Well, the Thursday night game went as one would have predicted. Melbourne completely dominated the match and the Rabbitohs struggled to stay with them. The second half would have been an absolute nightmare for coach Bellamy, given the standards that he sets, and what sets Melbourne apart from other teams. The multiple errors that they made were uncharacteristic and they really played down to Souths’ level. I think that the Storm were more concerned about next week’s game than rolling the Rabbits! Big Nelson nearly played a full match so, clearly, Bellamy is trying to get some mileage into his legs before the final series. I guess Thursday night’s game is one of the most awaited this season.
Friday night’s games were also of great interest, however, the Titans were terrible against the Sharks. It is hard to believe the turnaround in one week and, as anyone who reads this column knows, my backing the Titans to beat the Sharks was their downfall. Cronulla showed enough without their star halves pairing that they are still a top 4 contender. But that brings us to what was an absolutely cracking game between Parramatta and Penrith. Interestingly, at 34-20 I was watching the game with my son and he said, “Dad, it is all over, let’s watch the Olympics.” A Parramatta tragic (my Mum, who I had just texted with a message around the Eels folding up) sent a text saying, “What a bummer”. We went back to the footy and re-watched the last 8 minutes where the Eels completely capitulated to let in 3 tries to the Panthers. Cleary is establishing himself as a player who can win any game at any time. His plays to win that game were outstanding, and they are still without two of their stars, Edwards and Fisher-Harris. They are going to be one hell of a football side to beat. Spare a thought for my friend Callan, another long-suffering diehard Parramatta supporter, who sent me several texts about how good his side was going. Sorry, mate, but stick with it.
On Saturday we had three games, starting with Canberra up against the Sea Eagles. I know that Coach Stuart whined about a decision made just before half-time, but I cannot see how you can blame that for the match when the Sea Eagles were way too strong. With Turbo and DCE in fine form, they can trouble any side.
The second Saturday game was one that was also expected to go a particular way but did not. You can only say the Cowboys were terrible. At 18-6 just before half-time, and reasonably comfortable, they just let that game slip through their fingers. It was hard to follow. Spare a thought for my good mate Slugger. Just after full time he texted me and said (deleting expletives), “Who would have thought that?” and “What’s going on at Red Hill?” Well Slugger, if you can answer that you are a genius! The Broncos looked like the side that was on top of the ladder, not the bottom. But of course, Broncos supporters like Slugger must ask the question – where has that been this year? Flying like that when it is too late is of no benefit.
The Bulldogs and the Dragons also put on an entertaining clash. The Bulldogs ran out winners although the Dragons certainly had their chances, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half. But when the Bulldogs scored in the 58th minute through Kurt Mann, the game was all over. There was a nasty incident during the match and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. A 4 week suspension was most probably on the mark.
Sunday had two games and the first was a thriller. Lang Park, the Dolphins, the Warriors. Every time the Dolphins edged ahead the Warriors came back and at full time it was 32-all. We went to extra time. Again, goal kicking has been a problem for the Warriors as they outscored the Dolphins 6 tries to 5 but were on level points at the end before O’Sullivan banged over a 42-metre, 2-point field goal. That puts Redcliffe agonizingly close to being in the eight in just their second year in the competition, a major achievement. And of course Wayne still hates Golden Point! The final game went as predicted with the Knights being too strong for the Tigers and keeping their slim hopes on life support.
So to Round 24 and the last chance to position for many teams. On Thursday night we start with potentially the game of the season with the Storm up against the Penrith Panthers. This should be a cracking match with both sides having close to their best teams on the paddock and I am sure preparing to flex muscles. It will be interesting to see Edwards and Fisher-Harris back as they certainly makes a difference. What a game it should be. A cracker, but I think Penrith might just be a bit too strong.
On Friday night we have two games. First up, the Sea Eagles play the Warriors and I cannot see the Warriors troubling Manly as they push for a top four spot. The second game has the Roosters against the Eels and, again, I cannot see the Eels troubling the Roosters at all. Both games should go to script.
On Saturday the first game comes from an old favourite ground of mine, Salter Oval in Bundaberg, with a Bulldogs home match against the Dolphins. This should be a cracking game with the Bulldogs desperately trying to hold their spot in the 4 and the Dolphins desperately trying to hang on to the 8 after their golden point field goal win last week. Local knowledge – always run into town in the second half! The Dolphins will be very confident but the Bulldogs have shown all year that they will compete to the end and I think this may be a game for the Bulldogs. The second Saturday night game has the very inconsistent Cowboys up against the equally inconsistent Raiders. After Ricky’s standard complaining last week, Payten has finally swung the axe and dropped Townsend. Clifford is back after guiding the Northern Pride to the top of the Host Plus ladder and he will make a difference. The Cowboys realistically have to win this game to have any chance of bagging a top 4 spot. The final Saturday night game has the Tigers against the Rabbitohs and there is little interest here except for maybe my colleague Rabbit in the Vineyard and my son Tom and his family who will take any Pride of the League victory! It’s hard to see and predict who might win but surely the Rabbitohs will be too strong.
That leaves us with two games on Sunday. The Dragons are playing the Titans and again the Dragons desperately need to win this to stay in the hunt (pardon the pun) for a top eight spot. With the drama they’ve had this week surely they’ll galvanise and defeat the Titans. But which Titans will turn up for Foran’s 300th? The Dragons will hope it is the Round 22 model! Finally the Sharks play the Knights who must win to stay in the race for the 8th spot while the Sharks have to win to shore up their spot in the 4. I am going with the Sharks, with apologies to Shark fans.
So, my selections are Panthers, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbits, Dragons, and Sharks.
My season prediction positions after Round 12: Penrith 2nd, Broncos 12th, Melbourne 1st, Souths 15th (and gone), Roosters 3rd, Cowboys 7th, Newcastle 10th and St George 9th.
Odd Rugby League Origin Grand Final facts!
(Apologies to all who have already read this but I found it very interesting.)
This odd fact was provided to me by the Councillor who sent an article from the Courier Mail to me recently around the number of State of Origin players that you needed to have on your team to be successful in the Grand Final (average since 1983). The State of Origin has provided a big input into grand final teams and winners. Very few clubs have won with less than three State of Origin players in their side. Only one team, the West Tigers of 2005, has won a comp with zero State of Origin players. Since then only the 2008 Sea Eagles (1 Origin rep to the Storm’s 10! -Smith suspended), 2014 Rabbitohs (3 to the Bulldogs’ 4 – but they had 3 Burgess brothers, especially Sam), the 2015 Cowboys (4 to the Broncos’ 6 -Thurston at the peak of his powers) and the 2018 Roosters (4 to the Storm’s 6 – amazingly Cronk left alone) have been able to win. Clearly this obviously makes sense as the more elite players you have, the better you should go. The magic number to make it to the grand final is 4.92 Origin players in your team. That is an amazing stat. Thank you Councillor, and David Riccio.
You gotta love footy!
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Bundaberg indeed, Prop. I’ve seen the photographs of your premiership teams in the Brothers Clubhouse display cabinet. Impressive!
I only ever scored the one try at Salter’s Oval and we were running out of town at the time. Maybe that was why we lost that day?
Due to technical difficulties, Matt O’Hanlon forwarded this comment for me to post on his behalf:
As Charles Dickens said, Fiery Greenkeeper, “It is a far, far better try I scored, than I have ever scored; it was a far, far better clubhouse that I went to than I had ever known”, or at least I think he meant that and, of course, you had many memorable moments in the Butchers stripes on Salter. If Ian had looked closely at those clubhouse photos, he would have seen you in many of the great Bretheren sides of the 90s! As a side note, in June 1967 Bundaberg gave Australia a warm-up game at Salter Oval before the NZ tour of that year and scored 12 points. Notable players were the great Col Weiss, the Reynolds brothers Col and Ray, a family friend of ours Big Darryl Brady, Don Nixon, Bill Pearson (who Capt/Coached Brothers), and Noel ‘Gags’ Gallagher who played so well he was picked in the Australian touring team later that year. So, Fiery Greenkeeper, you have scored on a paddock that many of the greats have. Not sure if Fox or 9 will wax on about the great Bundaberg names!
keep on keeping on Prop, Cheers ?
go storm
nothing screams RUGBY LEAGUE more than the Phins running out on to Salter Oval, BUNDY!
YA GOTTA LOVE FOOTY !!
It was indeed a great afternoon of footy at Salters Oval with the Bulldogs managing a relatively convincing win in the end. (Despite running out of town in the second half). Some of the highlights being Kiraz winding himself scoring the first try, Mahoney’s rag doll impersonation when he confronted Pangai Junior and the Fox being run down by the Hammer. I know the diminutive size of the Dog’s forwards (Kikau and Hughes the exceptions) has been one of the Prop’s themes for some time, and seeing them live and up close the disparity in size with the more imposing Dolphins pack was obvious. But the likes of Curran, Mann and Preston got the job done over the likes of Pangai Junior, Kaufusi and the Bromwichs despite bringing less weight to bear.