LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
NRL fans are expressing concerns over the impact of the State of Origin period on the competition, particularly regarding the scheduling of byes that leave some teams significantly weakened.
The Penrith Panthers are notably affected, missing key players such as Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, and Liam Martin due to their selections for NSW.
Despite having a history of performing well during this period, the Panthers currently sit in 13th place, contrasting with their usual top rankings, as they face the Knights, who are missing only Kalyn Ponga.
The Sydney Roosters also face challenges, with significant absences including Lindsay Collins, Robert Toia, Spencer Leniu, Angus Crichton, and Connor Watson.
They are set to play against the Sharks, who are at full strength and expected to benefit from the Roosters' depleted roster.
Meanwhile, Manly's situation is comparatively favorable, entering Round 12 with only Daly Cherry-Evans absent and facing the Eels as favorites.
Both the Warriors and Tigers have fewer Origin representatives and have been allocated two byes, raising questions about the fairness of the current scheduling.
Fans are calling for a standalone Origin period to alleviate the disparities caused by bye scheduling, which some believe undermines the competition's integrity.