PRE-GAME [Round 26, 2025] Broncos vs Cowboys

[jd87]

Piakura in the 17 and Reyno in the extended is exciting

I'm excited about Piakura, but honestly, Reyno's performance has been average before his injury.
In fact, we seem to have looked a little better without him on the field.

Walsh has shown significant improvement while working with Hunt, even though he still has some moments where he makes questionable decisions.

I'm not saying it's Reyno's fault, but some players just gel better with others. I think Walsh feels more like it's his team when Reyno isn't playing.

Still, Reyno is a champion player, so I wouldn't be too unhappy if he came back early.

still a

 

[BroncsFan]

next week will be interesting... surely papi and munster will get a break

It's interesting because Hughes is expected back, I would've thought you play Paps and Munster with him next week... so rest them this round.

Whatever... the ****wit will probably play everyone next week for no reason and if he does I hope he cops 5 HIA's and is missing half a team for week 1 of the finals

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

I know it's not our game this week, but **** it is predictable and kind of ****ing hilarious that Bellamy chose this round to rest players. No way it makes sense given this week is a home game and concussion protocols with mandatory stand downs. Hope we concussion about 8 of their players, but no doubt nrl will find a loophole even if they did "for the good of the game"

Kind of looks a bit sad on his behalf that despite our shitness and their dominance of us the last 20 years we STILL obviously live rent free in his head. No wonder they beat us all the time, it is genuinely his most important game every year whilst we wouldn't give a **** about them if they weren't good. Can't wait for the cheating **** to retire for the good of rugby league.

 

[Santa]

next week will be interesting... surely papi and munster will get a break

Papenhuyzen has already missed quite a bit due to injury. He might be trying to play as much as possible.

 

[Matheos]

next week will be interesting... surely papi and munster will get a break

Even if Melbourne are at full strength everywhere else, including Hughes - there really should be no excuses for us not winning if Munster, Grant and Papi are all out.

 

[FACTHUNT]

I know it's not our game this week, but **** it is predictable and kind of ****ing hilarious that Bellamy chose this round to rest players. No way it makes sense given this week is a home game and concussion protocols with mandatory stand downs. Hope we concussion about 8 of their players, but no doubt nrl will find a loophole even if they did "for the good of the game"

Kind of looks a bit sad on his behalf that despite our shitness and their dominance of us the last 20 years we STILL obviously live rent free in his head. No wonder they beat us all the time, it is genuinely his most important game every year whilst we wouldn't give a **** about them if they weren't good. Can't wait for the cheating **** to retire for the good of rugby league.

Screwing us over means more to him than his 600th. Bellamy is an unhinged individual with obvious anger management issues.

Hope their flight is filled with 100 ppl with covid

 

[_wwong]

I'm excited about Piakura, but honestly, Reyno's performance has been average before his injury.
In fact, we seem to have looked a little better without him on the field.

Walsh has shown significant improvement while working with Hunt, even though he still has some moments where he makes questionable decisions.

I'm not saying it's Reyno's fault, but some players just gel better with others. I think Walsh feels more like it's his team when Reyno isn't playing.

Still, Reyno is a champion player, so I wouldn't be too unhappy if he came back early.

still a

With reyno, mam and Walsh we had 3 pretty erratic players who do things off the cuff. Hunt just seems a bit more structured and calmer which the team needs.

 

[Battler]

Even if Melbourne are at full strength everywhere else, including Hughes - there really should be no excuses for us not winning if Munster, Grant and Papi are all out.

We need to give Hughes an absolute workout in defence if Bellamy brings him back for that game, make sure his shoulder is good to go for the finals

 

[1910]

Looks like Bellamy is going the 50/50 rest split.

He's resting the following. Borderline handing the Roosters 8th the f**kwit:

• Eliesa Katoa
• Josh King
• Nick Meaney
• Tui Kamikamica
• Xavier Coates

Tui is a concussion.

 

[Scorchie]

Notice the other clubs resting players, and we really have zero hope doing the same

 

[BroncsFan]

Notice the other clubs resting players, and we really have zero hope doing the same

If we win this week and rorters lose then we are effectively locked into at least 6th and a home final... assuming panthers also lose (likely now)... if rorters win this week and we lose, then for and against comes into it, but we've got a pretty massive head start and they're playing souths.

We could rest a whole bunch of players next week if we wanted to.

I'd probably look to rest Patty... and there could be a consideration for Walsh... only because of how important he is to the team... so more like protection.

Haas could be a consideration as well... pending what ever niggles he's currently carrying.

Pretty much every other guy has had some rest through the season though.... we basically only had Payne and Patty playing origin this year so everyone else has been getting all the byes.

1. Walsh (has had some injuries, but no origin, didn't play Rd 18 due to 18th man in origin and had the Rd 20 bye)
2. Karapani (has had all 3 byes and whatever byes, etc. he's had when he was repping Qcup)
3. Staggs (had all 3 byes through the year)
4. Shiba (could be a consideration, but his body probably hasn't been too bashed up... did get all the byes including Rd 20)
5. Mariner (same as Karapani)
6. Walters (could be a consideration, but he's been mostly playing off the bench for sub 40mins a game and got all 3 byes)
7. Bhunt (has had a lot of injuries so he hasn't actually played that much this year... didn't play origin and got the Rd 20 bye)
8. Jensen (all 3 byes... been playing mostly 40mins or so a game)
9. Paix (all 3 byes... been in qcup and sharing hooker with others all year)
10. Haas (could be a consideration, but has had some injuries through the year and a rest a couple weeks back)
11. Riki (same as others getting all 3 byes)
12. Jhunt / Piaks (in and out of first grade, all 3 byes, etc.)
13. Patty (should be rested next week regardless... played all 3 origins, only had the one bye and played 21 games this year at massive minutes... and beyond that he looks buggered and needing of a rest)

14. Smoothy (in and out ... sharing load... all 3 byes)
15. Kobe (same as Jensen)
16. Talty (won't want to be rested from any first grade games)
17. Jhunt / Piaks (as above)

 

[FACTHUNT]

Tui is a concussion.

Oh yes forgot that he was rekt

 

[Scorchie]

If we win this week and rorters lose then we are effectively locked into at least 6th and a home final... assuming panthers also lose (likely now)... if rorters win this week and we lose, then for and against comes into it, but we've got a pretty massive head start and they're playing souths.

We could rest a whole bunch of players next week if we wanted to.

I'd probably look to rest Patty... and there could be a consideration for Walsh... only because of how important he is to the team... so more like protection.

Haas could be a consideration as well... pending what ever niggles he's currently carrying.

Pretty much every other guy has had some rest through the season though.... we basically only had Payne and Patty playing origin this year so everyone else has been getting all the byes.

1. Walsh (has had some injuries, but no origin, didn't play Rd 18 due to 18th man in origin and had the Rd 20 bye)
2. Karapani (has had all 3 byes and whatever byes, etc. he's had when he was repping Qcup)
3. Staggs (had all 3 byes through the year)
4. Shiba (could be a consideration, but his body probably hasn't been too bashed up... did get all the byes including Rd 20)
5. Mariner (same as Karapani)
6. Walters (could be a consideration, but he's been mostly playing off the bench for sub 40mins a game and got all 3 byes)
7. Bhunt (has had a lot of injuries so he hasn't actually played that much this year... didn't play origin and got the Rd 20 bye)
8. Jensen (all 3 byes... been playing mostly 40mins or so a game)
9. Paix (all 3 byes... been in qcup and sharing hooker with others all year)
10. Haas (could be a consideration, but has had some injuries through the year and a rest a couple weeks back)
11. Riki (same as others getting all 3 byes)
12. Jhunt / Piaks (in and out of first grade, all 3 byes, etc.)
13. Patty (should be rested next week regardless... played all 3 origins, only had the one bye and played 21 games this year at massive minutes... and beyond that he looks buggered and needing of a rest)

14. Smoothy (in and out ... sharing load... all 3 byes)
15. Kobe (same as Jensen)
16. Talty (won't want to be rested from any first grade games)
17. Jhunt / Piaks (as above)

6th? I’m all in on 4th bro!

 

[BroncsFan]

6th? I’m all in on 4th bro!

Yeah I'm just saying that if we think cool we've secured at least 6th and a home final... let's rest everyone and get ready for week 1 of the finals.

Storm could also rest a bunch in the final game (unlikely because Bellamy is a ****), which means we could potentially win with restings anyway.

So we could have the option to rest in the last week pending what happens this week... it doesn't need to be everyone either probably just Patty (definite resting for me) with Walsh and Payne as possibles.

The thing that is interesting in the finals this year is that the top 4 isn't all that strong... so yes if we get 4th then great and let's head to Canberra looking for a win and a trip straight to the prelim... but if we don't make it and you get to week 2, then you're potentially playing wahs (who have been struggling against the bottom 4) OR dogs who we've beat twice this year already.

 

[Volvo Driver]

If we win this week and rorters lose then we are effectively locked into at least 6th and a home final... assuming panthers also lose (likely now)... if rorters win this week and we lose, then for and against comes into it, but we've got a pretty massive head start and they're playing souths.

We could rest a whole bunch of players next week if we wanted to.

I'd probably look to rest Patty... and there could be a consideration for Walsh... only because of how important he is to the team... so more like protection.

Haas could be a consideration as well... pending what ever niggles he's currently carrying.

Pretty much every other guy has had some rest through the season though.... we basically only had Payne and Patty playing origin this year so everyone else has been getting all the byes.

1. Walsh (has had some injuries, but no origin, didn't play Rd 18 due to 18th man in origin and had the Rd 20 bye)
2. Karapani (has had all 3 byes and whatever byes, etc. he's had when he was repping Qcup)
3. Staggs (had all 3 byes through the year)
4. Shiba (could be a consideration, but his body probably hasn't been too bashed up... did get all the byes including Rd 20)
5. Mariner (same as Karapani)
6. Walters (could be a consideration, but he's been mostly playing off the bench for sub 40mins a game and got all 3 byes)
7. Bhunt (has had a lot of injuries so he hasn't actually played that much this year... didn't play origin and got the Rd 20 bye)
8. Jensen (all 3 byes... been playing mostly 40mins or so a game)
9. Paix (all 3 byes... been in qcup and sharing hooker with others all year)
10. Haas (could be a consideration, but has had some injuries through the year and a rest a couple weeks back)
11. Riki (same as others getting all 3 byes)
12. Jhunt / Piaks (in and out of first grade, all 3 byes, etc.)
13. Patty (should be rested next week regardless... played all 3 origins, only had the one bye and played 21 games this year at massive minutes... and beyond that he looks buggered and needing of a rest)

14. Smoothy (in and out ... sharing load... all 3 byes)
15. Kobe (same as Jensen)
16. Talty (won't want to be rested from any first grade games)
17. Jhunt / Piaks (as above)

Patty played some pretty low minutes and Origin II & III. His workload was less than last year.

 

[BroncsFan]

Patty played some pretty low minutes and Origin II & III. His workload was less than last year.

He's only had the 1 bye this year and played every game he's been available for (21), averaging 65mins per game, 162m and 36 tackles per game.

He had lower minutes in 2 of the origin games, but still got through work in that shorter timeframe.

I just think we're in a position where he could get a rest, because he's not really had one yet and it's been a seriously long season for him when he's playing every single week except the round 20 bye.

 

[Jeffy]

Assuming Dogs beat Panthers and Sharks beat Knights this week, Dogs will be locked into third and likely to rest players against Sharks next week.

Panthers are most likely to finish 7th. They’ll only come 8th if they lose/rest players against Dragons and Roosters win both games.

If we win both games, we guarantee coming at least 5th and avoid Panthers week 1 and the Storm/Dogs loser week 2. That side of the draw is much tougher than the Raiders/Warriors/Roosters side.

4th against the Raiders is obviously the dream. Even if we lose to Raiders, we’d likely play winner of Warriors/Sharks/Roosters at home for week 2.

If we only win one of the next two (most probable outcome), Sharks will play a heavily rested Dogs for the opportunity to come 5th and push us to 6th to avoid Panthers. They would go all out to avoid Panthers.

If we lose both games, Panthers will definitely try beat the Dragons to have a home final against us compared to travelling to Suncorp, and thats probably season over.

It sucks that our game in the last round is on Thursday. Panthers and Sharks will have full information on what they’re playing for and if they should rest after the results of our Storm game.

It's simple for us, we just have to win.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I propose a gambit.

Lets say we beat the Cows, and the Wahs lose to Parramatta. I would be willing to do a mass resting in Round 27 under the likely assumption Manly beat the Wahs again for DCE's final game. If it pays off, we go into Week 1 against the Scum with no disadvantage in fatigue, and give ourselves the best possible chance at a Week off.

If we want to take the likelihood of Top 4 seriously, I would really rather not have to go down there to go up against a fresh Melbourne, while we have had to exert ourselves to overcome injury and that nasty mid season slump. **** that, I'd rather swallow the risk of finishing 5th and taking the positives from this season regardless of what happens from there.

Plus it would tickle me pink to throw Bellyache's bullshit back in his face.