For the past several weeks, Prop’s proxy, Mark Shannon, aka The Prospector, has provided weekly NRL coverage while Prop by the Sea has been on a European excursion. This is Mark’s last contribution before Prop by the Sea returns next week in time for the Grand Final. On behalf of The Footy Almanac crew and all our rugby league readers, generous and sincere thanks to Mark for his contributions. Let’s hope we hear more from him in future seasons!
Prop by the (North) Sea: Finals Week 3
The Prop has headed to France as his tour is heading towards its conclusion. He is there on a goodwill tour to mend fences with the locals in the wake of the Scomo/France/Australia submarine debacle, visit some sites of historical significance and, of course, spread the mantra of Rugby League to the people of France. He delivered the inaugural ‘Puig Aubert Address’ on the history of the game in France and the importance of reviving the game in the country. A reliable source told me, “The French are rude, arrogant P@#*& s, but the Prop had them engrossed”.
Taking some questions from the crowd after the Aubert address.
The translator is the lady facing the crowd.
The Prop and his travelling companion, the regally named ‘King Confro’, had their Wally World experience when making their pilgrimage to the birthplace of Rugby League, The George Hotel in Huddersfield. The lads arrived only to find the George Hotel is closed for renovation.
Have you ever heard of Google, Prop?
The birthplace of Rugby League, Huddersfield.
Finals Week 2 Review:
Canberra v Cronullargh. Recently, I posed the question as to whether the Raiders would run out of luck after a largely trouble-free season. Did they ever! The loss of Ethan Strange on the day of the game was a hammer blow. He has been sensational for them this season. I also suggested that they may have some PTSD from that extraordinary loss to the Broncos. However, this was not evident early on as they were the better team for most of the first half. Unfortunately for them, the same defensive frailties reappeared, particularly on their right-hand side. The Sharks scored all their tries down that corridor. They are in good form and are a chance of rolling the Storm this week.
Bulldogs v Penrith: The question now seems to be, “Can anyone stop Penrith”? They delivered a near flawless performance against the Bulldogs, with Cleary at his imperious best. The word “masterclass” was widely used in the media and that is a fair assessment. Coach Ivan has largely solved their defensive issues from early in the season around the Milky Jenkins/Mclean / Alamoti edge and Tago on the other side. Having said that, Preston was very impressive and made inroads most times he touched the ball. I am sure Madge and the other coaches still alive will have noted the same things. The Courier Mail headline on Monday was ‘The samurai v the Superstar’. Yes, Cleary v Walsh.
Preliminary Finals Preview:
Melbourne v The Sharks
Will the real Melbourne Storm please stand up? It is now or never after an ordinary few weeks from the long-time premiership favourites. They have some big inclusions, Hughes and Papenhuyzen, and a home game at a fortress against an opponent not noted for finals starch. Normally, this would be a ‘no brainer’ but there has been nothing normal about season 2025. The unheralded forward pack with Burns, Wilton, Rudolph and Colquhoun have been great but will meet their match against the Storm. I am expecting the Storm to win by a comfortable margin.
Brisbane V Penrith: Can the mercurial Walsh and his team turn back the rolling, inevitable tide that is Penrith? Well, let us investigate. Brisbane is at home on a Sunday afternoon in front of what will no doubt be a capacity crowd. Unfortunately, visiting teams seem to love playing at Suncorp and Penrith have won a premiership there, so the venue will not daunt them at all.
The big question is, how often will Brisbane get the opportunity to unleash their attacking weapons in attacking positions? Will they spend most of the match battling to get field position because of the brutal, dragging defence of the Panthers and the Cleary kicking game? Is the suspension of Carrigan going to hurt them? On the evidence of recent weeks, the answers would be, not often, yes and yes. The Broncos defence against Canberra was not great, nor has it been all year. It will hurt them again in this match. Penrith to win.
Odd Fact/Stat: The 1978 Kangaroos were a formidable team, captained by the Immortal Bob Fulton and containing many great players such as Raudonikis, Reddy, Rogers, Price, Young, Boyd and Boustead. They won the Ashes against GB by two Tests to one, winning the deciding Test 23 to 6. The Second Test victory was the last time GB would beat Australia for 10 years. They then headed to France for two Test matches.
France won the First Test, 13 to 10 and the SecondTtest, 11 to 10. This made France the last team to record successive victories against Australia in a single series. It was also the last time Australia failed to win a series or tournament until the 2005 Tri Nations (NZ beat Australia 24 to nil in the final). In the First Test (13-10 France), the French scored one try and kicked 5 goals. In the Second Test (11-10 France), they scored one try, three goals and two field goals. There were no neutral referees in 1978, and the local referees did the Kangaroos no favours. The PBTS spoke exclusively to the great Rod ‘Rocket’ Reddy this week. Rod missed the First Test but played in the Second Test defeat. These are some of his thoughts.
“What can I say? Yes, France took advantage of hometown refereeing but I must say we were very undisciplined and could have won the game but, on the day, we did not work hard enough for each other team wise. Individual players were trying to win but our teamwork and combination let us down. I learnt a valuable lesson that game and from there on I was undefeated when playing for Australia”.
Thanks, ‘Rocket’. For the record, he played a further 11 Tests for Australia for 11 wins, including the 1982 ‘Invincibles’ Kangaroo tour. In total, he played 19 Tests for 17 wins. An outstanding career!
Prop will be returning for the Grand final edition of Prop by the Sea next week.
As they say in the classics: ‘You gotta love Footy!’
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Top stuff, Prospector! I think there’s a permanent gig for you on the Almanac site. It’s either that or become Prop’s social secretary!
Great news for the folks back home – our very own “Cultural Attaché,” Prop, is finally winging his way back to Australia after yet another wildly successful international tour.
In the sands of the Middle East, Prop has been working tirelessly, securing diplomatic ties with our friends the Arabs and (rumour has it) guaranteeing cheaper fuel for us “battlers” back home. If that’s not international statesmanship, what is?
Meanwhile, in the lush fields of Ireland and the rolling pastures of England, Prop has been casting his keen eye over this year’s European Cup contenders – He was the talk of the room at last weeks Bernborough Luncheon. Naturally, only Prop has the pedigree to assess equine royalty at that level.
He even managed to squeeze in a little diplomacy on the side, brokering the long-awaited meeting between Albo and the Donald – a feat some thought impossible until Prop casually made it happen over lunch.
Is a knighthood on the horizon? One would think so. Welcome home, Prop
Thanks H squared- as a republican I couldn’t accept a knighthood but will accept other platitudes- arrived home just in time to see the Storm Sharks match – storm just too good- off to Q Cup final today’and lang park for the big match Sunday- I needed a RL fix!
I nearly choked on my dinner tonight ! Flicked on the news to see Albo flying home from his UK junket via Abu Dhabi, chest puffed out, trumpeting how he’s stitched up a $12 billion deal with the Arabs. What hypocrisy! Not a whisper about Prop, the “peoples champion” who laid the foundations three weeks ago and did all the hard yards. Did you hear Prop blowing his own trumpet? Of course not — that’s not his style.