How about we put last night behind us? Yes I know that north of the border (and in outposts like Wollongong) you are all still celebrating. And did Anna Bligh say today “I tell you what, any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.” Probably not but it is what she shoulda said.
Now that Origin is effectively over, 11 rounds left till the finals. The season has flown by and all teams, apart from the Roosters, have a chance to make the finals. In some instances the maths are such that a few teams a better off odds wise going after the Oz Lotto jackpot next week. But hope does funny things to one’s perceptions.
So onward with the tips. This week assisted by a mole in the treasury department.
Canterbury Bankstown v North Queensland, Friday 7:35pm, ANZ Stadium
Both teams are affected by Origin and injuries to key players. The Dogs have pretty much taken everything sides have thrown at them this year and come through with the win. This game is going to be closer than the bookies think but will stick with the home side.
Wests v St George Illawarra, Friday 7:35pm, Sydney Football Stadium
Wests took a depleted Storm to the limit last weekend despite the best efforts of Daine Laurie. He is a player to watch but still unsure whether the interest is out of a strange fascination or admiration of his ability. Even with the Dragons’ forwards backing up after Origin, St Benny will prepare them well for the battle.
Gold Coast v New Zealand, Saturday 5:30pm, Skilled Park
The Titans are depleted by injuries but they are still favourites. Simply because no-one has any idea of what Warriors side will turn up. Not even the Kiwis themselves. It makes the Warriors a tipster’s nightmare but they do tend to falter the further away they are from Mt Smart. The Titans are in third place through hard effort and good execution. They’ll continue on their merry way.
Easts v Cronulla, Saturday 7:30pm, Sydney Football Stadium
Basically bottom of the table but an interesting clash none the less. Barrett is out for the Sharks but they didn’t need him last week. The key difference is that the Sharks have remembered how to win and the Roosters have become quite adept at finding ways to lose. The Sharks to do the plucking.
Canberra v Melbourne, Sunday 2:00pm, Canberra Stadium
Firstly, can someone tell Canberra that the game starts at 2:00pm? Otherwise they won’t turn up till the second half. Of the past 14 games between the two clubs, Canberra have not scored a win. An amazing record the Storm has against the Green Machine. But four key Storm players are in doubt. But that may not be enough for Canberra.
Parramatta v Brisbane, Sunday 3:00pm, Parramatta Stadium
The Broncos are on a slide. Defense is second worst in the comp and they have leaked 40 points the last three games. What better time to play the Eels, a side gifted in playing teams back into form. Then again, they have Hayne who seems to be of the opinion that he can win games all by himself. I know I shouldn’t. I know it is a sin but I’m gonna do it anyway. On the expectation that many of the Broncos will be tired and emotional still from the Origin win, the Eels to get home in the end.
Newcastle v South Sydney, Monday 7:00pm, Energy Australia Stadium
Both teams come off the bye and needing a win. The Knights have slipped but not as bad as the Bunnies fall down the ladder. Oh how they cruelly taunt the faithful. Mullen needs to start turning it on. He could be in the mix for Origin. Then again, someone like Hindmarsh would be a better prospect at 7 than Wallace. Souths will give it all that they have as they usually do but it won’t be enough.
The Bye: Manly and Penrith get to bludge this week.
The Sure Thing: The curse weighs heavily on The Storm
The Roughy: North Queensland.
27 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 26, 2009 at 8:23 am
Pluck pluck pluck at the SFS!
Broncos to edge out the plucky Eels
Souths season is on the line… an upset here.
BOM
Mountain Boy // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:39 am
Will the Dragon-Steelers finally stop putting questions to the opposition and start questioning themselves – like they end up doing each year? I don’t think so. Hang on – No… I think they just might. No wait, … let me think about this. Hmmm – Now I’m not sure?! It’s a question that will be asked of the red and white each week now for another three months to come. So is that too many questions to answer correctly? The answer …is a question mark! TIGERS to ’steel’ this one.
I read this morning that Thurston has never been happy with the way he got booted from the Dogs. Could this be the reason the Cows have had it over the Dogs pretty much ever since? Does Kimmorley really think he would have saved NSW against Thurston on Wednesday. I think it would have been an even bigger drubbing. Hadn’t thought about the above til now and thinking high emotion to play it’s part. COWBOYS to win
NEW ZEALAND. Jet lag is no problem for them after the bye. Even better – They get to the Gold Coast a couple of days before game day, throw off the wintercoat and lap up a few rays. They are doing quite well with injuries unlike the Coast. They should be refreshed and ready to roll.
Sydney City v Cronulla – The less said about this game the better. They only played each other a few weeks ago. Could the NRL just have spared us and cancelled this one? I hate to say it – but CRONULLA to win even with “Achilles” (heel) Gallen playing. Roosters coach & player relationship at an all time low.
For no reason at all I pick CANBERRA. Well there is a reason. My reasoning is that every now and then, a team wins for no reason and makes us tear up the form guide. Thats the reason here. Sorry Sure Thing. Maybe Harry Potter could perform an “Expeliamis” on you to make you better? Damn – he’s not back til July 15. Oh well.
I pick BRISBANE here. They still appear more capable. Parramatta have improved slightly but they still play a bit too commercial for my liking. Slow and steady might win a few games here and there, but not usually against Brisbane.
SOUTHS. Newcastle rarely play at home at night so a bit of unfamiliarity for the home team !? and I also think Souths still haunt them from earlier in the year when the Knights looked like they had it in the bag.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:41 am
Bill Harrigan, asked to comment on the passing of Michael Jackson, declared him alive and well.
Shaun // Jun 27, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Oh, well played Bismark.
Watching the Tigers last night, Benji does have the skills but, and this has been obvious to most, no idea when not to use them. He tries to pull off a big play almost everytime he has the ball. No sense of when, say a kick to trap the opposition in goal, a better percentage play is the better option. He’d rather go for the miracle ball.
It doesn’t help that the Tigers have the dropsies but there mention in today’s paper about anxiety. That may stem from the team having no freakin’ idea what Benji is going to do.
Thus the Tigers season is over and they can start planning for Mad Monday and beyond. And losses for a few other teams this weekend will also effectively end their 2009 season.
As for the other game, Morpheus came a calling and I could not resist the gentle peace of slumber. But from the reports, the Bulldogs are looking very good indeed.
So good that I’ve been entertaining the idea that a Dragons/Dogs grand final is very likely.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I was Mr. Mum over the weekend because the lovely Kylie-Marie O’Measles was on some sort of conference with other head teachers.
Little did I know, until I started getting running commentary on my phone, that she was lording-it-up in some corporate box with all free bib and tucker thrown in watching the bulldogs.
Apparently she was the only person in the box who knew who Bill Harrigan was, let alone the only one to yell abuse at him at the top of her voice!
That’s my girl.
BTW : Roosters just kicked a field goal..,.. plucking hell.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:24 pm
On Benji, what do you do about him? He wins games but he just as quickly loses them.
I long for the day Scotty Prince had him on a leash, even Hodgo was a good influence on him but this year… oh my.
Sure there’s match-winning stuff there but the completion rate is next to zero and the Marshall show-pony, bullet pass, drop tactics seem to be the main reason.
Scroll back a few weeks to when I saw them beat the Storm on a monday night & check out the comments made by a couple of members I was sitting with. Your comment :”..having no freakin’ idea what Benji is going to do” is bang on the money; if this is the attitude of the members, imagine how the poor fullback running onto (hopefully) the ball feels..
BTW: I really like Timmy Moltzen. Not quite Brett Hodgson but he’s got the guts to throw blokes twice his size..
Shaun // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Bismark, I am sure that you mean Svetlana, I believe Kylie-Maree is your goddaughter. Who I know was not on any conference this weekend but delighting in chasing a certain cat around the house for the past day or so. The certain cat not so amused at being involved in play time.
Back to Benji, the Tigers need a good (though not brilliant half back). A Cooper Cronk style player if you will. One that can direct the side around and flick the ball to Benji when he is needed. He can produce the brilliant play when required but has no idea what to do with is talents. Needs some guidance in the middle.
Y’know the Tigers are second last now. A big fall from grace.
Shaun // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I did watch the first half of the Cronulla v Easts game. Not much to see when the focal point of each team’s game plan was to match ineptitude with ineptitude.
gilmae // Jun 28, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Benji isn’t going to be a first receiver for another season or so.
I remember that before the seasons started I suggested, on this forum, that St George were no hope, that it was going to take at least this season for Wayne to put some spine into them. God I hope NSW doesn’t make him an offer to coach their Origin side.
Shaun // Jun 28, 2009 at 12:35 pm
So Tigers, Roosters and Sharks have had their finals hopes formally extinguished.
A loss for the Raiders and the Eels today will be their formal notice to book the post season trip for September.
The Warriors are not a finals side at the moment and the Bunnies need to do some work as well.
Unless one of the teams out of the eight produce a miracle run to the finals, I’m gonna say that with 10 and a bit rounds to go, the final eight is pretty much locked in.
Shaun // Jun 28, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Bennett won’t coach NSW. If he does he’ll never be allowed to set foot back in QLD ever again.
But he has done a great job with the Dragons. Much better than I expected as well.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Ooooooh you’re right, sorry. Brain discomvolulated by inkerhol.
Mountain Boy // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Parra the surest of things next week
derrida derider // Jun 28, 2009 at 7:34 pm
The Curse of the Sure Thing strikes again!
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 29, 2009 at 7:50 am
Perhaps you could re-name the Sure Thing Shaun?
What, dear readers, would a suitable name be?
“Shaun’s Kiss Of Death”?
BOM
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 29, 2009 at 8:13 am
…. “die Toten Finger” (The finger of death) ?
Shaun // Jun 29, 2009 at 10:15 am
Oh Eels. Why have you gone and once again cursed me with hope?
For the Eels, Raiders, Warriors and Bunnies (assuming a cut off of 30 pts), they must win 8 from 10 to make the finals. The Warriors and Raiders had a great run home last year.
Possibly exciting times ahead.
As for the renaming of Shaun’s Sure Thing, I hope to have a poll running later today.
Shaun // Jun 29, 2009 at 11:17 am
The Little One spent Sundee arvo at the in laws. Apparently, when the footy was one, she pointed at the Parra players and said “Daddy’s favourite team.”
Mountain Boy // Jun 29, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Exactly BOM – the Kiss of Death, but lets leave the owner to decide about whether change is needed.
It’s actually a term of endearment. I remember as a kid (.. so the boy is kind of giving away his age now ) – watching Rex Mossop presiding over Controversy Corner on Saturday morning – what a great way to start the weekend it was. When it came to picking teams for the weekend, if they went round the whole table, all coming up with the same selection, Rex, peering over his aluminium framed glasses and towards camera 2 would declare, … Kiss of Death !!
There was this great fear that if everyone thought a team would win – then they were probably a certainty to lose. It used to happen back then – and nothing much has changed.
Mountain Boy // Jun 29, 2009 at 3:14 pm
On the Bennett/NSW thing, I’m sure I didn’t hear him declare that he was a Queenslander when he was asked to coach the New Zealand team for the World Cup ??!
A Precent of Purchased Patriotism has been set. (that ‘is’ a tough tongue-twister!)
- haaha – your trying it now aren’t you?
The real reason Bennett won’t coach NSW is … not enough money in the NSWRL coffers. Money talks when Bennett won’t.
Mountain Boy // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:07 pm
sorry I meant Precedent – I had trouble getting my pen around that one before
Shaun // Jun 30, 2009 at 11:29 am
The Knights really turned it on during the second half last night. Their defensive display was one of the most committed I’ve seen this year. The Bunnies had not answer and often were kicking on the 5th well inside their half.
The Bunnies played well the first half but seemed shocked by the Knights intensity during the second half. Yet when all seemed lost they put on some razzle dazzle and scored two late tries. The final score did flatter them as it doesn’t tell the tale of Newcastle’s dominant 2nd half.
Mullen is a must for Origin. His passing and kicking game was excellent last night.
Mountain Boy // Jul 1, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Don’t suppose anyone saw the Wallabies game on the weekend ? Yes, I know Rugby eergggghhhh.
My point is the cameras they were using for the video replays were, as I was describing some weeks (or months) back. Crystal clear super slow-mo. The thing about them is you dont need to scroll back and forth – there are no “missing” frames. Anyway, I have raised the question in an email to Gus – so stay tuned.
Shaun // Jul 1, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Please Mountain Boy, no. Harrigan will take half the bloody game to make vid ref decisions if he has super slo mo.
While the vid ref has its place, slow motions often gives a false impression in regards to players actions. What may be a double movement when viewed frame by frame doesn’t seem that way at normal speed.
Anyway, even now there are some puzzling decisions with the aid of technology. I agree with Gus that ex-players would be a better assist for the vid refs than better technology.
Mountain Boy // Jul 2, 2009 at 10:38 am
Surely people deserve to know what happened in those ‘missing’ frames each time we see a replay ?? – and not just continue to guess. If people are happy with the way things are at the moment then thats ok – but all I see and hear is how wrong and costly decisions are being made, albeit with sub-standard equipment. Decisons will be in fact made faster and with more accuracy. Anyway, if Gus agrees that our shoddy cameras are better than Rugby’s you will hear nothing more about it – won’t you ?
Shaun // Jul 2, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I’m not happy with the way things are at the moment. There are two many dodgy decisions. But I don’t think that missing frames are going to help. A good example is the Idris no try decision that cost the Bulldogs the game against St George. The slow motion distorted what was happening in real time and a bad decision was made.
Maybe there is case for decisions like for Hayne’s no try in SOO I or when a player is putting the ball down and they are checking for separation. Even then, I still see decisions being decided on questions of minutia and interpretation that will still create just as many arguments.
The problem as being the equipment but the people who are using it. Have you beaut superdupercalifragilisticexpialidocious is not going to make much difference.
Mountain Boy // Jul 2, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Probably I just have to agree to disagree if thats ok. I also believe the added frames would have highlighted the lack of obstruction that Soward received that day, rather then try and guess whether he was or wasn’t impeded with the missing frames.
In saying that, (I think I agree with you here) that obstruction decisions need to be reviewed differently – ie. These ones should only to be reviewed at normal speed. This will give you a much better idea of whether the defender was impeded from making the tackle.
Close to the line decisions though, knock-ons and the like – I say the better camera will only be of benefit.