2026 countdown

[TurnStyle]

Trialling the.optional kick off at seasons end

NRL clearly want.it....seems most clubs dont

The version they presented is a bloody ridiculous idea; It's not the NFL, where every single coin toss the winner "defers" to choose after half time.

It feels like making it as convoluted as they did was intentional to ensure the outcome they wanted, i.e., stay as is.

I remember years ago there was a sort of referendum regarding shops opening till 9pm week nights. Damn. I'm old...

They worded the question as "Do you think shops should have to stay open...".

No, I didn't think that. I thought they should be allowed to if they chose/were able.

The question is should the scoring team kick off or receive. It's that simple.

Personally, I liked it when the scorer kicked off, but don't care either way. As long as the team choice idea dies. That's stupid.

 

[Odessa]

Large is defo an NRL player but looks like a centre to me now, least a position we don’t need lol

I honestly think he will be a fullback and a very good one he's super quick has ball playing skills a great step very tall and a kicking game

RTS 2.0 with the upgrade

 

[innsaneink]

Royce Hunt and Ethan Roberts playing in the all stars maori game

Also official profiles have been.updated

 

[innsaneink]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

8 trial 1
14 trial 2
36 first game NRL (round 2)
23 boo lachie (season kick off. BullDogs playing ).

Tomorrow for ball/ Matt’s

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon]

Cale Edmed, Sosefo Finau, Dallis Taoai, Paul Johnson, Elijah Mataale was poached and came back after being dropped there
Unfortunately Conti is the big one, left Lachie blocking his path for Lachie to block his path at the dogs
Also I agree Justin wouldn’t be getting much from them. Was saying if they were trying to sign a certain fullback it could sweeten the deal

Iverson Matai is another one we nabbed from the Canterbury juniors - adding to my previously listed; Broederlow, Saukuru & Fuatimau.

 

[Vicious]

Iverson Matai is another one we nabbed from the Canterbury juniors - adding to my previously listed; Broederlow, Saukuru & Fuatimau.

As I’m sure you would agree some people do not want to understand or acknowledge that no club gets young player talent identification and development perfect all of the time.
We lost the Large boys to Manly all because we were not willing put a clause in Onitoni’s contract stating that if Galvin extended he was free to leave. Obviously we had not done our homework properly on Galvin’s intentions at that time and allowed Onitoni followed by Ashton to leave.
On the Balmain side of things Alex Conti and Mikey Nasser were always amongst the cream of the crop within their age group and were not happy that other players around their age group were given contracts and opportunities they believed they also deserved.
The players who were blocking them have all since departed our club, so again in hindsight we should have prioritised these extremely fit, committed and talented players a lot more than what we did.
The two Clarke brothers now at the Panthers and Storm, Maddox Fui and Thomas Goodfield are others that we should have ideally retained, but no club gets it right 💯 of the time and some players who show talent at a young age place unreasonable demands on themselves very quickly.

 

[wstigers11]

As I’m sure you would agree that some people do not want to understand or acknowledge is no club gets young player talent identification and development perfect all of the time.
We lost the Large boys to Manly all because we were not willing put a clause in Onitoni’s contract stating that if Galvin extended he was free to leave. Obviously we had not done our homework properly on Galvin’s intentions at that time and allowed Onitoni to leave.
On the Balmain side of things Alex Conti and Mikey Nasser were always amongst the cream of the crop within their age group and were not happy that other players around their age group were given contracts and opportunities that they believed they also deserved.
The players who were blocking them have all since departed our club, so again in hindsight we should have prioritised these 2 more than what we did.
Just a couple of examples of bad decision making along with not showing more priority to the 2 Clarke brothers now at the Panthers and Storm, not finding a way to retain Maddox Fui and not finding a way to retain Thomas Goodfield etc

Large thinks he’s a half. I think Manly look at him as a centre which I agree with. Can live with that one as we have Masi & May locking down the future centre spots.
Conti and Nasser were ones we 100% should’ve kept. Clarke too, he is training the house down at Storm pre season and has really impressed their higher ups. Here’s hoping he jumps Suli Pole so Suli comes here lol

 

[Vicious]

Large thinks he’s a half. I think Manly look at him as a centre which I agree with. Can live with that one as we have Masi & May locking down the future centre spots.
Conti and Nasser were ones we 100% should’ve kept. Clarke too, he is training the house down at Storm pre season and has really impressed their higher ups. Here’s hoping he jumps Suli Pole so Suli comes here lol

I’ve said from watching him play Harold Matthews that Onitoni looks to be a fullback to best utilise his speed.
I remember we played him at fullback in a Jersey Flegg game a couple of years back, he went quite well, but I’ve heard he wasn’t all that happy about it and wanted to focus solely on playing 5/8.
It would be nice to buy the farm back and get a few of these players back once they realise their paths to NRL are not so straight forward at their current clubs.

 

[wstigers11]

I’ve said from watching him play Harold Matthews that Onitoni looks to be a fullback to best utilise his speed.
I remember we played him at fullback in a Jersey Flegg game a couple of years back, he went quite well, but I’ve heard he wasn’t all that happy about it and wanted to focus solely on playing 5/8.
It would be nice to buy the farm back and get a few of these players back once they realise their paths to NRL are not so straight forward at their current clubs.

Yeah his dad was bullish that he’s a 5/8 and moved because of it but Manly have him in different positions too now.
Conti’s brother is still with us right? Maybe a reunion is on the cards. Clubs don’t get everything right but we have to be better in atleast retaining the elite talent.

 

[Leck]

Must be a reason why he burns through them so called best mates, things that make you go Hmmm.

Luai has a lot to prove this year after a very lackluster 2025.

His stats were well below average, his leadership was almost non-existent (Api did most of the marshaling), and his ability to create on both sides of the ruck in the red zone looked lost at times.

I’m with you, the things that make you go hmmm for Luai and the Tigers in 2026.

Great song though -

 

[Tiger Stripes]

As I’m sure you would agree some people do not want to understand or acknowledge that no club gets young player talent identification and development perfect all of the time.
We lost the Large boys to Manly all because we were not willing put a clause in Onitoni’s contract stating that if Galvin extended he was free to leave. Obviously we had not done our homework properly on Galvin’s intentions at that time and allowed Onitoni followed by Ashton to leave.
On the Balmain side of things Alex Conti and Mikey Nasser were always amongst the cream of the crop within their age group and were not happy that other players around their age group were given contracts and opportunities they believed they also deserved.
The players who were blocking them have all since departed our club, so again in hindsight we should have prioritised these extremely fit, committed and talented players a lot more than what we did.
The two Clarke brothers now at the Panthers and Storm, Maddox Fui and Thomas Goodfield are others that we should have ideally retained, but no club gets it right 💯 of the time and some players who show talent at a young age place unreasonable demands on themselves very quickly.

Of all the players you mentioned, all had potential; But are still in the lower grades. They have not cracked it for a 1-17 position so far. They may but will have to have more than just potential.
They sought more dollars or a freer passage to the NRL level.
But these other clubs also fill gaps in their 1-17 and the easier passages can close overnight.
We have players coming back after having been poached also, with potential.
A vicious circle and hard to pick what's best from both parties. A gamble on ability V vacancy.
Can't hold back their ambitions - greener pastures.
That's where its important of where their heart lies. That is one aspect Benji is looking for when assessing players. That and the belief we are heading upwards as a team.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon]

As I’m sure you would agree some people do not want to understand or acknowledge that no club gets young player talent identification and development perfect all of the time.
We lost the Large boys to Manly all because we were not willing put a clause in Onitoni’s contract stating that if Galvin extended he was free to leave. Obviously we had not done our homework properly on Galvin’s intentions at that time and allowed Onitoni followed by Ashton to leave.
On the Balmain side of things Alex Conti and Mikey Nasser were always amongst the cream of the crop within their age group and were not happy that other players around their age group were given contracts and opportunities they believed they also deserved.
The players who were blocking them have all since departed our club, so again in hindsight we should have prioritised these extremely fit, committed and talented players a lot more than what we did.
The two Clarke brothers now at the Panthers and Storm, Maddox Fui and Thomas Goodfield are others that we should have ideally retained, but no club gets it right 💯 of the time and some players who show talent at a young age place unreasonable demands on themselves very quickly.

I agree with much of that. Id say every club has its horror story on the one who got away. Of course for some clubs its a recurring theme.

In my recent posts I was simply reacting to a comment made yesterday which claimed Canterbury has a whole team of our juniors coming through their pathways - which they don't

and that it's all about dollars - which it isn't

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon]

I'm an optimist but there is one psychologically fragile team in this comp and it's us and its been us for ages. We haven't won more that 2 games on the bounce for 8 bloody years Cowboys beat us at LO last year when we were still in touch with the finals. LO is not a fortress we bottle it there as good as any place we play.

Love Benji but he struggles to get the big calls right on match day. It's my biggest concern for his coaching career. He shanked Parramatta Spoon Bowl at Campbelltown telling the team to enjoy themselves. The absurdly cautious approach in Round 1 last season didn't pay off either. I don't think we've performed well after any bye round since he's been in charge. (We've played worse). I don't think we are going to fly out of the blocks, but we generally know how we are going to compete unlike most of last season.

Cowboys, like the Warriors, travel more than most sides. They'll have got off to a start in a big lively atmosphere, and we'll be under plenty of pressure. It's not going to be pleasant. The challenge is if we can find winning form fast enough, mostly avoid long losing streaks, and finish the year strongly.

Nah mate - Wests are specials first up
Cows will still have the bright lights in their eyes and thrombosis in their legs
Put your house on us 🏠
We'll towel them up

Wests 36 North Queensland 20

 

[Vicious]

I agree with much of that. Id say every club has its horror story on the one who got away. Of course for some clubs its a recurring theme.

In my recent posts I was simply reacting to a comment made yesterday which claimed Canterbury has a whole team of our juniors coming through their pathways - which they don't

and that it's all about dollars - which it isn't

I agree that we have every opportunity to keep our very best up and coming juniors these days.
What I was trying to say is the good ones we have been losing recently have been lost due to bad contract negotiations and bad talent identification, nothing to do with lack of funds.

 

[TheEnz]

I agree that we have every opportunity to keep our very best up and coming juniors these days.
What I was trying to say is the good ones we have been losing recently have been lost due to bad contract negotiations and bad talent identification, nothing to do with lack of funds.

You cant say that for certain, the Dogs look like they are dumping plenty into their junior pathways and seem to have the pick of the crop in their nursery, it may not be what the players are being paid, however it may have to do with funding around the support services both footy and non-footy related. Just go to a game and look at what we have on our sideline in terms of support staff and gear, compare it to what our opponents turn up with.