The pre-season 2026 thread

Been intermittently watching the pre season challenge. And most sides have looked good. The two worst sides have been us and the dragons. I know only trials, but we looked very clunky and still that spoon side from last year.

Let’s see how we go with finally KP back in the side and Sharpe, etc. it’s a long year, I’m not expecting us to win games early, but show signs we are quickly improving.

I’ll be devastated if we are getting blown off the park which unfortunately is in the back of my mind. I just want to see us compete.
 
Was about to say something similar....all teams have improved except for us, we look the same as we were last year.

Unfortunately I don't think we improve much, I seriously can't get over the fact we still drop the ball so much and can't catch and pass.
 
I do wonder with the pre-season training cycle geared towards Vegas it has affected our challenge game form. With the Vegas game being a week early and the travel schedule to get over there you would imagine the training staff have been ringing the last bits of juice out of pre season during the time the games have been being played. In the EPL pre season can be up to 7-8 games whilst during all the training and teams can look very off at times.

Or maybe I’m just optimistically clutching at straws! 😓
 
Thieves Like Us said:
I do wonder with the pre-season training cycle geared towards Vegas it has affected our challenge game form. With the Vegas game being a week early and the travel schedule to get over there you would imagine the training staff have been ringing the last bits of juice out of pre season during the time the games have been being played. In the EPL pre season can be up to 7-8 games whilst during all the training and teams can look very off at times.

Or maybe I’m just optimistically clutching at straws! 😓
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Have watched most preseason games . Gotta say we have looked comfortably the worst team!
 
My expectations for our season are very low if I'm being honest.

Titans and tigers look to have improved out of sight yet we dish up the same crap. I know it's trials blah blah, but still it's alarming.
 
I’m not gonna be that guy that goes crazy on trial form since it has proven nothing, if we go by that than looks like Eels are likely to win the premiership…

As long as Sharpe doesn’t have a 6 or 7 on his back I feel personally we will be fine, not world beaters but fine
 
In fairness, for the first half of the first game, despite losing Frizell early, we trialled well. The team functioned well enough in the right areas.

The rest of it can, mostly, be explained away by factors that arent present in the ideal starting side.

Im really starting to get a vibe that Brown and Ponga might be a master-class combination, like, potentially the best duo combination in the comp if their chemistry on the field is anything like it off the field. Those boys think alike. And I've seen that before In my playing days, that vibe that certain mates have with each other on the field where it almost telepathic. There's a big part of me that is expecting to see this as the year goes
 
Nightsondee said:
Does anyone know if we still have Will Sullivan? Haven’t seen him anywhere?
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Tooheys news article says he has suffered his 7th concussion since joining the club and his future is in the hands of medical specialists. Also says he is not training but is signed till the end of 2028. I notice his profile is the only one in last years kit still, so I suppose he hasn't been around since before the new pics were taken.
 
Les Misérables said:
In fairness, for the first half of the first game, despite losing Frizell early, we trialled well. The team functioned well enough in the right areas.

The rest of it can, mostly, be explained away by factors that arent present in the ideal starting side.

Im really starting to get a vibe that Brown and Ponga might be a master-class combination, like, potentially the best duo combination in the comp if their chemistry on the field is anything like it off the field. Those boys think alike. And I've seen that before In my playing days, that vibe that certain mates have with each other on the field where it almost telepathic. There's a big part of me that is expecting to see this as the year goes
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Let’s hope they stay on the park to form a good combo. But I’m not as worried as previous seasons if KP goes down as we have Sharpe to step in.

But, I will comment in the top six thread.
 
Can someone enlighten me. So when Ezra Mamm came back. I can’t remember what round? He played off the bench. It was Hunt and Reynolds in the halves? And then when Ezra came on he went to 6 and Hunt hooker. Right?

I actually think this could be an option for us. Brown, Smith and Crossland start. Sharpe bench. Then after 20, Sharpe comes on, Smith moves to hooker, Crossland lock, Sharpe in the halves. And they do the same for the second half.

Is this a real option? Gagai will be in the centres. I really think we need Marzhew on the wing. I don’t know just trying to think, this is possibly what the coach could be thinking.

Thoughts?
 
frankLauda said:
Can someone enlighten me. So when Ezra Mamm came back. I can’t remember what round? He played off the bench. It was Hunt and Reynolds in the halves? And then when Ezra came on he went to 6 and Hunt hooker. Right?

I actually think this could be an option for us. Brown, Smith and Crossland start. Sharpe bench. Then after 20, Sharpe comes on, Smith moves to hooker, Crossland lock, Sharpe in the halves. And they do the same for the second half.

Is this a real option? Gagai will be in the centres. I really think we need Marzhew on the wing. I don’t know just trying to think, this is possibly what the coach could be thinking.

Thoughts?
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I really dont mind this assuming Brown and Sharpe can game manage without Smith there. Who ever we have in the halves or their rotation we are going to have all out attack halves which is fine as long as we lean into, so instead of building into our sets maybe every set is an attacking set which we could absolutely do.
With the players we have we have always looked better when we are spreading the ball.
Last year when I think it was against Manly, we played AOB boring ball for the first half and lost badly, then come the 2nd half we spread the ball and we ended winning the game, even Cameron Smith commented on this is commentary.
 
Mclovin said:
I really dont mind this assuming Brown and Sharpe can game manage without Smith there.
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I think this is where Smith can help/take some responsibility from hooker. Don't know, asking too much perhaps.

I would play Smith and Sharpe depending on the game situation. Definitely start with Smith as more organisation and management is required at the start for a game. Then, once the game opens up a bit, bring on Sharpe. I would keep those two the same to start the second half, then move Smith back to 7 to control the game. If we are chasing points, keep Sharpe there. Just thoughts.
 
frankLauda said:
I think this is where Smith can help/take some responsibility from hooker. Don't know, asking too much perhaps.

I would play Smith and Sharpe depending on the game situation. Definitely start with Smith as more organisation and management is required at the start for a game. Then, once the game opens up a bit, bring on Sharpe. I would keep those two the same to start the second half, then move Smith back to 7 to control the game. If we are chasing points, keep Sharpe there. Just thoughts.
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The problems I see with this is
1. Sharpe is so good that he should be starting, it really is a shame that we just have players that cant move from their positions.
2. When KP goes down (hoping this year he doesnt) Sharpe should go to fullback, which we ruin the rotations and you may as well not have done the rotations to begin with, and there is no way Hunt goes to fullback instead of Sharpe.
I do agree though that if everything went to plan that it could definitely work.
I personally would have another hooker on the bench for when Crossland needs to move to lock or just needs a rest but that leaves the question we have all gone in circles about which is what to do with Sharpe.
 
I think at full strength, Sharpe is the 14. Bring him on as a 13, like when Ponga first played in Origin. I think Sharpe could play anywhere from 1 to 7. As soon as there are any injuries in the backline or halves (and there will be), Sharpe slots in. In Vegas, I think he is 14.
 
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