2026 NRL General Discussion Thread

Yep, makes sense. They don't really have a home ground advantage either if even if they finished 5-6.

Hopefully this Cleary being rested story leads to an official process clubs have to follow to keep fans up to date about injuries and resting and team lists in general.
I’m just praying that they have to fly to nz in wk1 of the finals. That’ll totally ruin their plans.
 
It was moving when the price came up. It didn't switch until the news actually came out.
This isn't actually what's being reported.

"A massive betting plunge on the Bulldogs has come under investigation by the NRL.

For their Thursday night clash with Penrith, the Bulldogs were wound into short odds before the news was made public that the Panthers would rest several stars in order to keep them fresh for the finals.

On Monday afternoon, the Bulldogs’ price to beat the Panthers was slashed from as much as $2.30 with bookies into $1.35.

That caused Penrith to drift out to $3.20 after being originally being installed as the $1.60 favourite.

In head to head betting, a move like that in just a matter of hours is almost unprecedented.

Code Sports is reporting that the NRL’s integrity unit is on the case and is having a closer look at the tidal wave of support the Bulldogs received

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield shed some light on the matter on NRL360.

“The bookies put the first betting market up with Penrith at $1.60 and the Bulldogs at $2.30. All of a sudden, early this afternoon Penrith went out to $2.30 and Canterbury out to $1.60,” Rothfield said.

“Then a story appears that Penrith are likely to rest a significant amount of players. How the bookies got the prior information might be of interest to the NRL.

“Either the bookies found out or the punters found out. The bookies can change the price without a lot of money but I suspect the punters have got on.”

With the Panthers now up against it to make the top four following two straight golden point losses, coach Ivan Cleary is reportedly set to rest a string of stars, including son Nathan in readiness for week 1 of the finals which gets underway on September 12."

FOXNRL
 
This isn't actually what's being reported.

"A massive betting plunge on the Bulldogs has come under investigation by the NRL.

For their Thursday night clash with Penrith, the Bulldogs were wound into short odds before the news was made public that the Panthers would rest several stars in order to keep them fresh for the finals.

On Monday afternoon, the Bulldogs’ price to beat the Panthers was slashed from as much as $2.30 with bookies into $1.35.

That caused Penrith to drift out to $3.20 after being originally being installed as the $1.60 favourite.

In head to head betting, a move like that in just a matter of hours is almost unprecedented.

Code Sports is reporting that the NRL’s integrity unit is on the case and is having a closer look at the tidal wave of support the Bulldogs received

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield shed some light on the matter on NRL360.

“The bookies put the first betting market up with Penrith at $1.60 and the Bulldogs at $2.30. All of a sudden, early this afternoon Penrith went out to $2.30 and Canterbury out to $1.60,” Rothfield said.

“Then a story appears that Penrith are likely to rest a significant amount of players. How the bookies got the prior information might be of interest to the NRL.

“Either the bookies found out or the punters found out. The bookies can change the price without a lot of money but I suspect the punters have got on.”

With the Panthers now up against it to make the top four following two straight golden point losses, coach Ivan Cleary is reportedly set to rest a string of stars, including son Nathan in readiness for week 1 of the finals which gets underway on September 12."

FOXNRL
I checked it when the news came out that it might be happening and the Bulldogs were still 1.60. Maybe they took it off line right after and wound it in.
 
All it would take is a player letting it slip to a mate and then it’s out amongst the punters
 
If the Cheese stuff is just him telling someone he is playing and them having a punt in a try scorer market for him to score, holy ****ing beat up.

There is absolutely no way with only Smith being 'in on it' to guarantee he scores a try, let alone first try if that was the bet.

To me, the absolute worst it could be is perhaps he was named jersey 14 and has told a bloke he is starting? Even still, how can Smith possibly guarantee he is first try scorer?

Do people think blokes don't tell their personal circles outside of their club when they are debuting, returning from injury, or are dropped? Those conversations could easily happen before team list Tuesday.

Smith has a track record of being an idiot, but this insider knowledge thing seems like a monster over exaggeration.
 
Id say Panthers players/Trainers/Staffers have done exactly what Smith did to some regard to cause such a large swing in that betting on Monday. A lot of people that should not have known, knew over 24 hours before it was public knowledge.
 
Id say Panthers players/Trainers/Staffers have done exactly what Smith did to some regard to cause such a large swing in that betting on Monday. A lot of people that should not have known, knew over 24 hours before it was public knowledge.

It's a farce, an embarassment on the code.

They went from 1.60 favorites to 8.00 outsiders. They were about $3.60 or something this afternoon before teamlists. If you backed them on Sunday night or something, you'd be absolutely spewing.

Also, how good is hearing Crawley going off? Someone get out the violin. Dolphins did it and nobody gave a shit.
 
At some point though, surely the NRL have to step in and say, nope contractually you have to put your best team on the park week in, week out...unless being the amateurs they are, this isn't in the licence agreements.
 
At some point though, surely the NRL have to step in and say, nope contractually you have to put your best team on the park week in, week out...unless being the amateurs they are, this isn't in the licence agreements.
Gonna be worse next week.

Dogs and raiders likely to rest everyone... storm should (except Bellamy is a ****)... panthers could rest for a 2nd week as well... especially key guys like Yeo, Cleary and Edwards.

Top 4 will basically be resting a week out from the finals, and several of those games will decide finals positioning.
 
Gonna be worse next week.

Dogs and raiders likely to rest everyone... storm should (except Bellamy is a ****)... panthers could rest for a 2nd week as well... especially key guys like Yeo, Cleary and Edwards.

Top 4 will basically be resting a week out from the finals, and several of those games will decide finals positioning.

Bellamy isn't going all in like Cleary.

He's resting 5 players this week.
He'll likely rest a few next week too.

I don't expect Paps to be rested because he has played **** all footy the last few years.

But there is a good chance we play the Storm minus Munster, Grant and Hughes
 
At some point though, surely the NRL have to step in and say, nope contractually you have to put your best team on the park week in, week out...unless being the amateurs they are, this isn't in the licence agreements.

NRL clubs could just argue back like during Origin?
 
I don't really have a problem with it, if Brisbane were in their position I'd hope we would do the same. And I think the league is too long and too physical to put policies in place to stop resting.

I don't understand the issue, I want my teams winning finals, not round 25. If giving some guys a rest is going to mean winning finals who cares? It's like resting Pat Cummins before the Ashes.

I understand FOX might have a different perspective because they're paying billion dollars.

It doesn't lessen the product any more than during Origin and I enjoy those teams/games because you can see some players you want to see in the NRL but haven't been given a chance.

Two years ago, no one had heard of Fa'alogo until he played Round 27.
 
Does the AFL still do the 1 week off for everyone pre finals? Would like to understand the benefits vs disadvantages of that.

Big disadvantage from what I understand is why NRL dont do it, is the weekend without any games. They just dont want that at all.

But it would let anyone with a head knock in Rd27 or niggle in Rd27, be fit for finals making finals a possibly better spectacle.
 
Does the AFL still do the 1 week off for everyone pre finals? Would like to understand the benefits vs disadvantages of that.

Big disadvantage from what I understand is why NRL dont do it, is the weekend without any games. They just dont want that at all.

But it would let anyone with a head knock in Rd27 or niggle in Rd27, be fit for finals making finals a possibly better spectacle.

AFL have done it since 2016, to stop resting in that last round and helps the teams outside the top four.

They have found that teams that win the Qualifying final and get another week off have struggled in the prelim and more have lost the prelim than won it.

Pre bye 2000-2016- 28 of 32 teams who earned that week off following a qualifying final win went on to feature in the Grand Final.

With the bye 60% have lost that prelim and don't make the Grand Final.

Same with top two making the Grand Final, it's gone down dramatically.
 
Back
Top