The pre-season 2026 thread

Every so often teams come and redefine roles and styles of play.

Penrith came and decided to play the grind game. Keep the ball in play, play percentages, wear teams down, back their fitness, get points on the board and then have some fun. Sure they lucked out with Cleary and his game management, but the style and tactics used were can i say “era defining”.

Storm decided to go with a very dynamic running spine with Hughes, Munster, Grant and Paps. Hughes has learnt some skills along the way, but he’s far from a traditional halfback. They make their style work for them.

I guess my point is, sometimes it’s okay to do things differently. We don’t have to play like Penrith, or Melbourne to win. We can forge our own style.

We’ve got some brilliant players now in key positions. Generational talents. We just need to find a way to harness their potential. I’m okay with it not being the most conventional route, if it gets us results.

I fall into this trap most seasons, but I’m optimistic that we will be far more competitive this year.
 
Just saw a headline
Flanagan - halves not set in stone.
The teams that don’t have settled halves are the ones at the bottom of the table,
I don’t mind Holbrook saying Smith and Sharpe can battle it out. The selection needs to be what’s best for the team long term. I really hope we select correctly and stick.
 
I remember hearing somewhere with Ponga’s foot injury he won’t be kicking. Not sure though. If Smith is the kicker he’s needs to be in the starting side you would assume,
 
I don’t know that Holbrook would go to all this trouble to hoodwink the league world. The first thing he said was that he wanted to get his halves settled, then I think what’s probably happened is Sharpe is a better player than he thought. His public statements have gone from wanting to get it settled as quickly as possible to Sharpe is definitely not training on the wing and the spot is up for grabs in the trials.
 
waynesworld said:
I don’t know that Holbrook would go to all this trouble to hoodwink the league world. The first thing he said was that he wanted to get his halves settled, then I think what’s probably happened is Sharpe is a better player than he thought. His public statements have gone from wanting to get it settled as quickly as possible to Sharpe is definitely not training on the wing and the spot is up for grabs in the trials.
Click to expand...
Agreed, we will find out soon just how much Sharpe has grown, hopefully he surprises us all.
 
Les Misérables said:
How are people buying the 'Sharpe and Smith are battling it out' chat.

Smith has been selected at 7 in tonight's game. Has been training there all preseason. Sharpe has been training almost exclusively at fullback and has never played halfback.

Sharpe is our back up 6. Not our starting 7.
Click to expand...
Sharpe is twice the player Smith is. Smith comes here as a back up / bench player that has had 1 or 2 good games at NRL level. Why would anyone buy into the idea he's a walk up start over one of our best atracking players. A spine of...

1. Ponga
6. Brown
7. Sharpe
9. Crossland

... is going to cause some damage.
 
waynesworld said:
I don’t know that Holbrook would go to all this trouble to hoodwink the league world. The first thing he said was that he wanted to get his halves settled, then I think what’s probably happened is Sharpe is a better player than he thought. His public statements have gone from wanting to get it settled as quickly as possible to Sharpe is definitely not training on the wing and the spot is up for grabs in the trials.
Click to expand...
He also said, sharpe will be in the starting line up.
 
Defender1 said:
Sharpe is twice the player Smith is. Smith comes here as a back up / bench player that has had 1 or 2 good games at NRL level. Why would anyone buy into the idea he's a walk up start over one of our best atracking players. A spine of...

1. Ponga
6. Brown
7. Sharpe
9. Crossland

... is going to cause some damage.
Click to expand...
He's not coming here to play reserve grade or bench

And we paid good money for him, he is locked into a starting spot
 
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