2025 pre season thread

jamesgould said:
NRL podcasts seem to have become a huge industry over the last few years … see so many people discussing them on here now.

Pretty much every top eight prediction in the history of the sport has been wrong, so I’m not paying much attention haha.
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I wish there was better ones. The ones Baz does are usually pretty good. For US Sports/Motorsports there are a quite a few good ones with people who are unbiased and go into quite a bit of detail about things.

Then again the peak for footy talk shows for me is the OG Footy Show before 2006 lol and nothing has come close to it. The Sunday one was pretty good and that 10 min segment where they had a few journos quickly go through a few bigger talking points wasn't too bad and it shows you dont have to have lengthy content to keep people engaged if its to the point.

mullenmagic said:
Would any fan base agree with their team being rated as a bottom 4/spoon contender at this point of preseason? They’re going to **** multiple fan bases off no matter who they predict. Feels like the default when you know you’re team isn’t going to actually contend is to say they could finish anywhere from 7-14 or so, and invariably some of those teams do finish in the bottom 4.

Bookies have us as the 3rd most likely to miss the finals so it’s not just talking heads and podcasters who feel that way.
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Yeah I agree and to be fair they have to put someone, bookies included. They probably don't want a big liability on anyone just in case things fall apart injury wise. If they gave better odds for some of those teams you'd find someone who would likely take it.
 
R_A said:
I wish there was better ones. The ones Baz does are usually pretty good. For US Sports/Motorsports there are a quite a few good ones with people who are unbiased and go into quite a bit of detail about things.

Then again the peak for footy talk shows for me is the OG Footy Show before 2006 lol and nothing has come close to it. The Sunday one was pretty good and that 10 min segment where they had a few journos quickly go through a few bigger talking points wasn't too bad and it shows you dont have to have lengthy content to keep people engaged if its to the point.


Yeah I agree and to be fair they have to put someone, bookies included. They probably don't want a big liability on anyone just in case things fall apart injury wise. If they gave better odds for some of those teams you'd find someone who would likely take it.
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I think pretty much all rugby league media these days is pretty much invoking the OG Footy Show. Some of the stuff Fox does seems to assume most of the audience has had a frontal lobotomy. It’s a shame we can’t get more intelligent analysis.
 
Happy for them to write us off. It’s only a prediction and nobody ever gets it 100% right.

The only thing that bothers me is when they talk about us and give incorrect and uninformed opinions (which basically every RL podcast does)
 
jamesgould said:
I think pretty much all rugby league media these days is pretty much invoking the OG Footy Show. Some of the stuff Fox does seems to assume most of the audience has had a frontal lobotomy. It’s a shame we can’t get more intelligent analysis.
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There are a lot of empty vessels on Fox, whose opinions are shamelessly biased toward teams they have played with or are their mates, making their opinions lacking any credibility or accuracy.
I gave up listening to anyone on Fox. If Fox is the only channel covering the game, I turn the volume to zero and enjoy the game that way.
This avoids frequent visits to the bathroom for the purpose of vomiting.
 
mullenmagic said:
www.newcastleknights.com.au

Defend the Kingdom: Part 1

On Day One of Pre-Season, Kalyn Ponga contemplates the year ahead. What greets him as he walks through the front door, is a first day of training like no other, with new traditions being set in concrete. Meanwhile, the entire Club, from pathways to NRL and NRLW, comes together for a special day...
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au
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There’s really a lot to like about this playing group. It’s the most connected I’ve felt to the team for a while. Maybe even since my fave Brian Smith days where I’d drive up from Sydney every home game. Going to get to a few this year and the one in Bathurst vs Panthers.
 
The video is really well done. Interesting that Frizzel had “lock” under his name. Forever a middle now. Fingers crossed he and Gags are there next year. Double fingers crossed that we can win the Premiership a year earlier than 2027 as we all know is happening.
 

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You can trust New Zealand to come up with a fair summation 😌😅:

Newcastle Knights​

2024: Eighth (12-12), lost to North Queensland 28-16 in elimination final

Premierships (2): 1997, 2001

TAB Odds: $51

Season-opener: v Wests Tigers, Friday, 8 March (away)

Coach: Since serving a coaching apprenticeship at Sydney Roosters, helping them to the 2019 premiership, Adam O'Brien has guided the Knights to playoffs four times over the past five seasons, but has just a 47 percent winning percentage over that period.

Marquee player: After initially ruling himself out of Origin football, fullback Kalyn Ponga eventually reneged to play in the decider, but made himself unavailable for the Kangaroos after the NRL season ended. He's been plagued by injury and concussion, and when he's unavailable, the Knights struggle.

Kalyn Ponga of the Newcastle Knights

The Knights tend to live and die by Kalyn Ponga's availability. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New addition: Former Chiefs and NZ Māori hooker Tyrone Thompson has switched codes to join brother Leo on a development contract with the Knights for the 2025, before his sibling heads to Canterbury Bulldogs.

Kiwi player to watch: Wellington-born Phoenix Crossland has played a variety of positions in his five-year career with the Knights, becoming the first person born in the 2000s to play first grade for the club. He made his international debut at hooker last season and was NZ Man of the Match in their Pacific Championship loss to Tonga.

Analysis: The Knights have remained relatively stable in the off-season, losing front-rower Daniel Saifiti, but retaining most of the local talent that has served them so well. They live and die by Ponga, but have enough talent around him to make another playoff run this season.

www.rnz.co.nz

NRL team-by-team analysis: How does your team stack up for 2025 season?

At this stage of the season, everyone still feels confident about their chances of reaching the playoffs?
www.rnz.co.nz www.rnz.co.nz
 
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