NRL Round 9: All eyes on the Rabbitohs

 

 

I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for James Demetriou. Clearly there’s a problem at Redfern but whether that problem is JD or his players is uncertain. Something had to happen. It’s ‘easier’ to sack the coach than terminate half your senior squad mid-season. Whatever the real story behind the problems of the past 10 months, I, for one, am left with the feeling that ‘disquiet’ (how’s that for a euphemism?) among a core group of players (aided and abetted within the coaching staff?) created a split that wasn’t dealt with immediately and so it grew and festered until it reached Tuesday’s eruption. Poor man management by Demetriou? Players acting beyond their remit? Weakness at Board level? Just plain human fractiousness? Whatever! It’s a mess. And now Lachlan Ilias has been offered an open exit door. It could be the best thing that can happen to him. Bravo to you, Ben Hornby, for stepping into the mess. Good luck!

 

And the reward for all of this? A clash with the Panthers tonight!

 

Good vibe of the moment: Who said there’s no place in the modern game for men of smaller stature? Three big cheers for Jye Gray and Trai Fuller, two emerging, courageous and very talented fullbacks.

 

Elsewhere in Round 8 I thought the cricket season must have been extended as scorelines blew out far and wide. All bar one game had an aggregate score of 40 points or more – the odd one out only got to 32. The big winners were the Titans who claimed their first win of the season, a result that has been a few weeks in the making but which, hopefully, is the first of several more to come. The Roosters showed that they are flat track bullies with their 60-point romp over the Dragons. (How did you go with that tip, Prop?) Melbourne also scored a half century; the Eels capitulated again with a mix of stupidity and ill discipline when an upset beckoned; the Broncos won again with a series of spurts. The Cowboys put up their best effort for a while but still lost; the Knights showed that they’re not a one man band; and the Sharks looked great with Hynes in scintillating form. But the Raiders were awful; the Dolphins gave away too many points early on – again!; the Eels are in real strife, especially now that Gutho is out for a while; the Dragons looked to be back at Square 1; and the Warriors must be a bit worried about their recent form.

 

Round 9 features a few key clashes, none more important than tonight’s Rabbitohs v Panthers game. It just might be an opportunity for the Bunnies to show what they’re made of. They’re at rock bottom; the only way is up. Penrith have been below their best for the past few weeks and Cleary is a late withdrawal. Come on, Souths players – let’s see what you can do; at the very least, make a contest of it. Regardless, it won’t be enough and I fear that Penrith may give them a real touch up.

 

Tomorrow evening, Manly (with the reprieved DCE on board) host the Raiders who were so disappointing last week. Form says that there’s only one possible outcome here – a Manly win. But never underestimate Sticky’s ability to lift his charges. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the upset of the round but it’s a big ask for any team to come up with a 40+ points turnaround in one week. I’ll stick with Manly. The match of the round is the night game between Brisbane and the Roosters. Brisbane will have to play for the full 80 minutes if they want to win this one. Are they an 80-minute team? The Roosters looked so good last week – as good as they look on paper. But let’s see what happens when they are up against one of the better teams. Two big boofy packs, two sets of very talented halves, two electric backlines, two great fullbacks. This game has it all. I’ll let my heart guide me and go for the Broncos. Footnote: well done to Luke Keary who has announced his end of season retirement. It’s just not worth it any more, so get out while you’re ahead. (No pun intended.)

 

Saturday afternoon starts with the Bulldogs at home to the Wests Tigers. Ciraldo is building slowly out west and ‘the game plan’ seems to be falling into place. Wests Tigers are not so far advanced in their rebuild and so I expect they’ll labour in vain again this weekend. It’s the Bulldogs for me. In the early evening, the Titans take on the Storm on the Gold Coast. One way traffic, I fear. Hughes and Munster are almost back to peak form which spells trouble for everyone else. It’s a pity the Titans have Melbourne as their next opponent after getting their first win last week. But, hey, who said that footy is ever fair? Just ask South Sydney this week! The late game has the Cowboys up against the Dolphins, both last round losers, both with something to prove. Neither side is a good starter so let’s see what happens here. The Cowboys looked better last week against a quality side; the Dolphins couldn’t go against a moderate side. So it’s the Cowboys for me.

 

On Sunday afternoon, the Knights lead off against the Warriors. Newcastle want to show that last week wasn’t a one-off, the Warriors want to arrest a minor slump. So this has the makings of a very good game. It’s difficult to be confident about either side. I’ll go with sentiment and home ground advantage by picking the Knights. The round concludes with the Sharks v Dragons match-up. More agony for the Dragons, I’m afraid, because the Sharks will douse the fire of the Dragons initially and then maul their sorry carcass. A Shark frenzy in store.

 

The Eels have a much needed bye.

 

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