Strictly Footy

Two Weekly Pods chattin’ all things NRL

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Koroisau is surely the guy to replace Brailey in origin. If you're looking for an elite 20-30 minute stint Api is arguably the best hooker in the game at picking out tired middles and is crafty out of dummy half. I think the 18th & 19th man severely diminish Watsons value

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

I think NSW need to be 100% honest with themselves. Despite the win, send off or no send off, we were completely outclassed 13 on 13 and never looked like winning. I don't believe they can move into game 2 with an unchanged 19 based on the fact that we won the game.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Laurie Daley has stated we needed someone who can play edge on the bench and that Ford is mainly a middle. Jackson Ford has 108 starts in the backrow across all competitions, Radley has 29. Also, Murray has quite literally repped AUS and NSW in the backrow who is already there.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

What on earth has happened to this team? Alot are talking about their inability to score points but the defence has fallen off even more. Did they become complacent? Did they lose faith in the system? Seriously, I don't know how to diagnose this anymore

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

The attack is good with Foz but its the defence that's made the major difference. In the era of Vlandysball Manly haven't conceded more than 18pts in their 6 games with Foran. The intensity is wild, they're forcing errors and tiring the opposition out with their attack.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Keep a huge eye out for the #7 for Gold Coast this week Zane Harrison. Hard worker, alot of talent. I get a real leadership vibe about him, played U19s origin last year and lead his high school team to the schoolboys championship.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Imagine telling someone in 2021 that, TIGERS captain Jarome Luai has just announced he's joining PNG, Foran has lead Manly on a 4 game win streak.... as coach, Reynolds is captaining the reigning premiers... Brisbane against a DCE lead... Roosters. Storm are sitting 16th.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Don't twist my words it sucks that Luai is leaving, but this is the first time in a long time that the Tigers are set up to deal with a loss like this. Luai will be 32, they've still got Madden, Fainu, U19s origin MOTM Javon Andrews and $1m + to sprinkle around the squad.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Everyone has thought of the extreme where nobody wants to move to PNG and the club bombs out but has anyone thought about the other extreme? What does the NRL do if PNG build a super squad and dominate? Do they have the power to strip those financial incentives away?

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

The last time the Wests Tigers finished a round inside the top 4 before 2026 was round 8 2014. This also happens to be the exact round the Melbourne Storm last finished outside the 8 before 2026. We live in a simulation. Swipe to see how both teams lined up.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

I may be in the minority, but I think Lehi should be in the 1 jersey. Koula looks best when he gets early ball and can skin his centre 1 on 1, much harder to break through a full defensive line. With the way Manly attack, having a ball player out the back of shape is important.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

If Haas is out of origin 1, I think it's got to be Terrell May as his replacement. He's not Haas but hes the only one I can see having a similar sort of impact at his best. QLD will look to put shots on early, I reckon T.May would go after it and give it back.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

The Dragons halves have been in the firing line of the media all season. With a new coach this week there's a chance we see mass changes? Who do you think should be the 6 & 7 moving forward this season? More on the Poddy dropping 6am tomorrow.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

The Melbourne Storm are looking to avoid losing 5 straight NRL games for the first time in 14 years. Ironically, the last time they lost 5 straight, they went on to win the comp. Swipe to see the team they lined up with in that 5th loss.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

The problem with 6 agains is most wouldn't have been a penalty. The 6 agains were brought in to replace the penalty and keep the game flowing, not as a middle ground between penalty and no penalty. We are still getting 10-15 penalties a game, we've just added 10-15 6 agains.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Reports suggest the Dragons are going hard at an immediate release for Trai Fuller. If they're able to pull this off, where does Gutherson play? Will he be shifted to the halves? Centres? What do we think?

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

It's incredible what happens when you actually use your forward pack and earn the right to shift the ball. 170 for Paseka in his opening 30 min stint. 270 for Haumole with 123pcm. Burbo 155, Waddell 185. Probably the best performance ive seen from a Manly pack in years.

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

@SCWhisperer People captaining Sua while im considering not even stick the R on him

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

@SCWhisperer 14m a run isnt good enough

[Strictly Footy @SFootyPod]

Burton looked great attacking at centre, surprise surprise. I can't understand this obsession with Crichton ball playing. They've already made the decision to drop Xerri, just move Burton to centre, get Galvin in his best position and bring in an actual halfback like O'Sullivan.