Is this season for the taking?!?

[ism22]

I'm starting to feel like our boys are up for an ambush.

With Penrith sitting dead last while the Doggies, Faders and Wahs are up the top... IMO if our youngsters fire we can beat anybody.

Walking around Canberra, lotsa cars are all kitted up with Faders flags and people are littering the place with Faders flags/stickers. Are they any chance of a premiership or are they just thugs who've thus far gotten away with a lot of BS?

Doggies? #1 and flying high but are just edging out most of their wins and IMO that whole Galvin stunt they pulled is stupid as. Dead set... that's been handled sooo poorly and he's not even all that good!!!

IDK!!! There's a lot of footy to be played and we're not even in the 8. However if we beat the Faders, lap up the bye, Walker returns with intent and our youngsters continue to develop (including Toia with rep experience) then IMO we could be in serious contention.

We still have a lot of things to prove before we are even outside contenders. However, we're in this race and there's no clear winners yet.

[BraveTheWorld]

I think the comp is Melbourne's to lose. They haven't been exceptional to start the year, but Bellamy will have them going at the right time, and their spine might just be too classy for everyone else.

I also subscribe to the belief that "you have to lose one to win one". Not necessarily that you need to lose a GF, but you need to be right there in the mix - in and around a prelim - before you'll win one. Technically, we were last year, but a large portion of that squad is now gone so I don't think it really counts.

Hypothetically, if Walker comes back playing lights out footy like he was last year, we steer clear of major injuries and the young blokes keep improving bit by bit (and the Storm choke a little), it probably is possible.

[Inflictor]

Billy Gunn sitting on $81 for the premiership is giggling.
We just need to make the Top 8 and we give it a shake even from 5th to 8th.
There is no Panthers this year and Storm is the only real contender imo.
The others chances are fairly equal and they aren't that great and there aren't many.
The most open year for a while.

[Chook2]

Bloody oath it Is
most open it’s been for a long time
last years squad would have gone even close as it was only riff and storm we couldn’t beat and now riff are average

I agree storms to loose and they will improve! I don’t expect all the dogs, raiders and warriors to still be in the top 4 by seasons end

a lot of ladder changing

[caz]

could be the year a team wins it from outside the top 4. has to happen some time

[SamKerrSimp]

could be the year a team wins it from outside the top 4. has to happen some time

It happened in 95

[rented tracksuit]

Not even halfway through the season. Lots to change with the makeup of the eight yet.

No one wins a comp in May. We are in it the same as anyone else. It’s up to us how far we go.

[MKCS]

I don't think so, I don't think we have it in the spine to get it done against fully firing teams like the Bulldogs and Storm for season 2025, Sam Walker being injured for the first half of the season will probably put us outside of the top 4 as well and all the experts talk about how vital that week off during finals time is.

I think we will win in 2026, an extra year for the young players and the addition of key spine players will make us very hard to stop.

[BraveTheWorld]

I don't think so, I don't think we have it in the spine to get it done against fully firing teams like the Bulldogs and Storm for season 2025, Sam Walker being injured for the first half of the season will probably put us outside of the top 4 as well and all the experts talk about how vital that week off during finals time is.

I think we will win in 2026, an extra year for the young players and the addition of key spine players will make us very hard to stop.

A few teams have won it without a week off. Cowboys and Penrith at least, from memory. The reason no one wins from outside the top 4 has little to do with the week off, and way more to do with… not being good enough. Hence why they aren’t in the top 4.

[Vasco]

I don't think so, I don't think we have it in the spine to get it done against fully firing teams like the Bulldogs and Storm for season 2025, Sam Walker being injured for the first half of the season will probably put us outside of the top 4 as well and all the experts talk about how vital that week off during finals time is.

I think we will win in 2026, an extra year for the young players and the addition of key spine players will make us very hard to stop.

I think our spine at full strength is pretty good.

Our attack is as good as any other team. It's whether we can contain the Storm in a big game. I don't think the Bulldgos will win it.

[rented tracksuit]

I think our spine at full strength is pretty good.

Our attack is as good as any other team. It's whether we can contain the Storm in a big game. I don't think the Bulldgos will win it.

They’ve upset their apple cart with the signing of Galvin. Players like Sexton and Mahoney have been pivotal in being where they are now. Not superstars but very strong links in their chain. The Dogs will slowly go into self destruct mode.

[Bansai Pipeline]

They've certainly put Reed Mahoney in a weird position. He's not the kind of player another club would automatically jump at given his personality.

[Steggles]

If we keep giving our young, enthusiastic forwards like Steep, Foketi and Losalu plenty of game time, then yes, we have the capability to give it a real shake. Keep our engine room at least matching the other top teams, our incredible backline has a lot of points in it. They’ll be looking over their shoulders at Easts coming home with a wet sail. Go the Roosters.

[caz]

It happened in 95

they talk about it not having happened in the nrl.

i'm with bravetheworld i think it's possible in the modern era. if penrith had been docked points for each of the last 4 years and finished outside the top 4 every chance they would have still won comps. they lost first round of the semis in 2021 but won without the week off

[JAF]

If/when we play the full 80 minutes, then we can beat any other team, on the assumption our completion rate is around the 80% mark