Finals week 2 2025

[upthetigers]

Any team that concedes 50+ points in the regular season doesn't win the premiership still holds true

 

[crazycat]

Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton has been ruled out of the club's semi-final clash against Penrith.

NRL Late Mail: Finals Week 2 - Strange, Crichton out; Hazelton, Kenny racing clock

See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Week 2 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals.

www.nrl.com

He is at least 1 try for the dogs when he plays...

While the Galvin/Sexton halfback combination is the right choice... It is FAR too late in the season to be trying it. Halves need to gel, they haven't been playing enough time together. ....

Plus imagine being Sexton and Lachlan "hey I am halfback now" asks for the ball. Ofcourse he will be professional...

Clearly the Dogs rate Bailey Haywood, but they shouldn't be putting Reed Mahoney at 17, give him the decency of 13/14...

Anyway as someone else above said... "Ashley Klein" will decide if Penrith or dogs break the rules more.

 

[Tucker]

All Raiders had to do was rest their players against the Tigers and then use the Dolphins game to tune up for the finals. But they chose to get the minor premiership in front of their home crowd - and that was their last triumph of the season. From there, LLL.

Yeah poor management.
They rest players against us, they likely still win, but even if they didn’t, it’s no real loss.
Getting the MP then getting flogged has done nothing to keep them level headed.
They did not prepare properly and paid the price. Also…if I know anything about Canberrans, they will not take these losses well. Ricky will have some explaining to do.

 

[upthetigers]

Yeah poor management.
They rest players against us, they likely still win, but even if they didn’t, it’s no real loss.
Getting the MP then getting flogged has done nothing to keep them level headed.
They did not prepare properly and paid the price. Also…if I know anything about Canberrans, they will not take these losses well. Ricky will have some explaining to do.

No one remembers who wins the MP

 

[Tucker]

No one remembers who wins the MP

I think the MPs should be paid a million dollars and get some other benefit such as their choice of opponent in week 1.
They put the work in over 6 months that no one else did.

 

[innsaneink]

Shame for Hazelton looks likely to miss next week....one helluva bench Sharks have in Hamlin Uele, Talakai and Nikora along with TH.
Theyve lost nothing at all when these guys come on

 

[Tucker]

Shame for Hazelton looks likely to miss next week....one helluva bench Sharks have in Hamlin Uele, Talakai and Nikora along with TH.
Theyve lost nothing at all when these guys come on

That fella Billy Burns has been a revelation for them.
61 games in 7 seasons, but is playing like a champ lately.
He did come through the Penrith system though so that makes sense.

 

[Telltails]

Peaking at the right time.
Six weeks ago I doubt any fan other than a Sharks fan with blinkers on would have expected them to be in a preliminary final and knock out the Roosters and Raiders to get there.

 

[upthetigers]

 

[mikey]

Hoping the Dogs will double-backdoor today.

 

[jadtiger]

Hoping the Dogs will double-backdoor today.

That will depend on a certain Mr Klein,whoever he expects to win will win no matter what else happens on the field.

 

[Tigerwould]

Shame for Hazelton looks likely to miss next week....one helluva bench Sharks have in Hamlin Uele, Talakai and Nikora along with TH.
Theyve lost nothing at all when these guys come on

Yep, That’s the difference between and the top8 teams. If bench needs Pole, Sione + one strong middle player an a starting prop.
The Raiders also have a strong bench and middle. The quality of there middles (Horsburgh +Tapine, Papalii, Smithies ect) will always make them hard to beat.

 

[hank37w]

Feel sorry for Canberra as they were the best team this year but they have botched the past 3 weeks.
That was a massive blunder resting all those blokes and getting pumped in round 27. Really piss poor preparation for a semi clash against a powerhouse club stacked with big game players. To their credit, they were very unlucky to lose that. They were always a risk of an injury deciding their fate this week but unfortunately it will likely be illness. Can’t see them winning without Strange, who has been close to the best 5/8 in the comp this year….if not the best.
I don’t mind Cronulla. Their backs are great to watch and their pack always dig in and have a go. I wanted Raiders to win this comp, but can settle for the Sharkies.

Not sure if that was a blunder.

Wicky just wanted to prove the theory beyond doubt, that if you get 50 scored against you that you can't win the Grand Final, genius move Wicky. 🤣

But seriously, losing Strange really guaranteed that outcome along with a lack of involvement from Kaeo Weekes who normally is all over it, but some how went missing on this occasion.

Not real keen on Cronulla winning but I guess if they do, we at least have bragging rights after beating them this season.

 

[Tucker]

That will depend on a certain Mr Klein,whoever he expects to win will win no matter what else happens on the field.

It is not possible that a ref can control the outcome of the game like that.
Influence it? Sure.
The players decide who wins and who loses over 80 minutes.

 

[Tucker]

Not sure if that was a blunder.

Wicky just wanted to prove the theory beyond doubt, that if you get 50 scored against you that you can't win the Grand Final, genius move Wicky. 🤣

But seriously, losing Strange really guaranteed that outcome along with a lack of involvement from Kaeo Weekes who normally is all over it, but some how went missing on this occasion.

Not real keen on Cronulla winning but I guess if they do, we at least have bragging rights after beating them this season.

Ricky’s week off for the boys is why they lost last week for mine. Up by 16 in front of your own crowd and with 2 of the oppositions best in the bin….there is a tiny chance that the best side this year loses from that position. Forget all the overtime stuff, that game was lost prior to that.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Straight sets Galvin , Dogs out the back door today .
Galvin to have a shocker .
Chin to make both Sexton and Galvin look like boys in a MOM. Game .
Dogs fans turn on Galvin and Family
Galvins Dad Blames Sexton and Mohoney for interrupting the season