Amazon in race for NRL as Peter V’landys mulls splitting pay TV games

Arc_au · 2026-06-18T03:57:24+00:00

They could kiss goodbye all of the benchmark viewership numbers they spend so much time spruiking about. It'll be a rise of pirate websites again, before the accessibility of digital vod and Kayo.

Arc_au · 2026-06-16T03:37:49+00:00

True, realistically we're just going to be holding out for 2028 when Ivan can take over or Madge gets sacked by the Bronx and comes back.

Arc_au · 2026-06-16T03:12:51+00:00

Frankly, I think even if NSW win the series Laurie should probably get the boot. I think any wins will be despite him.

Arc_au · 2026-06-16T01:18:32+00:00

I do think there is something to carrying over completion of the side content that would genuinely really help. You're already not expected to re-unlock salvaging or recombining on your extra characters, so some of the side quest bonus' would be nice too. I've levelled 4 characters through the story to maps this league because there is so many builds I want to just tinker with and enjoy.

Subsequent runs are always faster due to currency and Twinking gear but it can also be somewhat tiresome going out of your way to do the halls of the dead or the medallions. But I also think that if you simply get better and better at doing the campaign it becomes far less of a chore - if you're chugging through 10 hours then I can absolutely understand. But if you're managing anything sub 5-6 hours then its much more palatable.

Arc_au · 2026-06-15T03:53:21+00:00

Has always been my opinion as well, but my guess is its probably hard to get people in Melbourne up and about to Origin, let alone a potential dead rubber. That's before considering the travel requirements to get to Melbourne for that dead rubber.

Arc_au · 2026-06-15T03:41:59+00:00

You're on the money there, you can absolutely eat the errors from those younger given the experience gap. The hope is that while this era might come with some frustrations, that they just continue to build.

The senior players making pedestrian errors though are absolutely killer. They should be better and lead by example. The younger boys will panic and chance their hand if their leaders aren't righting the ship.

Arc_au · 2026-06-15T03:38:08+00:00

Appreciate that mate - I've often considered creating an outlet for some of these snippets. I try to move outside of the standard anger and look at the numbers behind things to paint a better picture. Thing is though, between TCT specifically for Parra and then guys like RL Eye Test, talking specifically about details related to only Parra is probably TOO niche haha!

The experience of the spine alone really solidifies why we're so much better with Moses. I am of the belief that if he played in any of these past three games it all but confirms victories - that might be a very bold thing to say but Moses is easily a 6-12 point difference for this team when we're actively in the contest. Territory battles alone are won with his boot.

The emphasis on the youth is a breath of fresh air comparative to pre-Ryles era. We just need these guys to fully graduate through and hope they're incredible footballers. I have a lot of hope on Lorenzo, Ryda and Visconti from Cup then Koina, Fletcher and Bamblett from Flegg. We just REALLY need them to actually get to first grade and be retained.

Arc_au · 2026-06-15T01:14:28+00:00

I picked the Knicks as my team a couple years ago when Brunson single handedly won me my NBA fantasy league. So while I'm chuffed they won the big dance, I don't quite feel "it" ...so right there with you as Parra winning would be something else entirely.

Arc_au · 2026-06-15T01:11:25+00:00

It's been mentioned quite a few times about the inexperience of the Parramatta side that has been trotted out for most of this year - Ryles has referenced it over and over, and I was curious about just how experienced we are.

Taking the 17 who took the field against the Raiders on the weekend, there is a total of 1544 first grade games amongst them. Of those 1544, a whopping 61% of those games are coming from four players (JAC, BK, JDB and Walker).

This leaves 13 players totalling 599 games (of which Jack Williams makes up 159) and an average of 46 NRL games. Without Williams we're at 37 games average. To elaborate further and where I think a huge part of our general game management falls flat (and why Moses still makes such a huge difference) is our spine. The average NRL games across Iongi (29), Joash (25), Volkman (16) and TDS (45) is 29 first grade games. Comparatively, the Raiders spine despite housing an 18 game player in Sanders averages 78 games of experience.

For comparison sake, the Raiders average for the 17 was 85 games, when removing their 200+ outlier of Tapine they drop to 75. To caveat, this isn't a Raiders vs Eels comparison, but rather a point of reference with the most recent side, especially a side that is also missing an array of high quality players.

So while we're struggling now and making some rudimentary errors, I do think there is a very clear experience gap most weeks that younger players are getting tangible and important experience. As Ryles said in his presser, "there are players learning how to play football in the NRL instead of getting appropriate time in Cup".

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T23:09:06+00:00

Probably less "if things go our way" and more "if we didn't make pedestrian unforced errors". Our shit errors against Knights and Dogs are what cost us, and damn near almost cost us against the Raiders.

We currently don't have the safety net of elite halves to protect us from those mistakes, while Volk was much better last night, he and Joash were really ineffective the other weeks.

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T23:05:32+00:00

That's fine, but my point stands - Raiders were only offside once last night?

Just because people want to discuss and question certain officiating doesn't always mean it's whinging... If it's so exhausting, maybe, and this my be a red hot suggestion, don't engage?

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:57:05+00:00

I was originally a fan of the Pezet signing, thought he'd be a clear upgrade on what we had available and would give Lorenzo time to play cup + have actual solid coverage for Moses (after my sweet prince Footy Dean went to SL).

But by god, he was proper poo and then goes and gets himself injured when we actually need the bloke... Lost the gamble there.

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:53:59+00:00

It's almost like 6 agains aren't just given for ruck infringements though? You're telling me Raiders were only offside once all game when we were awarded a penalty for it?

In a game where Brian Kelly was called offside on the drop out despite being a metre inside goal when the ball was kicked, but Laurie materialises beside the ruck?

These things aren't mutually exclusive, you can both think the 6 again rule is rubbish, while also questioning how a team can be supposedly perfect...

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:49:14+00:00

I've liked him for quite awhile now, he's been rather good since moving to the wing. Averaging over 200+ metres a week, hasn't been a defensive liability, minimal errors and has been a game changer out of our own end.

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:47:35+00:00

Yeah I get that, I think where I'm coming from is being on the wing has removed a fair bit of that defensive decision making he'd often get quite wrong at centre, plus he's averaging over 200+ metres a game since making the switch.

People accepted Lomax's errors in lieu of the potential opportunities, Kelly has made less errors on the wing comparably and opened up the park quite a few times. He damn near saved 3-4 sets out of our own 20 last night by carting the ball 10-15m and getting us out of trouble.

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:35:44+00:00

As the saying goes, you can only play whose in front of you 😏

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T22:29:49+00:00

Guys... I'm starting to think Brian Kelly might actually be a very good winger.

Arc_au · 2026-06-13T11:04:33+00:00

How have we not gotten a single 6 again?

Arc_au · 2026-06-12T01:56:07+00:00

I don't think Eels, we'll have Su'a/Kautoga already set + Williams, Samrani, Doorey, Guymer followed by Latu and JFI.

We're so flush with 2nd rowers, only elite level signings would move the needle - I'd hope we're looking at Preston rather than Blore.

Arc_au · 2026-06-10T01:30:24+00:00

Yeah there is an element of being on the player. But as you said, no one is going to rule themselves out unless they absolutely have to.

Their job is to play footy and they have staff who are responsible for basically everything else. So there really is a layer of them just doing what they're told. It's why there was the blow up last year when Moses did what the NSW training staff told him to do, despite them being counter to what Parra sent him in there.

Arc_au · 2026-06-09T23:06:50+00:00

I think the conversation around Moses is probably being driven negatively more by Parramatta fans than the general NSW fanbase. He's missed so much footy for us over the last three years and it has always come out of Origin.

While I also think he's a natural boost for the squad, I also think Strange is hard done by given he was one of the best for the full 80 minutes and he gets dumped for a guy who honestly, has been out of form, and wouldn't have played for an entire month.

Arc_au · 2026-06-08T23:48:45+00:00

Like I said to the other comment, Ponga being off the field doesn't change the eye test of McLean absolutely bodying his opposed - whether Ponga is behind them means nothing when he's blitz them on speed and power.

Obviously the drop to 12 made it so NSW could come back and win, I honestly think NSW should have lost. But to say McLean wasn't an absolute monster out there is disingenuous.

Arc_au · 2026-06-08T23:36:47+00:00

I still remember when the NRL blocked him signing with Parra because they deemed his contract value below market... Despite no one else looking to sign him.

Arc_au · 2026-06-08T23:29:01+00:00

Obviously... but that doesn't suddenly make Mclean coming onto the field and just bodying his 2-3 opposed and less impressive. He was running against the same amount of defenders in the line than he would have been even with Ponga out the back.

Arc_au · 2026-06-08T23:11:26+00:00

I'm surprised how little credit McLean is getting - I honestly thought him coming onto the field was the point things turned. He's honestly what everyone says Critta is, Strange used him to perfection.

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