All NRL Games [Round 25, 2025]

[The Who]

Imagine being able to play and have the luxury of using your whole reserve grade team, must be nice.

Ever nicer for the team they are playing. In this case Canterbury. But what if they were playing Manly, or the 'Fins who need a win to stay in the race for a finals berth? With for/against playing a vital part in final eight finishing position these selections could amount to a rort.
Melbourne is giving Easts every chance, I would have thought Belamy had more pride than that.
The NRL needs to crack down. For example: if a team is deemed to be doing a Penrith/Melbourne they should lose $1M off their salary cap for the following season.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

What the...
Penrith have named entire reserve grade.
NRL says sure no worries? Wow
The broadcasters (real owners of the game) will no doubt sharply rap NRL over the knuckles for ruining the evenings ratings.

Smart move and an obvious one at that. Bellamy has been doing it for years. Penrith will go into the Finals fresh and healthy. I actually rate their chances better than if they played Melbourne or Canberra away in week one. The Dogs are a physical side also. Penrith aren't breaking any rules man.

It's not like they can play a home final at Penrith.

 

[Nordburg]

Ever nicer for the team they are playing. In this case Canterbury. But what if they were playing Manly, or the 'Fins who need a win to stay in the race for a finals berth? With for/against playing a vital part in final eight finishing position these selections could amount to a rort.
Melbourne is giving Easts every chance, I would have thought Belamy had more pride than that.
The NRL needs to crack down. For example: if a team is deemed to be doing a Penrith/Melbourne they should lose $1M off their salary cap for the following season.

Bellamy does it every year at this time.Obviously not to the Panthers extent,but always a minimum 6 players get rested.Its the reward for playing well all season and the detriment for the NRL/broadcasters who insist on such a long season.Given how poorly Manly have played most of the season,you’d of thought Seibold rested players every week

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Bellamy does it every year at this time.Obviously not to the Panthers extent,but always a minimum 6 players get rested.Its the reward for playing well all season and the detriment for the NRL/broadcasters who insist on such a long season.Given how poorly Manly have played most of the season,you’d of thought Seibold rested players every week

Absolutely.

 

[Waz13]

Bellamy does it every year at this time.Obviously not to the Panthers extent,but always a minimum 6 players get rested.Its the reward for playing well all season and the detriment for the NRL/broadcasters who insist on such a long season.Given how poorly Manly have played most of the season,you’d of thought Seibold rested players every week

Bellamy must be confident he can beat the chooks with the team he has. To be fair they look awful without Walker. Is interesting tho as Melb can still take out first spot with two wins.

 

[Nordburg]

Bellamy must be confident he can beat the chooks with the team he has. To be fair they look awful without Walker. Is interesting tho as Melb can still take out first spot with two wins.

I suppose they think the $$ and JJ Giltinan Shield aren’t enough of a lure to risk injuries or a chance to rest players

 

[The Who]

Bellamy does it every year at this time.Obviously not to the Panthers extent,but always a minimum 6 players get rested.Its the reward for playing well all season and the detriment for the NRL/broadcasters who insist on such a long season.Given how poorly Manly have played most of the season,you’d of thought Seibold rested players every week

Everybody knows this tactic is used by pre-qualified teams, which is why the AFL did something about it and added a week buffer free from football before the finals start to stop the practice. It's time for the NRL to do something because it ruins matches.

 

[Nordburg]

Everybody knows this tactic is used by pre-qualified teams, which is why the AFL did something about it and added a week buffer free from football before the finals start to stop the practice. It's time for the NRL to do something because it ruins matches.

I agree with the ruining matches part,I won’t be watching those games affected ,but you now hear AFL folk whinging about the week off at this time.They believe it creates a void in their season and the comp loses momentum.Whether or not that’s enough of a reason to stop the pre finals week off,only time will tell.The NRL can avoid this scenario by shortening the season,to the point that every game is important.