Your predictions for the 2026 NRL season.

[Chook2]

Theyre short an interchange dummy half but could probably play Tria Fuller as the interchange with Marshall King.
Fuller is explosive off the mark.

Fully fit this 17 is their best side

*Hammer
*Isaako
Averillo
*Farnworth
*Cobbo
*Nikorima
Katoa

*Flegler
*Marshall King
*Saifiti
*Kaufusi
*Gilbert
Plath

Tria Fuller
Ray Stone
*Francis Molo
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki



*11 rep player plus maybe the best halfback in the game.
Absolute lethal side fully fit plus they have Bostock back when he's fit who is dynamite.
Mate the Hammer, Cobbo, Farworth & Fuller are all game breakers & their forwards are as good as any. Theyrs tough as.
I think they can make the GF, I dont know about winning it. If they had 1 more strike backrower then theyre serious contenders.
They have James Walsh & Connelly Lemuelu who are named as backrowers in their squad but I havnt seen them play.
One more thing Kristen Woolfe is like Madge Maquire, old school who knows how to get the best out of his players.

I rate them Batesy fully fit.

Yes they easily have one of the best rosters in the comp
great spine - lethal but also consistent with Katoa
backline is big and lethal - I think bostock will come back in over averilo once fit and cobbo to centre
and their forward pack is quality including bench rep players and depth
they just missed finals last year with several end of season injuries so if they stay fit they could go far

also Morgan Knowles from England could make the bench
I think Lemuela will be in the 17 too

predicting big things from this team this year

[Bansai Pipeline]

What's with the Dolphins already?

Have they signed god?

Their mid-season last year was phenomenal. Then the wheels fell off.

They should be better this season as they'll be more experienced.

They probably needed to sign an old head like DCE though I reckon.

[Duchess_of_Bondi]

Most started threads - Bates

FFS

LOL I like Bates' threads as at least they are actual topics and his away from the game ones are our most popular also.

My predictions:

Grand final teams - Roosters vs who cares.

Premiers - Roosters as its 2026 - our postcode, our year.

Clive Churchill Medal - DCE without all the booing this time

Wooden Spoon - Oh so many delighful choices..Tigers, Rabbitohs. Dragons..

Will Teddy play SOO? - Nope. That ship has sailed plus we thrive when he's fully present with us.

1st Coach sacked - I try not to think negatively of others but so many clubs are just so mediocre it's bound to happen to someone before the season is over

Jack Gibson Medal - Sammy Walker. If he is allowed to breathe and just play his natural game without his wings being clipped, we all know the outcome. He's had time to fully recover from those injuries now and will gain even more confidence. I'm predicting we will see more of his sadly missed Harbour Bridge passes and smile to match.

Breakout season - I actually am saying Hugo as our new master will be teaching the apprentice. Wait and watch for a masterclass in mentoring.

[bondi paul]

We are all one eyed supporters here, one way or another. Normally I don't blame the ref's or the NRL, but when Radley was sent off during that weird Brisbane game years back, I genuine thougt we were being cheated. Rang up quit Foxtel after twenty years before that game ended.

I was at this game at the SCG. Gough was the ref with some inept rookie female touch judge. The Broncos were hammered the week before and the fix was in. Those in the know won a lot of money betting against Easts that day including old time professional punters who follow Easts. Radley the scapegoat. Suaalii made his debut.Ref Gough was groomed by the NRL that day. He had only reffed 7 games in the season prior and since has reffed many more games. He did what was best for his career and the NRL.

[Steakface]

Ladder at Round 26 -

1 Panthers
2 Sharks
3 Roosters
4 Broncos
5 Storm
6 Warriors
7 Dolphins
8 Raiders
9 Rabbitohs
10 Dragons
11 Bulldogs
12 Eels
13 Cowboys
14 Knights
15 Sea Eagles
16 Titans
17 Tigers
18 Bears

Grand final teams - Roosters vs Panthers

Premiers - Too close to call. Heart says Roosters, Head says Panthers have that X factor.

Clive Churchill Medal - Walker or Cleary

Wooden Spoon - Bears. 'Smell My Finger' will be exposed as being totally reliant on the QLD inner circle (Langer, Lockyer, Smith etc) for all the tactical nous and football strategy. Crowd numbers will really struggle. A 'Tigers-calibre' squad. A few cricket scores racked up against them when they travel. Will eventually come good with more success in future years (perhaps 2028 onward) as the Perth-ites are a weird parochial lot and will really get off on beating teams in the Eastern States down the track. I reckon Bellamy is a smoky to head over there for a couple of years when Smell My Finger inevitably fails in his mission.

Will Teddy play SOO? - Yes

1st Coach sacked - Anthony Seibold or Benji

Jack Gibson Medal - Teddy

Breakout season - E Butcher

[Chook2]

Ladder at Round 26 -

1 Panthers
2 Sharks
3 Roosters
4 Broncos
5 Storm
6 Warriors
7 Dolphins
8 Raiders
9 Rabbitohs
10 Dragons
11 Bulldogs
12 Eels
13 Cowboys
14 Knights
15 Sea Eagles
16 Titans
17 Tigers
18 Bears

Grand final teams - Roosters vs Panthers

Premiers - Too close to call. Heart says Roosters, Head says Panthers have that X factor.

Clive Churchill Medal - Walker or Cleary

Wooden Spoon - Bears. 'Smell My Finger' will be exposed as being totally reliant on the QLD inner circle (Langer, Lockyer, Smith etc) for all the tactical nous and football strategy. Crowd numbers will really struggle. A 'Tigers-calibre' squad. A few cricket scores racked up against them when they travel. Will eventually come good with more success in future years (perhaps 2028 onward) as the Perth-ites are a weird parochial lot and will really get off on beating teams in the Eastern States down the track. I reckon Bellamy is a smoky to head over there for a couple of years when Smell My Finger inevitably fails in his mission.

Will Teddy play SOO? - Yes

1st Coach sacked - Anthony Seibold or Benji

Jack Gibson Medal - Teddy

Breakout season - E Butcher

Is this 26 or 27? Bears start the competition in 2027

[bondi paul]

I predict dictator V’Landys to feature in more tv ads.

[Bates]

Ladder at Round 26 -

1 Panthers
2 Sharks
3 Roosters
4 Broncos
5 Storm
6 Warriors
7 Dolphins
8 Raiders
9 Rabbitohs
10 Dragons
11 Bulldogs
12 Eels
13 Cowboys
14 Knights
15 Sea Eagles
16 Titans
17 Tigers
18 Bears

Grand final teams - Roosters vs Panthers

Premiers - Too close to call. Heart says Roosters, Head says Panthers have that X factor.

Clive Churchill Medal - Walker or Cleary

Wooden Spoon - Bears. 'Smell My Finger' will be exposed as being totally reliant on the QLD inner circle (Langer, Lockyer, Smith etc) for all the tactical nous and football strategy. Crowd numbers will really struggle. A 'Tigers-calibre' squad. A few cricket scores racked up against them when they travel. Will eventually come good with more success in future years (perhaps 2028 onward) as the Perth-ites are a weird parochial lot and will really get off on beating teams in the Eastern States down the track. I reckon Bellamy is a smoky to head over there for a couple of years when Smell My Finger inevitably fails in his mission.

Will Teddy play SOO? - Yes

1st Coach sacked - Anthony Seibold or Benji

Jack Gibson Medal - Teddy

Breakout season - E Butcher

A big part of the Panthers recent success and 4- Peat was JFH and Leota.

I can't see them winning another title in the near future unless they find some quality middles imo.

[MKCS]

Grand final teams - Melbourne Storm Vs Sydney Roosters

Premiers - Roosters.

Clive Churchill Medal - Tedesco

Wooden Spoon - Titans.

Will Teddy play SOO? - No - But he should.

1st Coach sacked - Has to be Payten

Jack Gibson Medal - DCE

Breakout season - Walker - I think he'll take things to the next level this season and move into a valid top 3 half.

[Carlos Parra]

Since youre convinced that the NRL, refs, touch judges the Bunker & judiciary all conspire to make sure the Chooks dont win the comp why do you follow the game?
Its like following horse racing & knowing that the races are rigged but still putting your money on the horse that you know wont get a place.
I dont think youre dumb Carlos but believing that the hierarchy of the game are making sure the Roosters dont win the comp is dumb.

I don't think you're dumb Mickie, but believing that I really believe everything that I type, is also dumb

[Carlos Parra]

Too early to say, but I'll give it a go:

Easts to lose all trial matches
Several players will do their ACL and MCL during the trials
Easts to lose their opening round in a bit of an upset against the Warriors
5 players referred to the MRC by round 5
5 players binned by round 5
All penalty counts lost to the opposition by round 5
Easts to have had 5 disallowed tries by round 5
Easts to lose all 'captain's challenges' by round 5
Tedesco WILL NOT play SOO this year

And worst of all...Dan Ginnane and that moron Ennis to be commentators for every Easts match this year.

I'd say I'm doing pretty good so far. 4 more weeks and I'll probably tick off a few more.

Whaddya reckon, Mickie?

[caz]

too early to say how we'll go but one loss doesn't mean your season is over. i'd say we'll very probably make the 8 and probably be pushing to make the 4