By Steve Kaless
September 16th 2008 @ 11:29pm
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Finals heat turned up now the Storm has passed
When I wrote about the NRL’s McIntyre system last week, a shrewd reader Adam Pearce commented “the finals systems are only as good as the teams in them.”
Well the footy so far has been great and the Warriors have given the NRL their biggest (and probably only) present of its centenary season by defeating Melbourne and in the process throwing the finals race wide open.
It seems that it is not the case that the only gifts that come from New Zealand are stuffed kiwis, Steinlager stubby holders and Bunjee jumping DVDs.
Manly and Cronulla both deserve their weekends off after dismantling both the Dragons and the Raiders respectively.
But the real interest now focuses on the footy.
In the past, these games in week two have often been the low point of the finals series and prior to the weekend’s matches there were plenty of “experts” falling over themselves to predict a simple swap between the Roosters, Broncos, Sharks and Raiders.
Wrong.
Instead, we now have the tantalising fixtures of the Roosters having to fly across the Tasman and the Storm trudging up to Brisbane.
I’ve been surprised that the criticism of the McIntyre system has continued seeing the Warriors finally seemed to overcome the biggest perceived flaw in defeating the top-ranked side.
Some supporters of the Storm and the Roosters have already cried foul (no pun intended on the Eastern Suburbs set) and have argued that their away matches are too grave a punishment.
My advice is pick up your boarding passes and weep.
The fact is the Warriors and Broncos won (on the road) and the Storm and the Roosters lost (at home) so seeing you are only as good as your last game the victors deserve the right to enjoy some home comforts next weekend.
Friday’s game in Auckland should be a very interesting clash.
The Roosters seem to have adopted the Bulldogs highly unsuccessful tactic of late of simply trying to bash the opponents out of the game, against a Warriors side with plenty of grunt themselves it will be intriguing to see how Brad Fittler prepares his men.
The Warriors have taken some big scalps in New Zealand this year, but their best performances have always come as underdogs and their worst when clear favourites.
In eighty minutes they went from having no chance to having every chance so Ivan Cleary might want to book the team into a group therapy session with a shrink.
But if all that is psychology 101 then the real character examination occurs in BrisVegas.
Suddenly the Storm aren’t so invincible and if you are suffering any sort of crisis, Wayne Bennett isn’t really the man to be offering free hugs; although he may have a bit on his plate this week as well.
Of course while all this is going on the Sharks, a side yet to win a premiership, are now just 80 minutes away from the Grand Final.
There has been plenty of media attention focused on the Shire of late and whatever the results of this weekend’s footy it will increase ten-fold when the Sharks prepare for their return to the arena.
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oikee said | September 17th 2008 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Agree with you totally, and this has been the best finals series i have seen , not to mention the perfect finish for the home games, one being played in brisbane , the home of league, and the other in New zealand, they sold their tickets in 20 minutes, pity they did not have a 50 thousand stadium. That is what is good about the finals system, fairytale finishes, does not happen often, but when they do it seems to be right, the rugby league gods. Theres a story that needs to be written.
The Cougar said | September 17th 2008 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Agreed Steve - the current system is a joke. The Storm dominate during the season, have one off week, and are facing a tough away trip and subsequent elimination in just the second week of the finals.
The frailties of the McIntyre system go unnoticed if the “top seeds” win through. However, this year is proof that the NRL need to adopt the AFL finals system from 2009. Oh, the shame to swallow their pride in the Centenary Year of RL!
LeftArmSpinner said | September 17th 2008 @ 10:48am | Report comment
There is no perfect system. just get on with it.
Worlds Biggest said | September 17th 2008 @ 11:19am | Report comment
agree with LAS, just get on with it and enjoy the footy which so far has been great. I was stoked the Warriors knocked off the Storm although hoping the Chooks can do the same at Mt Smart. It will be a tough assignement. If that happens we will have 3 Sydney teams in the Prelim Finals which hasn’t happened since 2005. The blockbuster in Brisvegas will be big.
James Mortimer said | September 17th 2008 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Current system is fine - as “harsh” as the Roosters and Storm assignments are this week - the reality is that they get a second life. In essence, being rewarded for finishing in the top four. Agree that the Warriors and Bronco’s deserve their home games for winning at home.
Spitfire3 (GO RAIDERS!) said | September 17th 2008 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Cougar, come off it. The McIntyre system gives the top 2 teams the best possible chance of meeting in the grand final. The Storm’s reward for winning the regular season was that they get a home game against the lowest-ranked finalist, i.e. they got the BEST CHANCE of all the 8 of making it through to the prelims. That WAS their reward, and they squandered it. Any more than that and we might as well just cancel the finals series and hand the trophy to the minor premiers.
Melbourne LOST to the eighth-placed team. They’ve still got a second chance. To be wanting more than that to be handed to them is a bit rich.
Ian Jessup said | September 17th 2008 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
Surely 26 weeks of slog to come first should count for more than a home final only in week one - provided you win.
The higher-ranked team after the 22 rounds should always have the home game (see my opening line). That is the reward for 5 months of hard work.
If the NRL moved to the AFL system of top-4 and bottom-4 you are essentially saying there’s not much difference between 1 and 4 (the top 4 all get the double chance).
And in the AFL, team No.6 has a home final whereas team No.3 travels - sometimes to Perth or Adelaide! NRL equivalent = Townsville, Melbourne or NZ!
That stinks in my book.
Mind you, I do like the sudden drama of it all that Melbourne’s loss has brought about.
What is a joke is having 8 teams in the finals.
Spitfire3 (GO RAIDERS!) said | September 17th 2008 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
“Surely 26 weeks of slog to come first should count for more than a home final only in week one - provided you win.”
Part of the reward for finishing first and second is that they are the only teams that get a guaranteed second chance. All others who lose their first final are at risk of not playing another game, but first and second don’t have that. Also, if they do win, they have the best opportunity of getting a week off.
I’m not convinced myself that the current system is the best possible one, but I am somewhat offended by the ridiculous whinge they’re having now as a result of losing that game. The Raiders lost their game (playing a theoretically harder team), and they get no second chance. This is a COMPETITION ffs. Next thing you know Melbourne will be wanting government handouts.
Spitfire3 (GO RAIDERS!) said | September 17th 2008 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
(Also I believe there is some $$$ involved in winning the minor premiership, no?)
Steve Kaless said | September 17th 2008 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
I’m with the ‘get on with it’ brigade, how many weeks of home ground advantage do some sides feel they deserve? The answer, probably as many as they need to win through to the next stage.
The McIntyre system like all finals systems rewards the sides that win and punishes those that don’t, funny that isn’t it.
The same can be said when St george staff were complaining that the Manly ground announcer was making it too much like a ‘home ground’ for the Sea Eagles at Brookvale. Here’s my advice if you don’t like it don’t finish seventh, a position in which only some TV and corporate largesse allows you to be playing the finals anyway.
The Warriors turned up and did their job. To the victors the spoils, the Roosters shouldn’t complain too much if they win they get home ground next week……
Worlds Biggest said | September 17th 2008 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
Funny how most people berated the McIntyre system until the Warriors knocked off the Storm, now people are satisfied because No 8 beat No 1 for the first time and proved it can be done. The reality is of course you play the Warriors v Roosters game in Auckland and get 30,000 sell out crowd. If you play that game at SFS or ANZ you only get 15,000 if your lucky. It is tough on the Chooks but as Steve mentioned if they win then a home Prelim Final the following week. If that does happen poor old Desy Hasler will be the next one whinging & complaining his team as it a disadvantage. You can’t win can you !
sheek said | September 18th 2008 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Traditionally, the higher ranked finalists are rewarded for their consistency throughout the season, with 2 advantages - a second opportunity if they lose first-up, & home advantage.
Lower ranked finalists still have the opportunity to win through, but must do it the hard way, winning every game, & always away. I thought I would mention this lest the meaning has been lost.
The Warriors deserved their victory over the Storm. But this one-in-10 years victory doesn’t miraculously justify the current NRL finals system. It’s still fundamentally flawed.
The AFL system is much better thought out, & fairer. Of course, the NRL are rarely capable of independent thought. I agree with LeftArmSpinner all systems are flawed, but that shouldn’t stop us from finding the most practical solution. Especially when there is a better model available (AFL).
A final word on home ground advantage…..over-rated. Only those who worry about it are doomed to be defeated by it. In any case, home ground advantage only applies the first 2 weeks of finals football (I think).