Roosters ‘fuming’ over brutal NRL call; late Panthers change tipped in Cleary chaos — Talking Points
The Sydney Roosters are reportedly frustrated by a challenging finals schedule that forces them to play two consecutive games on six-day turnarounds. Meanwhile, the Penrith Panthers are managing injury concerns for star player Nathan Cleary ahead of their upcoming preliminary final match.
Why it matters
Scheduling decisions in professional sports leagues often spark debate regarding player welfare and competitive fairness.
NRL NRL-PREMIERSHIP Roosters ‘fuming’ over brutal NRL call; late Panthers change tipped in Cleary chaos — Talking Points 360 crew debates Roosters turnaround! | 01:18 Ethan Lee Chalk, Matt Jones and Daniel Nuttall from Fox Sports September 24th, 2026 6:08 am The Roosters have named to start Sam Walker this weekend and if the half plays as expected, it’ll cap a remarkable recovery. However, there are some concerns.
The Panthers will have Nathan Cleary on deck this Sunday against the Knights but a foot issue is set to hamper him which could have a bearing on who will line up beside him in the halves.
Meanwhile, there have been reports the Roosters aren’t happy with having to deal with an unwanted 15-year finals first... but is there a solution?
Read on for all of the talking points ahead of the 2026 preliminary final week!
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