NRL 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Wolfie]

Training on the 22nd of December. Give me a break. Just run them into the ground.... absolutely no need for it. Fucking the season up before you even start round 1.

#BlameTodd

 

[Big Del]

Wouldn't surprise me if Bateman does Prop or Lock, he has a bit more ball play in him than Cotter and has played the role before, but honestly in the modern game you can do that role from Lock or prop it's not that big of a deal, and Cowboys have plenty of Big men to Balance a 2 small man middle.

Luki shredded his ACL .
Bateman will be more important than ever .

 

[Sproj]

@Big Pete, with Luki gone for the season, who would you bring into your Cows team? I would assume Bateman to starting second row but who on to the bench?

 

[Xzei]

only 70 odd days till the season kicks off

 

[Mustafur]

Luki is insanely injury prone.

 

[Big Pete]

@Big Pete, with Luki gone for the season, who would you bring into your Cows team? I would assume Bateman to starting second row but who on to the bench?

It's a good question and I'm not sure if Bateman will slot right into the starting team. Bateman is predominately a right-sided player but with Nanai there it may give Lawton that edge. Shibasaki for mine shapes as their most exciting prospect, but he's played less than 20 minutes of NRL coming off the bench - I can't see him being thrown into the deep end and think he'll fill that Finefeuiaki spot if he's selected.

I know you and @Wolfie watch some Super League, do we have any other experts? @Fitzy @Mustafur? Any thoughts on O'Donnell? I remember him being a very similar player to Harrison Edwards, but he's had some success with Leigh. He could be a real smokey.

 

[Waynesaurus]

So how long will Bateman actually last at the Cows? Will he even see out the year?

He and Todd are surely going to clash, if the heat doesn't get to him first.

 

[Fitzy]

It's a good question and I'm not sure if Bateman will slot right into the starting team. Bateman is predominately a right-sided player but with Nanai there it may give Lawton that edge. Shibasaki for mine shapes as their most exciting prospect, but he's played less than 20 minutes of NRL coming off the bench - I can't see him being thrown into the deep end and think he'll fill that Finefeuiaki spot if he's selected.

I know you and @Wolfie watch some Super League, do we have any other experts? @Fitzy @Mustafur? Any thoughts on O'Donnell? I remember him being a very similar player to Harrison Edwards, but he's had some success with Leigh. He could be a real smokey.

Kai is a good player. You could tell there was considerable growth in confidence when he first went over when Leigh had an overstacked side in the championship. Gotten heaps better over time. Surprisingly quite an explosive line runner. Can’t say I’ve watched to much super league of late but he’s definitely been a name that’s always popped up as doing very well. I think he could be really good and translate very well in the NRL. But edge players and translating from the super league is pretty unreliable so the signing of Bateman makes sense.

 

[Wolfie]

It's a good question and I'm not sure if Bateman will slot right into the starting team. Bateman is predominately a right-sided player but with Nanai there it may give Lawton that edge. Shibasaki for mine shapes as their most exciting prospect, but he's played less than 20 minutes of NRL coming off the bench - I can't see him being thrown into the deep end and think he'll fill that Finefeuiaki spot if he's selected.

I know you and @Wolfie watch some Super League, do we have any other experts? @Fitzy @Mustafur? Any thoughts on O'Donnell? I remember him being a very similar player to Harrison Edwards, but he's had some success with Leigh. He could be a real smokey.

He's pretty solid. Not the biggest back rower, but he has good defence, does the little things well but he can be a bit of a hothead. His discipline sometimes wasnt the best at times. Scored a fair few tries as well. I personally think he will be one of those players who just goes out there and gets the job done without grabbing any headlines.

 

[Sproj]

He's pretty solid. Not the biggest back rower, but he has good defence, does the little things well but he can be a bit of a hothead. His discipline sometimes wasnt the best at times. Scored a fair few tries as well. I personally think he will be one of those players who just goes out there and gets the job done without grabbing any headlines.

Yeah my thoughts exactly. He is a similar shape and style to Bateman, so they could be a decent one-two punch.

@Big Pete, I agree with you about not being sure about Bateman being the right fit to start but I always get the sense with Payton that he really doesn't like to start young guys in the forwards if he doesn't have to. Nanai seems a bit of an exception in that way for him.