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Adz Sportz

Content Creator. Digital Publisher. Sports Writer. Focusing on NRL and Cricket with a little dabblin' in AFL, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling and Soccer.

20/01/2024

Top 5 props based on recent form + overall record.
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Payne Haas tops the list and it’s hard to argue as to why. No other prop in the comp can do what he does. Consistently racks up 200m per game, makes post contact metres like no other, prolific in offloads and rarely misses a tackle.
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James Fisher-Harris may not match up statistically with a few other elite forwards but he’s a proven winner, on-field leader, NZ test captain in the Kiwi’s Pacific Championship final victory and arguably the most intimidating forward in the comp.
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Lindsay Collins ranks third and fair to say he joined the elite class amongst the props in 2023. Arguably the best player in the Origin series and has taken over as leader of the Roosters pack.
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Addin Fonua-Blake had a career best season in 2023 where he was almost flawless for those Warriors. Not only was he a wrecking ball in the middle-third, he possesses the skills not many rugby league big men have in their arsenal.
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Tino Fa’asuamaleaui rounds out the top 5. The heart and soul of the Titans and the QLD origin and AUS test #10. He’s one of the most mobile props with one of the biggest engines in the comp, and we still haven’t see him reach his full potential yet.
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Who’s your Top 5 front-rowers heading into 2024?
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18/01/2024

Top 5 second-rowers based on recent form + overall record.
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Liam Martin tops the list even though his individual stats might not match up with a few other top second-rowers in the comp. But he’s an Origin, Test and Premiership winning edge back-rower for a reason.
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David Fifita is arguably the most destructive edge back-rower in the comp and had one of his best seasons since moving to the Titans. Regained his QLD Origin jersey and is setting the standards at his club with his professionalism.
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Briton Nikora reached the elite level last year and it was hard not to put him at the top. He can basically do it all on an edge for the Sharks and Kiwi’s. Great ball runner, great defender, runs great lines, can offload and scores tries.
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Haumole Olakau’atu is the one edge back-rower who rivals Fifita as the most damaging ball runner and can put on a shot in defence. If you were to build the perfect back-rower from scratch, he’d look like Olakau’atu. Must play Origin in 2024 because he’s an Origin level player.
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Scott Sorensen beats several big names to make the top 5. He’s benefited greatly by being in a great system and his 2023 stats are hard to argue, especially in line breaks, offloads and tackle efficiency. Filled a big hole left by Kikau at the Panthers and won a premiership.
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I expect the elite class like Koloamatangi, Kikau, Nanai, Papali’i, Hudson, Frizelle etc to get back to their best and young guns like Riki, Preston, Luki, Katoa, Lemuelu etc to keep rising up the ranks.
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Who’s your Top 5 second-rowers heading into 2024?
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17/01/2024

Top 5 halfbacks based on recent form + overall record.
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Nathan Cleary is easily at the top. Not many halfbacks in the history of the game could do what he did in the Grand Final. He is truly elite of the elite.
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Adam Reynolds takes second because as a halfback, he’s like a fine wine. An old pro who joined a cellar dweller Broncos side and lead them back to the top of the ladder and a grand final. Not many players can have an impact on a club the way he has with those Bronx.
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Shaun Johnson was encouraged to retire by some prominent rugby league people before producing arguably his best individual season. Probably should have won the Dally M medal, but was the RLPA Players Champion for 2023.
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Jahrome Hughes, like Munster in the Top 5 five-eighths list, had a relatively underwhelming 2023 compared to previous seasons, but still managed the Storm to a Top 4 finish and a prelim, and guided NZ to an emphatic win over Australia in the Pacific Championship.
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Nicho Hynes is probably the controversial pick in the Top 5. He edges out DCE and Mitch Moses because he won a Dally M medal the year before last and he guided his team to the finals in 2023. A lot of tough lessons learned for him last season but I think he’ll be better for it in 2024.
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A few elite halfbacks that missed out. DCE hasn’t lead his team to the finals in a few years. Moses had a below average 2023 which ended in injury. Ben Hunt is a standout in a bad team, he’d be better off elsewhere. Hastings played a key role for the Knights and his contribution as their halfback deserves more credit, to be honest.
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Who’s your Top 5 halfbacks heading into 2024?
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17/01/2024

Do the Sharks have the roster, specifically in the forwards to be premiership contenders in 2024, or will it be Ctrl+C Ctrl+V of 2022 and 2023?
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16/01/2024

Top 5 five-eighths based on recent form + overall record.
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Ezra Mam is the current Dally M five-eighth of the year and scored 3 tries in an incredible grand final performance, albeit in a losing effort, but this young bloke is just getting started.
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Cam Munster had an underwhelming 2023 by his elite standards but still lead his team to a top 4 finish and a prelim, and played an integral role in QLD’s origin series win where he was all class and nailed the big moments.
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Cody Walker was on fire in the first half of 2023 and is one spot above Jarome Luai simply because he came into Origin Game III and dominated in a way his predecessor couldn’t.
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Jarome Luai’s achievements speak for itself, which earned him a big money contract with the Tigers. He’s been and continues to be the perfect foil for the games best halfback.
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Tom Dearden has come of age as an NRL half, and was easily the Cowboys best in 2023. Despite Mam being on top of the list currently, Dearden is next cab off the rank for QLD’s halves depth in Origin because as Gus would say, he’s an ‘Origin player’. Skillful, strong running game, solid defender.
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One five-eight who should be Top 5 is Dylan Brown, but I didn’t include him because of his inconsistency. Predicting a big year from him though.
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Who’s your Top 5 five-eighths heading into 2024?
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14/01/2024

Top 5 centres based on recent form + overall record.
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Stephen Crichton has been one of the elite centres in comp for the past few years and has an innate ability to step up and perform in big games, as he’s proven in the Panthers three-straight GF wins. There is an *asterisk next to his name though, as he may not play centre at the Bulldogs in 2024. Scroll down to see who comes into the Top 5 if Crichton is set for a positional change.
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Herbie Farnworth is the complete centre and joined the elite class in 2023. Scores tries, makes metres, busts tackles and he’s arguably the best defensive centre in the comp right now. Good get for those Dolphins!
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Joey Manu had an underwhelming 2023 by his lofty standards, with positional changes and being used to try and spark a misfiring Roosters attack. He came good towards the end of the season though and was solid in the Pacific Championships.
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Bradman Best had a coming of age season I suppose you could say. Made his Origin debut and shined, and showed his dominance in periods during Newcastle’s run to the finals. Still has a lot more improvement left in him though.
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Matt Timoko is easily the most underrated centre in the NRL. Hardly spoken about outside of Canberra, he showed in the Pacific Championships for NZ that he’s an international quality centre and was a consistent machine for the Raiders in 2023.
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If S. Crichton is set for a positional change for the Bulldogs in 2024, I’d have his now ex-Panthers teammate Izack Tago come into the Top 5, just ahead of Staggs, Graham, Holmes. I also think Selwyn Cobbo could enter the Top 5 centres in 2024.
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Who’s your Top 5 centres heading into 2024?
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13/01/2024

What seems like an easy solution to the AJ Brimson-Jayden Campbell fullback dilemma, it’s made complicated by Des’s desire to keep Kieran Foran at five-eighth.
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Is Des making the right moves with the Titans spine?
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13/01/2024

Top 5 wingers based on recent form + overall record.
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Brian To’o is a three-peat premiership winner, Origin winger and arguably the games toughest winger. I don’t think anyone is arguing against him topping the list.
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Jamayne Isaako enjoyed a breakout year where he finished the regular season as top points scorer and top try scorer, earning him a NZ test jumper and Dally M winger of the year. He’s also an elite goal kicker.
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Dom Young showed some of his potential in 2023 finishing with 25 tries. The English international in full flight is worth the price of admission alone and there’s still so much improvement left in him. He might be a bit high on the list of best wingers, but I rate him highly.
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Dallin Watene-Zelezniak missed the first 7 rounds of 2023 but still finished the season with 24 tries. He’d rank #1 for the flashiest winger in the game and is arguably the best finisher.
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Greg Marzhew couldn’t be ignored when you look at his stats. Most tackle breaks in the comp in 2023, 22 tries, averaged 200 metres per game and had the fewest errors of any winger last season.
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There are so many elite wingers in the NRL that it’s unlikely this Top 5 will stay the same at seasons end.
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Who’s your Top 5 wingers heading into 2024?
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12/01/2024

Top 5 fullbacks based on recent form + overall record.
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Dylan Edwards at #1 for his consistency, work rate and professionalism. Clive Churchill medalist and he’s played a key role in the Panthers three-peat.
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Reece Walsh is a grand finalist and Origin series winning fullback for QLD. Arguably the most dangerous attacking player in the game currently.
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Kalyn Ponga is the current Dally M medalist. Consistent time on the park throughout 2023 meant he was able to showcase his potential and class.
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Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was a consistent performer for the Warriors in 2023 and ran rings around Australia as the Kiwi’s fullback in the Pacific Championship final.
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Scott Drinkwater is prolific in try-assists and line-break assists, and finished 4th on the Dally M leaderboard despite being ineligible. He also earned a spot in the Blues extended squad in Origin III. Smokey for the Dally M in 2024.
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There’s so many gun fullbacks in the NRL like Teddy, Latrell, Turbo, Hammer, Brimmo etc and rising stars like Campbell, Bula and Papenhuyzen to return… can’t fit them all in though.
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Who’s your Top 5 Fullbacks heading into 2024?
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11/01/2024

Top 5 coaches based on recent achievements, not overall record.
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Ivan is obvious at #1 after three-straight premierships.
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Kevvie for learning from the mistakes of 2022 to a Grand Final in 2023.
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Webby for lifting the Warriors from second last to a Top 4 finish and a prelim, and leading the 'Up The Wahs' movement.
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Bellyache still took perhaps the most underwhelming Storm roster in 2 decades to a top 4 finish and a prelim.
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And Wayne… well not many coaches can build a new franchise and make them immediately competitive as they were in the first half of the season and develop NRL quality players like he does.
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Who’s your Top 5 NRL coaches heading into 2024?
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10/01/2024

The pundits list… which is a rugby league expert in the media who offers analysis and opinion.
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Put aside Matty Johns’ presenter and comedic roles, he’s one of the most knowledgeable experts in NRL media and I can listen to him talk footy for days!
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There are so many good pundits in the media, there’s no doubt I’ve missed a few.
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Who’s your Top 5 rugby league pundits?
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09/01/2024

Top 2 was tough as to which is the best.
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For me, 2015 GF edged out the 2023 GF mainly because it was a quality game for the full 80 minutes, plus GP. High octane start, incredible defensive display (for the purists), the flick pass from Morgan to Feldt on the fulltime siren, the drama of JT’s conversion hitting the post, the infamous Ben Hunt dropped kick off, to the JT field goal in golden point for the Cows maiden premiership, whereas the 2023 GF was a scrappy first half with errors and the clunky attack from both sides before the incredible 6-try second half and biggest comeback in GF history.
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1999 GF in front of 110,000 is one of the most underrated GF’s ever especially with the penalty-try drama resulting in the Storm winning the comp in just their second season.
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2008… over the cap Storm flogged 40-0 by Manly. That was just… Hot Damn!
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2016 was high intensity from start to finish to break the Sharks 50-year drought.
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What’s your Top 5 NRL era Grand Finals?
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08/01/2024

Shout out to Cbus Super Stadium on the GC which is a very nice boutique stadium, AAMI Park, McDonald Jones Stadium and Central Coast Stadium but I couldn’t go past watching footy from the hill at Leichhardt.
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What’s your Top 5 current rugby league grounds?
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07/01/2024

Should get a few LOL’s from this one but hear me out…
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Dave Riccio is probably the most consistently accurate NRL journos.
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Darcie McDonald’s articles are always insightful and her analysis is regularly on point.
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Pete Badel is on the list by default as he’s the main journo who covers the QLD clubs so he’s a necessity.
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Buzz is Buzz. Love to hate him and he blabbers on 360, but his What’s the Buzz column is always a good read. He’s a hilarious yarn on the DT NRL pod as well.
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Moley for his longevity, professionalism and quality insight. Seems to have a good relationship with many players, coaches etc which is a great attribute to have as a journo.
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Also, we’re talking journalists… not to be mistaken with pundits, media personalities and commentators etc and no doubt I've missed some good ones as there's so many.
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Who’s your Top 5 current rugby league journalists?
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06/01/2024

Following on from the Top 5 current play-by-play commentators, who are your Top 5 current rugby league colour commentators?
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FYI, a colour commentator sports commentator who assists the main (play-by-play) commentator. The colour commentator and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the main commentator is not describing the action. The colour commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy, and injury reports on the teams and athletes, and occasionally anecdotes or light humor.
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05/01/2024

A couple of traditional rivalries and a couple of new ones.
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Panthers v Broncos is obvious after last years Grand Final, and they will likely remain the two best teams throughout 2024.
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Chooks v Bunnies still the oldest and fiercest rivalry.
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Panthers v Eels… battle of Sydney’s west but the Eels have a good record in regular season games against the Panthers during their recent era of dominance.
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Broncos v Dolphins… Battle of Brisbane, Suncorp turf war and Wayne’s vendetta against the Broncos.
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Tigers v Cowboys… started with the captains challenge/bunker debacle resulting the former Tigers board threatening legal action in 2022, then the 66-18 to 74-0, 122 point swing in 2023.
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What’s your Top 5 rivalries heading into the 2024 NRL season?
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04/01/2024

It’s unfortunate Channel 9 have the exclusive TV rights for State of Origin and the Grand Final when all the best commentators work elsewhere, because it just ain’t the same without the great Rabs in the commentary box.
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Who’s your Top 5 current play-by-play rugby league commentators?
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03/01/2024

Wests Tigers paying overs for Jarome Luai to be their chief-playmaker is a huge risk, but after the club has won back-to-back wooden spoons and are favourites to make it a three-peat in 2024, they have no choice but to take risks.
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02/01/2024

David Warner's backpack containing his Baggy Breen cap has been stolen. Hopefully he finds the culprit before his final test match begins.

30/10/2023

I’ve been a supporter of the bid for re-introduction into the NRL, but this latest proposal is making me believe they’re a lost cause.
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And their stubbornness towards basing themselves or playing too many games in North Sydney while thinking they can represent (multiple) other regions is silly and a detriment to their NRL aspirations.
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For context, the North Sydney Bears are set to lodge a formal proposal to the NRL to become the comp's 18th team. The submission will reportedly involve the entire Pacific region, encompassing Tonga, Samoa, Cooks Islands, Fiji and parts of New Zealand in their bid as well as Papua New Guinea.... while being based in North Sydney.

27/10/2023

Hasn’t it been glorious to watch!

05/10/2023

Brutal… if you’re a Broncos fan 👀
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Credit: Adz Sportz

05/10/2023

Always been a big fan of Big Mal since his playing days, but I think he's missed an opportunity to blood a few players who will likely be pushing for a spot in Kangaroos squad for the next World Cup.
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03/10/2023

Going the early crow here… 2024 Grand Final: Panthers v Bulldogs 😁
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30/09/2023

Regardless of what you think about the Panthers, you can’t deny their work ethic.
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30/09/2023

NRL Grand Final… show us ya TIP! ⬇️
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26/09/2023

An irrelevant stat, but considering the intense rugby league tribalism that exists between QLD and NSW, this stat feels a bit wild.
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25/09/2023

There’s an opportunity for the NRL to use the Wallabies pathetic World Cup campaign to kick their rival code while they’re down.
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21/09/2023

NRL Preliminary Finals… Panthers and Broncos to advance to the Grand Final? Show us ya TIPS! ⬇️
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Love the Fijian hymn!

Proof that Leichhardt Oval needs an upgrade... then once it's upgraded, Tigers should play more than 3 of their home games there.

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I’d like to see NRL refs take this approach to lippy players 😅

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