A sign of spring is the first call to pre-season cricket training. From this weekend we start preparing for the season ahead. The other sign of spring is the fight for a finals spot in the footy. The eight is not settled just yet with the Eels, Tigers and Bunnies making a play for one of the final spots.
This weeks tips assisted by an AFL talent scout.
St George v Melbourne, Friday 7:35pm, Jubilee Oval
My feeling is that Melbourne are vulnerable. A game against the Dragons will give us a good idea of where Melbourne is headed. St Benny has had the Dragons prepared well all year. The Storm will test the Dragons early on match them for a while to only fade away in the second half.
Gold Coast v North Queensland, Friday 7:35pm, Skilled Park
JT hasn’t been a happy camper recently and the form of the Cowboys hasn’t helped his mood. They are in real danger of being pipped at the post for a finals spot if they don’t get their act together. The Titans though have a perfect home record and a top four finish in mind. Their form at home has been excellent and I don’t see any reason to ponder their run of wins at home ending with this game.
Canberra v Brisbane, Saturday 5:30pm, Canberra Stadium
A tough one with both teams in woeful form. The Broncos may have some reason to favouritism as they welcome back the return of some their star players. But will that be enough in the cold of Canberra? I think not and going for the upset here. I have nothing to lose and neither do Canberra. That may get them home.
Panthers v Warriors, Saturday 7:30pm, CUA Stadium
The Panthers have a chance for a top four finish but will also be wary of teams below them sweating on a Panthers loss. The Warriors just don’t have a clue at the moment and their season is gone. A slight danger that the Warriors may find some freedom as their season spirals downwards. But the Panthers are playing with confidence. As long as Jennings doesn’t get injured they are good things for a win.
Newcastle v Easts, Saturday 7:30pm, Energy Australia Stadium
Freddy v Smithy. The danger is that the Roosters will show Smithy what he has to work with next year and get flogged by the Knights. Indeed, at times against Souths the Roosters played hard and dagnerous. But the Knights are a better side than what they showed against Manly and if are serious about a spot in the finals get the points. Freddy’s nightmare on Campbell Parade to continue.
Cronulla v Parramata, Sunday 2:00pm, Toyota Park
The Sharks have a tendency to stick it to the Eels for some reason. Like beating the Eels after a nine game losing streak. However Parra are in a better run of form than their up and down start to the season. They won’t be complacent against the Sharks who have a host of players out but some young guns are filling the gap. But the Eels love the day time as it allows them to play free with the offloads. If Parra are in the right frame of mind it will be a cricket score.
South Sydney v Canterbuty-Bankstown, Saturday 3:00pm, ANZ Stadium
This game will answer the questions of whether Souths are the real deal and whether the Bulldogs only had a stumble last week. The scoreline of the Bunnies win over the Roosters flattered them a little. There was periods of the game were Souths were very ordinary indeed. I’m predicting the Bulldogs to turn up with the heards properly on and get the points.
Wests v Manly, Monday 7:00pm, Sydney Football Stadium
The Tigers real test. If they can knock over Manly then they are on their way. But Manly have their own plans of finals glory. If this was at Leichhardt then it would be the Tigers but the more neutral space of the SFS dilutes the Tiger’s home ground advantage. I’d live to see the Tigers win but Manly will be the better side on the night.
The Sure Thing: The Knights
The Roughy: The Tigers have a chance against The Sea Eagles.
18 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 31, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Given that my season is pretty much over (half way down the pecking order as per usual), I’m going to start tipping with my poor diseased heart – thus, it’s all of the above but with the Bunnies and Tigers.
Ha!
B OM
Mountain Boy // Jul 31, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Testing. Testing. 1 – 2 – 3
Mountain Boy // Jul 31, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Ah its working.
here are my thoughts ..
Melbourne.
What keeps haunting St George in their effort to add another premiership is the Melbourne Storm. Grand Final of ’99. Preliminary Final of ’06. As recent as this year in Round 1. Those demons will either be exorcised – or just exc-ercised.
Gold Coast.
Home ground advantage and a day shorter preparation for the Cowboys to point towards a Titans win. Still a hope of the minor premierships, but only a minor one.
Canberra.
The Broncos have been sacked by Channel 9 from Friday night footy. Who could have dreamt? Canberra to watch the video of their Melbourne game during the week, and remind themselves they can play.
Penrith.
After a win in Townsville reminiscent of the corresponding game in ’03, could it be the stepping stone for greater things in ’09? I dare not dream, but with a win against NZ in preparation for a home game against yardstick, St George, I will need to consider that dare.
Newcastle.
Gidley and Mullen back should = Roast Chook. A long season for the Roosters. They now have their end of season trip booked and that’s as much as they have to look forward to from here on.
Parramatta.
Getting on a roll. They look like they can ride the wave a little closer to the shore. Good mix of old and young heads and playing with great heart. Set to move up another place on the ladder.
Souths.
If they trust their attacking abilities, I think they can outscore the Bulldogs. Yes, they will concede points too, but I think they can score more often.
Manly.
Sadly, this may be the end of the road in ’09 for the Tigers. Mistakes, ill-discipline, and inconsistency the culprits once again.
Mountain Boy // Jul 31, 2009 at 5:12 pm
One more thought on tonight .. I think it goes without saying that the winner of the Dragons/ Storm game obviously has a great chance of going on to take out the premiership. On the other hand, though, the losing team in such a titanic grudge match, at this time of the year, will surely end up with battle-scars that won’t heal in a hurry.
Shaun // Jul 31, 2009 at 10:49 pm
That was one of the best games of the season so far. The Storm threw it all against the Dragons and like Ali, they just absorbed it all on the ropes. Then later in the game finished way to strong.
The Dragons must give Big Dell one more year. The fans, both red and white and the rest of the NRL deserve it.
Just checked the score up north. Aye carumba! I didn’t expect that one.
Bismark O'Measles // Aug 1, 2009 at 8:51 am
Loved the Storm/Dragons… hated the Titans/cows.
Mountain Boy // Aug 1, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I think the Tomane (no benefit of the doubt applies) no-try a turning point. (Was there, in fact, a shot that clearly indicated he went out first ??) I never saw one. Even the Inglis try was given “a thousand” looks to see if they could disallow it, and then only got it on ref’s call. What price Soward’s dangerous lashing out with feet to earn only about 4 points by the judiciary and not enough for a suspension? about $1.01.
Only half time at Penrith, and doesn’t look so good. I see Warriors leading the penalties 7-4. At least I should have the Sure Thing in my corner next bout, Dragons at CUA.
Mountain Boy // Aug 1, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I will need to check a replay. Until I see one – I won’t believe they came back from 32-6 down to earn a draw. 26-0 in the last 25 minutes ??
Mountain Boy // Aug 1, 2009 at 11:00 pm
…Surely Surely Surely the Dragons will win next week
Mountain Boy // Aug 2, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Sorry for going over my quota of comments this week..
Good win from Parra. 30-0 actually disguised their so-so completions of 33 from 43. They just need to work on that side of things in coming weeks. A good stat for them, though, was 7 line breaks to nil. Sharks weren’t just kept scoreless, they were kept breakless!
Bad luck to Souths, but there is still next week. Within 8 points of the Bulldogs make them competitive against most teams. As it is, only two teams are assured of a semi-finals place. It appears now that 29 or 30 could equal 8th place this year, so any team from #3 downwards, with a horror last five weeks, could miss the finals. Eg. Gold Coast or Storm lose next 5 straight ! Souths and Parra look like they can afford to drop one game in the run to the post. Tigers may need to win all six.
Shaun // Aug 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Yep Parra shut out the Sharks very will indeed. And the score didn’t reflect how hard the Sharks tried. They just couldn’t find any way through Parra’s defence.
Even though the Eels scored 30 points, there attack was a little off today. It just wasn’t as fluid as the past few weeks. But I liked the way they decided to cut the flair as it wasn’t working and play percentage footy till Cronulla made a mistake.
In my house the TV was tune to the giant grudge match between Playschool and the Wiggles. Little Ted is small but plays above his weight while for someone with eight arms, Henry the Octopus’ handling is very poor.
I’m not surprised that the Bulldogs ran down Souths in the second half. The week before I saw signs in Souths that worried me. They are not a proper 80 minute side just yet.
But you are right MB, the semi-finals race is very well poised now.
I’m going to go on record and say I have a feeling about the Tigers tomorrow night. It has been that sort of weekend.
And the Knights did not survive the mocker this week. I’ll need to think very carefully about next weekend.
Bismark O'Measles // Aug 3, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Just about as disappointed as a desperately hopeful footy fan can get.
Look, they lost OK and that wasn’t helped by poor judgement when it comes to passing in goal however I counted a good four line-ball decisions that came down against the Buns along with the dropped-ball that Chrissy Sandow had forty metres on before it was called back as a knock-on.
There was the ball touched by the dogs in flight that ended up with them scoring a try and the pass that El Masri knocked over the side line that the touchie managed not to see.
All-in-all very disappointing and, if the Dogs had to win, I would have been (almost) satisfied if they’d only won by 2.
As for the Bunnies : great game boys. Certainly no disgrace and, although it does look a little late in the season, I’d say they definitely looked like a top 8 club.
BTW : That 9 seconds that was robbed off them against the Eels is looking more and more foul. Refs have gone right back to the Pack & stand-up is goo enough ruling
Go the Tigers tonight.
BOM
Shaun // Aug 3, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Actually Bismark old friend, Parra packed a scrum against the Sharkies and the ref made sure their heads stayed down.
Shaun // Aug 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Through the season, many people wonder if a ref has influenced the result of a game through a poor decision.
Certainly the Bulldogs believe that to the be the case. And Bismark still sends letters to the editor of the Haberfield Daily Times regarding the draw between Souths and Parra early in the season.
But as the season intensifies and winds up to the finals, I’ve think that I’ve stumbled upon the main factor in teams losing this year.
The players.
They are the ones who drops the balls, give away dumb penalties, argue with the ref, miss tackles, pop up heads from the scrum, do not adhere to game plans, don’t turn up on game day and get into silly fights. This is what really turns games.
The good teams are the ones that can overcome the above and more. That is what I saw on the weekend in few wins. Teams that withstood the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and kept to their tasks won their games. Except for Canberra. Their opponents failed to show up so it wasn’t really a fair.
At the end of the season, it is the squad of 25 players and their coach that are ultimately responsible for the final result.
Mountain Boy // Aug 3, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Surely the Sure Thing this week is a no-brainer
Penrith!
Enough of the comedy – the race for the finals is heating up, but not just for 8th. Anyone in the top 10 can still realistically finish as high as 5th (apart from Brisbane).
Don’t for one minute discount one of those 6,7,8 teams inadvertantly playing themselves into white-hot form for semis week 1. (ie. watch out teams 1,2, and 3)
Shaun // Aug 3, 2009 at 10:31 pm
That was a great game. Watmough almost won the game single-handed for the Eagles. But well done Tigers. This sets up a great few weeks ahead.
Note that the Tigers and Eels face each other in round 24. If they both continue their winning streak till then, that promises to be one of the games of the year.
Mountain Boy // Aug 3, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Can I ask why teams like Melbourne compressed their defence when on their line against the Dragons ?? Did they have money on themselves to lose ?
One thing I did see was Canberra take good advantage of the Broncos compressed goal line defence this week – with 3 man cut-out passes the rage, the Dragon’s favourite ploy of late. That, possibly only to me?, makes for an intriguing match-up in a fortnight when the Saints travel further on down the Hume.
Mountain Boy // Aug 4, 2009 at 4:55 pm
The Panthers play their 1000th 1st grade game on Friday night against St George. A lot of fanfare, a lot to celebrate, but most every expert thinks that celebration will be spoiled.
A little known fact is that the official opening of Penrith Park in 1967 saw the boys from Penrith play none other than the mighty Dragons who had just won their 11th straight premiership (1956-1966). What an introduction to 1st grade for those guys. How would you be? I mean, really.
The score for those interested : 24-12 ….. to the home side!!! The celebrations that day went on and on ….. and on………………………… and on
So I just wonder ………