2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: You Gotta Love Footy

 

 

 

 

 

After going through the pain of Wednesday’s loss to NSW, I backed up on Thursday night to watch the Queensland women’s team play NSW Women. The game at C Bus Stadium on the Gold Coast was played in good spirit and both sides certainly threw the ball around in what ended up being a low scoring affair. The scores were locked at 4 all at halftime, with NSW running out winners 12 points to 4 at full time. NSW certainly have an edge at the moment in size and experience, but the Queensland team was gallant in their defeat. I am sure they will be hurting from their three-nil loss in the series, but they will get better each year, so that is at least something to look forward to

 

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Round 13 started with a game between Cronulla and Manly. Cronulla went out to an early lead and then scored 3 quick tries in The Hustle before half time and were able to control the rest of the game even though the Sea Eagles came back strongly. In the end, the score flattered the Sea Eagles. The second Friday night game had the Knights up against the Eels. It was 12-10 at the half time break before the Knights scored 2 tries after the break and really controlled this game from that point. The scores were relatively close at the end but again the Knights were in control.

 

There were two games on Saturday and the first was a bit of a grudge match in the sense of the Tigers playing Canterbury. This time last year, with all the nonsense around the Galvin transfer, many thought that the Tigers would be lower on the ladder and the Bulldogs would be higher. However, the Bulldogs were completely put away by the West Tigers who were just too good and played an open brand of football. The Tigers crowd gave a real Somebody That I Used to Know welcome to Galvin. Credit to Coach Marshall for the job that he has done there, while it might be time for Ciraldo to call 8675309 as there is no answer for them currently. The second game on Saturday night saw the Storm running out 18 points to 4 winners over the Roosters. The Storm fullback, FaaLogo, outstanding in attack and his highlight reel from the match is well worth watching. Melbourne certainly looked a lot better than they have, almost as if Coach Bellamy has emblazoned We’re Not Gonna Take It on his players’ minds. It is surprising to note that they are the only side other than the Cowboys that have not had a bye yet. So, whilst they are anchored in 13th spot on the ladder, they technically have 6 points in the bank. Compare this to several other sides who already have had two byes. I do not think we can write the Storm off just yet. The Roosters were disappointing and the Coach must be worried about their intensity.

 

There were three games on Sunday and what can we say about the Broncos pathetic performance against the Dragons? So much for Our House (Madness are considered a One Hit Wonder band in the US). Everyone says that they were in the same spot last year, but they didn’t show a lot on Sunday that makes you think they can start a run for this year’s premiership, especially given Carrigan and Shibasaki out. The Dragons had greater enthusiasm, and it was until there was about 10 minutes to go that the Broncos decided they might try and win the game and their season is Spirit in the Sky. Very disappointing. Likewise, the Cowboys were very disappointing against the Raiders. One thing the Raiders do have is plenty of speed, and they demonstrated that again on Sunday. The Cowboys were never really in the hunt, and Canberra well and truly had their measure in what was an especially important win for them. Daine Laurie is clearly repaying Stuart’s faith toTake on Me with his recent versatility. The final game was an absolute cracker, with the Panthers and Warriors, who sit one and two on the ladder up against each other. The game was of a higher quality than any other game of the round and both sides are certainly showing that they are fair dinkum. It was high in entertainment, and the ball was really thrown around. A great game to watch and most enjoyable.

 

Round 14 starts with the Thursday night match between Manly and the Rabbits. Manly have just announced Foran as their permanent coach, which of course was no surprise. So, I’m sure they’ll be keen at home to put on a good show. Meanwhile, the Rabbits have Smith, Fifita and Graham all back in the side so they are almost at full strength. I think the Rabbitohs may be too good for this one.

 

Friday night has two games, with the first match between the Storm and the Knights. Both sides are coming off good wins last week. But I think given the Storm’s form last week and with most of their guns back they should be too strong for the Knights. The second Friday night game has the Raiders at home to the Roosters. The Raiders were good last week and the Roosters were poor. I’m expecting the Roosters after a bit of Tubthumping from their Coach to put up a much better show this week and be too good for the Raiders.

 

Saturday’s two games are the two Queensland derbies. The Cowboys playing the Dolphins in Townsville and the Broncos at home to the Titans. The Cowboys were poor last week, and the Dolphins had a bye. The Dolphins also have a number of players looking to press their origin claims. Given last week’s form, I think the Dolphins will be too strong. In the second game, you’d think the Broncos would be too good. But given last week’s performance, who knows. The Titans also had a bye, and the Maguire has given Mam the old Tainted Love move and dropped him from the side. It could be a very interesting match.

 

The first match on Sunday has the Wests-Tigers at home to the Panthers. Even though the Tigers were good last week, they won’t be a match for the Panthers, who were outstanding without their three Origin stars last week. I can only see 96 Tears in Tigerland come Sunday arvo. In the final Sunday game, the Dragons are away to Cronulla. I don’t think the Dragons can get two in a row, but they certainly showed plenty of pluck last week to give their supporters some hope. 

 

Finally, on Monday, it is a public holiday in New South Wales so the Bulldogs are at home to the Eels, and it is hard to predict how this game will go as well. The Bulldogs have been poor and Who Let the Dogs Out needs to be ringing around the ground if they are to climb from the bottom rungs of the ladder, whereas the Eels are performing above the level we might have thought. Moses is out and that is a loss. So if the Dogs are talkin’ The Warriors can Relax as they have the bye.

 

Last week’s embedded music clue was of course One Hit Wonders. Everybody has a favorite one hit wonder. What 60 plus bloke cannot remember trying on a bit of You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate back in the day or maybe S S S Single Bed by Fox. Noosha Fox – the lead singer was an Aussie, and it was #1 for 4 weeks running in Australia in August 1976. I have placed my top 10 One Hit Wonders in today’s read. See if you can find this week’s clue.

 

The Sent Off 13 

 

Given the controversy over Ponga being sent off last week, I thought I would pick a team of Sent Offs!

 

1. Allan McMahon – Balmain (Spear Tackling Mick Ryan from Newtown 1981- you can watch it and it is amazing Ryan got up and played on)
2. John Hopoate – Manly (elbowed Keith Galloway in the head against Cronulla in 2005–17 weeks)
3. Phil Sigsworth – Canterbury Bankston (Hanging up Brett Kenny in the 1986 GF)
4. Joseph Suaalii – Easts (ironed out Reece Walsh Game 1 2024 Origin)
5. Fonda Metassa – Norths Brisbane (Brisbane great who refused to leave the field when referee Henry Albert sent him off at Lang Park in 1967)
6. Wally Lewis – Wakefield Trinity (In 1984 Lewis was sent off after a scuffle and said he would never play club football in England again- and he didn’t)
7. Barry Muir – Wests Brisbane (sent off for spitting on a referee in 1968- he was banned for 12 months)
8. Adrian Morley – Gt. Britain (12th second hit on Robbie Kearns 2003 first test)     
9. Noel Kelly – Australia (automatic selection –sent off after 90 seconds in the 1967 2nd Aust. – NZ Test. Orchard was sent off as well)
10. Steve Kneen – Cronulla (15 weeks for a 1981 hit off the ball on Wests Allan Latham followed in 1982 by another 12 months)
11. Les Boyd – Manly (No not for Brohman but for eye gouging Billy Johnstone 3 games after returning from the Brohman incident)
12. Bob Cooper – Wests (decking 3 Illawarra players in 1982 including breaking Lee Pomfret’s jaw)
13. Danny Williams – Storm (Belting Mark O’Niell in 2004 and said he was suffering Post Traumatic Amnesia)
14. Coach Gus Gould – Penrith ( abusing officials in a game against Cronulla in 2004 and Bill Harrigan ejected him from the sideline)
15. Mascot Stanley the Steel Avenger – Illawarra (being sent off by Tony Maksoud in 1995 in a game against Balmain).

 

 

I Would Walk 500 Miles to see that pack play, but I think modern players would have restless nights before playing that pack.

 

Round 13 Tips

 

Rabbits Storm Roosters Dolphins Broncos Panthers Sharks Bulldogs  

 

I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard

 

An extremely poor 2 from me in Rd 12

 

1 Banksy, Timmoie, (65), Gladstone (The Ox) (63), Bimbi Bob, The Uncle, Gerry (62), Flying Mattress, RITV (60). 

 

The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 12 is 75 which 1 tipster has.

 

 

My Pre Season Top Eight 

 

1 Penrith 3 Roosters 6 Souths 8 Cronulla 9 Cowboys 11 Brisbane 13 Storm 14 Bulldogs 

 

 

Odd Fact

 

Send Offs

 

First SOO – Craig Greenhill 1996

 

First NRL John Hopoate Rd 1 1998

 

No Send Offs occurred in 2014, 16,17 or 25

 

Most Send Offs 1998 –17, 2022-12

 

Taane Milne- Souths was the first player sent off in a final in 2024

 

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

 

You gotta love footy.

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