NRL Round 22 and NRLW Round 5 – If it’s August, then finals can’t be far away

 

 

I love upsets, except when it’s my team who go down when they’re expected to win on the bit. Bloody Broncos! But if the hard work isn’t there for the full 80 minutes, you’re asking for trouble, even against a team of comparative journeymen (Moses and Lomax excepted) like the one the Eels put on the field on Friday night. Flash doesn’t count; reputation doesn’t count; grunt counts. Full marks to Parra for a gutsy effort. It would have been an injustice if Brisbane scored at the death. Get your act together, Broncos. Top 4 is still technically possible, even if highly unlikely. Likewise, well done Titans to score your upset win over the Warriors in Des’s 500th match as a coach. I didn’t see your game but it sounds like a similar storyline. Warriors, let that game be a warning to you before we get to the finals. If Penrith continues its charge and you finish fifth, one more slip like this and you’re gone. Praise also for the Rabbitohs who may not have won but, with the team they had available, did their club proud with an outstanding effort against huge odds. If ever there was an honourable loss, this was it.

 

Elsewhere in Round 21, the Storm showed real depth of character to overcome the Roosters. When Hughes was forced off I thought it was game over. Take a bow, Harry, that was some captain’s knock to lead your side to victory. The Roosters hurt their finals hopes but remain only one win and percentage off eighth place, so they’re not cooked yet. Tom Dearden (in his disguise as the Cowboys team) did well but it looks like too little too late for September. The Panthers continue to threaten but may have to win the comp from outside the top four, a rarity. But you’d have to think that if anyone can, they can. Their player depth is phenomenal. How good are the Raiders? That’s a question, not a statement – yet. But they need to make better starts rather than relying on a second half blitz. Regardless, it’s good to see the Green Machine purring along again. And there was I thinking the Dogs v Sea Eagles would go down to the wire. The Doggies really gave them a towelling! They looked slick against a team that beat Melbourne last week. I’m waiting for Prop by the Sea, who had been reluctant to rate the Doggies too highly, to make a statement about them. Come on, Prop – do you think they’re the real deal? With Olokau’atu’s season over, it’s hard to see Manly making the finals.

 

Round 22 kicks off tonight with the rejuvenated Eels hosting the stoic Storm in Sydney. Although Melbourne have lost Hughes for several weeks, it looks like they’ll get Munster and Papenhuysen back.  Parra played smart footy last week but might find that Melbourne is made of sterner stuff than Brisbane. I’ll stick with Melbourne.

 

Friday evening footy starts with the now vulnerable Warriors at home to the Dolphins. Clearly, the Wahs need a win to get back in the top four race; the Dolphins can’t afford to lose, otherwise their finals hopes will be stretched pretty thin. Incentive abounds on all sides! I’ll favour the Warriors, marginally. The late game has Brisbane facing the Rabbitohs. The latter have about a dozen missing on the injured or suspended list and so it’s pretty obvious that Brisbane should win, and I expect them to do so. But who’d be confident after their showing last week.

 

Saturday’s three games begin with the Titans at home to the Panthers. In spite of their gutsy effort last week, it’s hard to see the Gold Coast lads matching it with the defending premiers who are on a roll. The Panthers look likely to make it eight in a row. The twilight game features the Dragons up against the rampaging Raiders. This looks straightforward for Canberra but the Dragons can’t be underestimated on recent form. Nevertheless I’ll stick with Canberra. The evening concludes with the match of the round, the Sea Eagles versus the Roosters. They’re both fighting for a possible place in the finals. The Sea Eagles were badly exposed last weekend but the Roosters were also unconvincing when they should have put Melbourne to the sword. Olakau’atu will be missed in an already creaking pack and that will make the difference. I think it will be the Roosters.

 

Sunday afternoon footy begins with the Wests Tigers taking on the Bulldogs – one way traffic here with the home side made to see what they’ve lost with Galvin fitting into the Dog’s attack so well. The Dogs will be on the loose. Finally, the Sharks host Tom Dearden, alias the Cowboys. The Cows looked better last weekend but their opponents were fellow ‘also rans’. The Sharks were also underwhelming against the Rabbitohs but have greater capacity to hit form quickly, especially at home. I’ll be on the Sharks.

 

The Knights have the bye.

 

NRLW

Round 4 gave us a few more insights into how this comp might shape up by September. The Roosters appear to be the team to beat after 4 wins from 4 starts, all of them comfortably. Then the Broncos, Cowboys and Knights look to be the next bunch. The rest seem to be just that – the rest. Hopefully things might even out in August.

 

All Round 5 matches will be played in Newcastle as the NRLW’s Magic Round. The first of three matches on Saturday sees the Titans taking on the Bulldogs. Both are part of a mid-table log jam with the winner keeping in touch with the leaders while the loser looks likely to struggle to play in September. I’ll go with the Titans who are coming off a solid win. In the second game, I can’t see the Wests Tigers troubling the Roosters who seem to be almost in a league of their own. The third game, Broncos v Sharks, is probably match of the round. The Sharks are also in that logjam and can ill afford another loss while a Brisbane win will see them consolidate second place. The Broncos need to make a better start than they have in their last two games. I think they will, plus the Sharks may have injury problems, so I’ll tip Brisbane.

 

On Sunday we start with the Cowboys up against the Warriors. The girls from up north looked slick in Round 4 while the Warriors struggled. That’s enough for me to go with the Cowboys. Next up will be the Knights v Raiders clash where form suggests that the Knights will be too strong. Finally, the Eels and Dragons will be looking to stay relevant in the comp. Although soundly beaten by Brisbane last weekend, I thought I saw enough in the Dragons to suggest that they might be up for this challenge. So go with the Dragons.

 

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