Prop
You gotta love footy – Round 11
The Courier Mail’s sports headline on Monday was ‘Mam For The Job’ – all of a sudden, the Broncos need Mam back to save the season! He even had the front page asking ‘What About Me’. But more on the Broncos later.
Round 10 was some round. How do you describe the footy played over the weekend. It had everything! Of course, I was on a road trip out to South-West Queensland, so I took in the first game between the Eels and the Dolphins in Roma. It was a tight Game – 6-all at half time and it really was a game where Parramattanshould have won. But Redcliffe showed a degree of tenacity and fought back to hit the lead. The Dolphins were able to hang on to win the match and Isaako’s sure boot made the difference. It was a quality game to start off what really was a fantastic round.
Friday night had two games, and I was now in Quilpie, the hometown of my travelling partner – well known league identity Jim Banaghan who was visiting his boyhood home for the first time in over 50 years. I watched the first game in The Imperial Hotel in the main street. The Knights got out to a 20-point lead. Like everybody else, I thought the game was over. However, the Titans either showed a degree of tenacity or the Knights fell off completely to see the Titans score an unanswered 24 points and run away with a win of 24 to 20. By the time the second game started, I had made my way to the Bowls Club where there was the pre–Quilpie Cup race meeting night. Crab racing was on the agenda and a large crowd turned up to raise funds for recently flooded areas. It was great to see people in a small community raising funds for their neighbours. Amongst a large crowd I watched the Rabbitohs play the Broncos in poor conditions. There really was, however, only one way to describe this match. And that was Latrell Mitchell. While some might say he did not do much in the game, he certainly was influential in winning it for the Rabbits. Where the Broncos go from here is a big question.
After attending the Quilpie Diggers Cup and enjoying the country hospitality we were on our wat to Charleville. Courtesy of the winner in the time-honoured Quilpie Newmarket we even had a bit of the local bookie’s money in our pockets. We listened to the ABC Radio for the Raiders and Bulldogs match. Again, at 20 points to nil in favour of the Raiders at half time like all, I thought the game was all over. In fact, at 20 nil the Raiders we The Raiders ended the round in 4th spot.re on top of the live ladder, but the Bulldogs in the second half played exhilarating rugby league, led by their star centre Creighton and put the sword through the Raiders. So dominant were the Bulldogs, that even Coach Stuart could not blame the officiating. I took in the second match Saturday in at the Charleville RSL. It was a tight game and very entertaining. When the Warriors got out to a lead of 14 nil, I again thought it was game over. However, the Dragons fought back scoring 3 tries to the Warriors 2 but Holmes’ usually reliable boot let him down and had the score locked at 14 all. But the Warriors were able to take a field goal10 minutes from full time to seal the match. The final game on Saturday night was a tremendous clash of rugby league between the Cowboys and the Panthers. Each time, the Panthers got out to a lead the Cowboys would come back. There were multiple attempts to seal the game but neither side were able to do it. Although the Cowboys had the most chances and most probably should have won the game. It is a bit of a worry for the Cowboys given for the last two weeks they really should have won both games but instead only have one point from. It was a tremendous game of rugby league.
On Sunday. We started the long trip home and listened to the Storm against the Tigers. What more can you say than Papenhausen 36 Tigers nil. The commentators used superlative after superlative to describe his game. No more needs to be said. In the final game, the Sharks were too good for Manly who seem to have lost their mojo. They fought back to 14 all and were back in the game for a brief period of time. However, the Sharks kicked on and won the game comfortably with Hynes looking like he is finding some form. And that was the end of a tipster’s nightmare!
So round 11 starts on Thursday night and surely it has to be easier for the tipsters. After last round fans everywhere are looking for consistency! The first game has the Knights up against the Eels. The Knights are at home but were poor last week allowing the Titans to come back from 20 points to nil. So, one would think that would cause some damage to the Knights confidence. I am loathe to tip the Eels but they are getting back to close to their best side with Lomax returning from injury. Prior to that injury, he was their best player.
Friday night has two games. The first one has the Bulldogs up against the Roosters and this will give us an idea where both sides are at. The Bulldogs are rolling along at the top of the table, and the Roosters are starting to find some form. Certainly, the replacement of Townsend at half back has been a bonus for the Roosters. The Bulldogs are a little down on troops given the injuries and suspensions for some of their forwards, but they are playing well. I am thinking the Roosters in the early match. The late game has the Dolphins up against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium. The Dolphins have shown plenty of pluck this year to put themselves in a reasonable position on the table. But I think the Warriors have just been travelling too well. I am going to take the Warriors even though I am wary of their unpredictableness.
Saturday has three games. The first one has the Cowboys up against the Sea Eagles at home. After last week’s performance, I have no option but to choose the Cowboys to win this match. The Sea Eagles seem to be just drifting at the moment. The second game has the Sharks up against the Storm and the Sharks will have to perform better than they did last week if they are to trouble a Storm side that was absolutely on fire last weekend. Papenhuyzen has been in tremendous form, and it is hard to see in having a bad game with the eyes of the State of Origin selectors upon him. The final game on Saturday night has the Broncos up against the Dragons. As mentioned, Mam is back for the Dragons, replacing the injured Hunt. The Broncos, for the third week in a row, must win this game if they are to demonstrate their credentials as grand final aspirant. I don’t think the movement of Carrigan to the front row has been successful and their backrowers need to perform better than they have. After their defeat of Canterbury, they were on the road to winning the premiership (again) according to the Courier but now just 3 weeks later the coach is under siege. The Saints on the other hand are competitive, but I just cannot see them beating the Broncos in this one.
The first of the Sunday matches has the Raiders at home against the Titans. Even though the Titans had a massive comeback (behind by 20) and the Raiders had a massive fallback (ahead by 20) last week, I just can’t see them troubling the Raiders this weekend. Foran has been named in the team and he certainly a big in if he plays. This allows Brimson to go back to his preferred fullback position. I think Canberra will be smarting over last week’s belting in the second half and will be a much better side. The final game for the round has the Tigers up against the Rabbitohs and after the euphoria of last week’s win, I cannot see the Rabbitohs going backwards here. When you can have a player of the calibre of Jye Gray only getting 12 minutes in a match, you know that your sides going OK. Humphries and Sullivan seem to be gelling well in the halves, and their forward pack is hard working. The Tigers certainly try hard but after last week’s shellacking this game will.be a bridge too far.
Top Eight (in order)
3 Melbourne 5 Cronullaargh 6 Cowboys 7 Broncos 8 Manly 9 Roosters 11 Souths16 Penrith
Fact / Stat for the day- assuming NSW do not pick Jake Travoy *****. In their side. It will be the third year in a row that NSW will have a new captain for their side.
Tippin Stats- A pathetic 3 last week has seen me drop to 5th but the competition has really packed up. I also dropped 11000 places in the broader comp. Smithy65 is continuing to climb the ladder as all good firemen should and is only 1 behind me whilst the Crabman scored a 7 – the same number of Crabs he is allowed to take from his secret spot each day! GHB picked more than me but is still anchored well and truly to the bottom!
You gotta love footy!
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