2023 NRL Round 25 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North QLD Cowboys, 7:50pm Thursday 17th August @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium

[Sharkmate]

This is going to be a tough game as it realistically is the Cows season on the line needing 2 wins from 3 remaining games. Their last game is away to Panthers who will be at full strength not resting players as will want to win minor premiership with the advantage of playing 4th, likely Storm whom they have already comprehensibly beaten twice this year. A win here gives them a week off. The Cows ain't going to beat Panthers therefore need to beat us.

We need 1 win from 3, this being the toughest. A loss does not end our season per say as we should win 1 game to make the 8. If we haven't improved by this time of the season to beat the Cows then we will be fodder come semis.

This game tells us whether we are fair dinkum. Nothing but a win is acceptable and gladly, season end for Cows.

 

[HaroldBishop]

See you may think, that but are you prepared to threaten to tear up your membership if he's not named there every Tuesday for four years?

Either that or I'd hope we got flogged each week. Can't see how else we'd learn

 

[bort]

This is going to be a tough game as it realistically is the Cows season on the line needing 2 wins from 3 remaining games. Their last game is away to Panthers who will be at full strength not resting players as will want to win minor premiership with the advantage of playing 4th, likely Storm whom they have already comprehensibly beaten twice this year. A win here gives them a week off. The Cows ain't going to beat Panthers therefore need to beat us.

We need 1 win from 3, this being the toughest. A loss does not end our season per say as we should win 1 game to make the 8. If we haven't improved by this time of the season to beat the Cows then we will be fodder come semis.

This game tells us whether we are fair dinkum. Nothing but a win is acceptable and gladly, season end for Cows.

I’m not convinced Penrith wouldn’t risk missing minor prem to get some extra rests in.
Storm or Warriors at their home, sure they’d back themselves in against either.

 

[Wiz]

He only covers the halves though. Tricky can't play anywhere else in the backline, Nicho could move to FB.

That's about it.

Seems pretty idiotic to my peabrain.

Agreed

 

[Walley_01]

He only covers the halves though. Tricky can't play anywhere else in the backline, Nicho could move to FB.

That's about it.

Seems pretty idiotic to my peabrain.

I wonder if Ronnie had of come off on the weekend if Connor went to wing and Moylan or Nico to FB

 

[bort]

I wonder if Ronnie had of come off on the weekend if Connor went to wing and Moylan or Nico to FB

I was expecting Moylan to FB
but hopefully we never find out the answer

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I’m not convinced Penrith wouldn’t risk missing minor prem to get some extra rests in.
Storm or Warriors at their home, sure they’d back themselves in against either.

Should be against league rules to deliberately rest over x amount of players (hard to enforce i know).

Like last year, cows got an easy W in the final round which could have given them 2nd place (home semi week 1)….. not that it mattered in the end anyway, but no team should ne allowed to run out all its B graders when there is other competition factors at play.

 

[bort]

Should be against league rules to deliberately rest over x amount of players (hard to enforce i know).

Like last year, cows got an easy W in the final round which could have given them 2nd place (home semi week 1)….. not that it mattered in the end anyway, but no team should ne allowed to run out all its B graders when there is other competition factors at play.

Not sure where I stand on that - think it is pretty fair to say the team as earnt the right to do it.
If you're another team that benefits from them doing it, lucky you, if you are worse off, unlucky.

In saying that it I'd probably prefer teams not do it.
But how do you police? Instead of resting Cleary you say he's managing an ankle injury or calf tightness or something and outcomes is the same.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Not sure where I stand on that - think it is pretty fair to say the team as earnt the right to do it.
If you're another team that benefits from them doing it, lucky you, if you are worse off, unlucky.

In saying that it I'd probably prefer teams not do it.
But how do you police? Instead of resting Cleary you say he's managing an ankle injury or calf tightness or something and outcomes is the same.

Spot on its hard to police, but it literally tampers with results in the end.

Last year Cowboys got the after the siren gift 2 points (theres a win they didnt deserve) then a gift win in the final round, take away those 2 wins, they dont even finish top 4.

Ill die on that hill. I dont give a **** if a team “earns the right” the other team hasnt earned a free win either

 

[Sparkles]

Spot on its hard to police, but it literally tampers with results in the end.

Last year Cowboys got the after the siren gift 2 points (theres a win they didnt deserve) then a gift win in the final round, take away those 2 wins, they dont even finish top 4.

Ill die on that hill. I dont give a **** if a team “earns the right” the other team hasnt earned a free win either

Tbf, playing Penriths B team is no guaranteed win

 

[Pishposh46]

Taumalolo's 250th game this Thursday.

 

[Deleted member 3365]

Taumalolo's 250th game this Thursday.

And of course it's against us.

 

[BurgoShark]

Spot on its hard to police, but it literally tampers with results in the end.

Last year Cowboys got the after the siren gift 2 points (theres a win they didnt deserve) then a gift win in the final round, take away those 2 wins, they dont even finish top 4.

Ill die on that hill. I dont give a **** if a team “earns the right” the other team hasnt earned a free win either

I don't mind things like that happening. It also rewards those Cup players, who may not see another opportunity like that.

It's dumb though when the media want to trot out team records v "top 8 teams" and pretend that these sorts of games are a measure of anything.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Taumalolo's 250th game this Thursday.

Well, let’s ruin it for him!

 

[RivShark]

Should be against league rules to deliberately rest over x amount of players (hard to enforce i know).

Like last year, cows got an easy W in the final round which could have given them 2nd place (home semi week 1)….. not that it mattered in the end anyway, but no team should ne allowed to run out all its B graders when there is other competition factors at play.

I agree and I'd also like to see teams penalised for intentionally slowed play the balls. Just the really blatant obvious ones. The main point around resting players should actually be betting, teams should be full strength whenever possible. Rest a player here or there, yes. But not 6+. There
has to be a level of integrity maintened.

And a slow play the ball shouldn't be a way to knock an extra 30 seconds off the clock in a set. If you want to knock time down, throw the ball around.

It's just a poor spectacle after a cracking game.

 

[Sharkmate]

I’m not convinced Penrith wouldn’t risk missing minor prem to get some extra rests in.
Storm or Warriors at their home, sure they’d back themselves in against either.

Gus said on 100% Footy that Panthers unlikely to rest players last round and go full throttle. They all had 3 byes so no real need to rest anybody. Win 1st week of finals, they get a rest then.

 

[Super Impose]

I’m not convinced Penrith wouldn’t risk missing minor prem to get some extra rests in.
Storm or Warriors at their home, sure they’d back themselves in against either.

I do believe that they were planning on spreading out the restings - Too was going to be rested last week until the late changes .

Cleary , Tago and one of the props have had extended breaks .

There final round team will be weaker - but not a full reserve grade team like last year - when travel was also a factor ..

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I don't mind things like that happening. It also rewards those Cup players, who may not see another opportunity like that.

It's dumb though when the media want to trot out team records v "top 8 teams" and pretend that these sorts of games are a measure of anything.

Ok well currently, Cows are fighting for 8th with a few other teams, say it comes to that last round, 1 team wins and then its a cowboys must win to make the 8 situation and their opponent rests 15 players……how the **** is that fair to the competition

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I agree and I'd also like to see teams penalised for intentionally slowed play the balls. Just the really blatant obvious ones. The main point around resting players should actually be betting, teams should be full strength whenever possible. Rest a player here or there, yes. But not 6+. There
has to be a level of integrity maintened.

And a slow play the ball shouldn't be a way to knock an extra 30 seconds off the clock in a set. If you want to knock time down, throw the ball around.

It's just a poor spectacle after a cracking game.

Not to worried about betting, generally the odds reflect the teams named.

I think theres going to be a situation where 1 team misses the 8 (and lets face it, could be us), because another team gets a gifted victory

 

[Capital_Shark]

Ok well currently, Cows are fighting for 8th with a few other teams, say it comes to that last round, 1 team wins and then its a cowboys must win to make the 8 situation and their opponent rests 15 players……how the **** is that fair to the competition

Penrith have a 30 man squad & are entitled to pick whatever 18 from that they want for game day. Any impact that might have on other teams is irrelevant to their mission.

If you wanna talk "fair" then its fair Penrith earned the freedom to pick who they want. Teams relying on other results haven't earned anything yet.