What can I say about the penultimate round of the NRL? What a round it was? But before I get to that, there are a couple of other games I should mention. I was fortunate enough to get to the wonderful Sunshine Coast Stadium to watch Palm Beach Currumbin play Kirwan High in the final of the Phil Hall Cup. Palm Beach were too strong and now head on to the national final to be played on the Gold Coast next Wednesday. PBC were deserved winners of the Queensland competition and now have a chance to add the National Trophy to their cabinet. In the Girls’ final Ipswich High proved too strong for The Cathedral College Rockhampton and they will play in their final before the boys on Wednesday.
I also got a report on the first Australian Firefighters Rugby League team who won their match on Sunday afternoon against the NSW Police 26-22. What a great win and the team was coached by Trent Leis, a former Cowboy, assisted by another former NRL player, Billy Rogers, and my great mate Scott ‘Slugger’ Munro. Slugger’s son Ben played half back and the Councilor’s son Jake was ‘man of the match’ in the second row. Well done, fellows, and for those interested this weekend at Albany Creek Qld Firefighters play the NSW Police in a 9/11 Memorial match with some NYFD members in attendance. All funds raised go to the Burns Unit.
But back to the NRL, the Cowboys were disappointing against the Storm. It was basically a Storm reserve grade side, yet the Cowboys could not really put them away and the Storm showed plenty of pluck. They really are well coached, and their players were in the game right up until the end. The Cowboys have to do better.
On Friday night there was a lot of interest in the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles match. All along I’ve thought the Bulldogs were too small and I think the Sea Eagles proved that on Friday night. Manly’s forwards were just too much for the Bulldogs to control. But certainly, the Bulldogs are going to be a force in the years going forward and they were without Crichton. The second Friday game had the Panthers up against the Rabbits, and I guess all we can say here is the Panthers did a bit of muscle flexing. They are going to be in it at the end.
I was confident sitting on three out of three tips at that point in time and thought that Saturday would be a walk in the park, but what a disaster it was for the tipster. Firstly, the Dragons v Eels game is really a case of say no more. 84 points in 80 minutes at this level is just not good enough defence for any side to be competitive and you can kiss the Saints goodbye. Likewise, the Broncos were atrocious against the Dolphins. It is the fourth time this year I have said it, but you have to give it to Bennett. Some positional changes before kickoff and all hell breaks loose in front of a full Lang Park house. The Dolphins outplayed, out muscled, and out enthused a very, very poor Broncos. Who knows where they will head next season let alone next week. Finally, to finish off Saturday night, how could anyone have tipped the Warriors to beat the Sharks at home on a Saturday night? The death knell of many a side, yet after getting out to a very comfortable lead the Warriors rounded up the Sharks and put them to bed right on full time. That is a great concern for the Sharks going forward. Of course, I tipped the Sharks, and they mauled me again.
Sanity prevailed on Sunday with the Knights, who got up over the Titans and I thought everything was back in order. Then out come the Roosters trying to nail down a top two spot and they get beaten by Ricky’s Raiders. Hard to follow, incredibly hard to follow as the Raiders got flogged by the Cowboys and then topple Penrith and the Roosters. Big scalps in the last two weeks, but they’re going to finish outside the 8. What a complicated round for all the tipsters but it sets up some top games as we head into Round 27.
So Round 27 gives us some interesting games. You would have to think the Storm would absolutely slaughter the Broncos in the Thursday night game. After last week, that can be the only result. Friday has the early game with the Spoon Bowl. West Tigers play the Eels at Campbelltown, and I think given Parramatta’s pathetic second-half performance last week, the West Tigers might just win this one and give the dreaded kitchenware to the Eels. It is the only game where you can lose and win a prize! The dreaded spoon there to win or lose? And with a full house to boot! The Roosters should come out way too strong for the Rabbits in the second Friday night game, although they will be without Walker, Radley and Smith and that could harm their chances in the weeks coming up.
The Saturday games have a little bit of interest. The Dragons play the Raiders, and you’d have to think the Raiders will win that game. Likewise, the Bulldogs play the Cowboys, and this will be a very interesting match because it does have an impact on where sides will finish. The winner goes to fifth and a home final whilst the loser potentially drops to seventh and an away match at Brookvale. The final Saturday night game has the Panthers against the Titans, and I think that will be a reasonable training run for the Panthers.
Sunday is the day of most interest. The Sea Eagles play the Sharks and can secure a home final, which we know is a massive plus for Manly. Likewise, Cronulla really want to show that they are going to be a contender. I just don’t think the Sharks have what it takes but with my record Sharks fans can be confident! The final game determines the last spot in the eight. The Dolphins are up against the Knights, and I hope the Dolphins can win. I think it will be a great credit for the work Bennett has done in getting a side into the eight in their second year. They have stuck in games all season, especially in the first half, and Kaufusi being exonerated (deservedly) is a big plus. Redcliffe are most probably sentimental favorites although there will be no sentiment in Newcastle with a crowd wanting to see the stars of Seaworld speared! What if it’s a draw!! Then we head to the finals.
So, my selections are Storm, West Tigers, Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys, Penrith, Sea Eagles, and Knights and I am sharing in the lead of the Almanac Tipping comp so follow me at your peril!
My season prediction positions after Round 26: Penrith 2nd, Broncos 12th (Gone), Melbourne 1st, Souths 15th (Gone), Roosters 3rd, Cowboys 6th, Newcastle 9th and St George 10th. (Relying on a draw Knights, Redcliffe and a Raiders loss).
Odd Rugby League facts!
The Councilor raised an interesting point to me about how small the rugby league world is. He said he pondered how unusual that at an Australian Firefighters rugby league match before the Roosters v Raiders clash at Alliance that he turns up and Slugger is assistant coach, and the Councilor coached the other assistant coach as a Wide Bay Schoolboy – and they both are mates with the Prop! Two blokes who knew another bloke in common and both had their sons playing in the same representative team in Sydney and end up having a beer together and a yarn about the good old days!
Well done, Councilor, but consider this. Wayne Bennett coached Kevin Walters and John Plath, and then in the next generation, Max Plath, son of John, is playing for Bennet against Billy Walters, son of Kevin. Is that coincidence or is rugby league truly a very small world? And did Wayne, Kevvy and John have a drink after the game and reminisce about the good old days like Slugger and you?
Finally, in the NRL I think this would be a very unique situation as coaches normally don’t coach in the NRL in their 70s! I’mhappy for anyone to share other examples that span generations.
NB: I cannot respond to comments on the Almanac atm as some Russian hackers have stopped this function on my computer! Surely, they have better things they could be doing.
You gotta love footy!
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2024 click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
Prop, how can you be leading the pack with your record of tipping both for and against the Sharks? Early hints right here and now of an official protest to be lodged at season’s end!
Your examples of the changing involvements of players, coaches, etc might be a reflection of the changing value of the concept of club loyalty over the years. How much is a contract actually worth?
Thanks for the promotion of the 9/11 Memorial Sports Day. Just one slight correction, the QLD Firies will be playing against their counterparts from the QLD Police. (1 pm kick off for the main game). So hopefully the smell of cooked bacon will not be confined to the BBQ area. For those out Eton’s Hill way this Saturday I thoroughly recommend you pop over and check out the game, which in the past has always been of a high quality. Both sides rip in (thanks in no small part to the players being covered by workers comp) and there is always a lot of feeling in the match.