Round 20 started with what I guess was a surprise win in some quarters by the Broncos over the Panthers. There were no more excuses for the Broncos and with their strongest side on the paddock they held off Penrith in terrible conditions in Sydney 14-12. The slight glimmer of hope is still there but they have to win 11 in a row with other results going their way. Walsh was at his best and that will call all teams to high alert when they face the Broncos. It was a high quality game given the conditions and it is late to make a run but the Broncos have plenty of firepower.
On Friday night, the first game was an entertaining match with the Sharks at home against the Knights. The Knights scored 4 tries to 3 and the usually reliable boot of Ponga had Evil Ways and was off target. Cronulla led 20-12 until Marzhew scored in the 78th minute before Ponga kicked his solitary goal. The second Friday night game saw the Roosters at home to the Storm who showed plenty of fight but went down 14-6. The injury to Warbrick is another blow to the Storm as they try and tack onto the 8. The Roosters did enough to win and look like Top 4 certainties.
Three games on Saturday started with the Raiders continuing their recent better form and basically parking the Rabbits before half time leading 28-6. Everything’s Coming Our Way would have been the feel in the Raiders half time shed. Souths were much better in the second half but it was too late. Weekes scored 2 tries for the Raiders and his first showed his blinding speed. Pattie has also made a difference at hooker and most probably should have been there from the start of the season. But who am I to question the Grand Master of the Raiders. Souths will rue a game they let away in the first 20 minutes. 34-24 Raiders. The second game had the Warriors at home to the Dragons and the Dragons led 12-10 against the odds at half time before a try and 2 late penalty goals to the Warriors. The Dragons are on the improve and do have some good young forwards. Finally, the Bulldogs didn’t need much Persuasion to put the sword through a disappointing West Tigers 32-0. The Tigers played like they have had enough and their season could implode. The Bulldogs are very inconsistent but will take the win.
Two games on Sunday finished the round and I went to the Titans – Manly game. I have now been to the Titans for 3 games and I have seen 3 wins. I’ve been going to the Titans since 2009 and that is a first! The Titans put on an excellent show and Coach Hannay seems to be striking a solid formula and gaining some Soul Satisfaction for his efforts. Pascoe was very good, their halves are sharp and they have speed. All of a sudden Foran and his Sea Eagles are starting to slide. Sadly, the injury to Turbo’s hamstring questions his future. Titans 38 Manly 32. The final game of the round at Suncorp saw the Dolphins too good for the Cowboys. At 10 nil the Cowboys after 13 minutes, and after the disastrous 66-0 flogging last week, meant the Dolphins hadn’t scored since the 58th minute of Round 19. However, they came porpoising back and ran out winners 36-16. The Cowboys with Dearden back should have been better. It is a case of Jing Go Lo Bo (Don’t Worry) for Dolphins fans as they are very close to their first finals appearance.
Round 20 has some crunch games in it although the first game sees the Eels at home to the Panthers. After last week you would think the Panthers will be too strong in this match.
Friday has two games with the Knights at home to the Roosters in an interesting clash; however, the Roosters have been slowly accumulating points and are now in a position to challenge for the top spot. I think they will be too strong for the Knights. The late game on Friday has the Rabbitohs at home to the Storm with both sides desperate for a win. Given how poorly Souths played in the first half last week I would not expect to see that replicated and the Storm are way down on troops. I think the Rabbits will get this one.
Saturday has three games with the first seeing the Canberra Raiders at home to the West Tigers. Again, on last week’s form you would think the Raiders would win this, but if Wests can show that they are still focused on the job at hand, they may trouble the Raiders a little. I can’t see it though. The second game has the Bulldogs at home against the Warriors who are sitting in second position. The Bulldogs won last week but their opposition this week will be a lot stiffer. I’m thinking the Warriors will be too good for the inconsistent Bulldogs. The final game on Saturday is most probably the crunch game of the round, where the Broncos have to roll with it from last week. If they are to be a grand final threat this year, they need to win (now that is an understatement). The Cowboys were poor late in the game against the Dolphins last week and with Walsh back we have to take the Broncos, purely on the basis that he is being backed to repeat the 2025 heroics and lift them up over the line.
On Sunday the first game has the Dragons at home to the Titans. Both sides are showing a little glimmer of hope for next year and Dean Young. newly appointed as permanent coach, will be hoping that he can get a win at home now that he has the job. However, I think that Titans are playing an open brand of football and they easily accounted for the Dragons earlier in the year. I like the football they are playing and I hope they can get away with the win. The final game of the round has the Sea Eagles at home to the Sharks. I think Manly’s season is about to go down the drain and I think the Sharks will be too strong in this one.
Last week’s music clue was from Santana – Well All Right being the clue. Carlos Santana, a Mexican American was the founding and key member of the band and was known for his guitar skills and fusion of Rock and Roll and Latin American Jazz. Melodic blues with Latino percussion are the base of his Smooth sound. Well worth a listen if you are relaxing. Santana are currently touring in the US and have a residency at the House of Blues in Vegas. Can you find the clue this week?
World Cup Semi Finals 13
1 Reece James Walsh – Eng 2 Marc Pubill Nawaqanitawase – Esp 3 William Saliba Hopoate – Fr 4 Jordan Pickford Samrani – Eng 5 Lionel Messi Wiliamson – Arg 6 John Stones Peard – Eng 7 Nico Las Gonzales Hynes – Arg 8 Pedro Porro Gallagher – Esp 9 Harry Kane Grant – Eng 10 Martin Zubimendi Lang – Esp 11 Cristian Romero Welch – Arg 12 David Raya Fifita – Esp 13 Dan Burn Stains – Eng.
Coach Ronald Keeman Willey – Netherlands
Round 19 Tips
Panthers Knights Roosters Souths Warriors Bulldogs Titans Dolphins.
Brisbane, Dragons, and Panthers all have a bye
I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard
4 again last week so I have taken too many risks.
1 Timmoie (98) 2 Banksy (92), Gladstone (91) RITV The Uncle Souffs (90) Bimbi Bob (88) Flying Mattress Dolph (87).
The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 20 is 108 with Nanny back in charge.
My Pre Season Top Eight
1 Penrith (32) 3 Roosters (30) 4 Sharks (28) 6 Souths (24) 8 Cowboys (24) 10 Bulldogs (22) 11 Storm (20) 13 Broncos (18)
Teams having 50 scored against them (The 119 Year Curse)
Parramatta, Dolphins (twice), Wests Tigers (twice), Titans, Storm Dragons.
In 2001 the Knights had 49 scored against them and won and in 2021 Souths had a 50-0 touch up by the Storm in Rd. 9 before Penrith beat them 56 -12 in Rd. 11 before losing to them in the GF. Given Souths beat the Panthers 16-10 in Week 1 of the finals we can safely say they have gone closest to breaking the curse! The Rabbits lost 14-12.
Odd Fact
There has been a deal said about the West Tigers fall over the last few weeks (they are still on the same points as the Broncos with a bye in tow) and much of it has centred around Luai leaving and signing to play with Parramatta next year, before joining PNG (Galvin leaving mid-season last year also derailed their campaign). However, this is not the first time a Wests’ team has been involved in this sort of issue. Roy Masters, at the recent State of Origin luncheon at the All Nations Hotel talked about the effect of players leaving a club during a season. He specifically referred to the 1979 season when he, and many others, myself included, thought Wests were a fair chance of winning the competition. By the middle of the second round, they were in a strong position before they lost six games straight, including an Amco cup semifinal to fall into fourth spot. They were then beaten in the knockout final and their season that promised so much was over. Just prior to the run of losses Manly signed Dorahy, Brown and Boyd, and Newtown signed O’Grady and Raudonikis. Players left for bigger money and also financial and management issues at Wests. Even though those players still gave their best, the club’s season was decimated. There has to be a better way but also a great reminder to clubs not to have all your stars off contract in the same year!
Vale
Don Munro passed away recently after a period of illness. Don was well known in BRL circles and was a former Brisbane Brothers player and long term Brothers secretary and delegate to the BRL. Don was a pioneer in the early days of television, as initially a camera man and then in the technical field of outside broadcasts. The Munro name is synonymous with Brisbane Brothers with his son Scott, a long time club President and grandson Ben recently playing a record 500 games for the club. A friend to many including me and my family. To Heather and the Munro family, my thoughts are with you.
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Well, i am completely gobsmacked. Soccer in a PBTS column? And you would have to have done some research, as you would not have the faintest clue who any of those blokes are. But, well done. Pedro Porro Gallagher, very good. I had better have a Bex and a lie down all the same.