The Bunker is this week’s talking point with their seeming inconsistency of penalties for head high shots, particularly those where the shoulder leads the tackle. Crichton certainly got away with a light application of the situation, Murray copped the delayed version and JWH just can’t seem to help himself. I suppose it gives the masses something to talk about at the proverbial water cooler, that is if they aren’t WFH! And this week’s kerfuffle is all about whether or not the Storm is undermining the game by resting several key players ahead of the finals. I wonder if it’s really about resting players or because it’s Melbourne Storm doing it. After all, Melbourne is just about everybody’s favourite punching bag. Would the same be said if it was the Roosters or the Panthers?
Round 25 had its share of interest with the Wests Tigers’ young brigade giving fans a glimpse of a possible future after their upset against an ill-disciplined Manly. The Broncos continued to tease their followers by giving the opposition a head start, running them down and hanging on to the merest thread of a finals appearance. The Raiders scored the upset of the round by downing the Panthers who may or may not be slightly off the boil. The Storm are brewing and have the minor premiership wrapped up with two rounds to spare. The Roosters are also surging but have yet to show that form against the top sides, so we’ll hold fire on their chances for now. And the Sharks seem to be regaining lost momentum as they easily disposed of the Dragons. It all left us with about 4 or five teams battling out 7th and 8th spots on the ladder. There’s plenty to play for this weekend.
Round 26 kicks off with the Cowboys hosting a reimagined Storm, so who knows what might or might not happen there? I’m always loathe to tip against Melbourne, even a undermanned one, but I might have to this week given the extent of their reshuffle. It’s a lucky break for the Cowboys.
Friday evening’s Bulldogs v Manly game is probably the match of the round, certainly as far as ladder positions are concerned. The Doggies are still eyeing fourth spot while Manly want to regain form heading into the finals. Let’s see how the Bulldogs fare without Crichton who has been their best player and guiding light all season. I think that his absence might be pivotal and so I’ll go for Manly. The late game has the Panthers at home to the Murray-less Rabbitohs. The best one can say for Souths is that they have only 160 more minutes of footy this season. One way traffic here – Panthers by a lot.
Saturday afternoon footy commences with the Dragons meeting the Eels. The former want 8th spot, the latter want to avoid the spoon. It might not be pretty but it sure will be keenly contested. I expect Hunt to (yet again) lead by example and get the Dragons home, even though Gutho will be doing all he can to save Parra’s blushes. The twilight game has the Dolphins up against the Broncos. The Dolphins have slipped away in the past two months with many saying that coach Bennett is thinking too much about 2025. Maybe, but the Phins are also a bit short on personnel to be finalists at this stage. Brisbane will try to keep that finals door ajar. The late game has the Sharks taking on the Warriors and you’d expect the hosts to bolt it in, having regained some good form last time out. I’m convinced and I expect the Sharks to hold onto third spot on the ladder.
Come Sunday and the Titans meet the Knights, a case of two sides who could be further up the ladder but just can’t string the wins together. Newcastle were good last weekend, showing just what they can be; the Titans were awful against the Roosters. So the signs say Newcastle. Finally, the Roosters meet last week’s surprise packet, the Raiders. Where has that Canberra side been hiding? It was possibly their best effort for the year but all too late. The Roosters are building nicely and I can’t see them letting this one slip. But can they cut it with Melbourne, Penrith and Cronulla? We’ll find out soon.
Wests Tigers have the bye – that should stir Parramatta into action!
NRLW Round 5 add more confusion than clarity to their season. The Sharks are firm favourites for the flag while 6 sides are battling for the other three finals places. The Broncos played only half a game to show what they could be but need to get out of the blocks faster. The Roosters are the competition’s yo-yos with their inconsistent form while their conquerors, the Titans, look like they may be getting back to their best.
Round 6 opens with the match of the round, the Titans up against the Sharks. If both are at their best, it should be a great struggle. Are the Titans up to testing the best or are the Sharks runaway leaders? I like the look of their game and expect Cronulla to remain undefeated. The Eels host the Dragons and both form and ladder positions suggest only one result – the Eels to win. The Dragons are better than they’ve shown so far but can’t put it together consistently.
On Sunday the reinvigorated Knights will continue the misery for the Wests Tigers, the only question being the final margin. The Broncos v Cowboys derby should be a beauty. The Cowboys don’t lack spirit or energy while the Broncos have to get to the starting line on time. At their best, the Broncos win but if they’re even just a bit ‘off’ they’ll be playing catch up again. I’m not sure why but I’ll stick with the Broncos. The final game has two enigmas up against each other – the Roosters v the Raiders. On paper, the Roosters have one of the best rosters; Canberra have shown that they can really play but consistency eludes them. I’m expecting the Roosters to realise that they need to get their act together asap, and that means on Sunday.
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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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