The Courier Mail Bronco headline last week was just what we needed to hear – ‘I’ll Do It My Way – Walsh won’t let critics break him’. I’m not as sure as some of the learned journos are on whether we are watching the same Broncos. Sure, they beat Redcliffe 38-28 but with 20 to go the Dolphins led 28-14. The Dolphins are a patched-up side playing especially well given the circumstances and the Broncos didn’t really put them away. But, according to said journos, Walsh put on a ‘masterclass’. He is undoubtedly a talent, but his game requires more than ‘free attacking spirit’.
Round 24 started off with a match between the Storm and the Panthers and it was a high-quality match. The game ebbed and flowed throughout and was locked up at full-time after Cleary kicked a field gold but it was taken off him as Grant outsmarted the referees. In golden point Grant then outsmarted the Penrith defence to score a tremendous try. It was a high quality game and some of the tries scored were excellent. To’o had a game slightly below his best and Coates certainly capitalised. Outside that, these two sides are certainly frontrunners going forward in the competition.
There were two games on Friday night and the first saw the Warriors at home up against the Dragons. Unfortunately for the Dragons, a sickening head clash about 10 minutes into the game meant they lost two players to the concussion rule for the match and the in the second half a third player was also taken out for concussion. Given that, it was a bright performance by the Dragons who were, in the end, unlucky to lose and they are showing a bit of form at the end of the season. The second Friday night game was expected to be a cracker as well but the Roosters proved to be too strong. I have had my doubts about the Bulldogs forwards and again they seemed to be outmuscled by the Roosters. Interestingly, Mahoney got very little game time and Canterbury miss his annoyances in the middle of the field against opposing sides.
There were three games on Saturday, in the first of which the Sharks who walloped a very ordinary Titans to the tune of 54 points to 22. The previous good work by the Titans over the last three weeks was completely undone in this rout. The second game had the Broncos up against the Dolphins and, as I said earlier in this piece, I’m just not so sure the Broncos are at the level that they think they are. The Dolphins have so many players out with injury that they should have been beaten by big scores. But in this game, with 25 minutes to go, the Broncos actually were behind. I’m not sure they are playing well enough. The final Saturday night game had the Rabbits up against the Eels and it was a fairly ordinary game other than the fact that the scores remained tight. The Rabbits got away with this one which lifts them away from the dreaded wooden spoon who many were sure Mr Bennett would be using on his porridge come season’s end.
Finally, there were two games on Sunday and you must give it to the Tigers for their win over Manly in the first game. The Tigers were dogged and poor old DCE didn’t have the best game of his career as he made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes. Maybe the long season and the question marks about where he’s playing next year are starting to take effect. The Tigers results are definitely a pass mark for Benji Marshall. In season ‘25 he has taken his side off the bottom of the ladder and they are currently sitting in 11th position just outside the 8. Mathematically they can make the 8 but, even if they don’t, they have at least given their supporters something to look forward to. The final game of the round saw a very poor Knights outfit get beaten fairly comprehensively by the Cowboys. It was almost a game where it looked like neither side wanted to win until the second half when, all of a sudden, the Cowboys picked up a gear, scored some tries and went away with it. It has been a very disappointing season for both clubs and both of their coaches would be checking the job vacant column in the paper on a regular basis.
Round 25 begins on Thursday night with a clash between the Rabbits and the Dragons. This could be quite an interesting game as the Rabbitohs have put together a bit of form and the Dragons are going to be down on players after the injuries last week. Even though Mitchell is out I think the Rabbitohs may be too strong.
Friday night has two really important games in terms of the premiership. Firstly, at 6 pm on Friday night, the Panthers take on the Raiders. This game will give us an idea just where the Raiders are and the Panthers will be almost at full strength and out to stamp their mark on the top 4. It should be a great game but Canberra has to be sure that they don’t leak too many errors because, if they do, the Panthers will pounce. Likewise, the second Friday night game has the Storm up against the Bulldogs. This is a critical match for the Bulldogs after the shellacking they copped last week from the Roosters. The Dogs can’t afford to lose to another premiership contender which the Storm certainly are. It is in Melbourne so the Bulldogs will have to muscle up.
Saturday has three games, the first of which has the Sea Eagles up against the Dolphins. It is hard to see the Dolphins winning away from home given the injury toll but Manly have been so poor recently that it would not surprise. The second game has the Titans at home to the Warriors and the Warrior should win this one, although it is impossible to predict which Gold Coast slide will be turning up for the match. Finally, the Eels play the Roosters and I don’t think the Roosters will be making any mistakes as they march forward to shore up their position in the 8. They will be a danger side in the finals and Walker in his return has looked very good for them.
On Sunday, there are two games. The Knights at home to the Broncos is a game the Broncos should win comfortably and, finally, the Tigers are up against the Cowboys at Leichhardt where the Tigers at home can really make a statement in this game that they’re going places. A win would push the Tigers onto the cusp of the 8 and almost ahead of the Dolphins and Manly if they were both to lose.
Top Eight (in order)
2 Melbourne 5 Panthers 6 Broncos 7 Cronullaargh 8 Roosters 10 Manly 13 Cowboys 15 Rabbitohs
Fact / Stat for the day – DCE and Ben Hunt both play their 350th game this weekend which is quite an achievement for the 2 former Capricornia schoolboys and their families. Interestingly, Qld has provided five of the six 350-gamers with the odd one out being Terry Lamb. Well done both!
Tipping Stats – Crabman apparently got more big Queensland mud crabs in his first 2 pots than he did with his tips this week, so rather than dining out on tipping he has told me he is cooking my special recipe -Chilli Mud Crab and Coconut Rice – and I can stick my tipping. No doubt about the Crabman! He even sent a photo. The leaderboard stayed much the same and RITV had a good tipping week.
You gotta love footy!
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Some key games this weekend indeed, Prop! I’ll be most interested in the Panthers v Raiders to see just what the Raiders are made of. And then the Storm v Bulldogs – the Doggies need it badly but against Melbourne in Melbourne? History says not. And I’m hoping the Milestone Men have a good weekend.
Any chances of The Crabman sharing that recipe? Or is it like the ’13 secret herbs and spices’?