Almanac Rugby League – NRLW Semi-Finals and NRL Round 4: Grand Final spots up for grabs in the NRLW

 

 

It’s the way it should happen – the four teams to qualify for the finals of the 2021 NRLW competition and the order in which they finished  the minor round were not decided until the last few minutes of the regular season. With points for and against the critical factor, all four spots were up for grabs. It must have been quite an afternoon for the Roosters as they were out, in, out and back in again as the last match progressed.

 

In the end, the Broncos returned to form to thump the Eels and dump them out of the finals, allowing the underperforming Roosters to sneak into fourth place. The Dragons did enough to hold off the Roosters but lost top spot to Brisbane on for and against. The Titans came from the clouds to beat Newcastle at the death to book a finals berth in their inaugural season.

 

Emma Tonegato is rapidly joining the likes of Tamika Upton and Bo Vette-Welsh as a marquee fullback. She had another blinder against the Roosters to be the most consistent player in the comp. Millie Boyle returned to the Broncos side and made all the difference with her strength and skills up front driving Brisbane forward and allowing their back line to shine in the Suncorp sunlight. Brittany Brearley-Nati is a veteran of the competition and her wily skills and reading of the game have been instrumental in getting the Titans to the finals. The Eels and Knights will benefit from the experience gained this season ands should be better for it when the 2022 comp comes around later in the year.

 

Player of the week: Emma Tonegato

 

This weekend’s semi-finals promise much for fans of the women’s game. The Dragons will start as warm favourites against the Titans but it may not be as simple as it looks. It’s hard to go past the Dragons on the basis of what we’ve seen to date, plus they have the benefit of considerable experience and players of the quality of Emma Tonegato, the emerging Rachael Pearson, the indomitable Kezie Apps, Shaylee Bent and Holli Wheeler. They look like a good unit! But the Titans also have a ton of talent in the likes of Karina Brown, Shaniah Power, Kimiora and Brittany Brearley-Nati, Tazmin Gray, Destiny Brill and the born-again veteran Steph Hancock plus Georgia Hale off the bench. While I expect the Dragons to prevail (their form this year deserves a Grand Final spot), I won’t be in the least surprised if the Titans spring an upset.

 

In the other game, the Broncos are hot favourites to defeat the Roosters who have been the underperformers of the season. On paper, the Chooks have one of the best backlines in the history of the competition but haven’t been able to match it up front against the better teams. If the backs could get some front foot ball on the back of a rolling pack anything could happen. Meanwhile, the Broncos have been the benchmark yet again and have both star players (think Upton, Aiken, Brigginshaw, Boyle, etc) plus a higher standard of next tier players than other clubs. And they are a good combination as well. Expect the Roosters to play it wide to try to go around the solid Broncos middle while the Broncos will look to use their powerful, mobile pack to dominate in attack and suffocate in defence before unleashing their array of attacking weapon in the backs. I expect the Broncos to win but not before the Roosters give them a scare.

 

To see team line-ups for the semi-finals click here.

 

So the schedule for this Sunday’s semi-finals at Leichhardt Oval is:
12.00pm: First semi-final – Dragons v Titans
1.45pm: Second semi-final – Broncos v Roosters

 

The winners will meet in the Grand Final at Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, on Sunday April 10.

 

 

Round 3 of the NRL provided entertainment aplenty! In conditions better suited to Sharks than Dragons, the men from the Shire dominated from go to whoa to run out 36-12 winners. As a team, the Sharks were relentless and full of enthusiasm and their forwards were in full control which allowed their talented backline to run riot. Nicho Hynes was little less than sensational as he guided his team around the park. He’s the buy of the year! The often maligned Ben Hunt deserves full credit for his one man resistance for the Dragons. Playing behind a beaten pack, he was all heart, effort, leadership and grit.

 

It’s official – the Tigers are toothless! They put in another woeful performance against the willing Warriors and you can just about engrave their name on the wooden spoon before the end of March! Well done, Warriors, for yet another gutsy effort. The Rabbitohs maintained their good record against the Roosters in recent years with an unexpected and convincing 28-16 win. The Bunnies regained their rhythm with Cameron Murray leading the way with a commanding performance, Damien Cook rediscovered his running game, and the halves finally clicked. It was almost back to some of their 2021 form.  The Chooks? I’m not quite sure what’s not right there but it needs to be sorted out quickly. Sam Walker was their best.

 

The Knights lost Ponga before the game, then went a man down early (deservedly) and so it was no surprise that they never really challenged the Panthers who are now the only unbeaten team after three rounds. We’ll find out more about Penrith this weekend when Cleary returns and they take on the resurgent Bunnies. I had a feeling that the Eels might surprise the Storm and so it came to pass. Ryan Papenhuysen was fantastic for Melbourne but the Eels just would not go away and, with a slice of luck off the woodwork, won in golden point extra time. How would you like to be Ricky Stuart? His Raiders can play like absolute chumps but then turn it around to become total champs. Down 22-0 to the Gold Coast, Canberra came back after half-time with some electric footy to shock the Titans 24-22. Anyone for a swab? I wouldn’t like to be a Titan at training this week.

 

Written off pre-season, the Cowboys are on a hot run at the moment with the hulking version of JT leading the way, well supported by a motley crew who have discovered some self-belief. They smashed the previously unbeaten Broncos who, suddenly, looked like the disorganised rabble of recent seasons. Let’s hope it’s a wake-up call for the Horses who looked more like nags. You have to feel for the Bulldogs – so close again but no chocolates! Manly scrapped their way to a win on the back of a DCE field goal but were far from convincing.

 

Looking ahead to this weekend, there are some great match-ups, many of which could go either way. We start with the Titans hosting the Wests Tigers on the Gold Coast tonight. The home side has hardly set the world on fire to date but have, at the very least, been a more honest performer than the pathetic Tigers. It’s getting very close to ‘now or never’ time for the Tigers and it would not surprise if another loss triggers repercussions of the field.

 

The Sharks v Knights match-up on Friday evening is one of the games I’m looking forward to. Both have shown improved form and both are not far off full strength. I like the look of the Knights up front and I think this is where they’ll get the edge to get them home – just. And congratulations to the unsung Aiden Tolman who plays his 300th NRL game – a reliable, hard worker who never leaves anything out on the paddock.

 

Then the Grand Final replay between the Panthers and the Rabbitohs is the highlight of the weekend. The Panthers are boosted by the return of Nathan Cleary while the Bunnies have Latrell Mitchell this time around. The Panthers are a somewhat different side to last year but still the pacesetters. Just as I had a feeling about the Eels last weekend, this week I’m leaning towards the Bunnies as they become a more settled combination. But, whatever the outcome, expect a fast, classy game between two of the better attacking outfits in the comp.

 

The Warriors host the Broncos at Redcliffe on Saturday afternoon, the Warriors coming off their first win last time out and the Broncos looking to redeem themselves after their lacklustre effort against the Cowboys. The Broncos have injury worries in their pack; the Warriors always show a lot of heart. With no great confidence, I’ll go with the Broncos – Adam Reynolds will be the steadying, deciding factor.

 

Later in the afternoon, the Sea Eagles meet the Raiders, a clash of the inconsistents! Manly finally had a win last week and it might just be enough to give them confidence to launch a bit of a run. Dylan Walker might be the game-breaker. The Raiders are hot and cold, possibly on a high after their great comeback last weekend, and look good on paper. But I’m not yet convinced about their heart. Manly – just!

 

On Saturday night the surging Cowboys take on the underperforming Roosters up north. Can the Cowboys turn their promising start to the season into something concrete by taking out one of the more fancied teams? Or are they just honest goers lacking the class to compete at the top level? Why are the Chooks so crook? Such a strong side (on paper) surely can’t go 1-3! My gut feeling is that the bruised egos of the Roosters will see them peck back remorselessly to down the home side.

 

On Sunday, the spluttering Storm take on the unlucky Bulldogs in Melbourne – a tough ask for the Dogs after their near miss last week. I think they’ll chase purple all afternoon given that Melbourne hardly ever drop two games in a row, especially at AAMI Park.

 

The round concludes with another ‘this will tell us a lot about both sides’ clash between the Eels and Dragons. The Eels showed great mental strength to stay in and eventually win against the Storm while the Dragons were swept away by the Sharks in the rain. The Eels are yet to be convincing but the potential is there; the Dragons have also shown flashes of what they might do but haven’t done anything against potential finals sides. They need more from their front six. I’ll stick with the Eels.

 

And so, after a modest 4/8 last week, my winners this weekend are the Titans, Knights, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm and Eels.

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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About Ian Hauser

A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.

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