Smith's intentions become clear, Maguire and Carrigan guest speakers at the Eagles Champions lunch on the 7th March.
2026 Pre-Season Discussion
- Thread starter McHunt
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Smith's intentions become clear, Maguire and Carrigan guest speakers at the Eagles Champions lunch on the 7th March.
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
- 1,375
- 6,501
View attachment 37591
Do leadership group talks take place on the pitch... with a footy as your prop/visual aid?
I don't trust him.
After all these years and how we've crippled his Storm, he suddenly wants to help?
This guy is a trojan horse. There's something going on. He's scheming to bring us down from the inside.
Probably trying to tempt away one of our 2 young 9's. Or something more sinister.
We better have a club rep following him around 24/7. Full surveillance. He's up to something.
If we don't go back to back this year, I'm solely blaming Cam Smith and whatever nefarious impact he had.
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,616
- 52,082
And of course the last shot they showed was Reece... although they should've finished with a cut of that palm off and then into the celebration.
Reece is absolutely the face of the game at the moment.
I saw an NRL post about the preseason challenge and Reece was the centre picture for it... Broncos arent even playing in the preseason challenge haha
Unorthed0x
BRL Player
- May 26, 2025
- 90
- 393
Honestly is there a worse Commentator then Mathew Thompson?
Guy has the charisma of a wet sock who just gets louder when big plays happen and is always saying what he "thinks" is about to happen only to be wrong 90% of the time.
Guy has the charisma of a wet sock who just gets louder when big plays happen and is always saying what he "thinks" is about to happen only to be wrong 90% of the time.
Santa
Guest
- Jun 30, 2020
- 11,669
- 21,919
Yea I dont know how he got selected as the main commentator for channel 9. He even ruins that podcast with Gould (Bracey was so much better).
There are so many better commentators from radio that they should use.
- Mar 14, 2008
- 10,664
- 14,263
Quentin Hull, but then we'd lose him from radio.
- Sep 6, 2013
- 66,039
- 84,261
That female commentator for the AFL but they are on par. He has an awful voice, I think almost anyone else would have been better.
_wwong
International Captain
- May 27, 2013
- 27,199
- 26,914
His commentating for an our finals run was shit house.
GCBRONCO
International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 26,230
- 26,467
Now now your giving wet socks a bad name.
broncos4life
International Captain
- Oct 5, 2011
- 28,394
- 30,613
Matt Thompson is the best advertisement for Kayo they could get.
- Sep 6, 2013
- 66,039
- 84,261
It actually makes you appreciate Dan Ginnane and that makes me sick.
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
- 1,375
- 6,501
Rule changes confirmed for the upcoming season. Feel free to move if this is not the right place for it.
1) Trainers restricted from entering the field of play except for 'clearly defined' circumstances
With Alfie gone I don't think this one changes too much for us. If anything, we benefit from stopping dirty teams like Penrith who intentionally use their trainers for tactical advantage. Probably an advantage for any team with experienced halves who need less coaching input. Net positive for us.
2) Interchange is till 8, but bench goes from 4 to 6 players
Means 19 players in active game-day squad (Starting 13, 14-19 are interchange) but no extra interchanges. I guess this eliminates the need for an 18th man / emergency player?
This is a really interesting one because you've essentially just destroyed the value of the utility player. Teams can now carry a secondary hooker at 14 along with their normal forward rotation, plus an extra 2 specialists on the bench (presumably most teams will use this for a spare wing / fullback option and potentially another half). It reduces the value of having versatile players who can cover multiple positions.
For us, where we have limited cover for Walsh at fullback, it lets us easily carry Perham or Anderson or Arthars on the bench and use them only in the case of an outside back injury. Also allows us to carry an extra hooker or half to cover in the (unfortunately highly foreseeable) event of a Reynolds injury, although given we already essentially have 3 halves in our starting side already, this isn't a huge benefit.
Without getting into hypothetical advanced tactics, I think the net result of this rule change will be benefitting the teams who have 2 really strong 9's, who will now not have to choose between carrying 2 hookers and a utility who can cover in case of emergency. Also benefits teams with a deep enough roster to have quality options across their whole bench. All up, I think this one probably suits us, but I also think most teams will benefit similarly. A lot depends on how Madge structures his bench and how teams utilise this throughout the year. Have to wait and see.
Also increases the value of head-knock-prone players like Piakura who can now be covered more easily.
3) No 7 tackle sets for attacking mistakes in the opponent's in-goal
This will be a big plus for any teams with a noted aerial threat who is regularly targeted with high balls in the in-goal. Unfortunately that's not us, so this rule change probably disadvantages us since we don't benefit while some other teams do. This feels like it was custom-written for Melbourne, especially with how hard they are chasing Lomax.
4) Beyond the 20m line, its now set restarts again instead of penalties?
Who knows.The refs don't even reliably know and enforce what type of infringement is what type of punishment in what area of the field. Seems they're just walking back the rule change from last year which was designed to stop teams from intentionally giving up set restarts early in the tackle count? If that's the case, it's an advantage to teams who purposefully and systematically bend the rules and abuse that tactic (Roosters especially) and disadvantage to us, who isn't as active in that space.
All in all, nothing huge here that should worry us but also nothing to get overly excited about. The interchange rule will lead to a better standard of play when inevitable HIAs occur, which is a positive for the fans.
Discussion still pending on the kickoff rule change, but that one will benefit us if it does go through (as evidenced by the implementation in Super League).
1) Trainers restricted from entering the field of play except for 'clearly defined' circumstances
With Alfie gone I don't think this one changes too much for us. If anything, we benefit from stopping dirty teams like Penrith who intentionally use their trainers for tactical advantage. Probably an advantage for any team with experienced halves who need less coaching input. Net positive for us.
2) Interchange is till 8, but bench goes from 4 to 6 players
Means 19 players in active game-day squad (Starting 13, 14-19 are interchange) but no extra interchanges. I guess this eliminates the need for an 18th man / emergency player?
This is a really interesting one because you've essentially just destroyed the value of the utility player. Teams can now carry a secondary hooker at 14 along with their normal forward rotation, plus an extra 2 specialists on the bench (presumably most teams will use this for a spare wing / fullback option and potentially another half). It reduces the value of having versatile players who can cover multiple positions.
For us, where we have limited cover for Walsh at fullback, it lets us easily carry Perham or Anderson or Arthars on the bench and use them only in the case of an outside back injury. Also allows us to carry an extra hooker or half to cover in the (unfortunately highly foreseeable) event of a Reynolds injury, although given we already essentially have 3 halves in our starting side already, this isn't a huge benefit.
Without getting into hypothetical advanced tactics, I think the net result of this rule change will be benefitting the teams who have 2 really strong 9's, who will now not have to choose between carrying 2 hookers and a utility who can cover in case of emergency. Also benefits teams with a deep enough roster to have quality options across their whole bench. All up, I think this one probably suits us, but I also think most teams will benefit similarly. A lot depends on how Madge structures his bench and how teams utilise this throughout the year. Have to wait and see.
Also increases the value of head-knock-prone players like Piakura who can now be covered more easily.
3) No 7 tackle sets for attacking mistakes in the opponent's in-goal
This will be a big plus for any teams with a noted aerial threat who is regularly targeted with high balls in the in-goal. Unfortunately that's not us, so this rule change probably disadvantages us since we don't benefit while some other teams do. This feels like it was custom-written for Melbourne, especially with how hard they are chasing Lomax.
4) Beyond the 20m line, its now set restarts again instead of penalties?
Who knows.The refs don't even reliably know and enforce what type of infringement is what type of punishment in what area of the field. Seems they're just walking back the rule change from last year which was designed to stop teams from intentionally giving up set restarts early in the tackle count? If that's the case, it's an advantage to teams who purposefully and systematically bend the rules and abuse that tactic (Roosters especially) and disadvantage to us, who isn't as active in that space.
All in all, nothing huge here that should worry us but also nothing to get overly excited about. The interchange rule will lead to a better standard of play when inevitable HIAs occur, which is a positive for the fans.
Discussion still pending on the kickoff rule change, but that one will benefit us if it does go through (as evidenced by the implementation in Super League).
Lockysillegitimatechild
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 10, 2015
- 6,400
- 13,624
How does everyone see our 18th and 19th selections going? A back (eg anderson) and a forward? Given we have hunt who can cover the halves and paix could play 80 if needed.
Also, why the **** has vlandys done these shot house rules changes. Even this one, why not just make the 18th man more accessible with head knocks rather than take away the attrition. It made our premiership special losing our halves and winning.
Also, why the **** has vlandys done these shot house rules changes. Even this one, why not just make the 18th man more accessible with head knocks rather than take away the attrition. It made our premiership special losing our halves and winning.
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
- 1,375
- 6,501
I'd recond second rower and winger / fullback and think most teams will be exactly the same.
Outside back coverage is crucial and difficult without a specialist so it's a no brainer. Some teams / coaches (Seibs) were already sneaking a winger into that 17 spot already. Then the short, intense stints of front rowers means they rightfully use up more of your bench but the loss of a generally 80 minute second rower can be problematic too so having a back rower substitute who can handle that lateral defensive responsibility is very valuable.
These 2 choices mean you can run out a squad where you have essentially full coverage for HIA or injury anywhere across the squad.
I bleed Maroon
International Rep
- Apr 17, 2013
- 17,581
- 25,353
Perfectly happy with the 6 man bench. Why? Because it doesn't **** with the core principles of the game itself. Unlike the other garbage the NRL try to push on us.
I bleed Maroon
International Rep
- Apr 17, 2013
- 17,581
- 25,353
2 Front rowers
2 second rowers
1 spine utility
1 Outside back
2 second rowers
1 spine utility
1 Outside back
