2026 Pre-Season Discussion

kman said:
Ive been a massive fan of Talty the minute he got on the field. With this full preparation off season, we won't notice Hetherington is gone.
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I agree, feel he is the eventual Jensen replacement. Nothing flash but does his work. Really excitting as a fan. When you think, we had Mam out half the season, then Arey and Walsh and Xavier all at different times.

Mam at 6 a full preseason again, Hunt at 9 and Mozer/Paix starting/adding spark there. Xavier or Jensen starting, with the other from bench (Xavier likely with his ability to cover edge), Piakura needing to continue to impress to hold out Goz.
Aublix and Talty from the bench as impact and toilers, really interested by Aublix and hope he brings some fire.
Then one of the other big lads Ben/Malagulugi/Riki.

If we don't stay complacent, could be buying another premiers jersey next October with the new Logo.
 
turkeysnow said:
I agree, feel he is the eventual Jensen replacement. Nothing flash but does his work. Really excitting as a fan. When you think, we had Mam out half the season, then Arey and Walsh and Xavier all at different times.

Mam at 6 a full preseason again, Hunt at 9 and Mozer/Paix starting/adding spark there. Xavier or Jensen starting, with the other from bench (Xavier likely with his ability to cover edge), Piakura needing to continue to impress to hold out Goz.
Aublix and Talty from the bench as impact and toilers, really interested by Aublix and hope he brings some fire.
Then one of the other big lads Ben/Malagulugi/Riki.

If we don't stay complacent, could be buying another premiers jersey next October with the new Logo.
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Hope I get the one I ordered weeks ago by then
 
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Not too sure taking Nio to Lions training was such a good idea. Lions loved him.
 
Foordy said:
Players get a minimum of 8 weeks off

fringe and train and trial guys came back in mid-November
GF players not involved in the internationals would have been back early December
Test players are due back on 3 January (8 weeks from final ashes test)
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Amount of pre seasons is also a factor.
That vid on NRL contracts with Chad I posted had details about time off . And after X amount of pre seasons there was a longer break .
 
kman said:
Ive been a massive fan of Talty the minute he got on the field. With this full preparation off season, we won't notice Hetherington is gone.
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Talty did the preseason with Melbourne.
 
kman said:
Still not within our system, still not with McGuire's hard work and in Madge we trust.
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True . And the team work and understanding .
But not like Bellamy is taking it easy during their pre seasons.
I think Talty has a media career on his mind .
Speaks a lot of cliches .
 
Nice to go into a new season with so few question marks over what our Rd 1 (or WCC) team might be. But I still reckon there's a few who should be looking over their shoulder.

Mariner & Karapani - Both ended the year in great form, particularly Mariner. But Jesse Arthars has great work ethic and never gives less than a 7/10 performance, and Anderson is a genuine NRL-quality winger who’s going to come in hungry. A couple of shit training sessions from either of our regulars and they might be playing QCup. Yes, you could say that about every position, but it seems like the wing depth means it's not a hollow threat.

Hunt - He's a half who plays hooker. While Reynolds' hamstrings are still attached and Mam is flattening blokes, Dozer's our 9... unless he's our 14. If Mozer, Paix or even Bukowski look strong I'm sure Madge would be tempted to start Hunt on the bench as injury insurance for an ageing halfback. It's worked at Origin!

Jensen - Personally I like starting the game with Corey, and bringing X off the bench for impact, especially if Payne's off too. But X is looking more capable of long minutes. Talty can play a bit of second row and BTK is has scary potential if he can get an injury-free run... I'd start him every time if I was Madge, but I'm not.

Literally everybody with a number higher than 13 - Danger! Danger!
 
Berry Barrigan said:
Nice to go into a new season with so few question marks over what our Rd 1 (or WCC) team might be. But I still reckon there's a few who should be looking over their shoulder.

Mariner & Karapani - Both ended the year in great form, particularly Mariner. But Jesse Arthars has great work ethic and never gives less than a 7/10 performance, and Anderson is a genuine NRL-quality winger who’s going to come in hungry. A couple of shit training sessions from either of our regulars and they might be playing QCup. Yes, you could say that about every position, but it seems like the wing depth means it's not a hollow threat.

Hunt - He's a half who plays hooker. While Reynolds' hamstrings are still attached and Mam is flattening blokes, Dozer's our 9... unless he's our 14. If Mozer, Paix or even Bukowski look strong I'm sure Madge would be tempted to start Hunt on the bench as injury insurance for an ageing halfback. It's worked at Origin!

Jensen - Personally I like starting the game with Corey, and bringing X off the bench for impact, especially if Payne's off too. But X is looking more capable of long minutes. Talty can play a bit of second row and BTK is has scary potential if he can get an injury-free run... I'd start him every time if I was Madge, but I'm not.

Literally everybody with a number higher than 13 - Danger! Danger!
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I agree,

Both Karopani and Mariners carries from the back are amazing. Really dug in, but Arthars and Anderson will be keeping them honest.
Hunt from bench fresh legs and being able to read the game as he can could pick parts aside. Mozer and Paix to shoot out or don't mind giving Arey/hunt games off vs weaker opponents.
Jensen next year still starts, toiler, with X giving impact and agression and can shift to edge that has been damaging for us.

I think our bench will be one of Mozer/paix/hunt, Xavier, Talty and Aublix. Piakura needs to keep peforming to hold out Goz/HUnt.
 
Berry Barrigan said:
BTK is has scary potential if he can get an injury-free run... I'd start him every time if I was Madge, but I'm not.
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There`s two parts to this game .
He is a beast close to the try line and has very good passing skills for a big man .

Can he get fit enough to make repeat efforts in defence if the ball stays in play for long periods ?
6 again and ruck speed mean aerobic fitness is pushed to the limits .
 
Big Del said:
There`s two parts to this game .
He is a beast close to the try line and has very good passing skills for a big man .

Can he get fit enough to make repeat efforts in defence if the ball stays in play for long periods ?
6 again and ruck speed mean aerobic fitness is pushed to the limits .
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It will be very interesting to see what happens with BTK this year.

He was due to have a bit of a breakout year last year or start to establish himself in the 17... maybe 10 games or something... but injury got in the way.

He's played 46 Qcup games, but it sounds like he's not exactly dominating that level.

Reports that he struggled to keep fitness when getting injured... but he's a big unit and that's a lot of force going through those limbs, so injuries keep coming.

I agree on the passing game... the trials showed some seriously silky skills.

Has all the talent and physicals to play NRL, but injuries are getting in the way... does he look like he's still carrying the 'baby weight' rather than being rock hard 🤔🤔
 
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