Almanac Rugby League: Early season dreams become post-season nightmares

 

 

 

 

 

It is that time of the year when I should be preparing for our traditional Sydney GF tour. Of course COVID has stopped that so we (myself, Tiny and Tommy) have put a not-so-far-south-west tour in its place. Friday in Stanthorpe, Saturday in Toowoomba (Epsom Day Races), Sunday in Dalby and maybe Chinchilla before home on Monday. We may even pay homage to Oakey – home of the Bears and JTH as we meander across the region assisting rural communities (read hotels) through this troubled time. However it was thinking about this that led me to see great irony in last Thursday night’s Broncos v Cowboys game.

 

If I had have told you in March that I was going to be at Lang Park in a box on the last Thursday in September you would have turned green with envy. As a Queenslander, if I had then told you it was the two clubs playing who played what I consider to be the greatest NRL GF of all time in 2015, and that they would be playing each other in that match in September, Queensland hearts would have beat even faster knowing that one of our teams was heading to the big dance. These were the 2015 Premiers v Runners up. Both looked ready for a period of dominance in 2015. Strong teams, rosters, powerful front office, money, top coaches, top recruitment and the pride of Queensland! I would have even dusted my famous BronCows guernsey off for this event back in March.

 

But what a disaster it has been. This was no high performance match played by the top teams. This was a clash that would determine whether the all-powerful Broncos would finish with the spoon and the Cowboys were consigned to the 14^th place no man’s land regardless of the result. It was not hard to look far for the simplest of the Broncos’ problems – 624 points scored against them with a differential of -356. In any league that is an embarrassment, but for the flagship of the NRL this was a disaster of titanic proportions. Sadly as well, there was no simple fault to identify except the inability to tackle. Even a poor defensive system will be saved by blokes who can shorten up opposition players a la Gillmeister. He may have played in well beaten sides from time to time but there would have been a player somewhere who still has a little tickle in his rib cage on a cold morning from one of those days.

 

But back to the spoon final for the Broncos and the exit for the ageing Boyd. It started ok (the food and drink in the box was great- thank you, FOGS) with some early tries but the injury to Stagg just added another excuse to the biggest box office flop since The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen. As entertainment the game was ok and had a lot of end to end play, and a 36 -16 score line most probably flattered both sides given the amount of Bunker use and mistakes at critical moments when points were on offer. But neither side showed any real glimmer of what may be in store down the line. Hope, as I have always been told, is not a strategy! With favourite son Kevvie now handed the reigns, the process starts to rebuild- but it must be quick. Broncos’ coaches are lucky to survive one non top-eight finish, and the old boys having got their way will be praying the much-loved Ipswich champion can weave solid defence into the creative magic he was able to produce as a club legend.

 

The Cowboys, on the other hand, face a different problem. They seem to be a ‘thereabouts’ team. They certainly have some great young talent and, with a new coach, must be hoping for improvement. They played in two of the last five Grand Finals but that is now light years away. Thurston retiring was always going to be a problem but the proportion has been well underestimated. Anyway – thank god for the Titans.

 

So as I ready to go on tour, rugby league and racing will be hot topics as per normal, and the irony of this year is highlighted no better than in that clash last Thursday night. With good luck I will hopefully be preparing for the Sydney Grand Final this time next year!

 

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