Pressure builds on cellar dwellers
Roar Guru
By Steve Kaless, 1 Jun 2009 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Cronulla Sharks, NRL, Rugby League, Sydney Roosters
Cronulla players celebrate their win with fans during the round 12 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Cronulla Sharks, Saturday, May 30, 2009. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
And just like that, the Sharks have found out how to win again. Now that it appears that the Sharkies aren’t an absolute certainty to finish last, the whole complexion of the lower tier of the competition takes a different look.
It was probably easy while the Sharks were the game’s punching bag to think that while the others were travelling badly they weren’t going that poorly. You could almost hear them saying “hey at least we aren’t Cronulla.”
But now the Sharks have shown that they may have a few more wins in them this season, will the blow torch suddenly turn to other clubs?
The next team most likely are the Roosters, they have already copped a bagging from plenty of people and coach Brad Fittler has already had to come out and say he isn’t going anywhere – always a good sign isn’t it – so it is no surprise they are being targeted as rubbish.
They certainly have little to be proud of and look to have a roster filled with plenty of people playing on pasted reputations. We are always hearing about Braith Anasta’s move into the forwards, but never to fullback. I now know why.
But in coming weeks, should they slide into that bottom spot, how much brighter will the spotlight become?
It doesn’t stop there either.
The Warriors got a long overdue win on the weekend, but for a team that had made most people’s preseason finals list (don’t they carry water when the action starts), they are looking decidedly poor. How much longer before people start to ask questions about Ivan Cleary’s future?
What about the Raiders? For the first time in a while they were predicted to make the finals instead of finishing last, but their form suggests they’ll be more worried about collecting the wooden spoon than extending their season.
No one is yet to question David Furner’s ability, and it is not his fault his club has struggled to attract talent. But how long will that last? Has the Raiders ability to motivate people by telling them to disapprove the doubters finally run out of steam?
Finally, the team had started all this on Saturday, the Eels.
What a shambles. Coach Daniel Anderson will definitely have a year or two to rebuild the team in his own image, but just how low will the foundation that he builds from be?
Strangely, most of these teams will be hit by Origin and how they come out of that period will determine whether the final part of the season sees them treading water or fighting for one of the last finals places and maybe some creditability.
Canberra without Campese, Parramatta without Hayne and the Warriors without Price are lineups with pretty big holes which will no doubt be looking to get any points they can while their stars are away.
The Sharks aren’t off the bottom yet, and there seems to still be some life in their headlines, yet the pressure must be building on the other contenders for the dreaded spoon.
How the table shapes up after the Origin series will surely decide in what direction the sharpened knives are pointed for the run in for season’s close.
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Gerry Faehrmann said | June 1st 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
Never mind the cellar dwellers, the Bulldogs were ripped off again yesterday!
You can blame the video ref again! Just pathetic.
Chop said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
After Saturday night’s game, I’m picking Parramatta to finish last, which hurts as an Eels member.
I don’t know where it went so wrong for the Eels, but it has, I think Hagan has much to answer for.
First the Roosters smash Parramatta, then the Sharks scrape through what I think was the worst game of NRL I’ve sat through this season.
Sure there’s a few injuries at Parramatta, but the Sharks have their fair share as well. Right now the only one of the bottom 4 without injuries are the Roosters.
sledgeross said | June 1st 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
To be honest, the Sharks havent been playing badly, they just havent been good enough. They have been putting in each week and have been in most games up until 70 minutes. Parra and the Roosters are a different story. Teh Chooks were lucky to beat the Sharks a few weeks ago, and look horrible. Parra have had some injuries in key positions, but havent looked too good.
macavity said | June 1st 2009 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
expect the Eels to bounce back next week… the Knights have always had a knack for playing teams in to form….
Boof said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
I wonder who will be losing this years Grand Final to the Dragons!!!!!!
Russell Bussian said | June 1st 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
In such an even comp I think wooden spoon betting is more about mental/off-field issues rather than playing strength. It’s a long season and when you are out of the playoff race players used to success can struggle mentally to fire up for meaningless games. Injuries are a bigger issue than ever with salary cap pressures crippling depth. Then you get the wildcards like SBW pulling stumps half way through the season or a Todd Carney type getting sacked mid-season. It all makes wooden spoon betting a lottery.
Steve Kaless said | June 1st 2009 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
I’m with Russell, I think the wooden spoon is decided by team’s that throw in the towel and just don’t turn up towards the end of the season.
My four contenders are the three misfits of the Roosters, Sharks and Eels, who have some talent but also the biggest likelihood of a mutiny and complete implosion and also the Raiders.
I know it must Raiders fans to be clumped with such a motley crew but I think if they get a few injuries and the poor results stack up the heads could drop.
A sport psychologist could be the best investment for the second half of the season.
The man said | June 1st 2009 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
Stevo – Can their have been a bigger underperforming team so early in the season as the 09 Roosters? Packed full of previous Origin stars – for some reason they are already waving the white flag before the half way mark. There fans must be choking on their moccas at some of their turnstyle like defensive efforts. Agree with Seldgeross that the Sharks have toiled hard for little reward.
sledgeross said | June 2nd 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
The Man is right Steve. According to you, the SHarks wont finish with the spoon, cos they havent thrown in the towel. They have too much mongrel in them (wish they had more skill though!)
westy said | June 2nd 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Just an observation. After questionable judgement and actions last year I must say Stuart has grown in stature in my eyes.
It is when you are down and nearly out that real character comes through. I still have reservations about his coaching ability but I understand more than ever Meninga’s assertion that with 5 minutes to go and down by six Stuart would be the player he would look to for leadership.