POST GAME [Round 11, 2026] - Broncos vs Warriors

[Krampus]

I will never understand people who truly believe that the NRL is picking who wins and loses, yet still continue to watch/engage in the game.

People watch wrestling......

 

[Santa]

People watch wrestling......

True. But if the NRL was scripted like wrestling, that would mean that us beating the minor premiers, ending the Penrith dynasty and beating our most hated team on the greatest finals run ever, was all the result of the NRL just wanting that to happen.

Personally, Im too much of a Broncos tragic, to ever let myself believe that. I wouldn't watch it if I did, and I dont get how any other Broncos fan wouldn't feel the same.

 

[Big Pete]

True. But if the NRL was scripted like wrestling, that would mean that us beating the minor premiers, ending the Penrith dynasty and beating our most hated team on the greatest finals run ever, was all the result of the NRL just wanting that to happen.

Personally, Im too much of a Broncos tragic, to ever let myself believe that. I wouldn't watch it if I did, and I dont get how any other Broncos fan wouldn't feel the same.

I don't think it's as rampant as some on here believe but look at the reaction of Origin I and II last year. I definitely think the referees are 'influenced' and yes it does make it difficult to enjoy games. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

There was an infamous example in '98. Manly had a shocking night against the Broncos and the officials were heavily criticised. They met again shortly after and it was a complete 180 with Brisbane getting penalised out of the game. You can't tell me the official wasn't influenced.

To me the officials are like the bounce of the ball. You ought to do everything to keep them out of it otherwise they will find weird and wacky ways to punish you.

But yes, I pushed back on the criticism on here because I think some of the calls were correct and I do think the Broncos are poor in defence and that leaves them susceptible to giving away penalties. I invited others to give examples and some posters were kind enough to point a few out. Some I agreed with, others not so much but I think that's a more constructive way to have a conversation.

 

[Dash]

I don't think it's as rampant as some on here believe but look at the reaction of Origin I and II last year. I definitely think the referees are 'influenced' and yes it does make it difficult to enjoy games. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

There was an infamous example in '98. Manly had a shocking night against the Broncos and the officials were heavily criticised. They met again shortly after and it was a complete 180 with Brisbane getting penalised out of the game. You can't tell me the official wasn't influenced.

To me the officials are like the bounce of the ball. You ought to do everything to keep them out of it otherwise they will find weird and wacky ways to punish you.

But yes, I pushed back on the criticism on here because I think some of the calls were correct and I do think the Broncos are poor in defence and that leaves them susceptible to giving away penalties. I invited others to give examples and some posters were kind enough to point a few out. Some I agreed with, others not so much but I think that's a more constructive way to have a conversation.

I agree that our defence is generally pretty poor, especially mid-field. However, it can be a bit of a chicken-and-egg thing.

When you're copping two 4th tackle set restarts in the first set of the game, in multiple games, you could be forgiven for thinking it's the refereeing decisions causing bad defence, not the other way around.

 

[Santa]

I don't think it's as rampant as some on here believe but look at the reaction of Origin I and II last year. I definitely think the referees are 'influenced' and yes it does make it difficult to enjoy games. It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

There was an infamous example in '98. Manly had a shocking night against the Broncos and the officials were heavily criticised. They met again shortly after and it was a complete 180 with Brisbane getting penalised out of the game. You can't tell me the official wasn't influenced.

To me the officials are like the bounce of the ball. You ought to do everything to keep them out of it otherwise they will find weird and wacky ways to punish you.

But yes, I pushed back on the criticism on here because I think some of the calls were correct and I do think the Broncos are poor in defence and that leaves them susceptible to giving away penalties. I invited others to give examples and some posters were kind enough to point a few out. Some I agreed with, others not so much but I think that's a more constructive way to have a conversation.

Yea can agree with all of that. In the end the refs are human, and bias or even pressure (real or imagined) can impact them - by even making them second guess their decisions. They have a hard job trying to manage a pretty complicated game with 26 players on the field all trying to bend the rules or milk a penalty every play.

I kinda accept the on feild refs will never be perfect. What pisses me off more is the bunker. On field ref may miss an action, high tackle, or a bobble here and there live (and fair enough) - but the bunker has 50 looks at it from 20 different angles and still gets it wrong...

But yea, we can do alot to help ourselves.

 

[Krampus]

True. But if the NRL was scripted like wrestling, that would mean that us beating the minor premiers, ending the Penrith dynasty and beating our most hated team on the greatest finals run ever, was all the result of the NRL just wanting that to happen.

Personally, Im too much of a Broncos tragic, to ever let myself believe that. I wouldn't watch it if I did, and I dont get how any other Broncos fan wouldn't feel the same.

Well I do hope it's not scripted....

Maybe It's not the same as wrestling..
Probably boxing is more accurate..

Mind you it is probably similar in all sports.

 

[Foordy]

They're 100% correct ...

although TBF every man and his dog has been saying these things, but Vlandy's and his henchmen are too stupid to listen

 

[horsegang]

Not sure why we are blaming anyone but ourselves tbf. Our discipline last year was pretty much the same as it is this year. Last year we didn't let it get to us. We lifted and went into another gear. This year, It's like the players give up and drop lip. We notice it more because we are losing games.

A result of thinking our shit don't stink because we are the 2025 NRL Champions.
Riki(Jordan) Carrigan , Piakura are always giving away set restarts.

Trying to much to compensate for the players we are missing. Fatigue sets in. We get lazy, Penalties set in. Especially Riki & Carrigan.

Mam is out of form. Walsh is hot & cold. Our leader is always injured. Our Alpha prop injured.

Shit is not going our way. Happens to the best of teams. I'm not saying its entirely our fault. Klein is a fk head. But for the most part, If we fix up our discipline. We'll start getting more favourable calls going our way by earning it.

 

[Dexter]

Not sure why we are blaming anyone but ourselves tbf. Our discipline last year was pretty much the same as it is this year. Last year we didn't let it get to us. We lifted and went into another gear. This year, It's like the players give up and drop lip. We notice it more because we are losing games.

A result of thinking our shit don't stink because we are the 2025 NRL Champions.
Riki(Jordan) Carrigan , Piakura are always giving away set restarts.

Trying to much to compensate for the players we are missing. Fatigue sets in. We get lazy, Penalties set in. Especially Riki & Carrigan.

Mam is out of form. Walsh is hot & cold. Our leader is always injured. Our Alpha prop injured.

Shit is not going our way. Happens to the best of teams. I'm not saying its entirely our fault. Klein is a fk head. But for the most part, If we fix up our discipline. We'll start getting more favourable calls going our way by earning it.

Gotta be honest I don't think they have dropped lip or given up all year. The chases/ers when the game is done are still there.

 

[Cult]

It’s all our own fault.
It’s not entirely our fault.
But it’s mostly our fault.

The fact that any ref has any impact of anything is where the problem lies. These Hollywood refs that need to make a mark on the game are ****ing what could be a good contest, and doing so with the permission of the betting agencies inside man, PVL.

 

[Waynesaurus]

Yeah just crazy talk!......... I can't think of a single reason why the NRL would want to influence the outcomes of games.

Its not like the NRL boss is heavily involved in various gambling related associations, talks openly about gambling being the single most important thing to the 'sport' or that the NRL receive a kickback from the gambling companies for every bet that is placed on an NRL game.