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2026 Finals

Roosters without their first choice halfback and Warriors without their first 3 choice halfbacks look to be in trouble so naturally it'd be better for us to avoid Penrith until the GF but you know, I think they'd be just as keen to avoid us until the GF.
 
Dolph said:
Roosters without their first choice halfback and Warriors without their first 3 choice halfbacks look to be in trouble so naturally it'd be better for us to avoid Penrith until the GF but you know, I think they'd be just as keen to avoid us until the GF.
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To win the premiership you will need to beat Penrith and Warriors along the way so doesn't matter when you face them.
 
257Matt said:
To win the premiership you will need to beat Penrith and Warriors along the way so doesn't matter when you face them.
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That's why I said, avoid them until the GF. Not avoid them altogether.
 
All of the top 4 plus sharks are drifting in the betting lines it's just a matter of whether it's partial or full resting

Big difference between resting 4 players or the entire starting 17

Well see by tomorrow I guess but it honestly makes sense to rest all of the starters to some degree because Penrith playing last are the team that get to effectively pick their opponents by deciding whether to go for the win by more than the wahs to finish first or tank and rest and lose to finish second
 
In my sport, rhythm is very important. And you only get that by playing. And when you stop playing it takes a bit to get back.

So im not sure which way to go is best. All I can say it looks like we have Rhythm at the moment.
 
Dolph said:
Penrith rested the entire team in the last round last year and it didn't help them.
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They done it second last round they rested 16 and it worked for them they went deep into the finals.

It blew up on Canberra last year Ricky Stuart made blunder after blunder the moment they won the minor premiership and that continued into this year.

I don’t know how many will be rested the only certainty is that Pouniu will play on Friday.
 
257Matt said:
They done it second last round they rested 16 and it worked for them they went deep into the finals.

It blew up on Canberra last year Ricky Stuart made blunder after blunder the moment they won the minor premiership and that continued into this year.

I don’t know how many will be rested the only certainty is that Pouniu will play on Friday.
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I don't think Ricky Stuart blundered in the finals. I think they overachieved all year and were found out in the really big games.
 
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Equaliser said:
I don't think Ricky Stuart blundered in the finals. I think they overachieved all year and were found out in the really big games.
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They didn't need to rest 11 players against Dolphins and when they did should have taken the Friday night semi like Penrith always try to do when they win the minor premiership. Choosing to play Brisbane on a Sunday wasn't a good outcome. I do agree they over achieved and weren't that good a side as been exposed this year.
 
257Matt said:
They didn't need to rest 11 players against Dolphins and when they did should have taken the Friday night semi like Penrith always try to do when they win the minor premiership. Choosing to play Brisbane on a Sunday wasn't a good outcome. I do agree they over achieved and weren't that good a side as been exposed this year.
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Hypothetical. As for us, I'd probably rest Herbie, Katoa and JMK.
 
Equaliser said:
I don't think Ricky Stuart blundered in the finals. I think they overachieved all year and were found out in the really big games.
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You're right.

In relation to us. Finals are won on defence. We need to improve between now and our first game in the finals.

Attack we are fine obviously. However, Finals are won on defence, and whilst the Roosters game was good defensively, we need to take it up a notch.
 
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Dolphins Team:​

  1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
  2. Jamayne Isaako
  3. Jack Bostock
  4. Herbie Farnworth
  5. Tevita Naufahu
  6. Kodi Nikorima
  7. Isaiya Katoa
  8. Thomas Flegler
  9. Jeremy Marshall-King
  10. Tom Gilbert
  11. Max Plath
  12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
  13. Morgan Knowles

  14. Kurt Donoghoe
  15. Ray Stone
  16. Francis Molo
  17. Felise Kaufusi
  18. Brian Pouniu
  19. Brad Schneider

  20. Jake Averillo
  21. Connelly Lemuelu
  22. Sebastian Su’a
Pretty much the strongest possible team. Interesting.
 
Penrith look to be going all out for the minor premiership. Roosters have given up on 3rd place. High probability we'll be in NZ for week one of the finals.
 

Donoghoe: Ready to give finals a red-hot crack​


Kurt Donoghoe looks ahead to the Dolphins’ final game of the regular season against the Titans as the side aims to lock in third spot on the ladder.Donoghoe also reflects on the Dolphins’ growth into a top-four side, the impact of the club’s emerging young talent and why the squad is ready to give the finals a “red-hot crack.”

www.dolphinsnrl.com.au

Donoghoe: Ready to give finals a red-hot crack

Kurt Donoghoe looks ahead to the Dolphins’ final game of the regular season against the Titans as the side aims to lock in third spot on the ladder. Donoghoe also reflects on the Dolphins’ growth into a top-four side, the impact of the club’s emerging young talent and why the squad is ready to...
www.dolphinsnrl.com.au www.dolphinsnrl.com.au
 
I think with the warriors current injuries it makes sense to want to play them over penriths even with Yeo out

If we win in week 1 it also means we then avoid Penrith until the grand final and get a Suncorp home prelim against either the roosters without Sam Walker who we know we can beat or a 5th to 8th side all of whom we can beat

While I'd normally want to rest because the roosters rested, if they had chosen not to rest and we had and we in turn finished 4th not 3rd

Penrith should usually beat wests by more than warriors beat manly by, both should win but Penrith will know what they need to win by and have the slightly easier game

They probably want to avoid us in week 1 as much as we want to avoid them so they should try assuming warriors win which they will

The trip to NZ will be tough but it feels like an away game against Penrith might be tougher

That said Penrith are beatable too without yeo

At the end of the day just keep winning and once the game is won by a decent margin we can pull the key stars late
 
SwoopAE said:
I think with the warriors current injuries it makes sense to want to play them over penriths even with Yeo out

If we win in week 1 it also means we then avoid Penrith until the grand final and get a Suncorp home prelim against either the roosters without Sam Walker who we know we can beat or a 5th to 8th side all of whom we can beat

While I'd normally want to rest because the roosters rested, if they had chosen not to rest and we had and we in turn finished 4th not 3rd

Penrith should usually beat wests by more than warriors beat manly by, both should win but Penrith will know what they need to win by and have the slightly easier game

They probably want to avoid us in week 1 as much as we want to avoid them so they should try assuming warriors win which they will

The trip to NZ will be tough but it feels like an away game against Penrith might be tougher

That said Penrith are beatable too without yeo

At the end of the day just keep winning and once the game is won by a decent margin we can pull the key stars late
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I think it would be a mistake to underestimate the Roosters, even without Sam Walker but for sure I'd rather we play them without Sam Walker than Penrith before the GF.
 
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