it completely ruined the game.

I think it’s like DRS in cricket. It’s supposed to stop howlers but now it’s second guessing reasonable calls or substituting their own interpretation of on field events. Sometimes the onfield official is the best person to make the call.

 

[achilles]

It’s a nonsense page. They post stuff like this all the time. They had Junior dying last time. And Benny Elias taking up a role. Block them.

Blocker called saturday night game i think

 

[Speed2burn]

Man I really enjoyed that, bit of controversy but a cracking final, knights really stood up well done to them.

Can they beat the Riff next week, it's going to be tough.

Keen to see how many knights fans travel, I reckon they’ll get 20k+ minimum from the hunter at ACCOR on Sunday

 

[Yossarian]

The more I watch snippets on social media, I also wouldn't have been upset if it was given.

I have no empathy for the warriors though, we were knocked by a dubious call back in 2011 which they benefited from.

Well that was more old mate for us not touching the ball when it seemed to sit midair forever. That, Rhino not picking up the ball and Beau kicking the ball… Moments that haunt…

 

[Yossarian]

Blocker called saturday night game i think

Did he seem alive?

 

[Tito Santana]

Klein better retire before PNG comes in, he may not make it outta there alive if another effort like today occurs

That’s a genuine risk isn’t it.

Wouldn’t want to upset them over there.

 

[Telltails]

So the Knights go from the wooden spoon to playing for a spot in the GF. What have they done differently that we can LEARN from?? For starters:

By replacing Adam O'Brien with Justin Holbrook, the Knights unlocked an aggressive, resilient, and attack-minded playing style. The Tigers have stuck by Benji Marshall, but we haven't established a consistent, steel-capped defensive identity and roster stability rather than the constant off-field noise that plagued us.

Despite the massive jump up the ladder, Newcastle did not completely tear apart their team. Their core group remained almost identical to the 2025 wooden spoon squad. Rather than frantically buying and selling every window, they have focused on internal development. The Tigers must stop the high-turnover "roster clearing" cycle and actually build chemistry around elite players (but not of the Luai kind).

As Bradman Best revealed, the Knights' turnaround wasn't an accident—they treated their high-profile opening match in Las Vegas as a statement game to completely rewrite their culture. They set immediate expectations and built momentum early.

It can be done, if you know how.

Peter O'Sullivan Head of Recruitment - from the Dolphins.
Recruitment can never be underestimated when it comes to be successful and he is currently one of the best.

 

[Dr_Ice]

Why?

Why should Holbrook get coach of the year or why will they give it to Webster?

 

[innsaneink]

That’s a genuine risk isn’t it.

Wouldn’t want to upset them over there.

We saw it tonight...weve seen it here with dogs fans, and who could forget the dropkick at Cambo who tackled Jared Maxwell
Its likely going to be a concern...we know what happens, they start to lose the ruck, they slow down the tackles and the penalties flow, the crowd get upset with each penalty...etc etc

 

[happy_tiger]

Does Holbrook get coach of the year ??

 

[upthetigers]

Klein had money on the knights the shifty bastard. I couldn't care less though I have legal troubles in October for "assaulting" a cop. Didn't lay a hand on the wanker.