You gotta love footy!
Round 12 started with a Thursday night match between the Raiders, who were at home to the Dolphins. The Dolphins once again showed that they are the real deal and as Perry Como would say: they play with Anema e core. Foolishly I changed my tip when Farnsworth was ruled out as I felt that was a bridge too far, however, the Dolphins showed plenty of mettle and were too strong for a poor Raiders. Coach Ricky of course found blame with the six again which he now can’t understand.
On Friday night the Bulldogs were at home to the Storm and they were just too good. Funnily enough in the paper it was all about Gus and his rant earlier in the week about Galvin at 5/8. That turned the team’s fortunes around apparently so it must be a difficult job Behind Closed Doors coaching with Gus looking over your shoulder. Nevertheless, Burton had his best game for the season and Galvin certainly looked better. The Storm was never really in the game and just couldn’t go the speed with the Bulldogs who controlled the match.
There were two games on the Saturday with the first one having the Dragons at home to the Warriors. The Dragons certainly started well but the Warriors, when they clicked into gear were just too good. Gold Coast must be ruing the decision to allow Khan-Pereira the opportunity to leave Because he certainly can sniff a try or two out. The Warriors are well in the comp, up on the top of the ladder in second spot behind the Panthers. They may prove to be a real threat if they can stay in a top 2 position. Saturday night’s second game had the Manly side up against the Titans. The Titans can consider themselves a little unlucky with the disallowed try early in the match however they are playing better than they have and Coach Hannay seems to be getting more out of them. Brimson looks wasted in the centres so I’m not sure how that will pan out. The Sea Eagles weren’t great but they always struggle against the Titans for some reason. Fozball however, For the Good Times continues to roll on with Manly now in the top 4.
Finally on Sunday the Cowboys were just too strong for an emotionally charged Souths side. The Cowboys controlled the game from start to finish and it looks like Souths are just going to be one of those sides that have no consistency. Johnson got pushed over touch twice in try scoring situations when you would have thought he may have scored. If he had scored those tries it would have had an impact on their overall performance.
Round 13 has 7 games due to the Origin period which adds an additional layer of complexity. The first game is on Friday night where the Sharks are at home to the Sea Eagles who have come off another win but the Sharks certainly played better in their last game. It is a tough game to pick but I think the Sharks might just have it over Manly in this one.
The first game on Saturday has the Knights at home against the Eels. Both Ponga and Moses will have played Origin so that tends to cancel each other out but you would think the Knights Class Will Tell. In the second Saturday match the Tigers are at home to the Bulldogs. This really is a testing game for both sides and should be a Close one. The Tigers have been disappointing in their last two outings and the Bulldogs seem to be better. I think the Bulldogs might just be too strong. Finally, on Saturday night the Storm are at home to the Roosters. I don’t know where to go with the Storm because they have struggled all year and they have a number of players involved in Origin, as do the Roosters. There can be Only One winner and I think the Roosters in this one.
The first of Sunday’s triple header has the Broncos at home to the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. This game should suit the Broncos and they should get a reasonably comfortable win. It would be Pennies From Heaven for the Dragons faithful if they won this game. The second game has the Raiders at home to the Cowboys. The Cowboys are really only missing Cotter and if they are to be staying in the top half of the ladder they need to win this game. Likewise, the Raiders can’t afford to lose it. I think the Cowboys. The final Sunday game is a top of the table clash between the Panthers and the Warriors. If the Warriors are the real deal then they should test the Panthers in this match but When You Come to the End of the Day I think Penrith will be too strong for them.
Of course, we have the men’s and women’s Origin matches on this week. Firstly, the men play on Wednesday night in Sydney and I will be fortunate enough to go and watch the match. I am confident of a Queensland victory and whilst there were some surprises in the selection room the team has clearly been picked on form. The women’s game is on at C-Bus Stadium on the Gold Coast on Thursday night and I’ll also be getting to that game. I note that Tamika Upton is out for Queensland and that is massive, but Queensland will be desperate to try and prevent a clean sweep for NSW. There hasn’t been much in the scores in either game and I don’t expect this one to be any different.
Last week’s embedded music clue was Magic Moments from that great 50-60s crooner Perry Como. It was the B side to Como’s other great hit Catch a Falling Star and was one of the first songs of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David collaboration. Magic Moments topped the charts in 1958 and does refer to Rugby League when he sings:
The way that we cheered whenever our team
Was scoring a touchdown (Try).
It was not released on an album until 1975 on Perry’s classic (LOL) Pure Gold due to the fact the original recording was at 45rpm. Perry had 48 hits and 13 number ones (all selling over a million copies) in a career that spanned from 1943-1978. If you are interested in his music you can find plenty of his albums at your local Vinnies. He recorded 38 Studio, 2 Live and 32 Compilation Albums and 150 singles. See if you can find this week’s clue.
The Origin One Hit Wonders13
Given it is Origin Time it is great to reflect on those guys lucky to get one more Origin than the rest of us tragics and to have played the same number as Arthur Beetson. I have selected a team to play the Game 1 one-gamers.
1 David Peachey G1 2000, NSW 2 Terry Butler G2 1983 QLD, 3 Graham Quinn G2 1982 QLD, 4 Adrian Vowles G2 1994 QLD, 5 Philip Duke G3 1982 (who could forget!) NSW, 6 Greg Holben G2 1982 (He did not get on), 7 Kevin Hastings G3 1983 QLD, 8 Danny Nutley G3 2005 QLD, 9 Aaron Raper G3 1997 (He didn’t get on) NSW, 10 Tony Butterfield G3 1998 NSW, 11 David Brooks G3 1985 NSW, 12 Alan Cann G1 1996 QLD, 13 Scott Sattler G2 2003 QLD.
I chose to leave Matt Ballin out as he was behind Cameron Smith and that was a tough gig.
Game 1 One Gamers
1 Graham Eadie NSW, 2 Steve Martin NSW, 3 Alan Smith QLD, 4 Bruce Astill (didn’t get on the field in Game 1 but played 1 game in the 1983 decider), QLD 5 Graham Wynn NSW (forced selection), 6 Greg Oliphant QLD, 7 Tom Raudonikis NSW, 8 Arthur Beetson QLD, 9 John Lang QLD, 10 Gary Hambly NSW, 11 Bob Cooper NSW, 12 Rod Reddy QLD, 13 Jim Leis NSW.
Round 13 Tips
Sharks Knights Bulldogs Roosters Broncos Cowboys Panthers
I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard
A very poor 2 from me in Rd 12
1 Banksy (61); 2 Timmoie, Mattresscide (59); 4 RITV, Gladstone (The Ox) The Uncle (58); 6 Flying Mattress (57).
The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 10 is 70 which 2 tipsters have.
My Pre Season Top Eight
1 Penrith 3 Roosters 6 Cowboys 7 Souths 9 Cronulla 11 Brisbane 13 Bulldogs 15 Storm
Odd Fact
There are 84 one game players – 31 for Qld and 53 for NSW (not counting current players). Qld had 5 players from Game 1 on the list and NSW had 8. 3 NSW players – Phil Duke (Moree Boomerangs winger 1982), Paul Field (Cootamundra Bulldogs hooker 1983), and Rex Wright (Newcastle Norths Hooker 1984), and Qld players Greg Conescu (Gladstone Brothers hooker 1984) and Rohan Hancock (Toowoomba Wattles forward 1980-82) are the only players from country clubs to play origin. Game 1 in 1984 saw Wright line up against Conescu in a unique Origin match up. Conescu won the scrums 9-6 and QLD won 29-12 after Mal could only manage 2/8 goals. The Maroons were fired up because Artie had been dumped as Australian Coach. Wright was replaced by Royce Simmons for Game 2 leaving Conescu the honour of being the last player from a country club to play Origin and Test football before he signed with Redcliffe in 1985.
Rugby League is no longer on Vacation. It is a Quest.
You gotta love footy.
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