2026 NRL General Discussion Thread

[Foordy]

Brent Read is reporting that the NRL have changed the judiciary code to give themselves the power to charge a player that has been cleared by the MRC.

the NRL said in an email to clubs:

“A change has been made to the Judiciary Code to further safeguard fairness to clubs and players and player safety and strengthen the match review process by adding a further layer of protection,” the NRL said in an email to the clubs on Monday night.

“The change provides both the commission and judiciary more flexibility with a view to ensuring clubs and players are treated fairly.”

Brent Read then appears to summarize the rest of the email:

According to the email, the commission now has the ability to act where a decision of the match review committee is considered inconsistent with the objects of the code.

The email adds that the effect of the change is that if a charge is issued by the ARL Commission, “it is subject to the same considerations as the MRC”.

 

[Santa]

Brent Read is reporting that the NRL have changed the judiciary code to give themselves the power to charge a player that has been cleared by the MRC.

the NRL said in an email to clubs:

“A change has been made to the Judiciary Code to further safeguard fairness to clubs and players and player safety and strengthen the match review process by adding a further layer of protection,” the NRL said in an email to the clubs on Monday night.

“The change provides both the commission and judiciary more flexibility with a view to ensuring clubs and players are treated fairly.”

Brent Read then appears to summarize the rest of the email:

According to the email, the commission now has the ability to act where a decision of the match review committee is considered inconsistent with the objects of the code.

The email adds that the effect of the change is that if a charge is issued by the ARL Commission, “it is subject to the same considerations as the MRC”.

What's the point of the MRC, if the NRL just just come over the top anyway!?

 

[ivanhungryjak]

I have zero confidence that the NRL won’t stuff this up pretty quickly if it goes ahead.

 

[BroncsFan]

Brent Read is reporting that the NRL have changed the judiciary code to give themselves the power to charge a player that has been cleared by the MRC.

the NRL said in an email to clubs:

“A change has been made to the Judiciary Code to further safeguard fairness to clubs and players and player safety and strengthen the match review process by adding a further layer of protection,” the NRL said in an email to the clubs on Monday night.

“The change provides both the commission and judiciary more flexibility with a view to ensuring clubs and players are treated fairly.”

Brent Read then appears to summarize the rest of the email:

According to the email, the commission now has the ability to act where a decision of the match review committee is considered inconsistent with the objects of the code.

The email adds that the effect of the change is that if a charge is issued by the ARL Commission, “it is subject to the same considerations as the MRC”.

aka "we need an option that allows us to match media reaction"

 

[ivanhungryjak]

I know we’re accused of whinging about being belted by the refs but now we have proof. Story in the CM today that we come 17th in “infringement differential” stats. This includes penalties for and against and 6 agains for and against.

 

[BroncsFan]

I know we’re accused of whinging about being belted by the refs but now we have proof. Story in the CM today that we come 17th in “infringement differential” stats. This includes penalties for and against and 6 agains for and against.

Would be interested to know where Raiders are, because they are literally never onside on their goal line.

Broncos being last means refs will now consider that as positive confirmation bias and just keep penalising us into the dirt no matter what.

Also interested in where the rorters are located considering Robinson was THE pioneer of being offside and giving away penalties on your goal line to slow the game down and make it as hard as possible to score

 

[Sproj]

Seibold has received 'the full support of the board'. Uh oh.

 

[Foordy]

Seibold has received 'the full support of the board'. Uh oh.

So over/under

Seibold will be sacked in 2 weeks

 

[Broncosgirl]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-boss-andrew-abdo-defends-new-powers-that-allow-players-to-be-charged-for-incidents-mrc-misses/news-story/7fc3cd6db07dd340a803ce562cf7ae5c

 

[Foordy]

So Mal will reportedly only be Bears coach for the first two seasons.

Ben Gardiner has signed a 5 year contract. His first 2 seasons as assistant coach, with him taking the top job in 2029

This is what the SMH said

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Gardiner, who this week inked a five-year deal with the expansion club, will spend two seasons under head coach Meninga when the Bears enter the competition in 2027 before taking the reins himself

 

[1910]

What's the point of the MRC, if the NRL just just come over the top anyway!?

They're not coming in over the top, the result still rests with the MRC panel, but the Commission can say they think you've missed something or graded incorrectly.

I can't honestly see it happening, I can't remember a time they missed something they forensically view everything.

 

[1910]

So Mal will reportedly only be Bears coach for the first two seasons.

Ben Gardiner has signed a 5 year contract. His first 2 seasons as assistant coach, with him taking the top job in 2029

This is what the SMH said

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Gardiner, who this week inked a five-year deal with the expansion club, will spend two seasons under head coach Meninga when the Bears enter the competition in 2027 before taking the reins himself

Bears are following the Dolphin model.

 

[Dexter]

They're not coming in over the top, the result still rests with the MRC panel, but the Commission can say they think you've missed something or graded incorrectly.

I can't honestly see it happening, I can't remember a time they missed something they forensically view everything.

You mean like the Luai eye gouge that wasn't.

 

[Big Del]

You mean like the Luai eye gouge that wasn't.

Nose gouge ?
Eye gouge is a different thing . I have experienced both . Eye gouge your eye will be red and watery and you aint seeing out of that eye for a while .

 

[Super Freak]

The NRL's new judiciary powers have been blocked after the RLPA lodged a dispute.

“According to the CBA, the NRL must consult the RLPA on the rule changes impacting players, following an agreed process to protect players and give them a voice,” the RLPA wrote in its message.

“However, the NRL did not follow this process. Instead of providing the RLPA with a 14-day consultation period, they announced the change five days after proposing it in writing to us.

“By ignoring this process, the NRL prevented the RLPA from consulting your player leaders and providing proper player feedback.

“This afternoon, we filed a formal dispute with the ARL Commission and the NRL, citing a breach of the CBA through non-compliance with the consultation process.

“The CBA’s status quo provision also mandates that the ARL Commission must not implement the disputed Judiciary Code changes until the dispute is resolved.

“We have significant concerns about the proposed changes, which we intend to review with your player leaders. Unfortunately, due to the breached consultation process, we haven’t yet been able to work through our own process and provide player feedback to the NRL.

“We will continue to keep you updated as the dispute process progresses.”

NRL’s new judiciary powers blocked after formal dispute lodged

It’s the controversial rule change that has sparked a fierce backlash, and now the NRL will be prevented from introducing it.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Foordy]

Brad Fittler has reportedly withdrawn from the race to be the Aussie coach to focus on his media commitments

 

[Sproj]

The AFL do a monthly review on their On The Couch show. Basically it means teams that are in the top 6 for and top 6 against are in 'the premiership window'. I don't think it is ever proven wrong or if it is, it is rare.

It also then gets separated again to top 9 v top 9 as their is a massive gap between the top 9 and bottom 9 already this year.

Anywho, I've done a bit of guesswork due to the NRL's stupid bye system meaning there isn't direct equivalence and haven't done top 9 v bottom 8 but overall, here are the interesting take aways:

Top 6 defense:
1. Bulldogs
2. Storm
3. Knights (weird right?)
4. Dolphins
5. Eagles
6. Warriors
Interestingly...Panthers and Raiders are arguably in there or 7 and 8. For reference, we are about 9 or 10 but from 3-10 it is all interchangeable

Top 6 attack:
1. Storm
2. Dolphins
3. Raiders
4. Broncos
5. Roosters
6. Bulldogs
Interestingly again, Panthers are probably floating at 7 or 8

Therefore, currently the teams in the window are...
1. Storm
2. Dolphins
3. Bulldogs

JUST outside the window but may come in after next round (and freaking origin screws all this up);
4. Panthers
5. Raiders
6. Broncos

Next level down:
7. Roosters

Then you have a fight on between a thousand teams for spot 8.

It will be interesting to see if this works come finals time. Origin throws a massive spanner in the works.

 

[Dexter]

The whole draw is a piss take.
Amazingly Penrith manage to get byes before every SoO and after the first State of Origin they get the bottom 3 sides. After the last SoO they get the bottom 5 sides.
No wonder Cleary was happy to take his chances across the ditch without his rep players.