Almanac Footy – Prop By The Sea: You Gotta Love Footy!

 

 

 

The following is the speech I made to the Almanac faithful at the All-Nations Hotel Richmond prior to Game 2. It was my premortem of the match.

 

We have done it. We have belted the enemy, defying the odds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to send the 2026 State of Origin series to a deciding clash in Brisbane. The Maroons dug deep to secure the victory, proving their undeniable grit and undying maroon identity under the brightest lights running out winners 26-12. 

 

The sea spray on the coast might have been a bit wild tonight, but the breeze was blowing pure Maroon. Tonight, on the hallowed turf of the MCG, Queensland showed exactly what it means to bleed for the jersey. We may have lost 5/6 there, but the spirit of Fatty’s Neville’s was alive and well. 

 

After dropping that heartbreaker in the series opener in Sydney, Billy boys -Our Boys were backed against the wall. The critics wrote us off and the Blues came in with all their usual bluff and bluster momentum. But you can never, ever count out a Queenslander when our backs are against the wall. Up front, the big men laid an absolute mountain of a platform. Gympies Tino- Sarinas Rueben- didn’t take a backwards step against the much-vaunted NSW pack. Out wide, the backline sliced through with the kind of clinical precision of the Cairns Hammer smacking the anvil – now that makes a Queenslander’s heart sing. Every time Nerang’s Walsh stood up shivers ran down blue spines- when Billy finally sent him out- wow. Every loose ball was hunted down, every tackle was bone-rattling, and every Maroon out there left absolutely everything on the park. As we sit back with an ice-cold beer and watch the waves roll in along our beautiful Queensland coastline, I know one thing for certain: the series is wide open and heading back home. Bring on Suncorp Stadium for the decider! You gotta love footy today after that victory!

 

I thought I did pretty well and make sure you have a look at this week’s team below.

 

Round 16 started with a Friday night game where the Knights at home were too strong for the Dragons. The Dragons showed a glimmer of hope for their fans as they certainly have some good young players – especially forwards coming up. The Knights are too good, -22-20 with the Dragons scoring the last 2 tries and Holmes’s reliable boot letting the team down.  

 

Saturday has three games where the Tigers were touched up by the rampant Dolphins, 36-22. The Redcliffe line up had a few changes but accounted easily for the Tigers; The Dolphins had to win and did. The Titans were at home to the Panthers in the second game, and I was able to watch the game courtesy of one of the sponsors (Thank you, you know who! Coach Hannay must have been pleased with the way his side played, especially after being down 12-0 before I’d finished my oysters! Cleary rested his Origin players, but nevertheless, the Titans, through an excellent field goal by young Harrison, won the game. The third Saturday matchup has the Bulldogs at home to Manly. Bulldogs home with a Crichton field goal in the second minute of golden point. Fogarty hit the upright twice and missed 2 field goals in a match Manly should have won.

 

Sunday had three games as well, with the first game seeing the Warriors at home to the Cowboys. The Warriors were just too good against a disappointing Cowboys 38-20. The second match has the Storm at home to the Raiders. The Storm were affected more by origin than the Raiders were, and as soon as Harry Grant went on at the 20-minute mark, the Storm won 36-4 (they were down 16-6 when he went on). They are looking dangerous while the Raiders are completely out of sorts. It’s all but over. The final game of the round had the Roosters at home to the Sharks, and they were just too good against the inconsistent Sharks, running out winners 27 points to 8.

 

Round 17 starts with a Thursday night match with the Eels at home to South Sydney. South Sydney, even though they have lost Mitchell for this game, should be too strong for the Eels. Moses has a point to prove, but I don’t think that will be enough for the Eels to win this one.

 

The first Friday night game lets us know whether the Titans who are up against the Bulldogs really are progressing, or whether they’re up to their same old tricks. Both teams won last week by a field goal, but the Titans’ win was especially good, given it was over the Panthers, even though they’re under strength. I thought the Bulldogs were a little lucky to win their game, so let’s hope the Titans at home can really show some steel and give their supporters hope. The second game on Friday night has the Broncos at home to the Roosters. It is a case of a must win for the Broncos, but it’s hard to see where that win is going to come from given how disorganised they’ve been for the last week or two. Haas is back, which makes a big difference, but Reynolds and Mam are out. So, I think the Roosters are starting to get their mojo and will be too strong, potentially consigning last year’s premiers out of the 8.

 

Saturday has three games, with the first one seeing the inform Dolphins taking on the equally informed Warriors. This should be a good game and give us a real indication of where these teams are at. The Dolphins have been outstanding in attack and defence over the last five or six weeks, and whilst the Warriors have been a bit up and down, they’ll be bringing their A game to Lang Park. It should be a beauty and I’m going to go with the Dolphins. The Cowboys are at home to the Panthers in the second match but given their form and given the Panthers lost last week, and all their original stars back, I can’t see the Cowboys beating the Panthers. But you just don’t know. The final Saturday night game has the Sea Eagles at home to the Storm. I think the storm will be too strong even though Hughes is out, and that’s a big loss. Manly usually plays well at home, even though this year they didn’t start that well, but I think the Storm will have this one.

 

There are two Sunday games; the first one has the disappointing Raiders against the equally disappointing Dragons. The Dragons’ young forwards are really starting to show something, and they could be a force to be reckoned with in the future, although the Raiders at home, if they click, will be too slick for them. The final game of the round has the Knights at home to the West Tigers. The Knights had a solid win last week whilst the West Tigers were out of sorts. It should be a close game, but you must go with the home side for this one.

 

Last week’s embedded music clue was The Good the Bad and the Ugly looking at famous movie themes. Ennio Morricome was the composer of choice for Sergio Leone’s films that all diehard rugby league fans love. Who can forget the great spaghetti westerns like a Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good! See if you can find this week’s clue.

 

Team of the last week 13

1 Ponga 2 Cobbo 3 Toia 4 Hammer 5 Fifita 6 Munster 7 Walker 8 Tino 9 Grant 10 Collins 11 Capewell 12 Nikora13 Cotter 14 Plath 15 Flegler 16 Finefeuiaki 17 Loieri

The boys deserve to be the team of the week.

 

Round 17 Tips

Souths Titans Roosters Dolphins Panthers Storm Raiders Knights 

 

I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard

A poor 4 last week 

 

1 Timmoie (80) 2 Bimbi Bob, Gerry (75), The Uncle, Banksy, Gladstone, RITV (74) Flying Mattress (72). 

 

The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 16 is 91 which 1 tipster has and is still 2 clear.

 

My Pre Season Top Eight 

1 Penrith 4 Roosters 7 Souths 8 Sharks 9 Cowboys 11 Storm 12 Bulldogs 13 Broncos 

 

Odd Fact

I’m heading out to Longreach tomorrow morning with a view to watching the Winton Diamontina Devils playing the Longreach Ilfracombe Tigers in Longreach on Friday night. Rugby league in the Central West has been played since the early 1900s, with a number of clubs that still exist to this day. It wasn’t uncommon for the Central West back in the 30s, 40s and 50s when they were full of hard shearers and cattlemen to knock representative sides over. Currently players like Kurt Mann from Winton and formerly Matt Scott from Ilfracombe have made a real mark on the league recently. Adrian ‘Happy’ Thompson is filling a lifetime dream of coaching his local A Grade side after making his own mark in the tough Foley Shield of the 8’s for Townsville followed up by coaching and development with the Cowboys, Blackhawks and Townsville Brothers and QSSRL doyen Phil Hall has his grandson Lachlan Moore stepping out for the Tigers. We are looking forward to a great night of country rugby league. Other clubs in the league are the Blackall Magpies, Barcaldine Sand Goannas and the Alpha Brumbies who play for the Wellshot Hotel Cup.

 

Rugby League is no longer on Vacation- It is a Quest!

 

You gotta love footy.

 

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