LIVE GAME 2026 NRL Grand Final discussion

[Tucker]

Teddy was outstanding. He wasn't alone but it was a real captains knock. 80 minutes of putting his body on the line for his team - can't understand how anyone would begrudge him being man of the match.

He was excellent

 

[king_sirro]

lol your take on everything that occurred football wise yesterday was clouded by jealousy/resentment and possibly hatred.
That was a high level contest last night where a tactically dominant side were unable to put away an injury depleted outfit due to the belief and fight they had in them. Both sides gave their all.
I changed my mind on who was going to win that game several times and even thought the Knights could ride the crowd home in those last 2 sets. The better team won, but the loser lost no respect.

My take has been explained in depth today it has nothing to do with resentment. It makes pure sense.
Tedesco was given the award purely because they always give it to the big name spine player. He was probably the Roosters best spine player (just), so he got it over players that had much greater influence on the result like Whyte, Leniu, Foketi and even Billy Smith. Its even fair to say that the field position the Roosters had and the fact Teddy couldn't do one single thing to take advantage of that suggests he was actually poor. Im not saying he was poor, but i am saying his inability to take advantage of such dominance by his pack was poor. Ponga would have eaten that up if it was reversed.

 

[Oscar Martinez]

The most telling part of the coverage last night was when they cut to the "Paddo Hotel" for a reaction shot it showed people not even watching the game, chatting among themselves.
Congrats Roosters, you made me money and won a comp. that nobody cares about.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Exactly. You do everything as a club to hold onto elite players 🙄

And we did. It’s hard to compete with paper bags.

 

[Telltails]

My take has been explained in depth today it has nothing to do with resentment. It makes pure sense.
Tedesco was given the award purely because they always give it to the big name spine player. He was probably the Roosters best spine player (just), so he got it over players that had much greater influence on the result like Whyte, Leniu, Foketi and even Billy Smith. Its even fair to say that the field position the Roosters had and the fact Teddy couldn't do one single thing to take advantage of that suggests he was actually poor. Im not saying he was poor, but i am saying his inability to take advantage of such dominance by his pack was poor. Ponga would have eaten that up if it was reversed.

He made 38 runs for nearly 400 metres and 83 post contact metres - incredible effort for a FB in a game that both teams had to fight for every advantage. This was a game of attrition where both teams left it all on the field - how a GF should be played. There were plenty of good/great performances but Teddy's was as good if not better than most.

 

[mtd#2]

Yeah it’s funny, I thought the roosters pack were very dominant, yet the scramble form the Newie backrow was world class. In the end, it was the pure finishing class of Marky that was the difference for mine.
He came within a couple of mms of scoring a hatrick through individual brilliance.
Rugby League will really miss him, the most elite naturally skilled finisher I’ve ever seen.

Without marky mark, the knights probably win

 

[king_sirro]

He made 38 runs for nearly 400 metres and 83 post contact metres - incredible effort for a FB in a game that both teams had to fight for every advantage. This was a game of attrition where both teams left it all on the field - how a GF should be played. There were plenty of good/great performances but Teddy's was as good if not better than most.

Seriously that means very little when your team is completely dominating the opposition like the Roosters were. He took some easy runs with his team having all the momentum, big deal. He is fit. He couldn't do anything with all those runs and all that possession and all that field position. He couldn't even make a half break. He was workmanlike in the easiest of circumstances. His game was better than average, thats about as much as ill give him. Under those circumstances, im expecting my fullback to actually create something. 3 tries each, under those circumstances thats embarrassing.

 

[upthetigers]

My take has been explained in depth today it has nothing to do with resentment. It makes pure sense.
Tedesco was given the award purely because they always give it to the big name spine player. He was probably the Roosters best spine player (just), so he got it over players that had much greater influence on the result like Whyte, Leniu, Foketi and even Billy Smith. Its even fair to say that the field position the Roosters had and the fact Teddy couldn't do one single thing to take advantage of that suggests he was actually poor. Im not saying he was poor, but i am saying his inability to take advantage of such dominance by his pack was poor. Ponga would have eaten that up if it was reversed.

Roosters pack dominated it should have gone to a forward but never does

 

[king_sirro]

Roosters pack dominated it should have gone to a forward but never does

Thats all im saying in this. Tedesco got good stats becasue he is a worker and his pack dominated. His pack did everything for him and he couldnt even create or a score a try for them. A forward deserved the award.

 

[Tito Santana]

Roosters pack dominated it should have gone to a forward but never does

Whyte should have got it.

I hate Tedesco

 

[upthetigers]

Thats all im saying in this. Tedesco got good stats becasue he is a worker and his pack dominated. His pack did everything for him and he couldnt even create or a score a try for them. A forward deserved the award.

Nothing new really forwards are always underappreciated

 

[Dr_Ice]

I thought the roosters bench was the only difference in the game. Couldnt really split them otherwise.

The bench, only had an Australian/Origin rep, a Samoan/Origin rep and another with 170+ NRL games. I think they have 10 premierships between them.

 

[tigertragic]

Thats all im saying in this. Tedesco got good stats becasue he is a worker and his pack dominated. His pack did everything for him and he couldnt even create or a score a try for them. A forward deserved the award.

Most of the time Tedesco is a pin ball bouncing from tackler to tackler hoping to find a gap or a defensive error. Markie M was far better as were most of the forwards

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Its a tough choice. I would have had Tedesco the 6th best player on the field at best.

I would have gone Whyte. IMO his dominance had the most influence.

I’d like to see a list of how many times a prop has won the CCM. I doubt there would be many. Fifita for Sharks maybe. That’s about it.

 

[Dr_Ice]

I’d like to see a list of how many times a prop has won the CCM. I doubt there would be many. Fifita for Sharks maybe. That’s about it.

I think Luke Lewis won the CCM in 2016 for Sharks

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I’d like to see a list of how many times a prop has won the CCM. I doubt there would be many. Fifita for Sharks maybe. That’s about it.

Brent Kite: 2008, Willie Mason: 2004, Paul Dunn: 1988, not many that's for sure in recent times

Few locks and 2nd rowers have landed it.

I think Luke Lewis won the CCM in 2016 for Sharks

Listed as a 2nd rower.

 

[Dr_Ice]

I’d like to see a list of how many times a prop has won the CCM. I doubt there would be many. Fifita for Sharks maybe. That’s about it.

Brent Kite won it once. Sam Burgess did in 2014, not sure what position he played most the game

 

[Dr_Ice]

Brent Kite: 2008, Willie Mason: 2004, Paul Dunn: 1988, not many that's for sure in recent times

Few locks and 2nd rowers have landed it.

Listed as a 2nd rower.

Sorry, was saying Lewis won it, not Fifita

 

[tiger_one]

A bit late this, but ....


Welcome to the Ponga Hotel !
Three Years Ago, we rebranded as The Tedesco Inn in support of local boy James Tedesco leading NSW into State of Origin.
Well........sorry Teddy - its not always about you!
Our Licensee Russ Lowe has waited 25 LONG YEARS to see Newcastle back in a Grandfinal.....and he is not letting this moment pass quietly
GO THE NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS !!!

 

[mtd#2]

I despise tedesco for leaving the tigers as much as the next person (whilst also not blaming him)... but to take away from his performance last night just shows how jaded some ppl still are.. time to move on..