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NRL finals have come a week early

James Graham likes smoothies. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Expert
4th September, 2014
7

Rugby league in 2014 will be remembered for a number of sad, farcical and unfortunate incidents.

The shocking spinal injuries to Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon and his courageous fightback, the 18-month-long ASADA farce that showed no respect for players, yet came to an odd result, the ongoing referee howlers and dwindling crowds lead the list.

The rare public appearance of John Grant and Dave Smith, the NRL’s two most senior administrators, are also worth a mention, and who could forget the highlight – NSW ending an eight-year drought by winning State of Origin.

But never mind, rugby league came alive again on Thursday night.

At Allianz, two of the oldest teams in the competition, the Roosters and Rabbitohs, went head-to-head to kick-start a potentially explosive and entertaining 26th final round. Ten teams are still in the running for the final eight.

In short, the table currently stands as: Manly (36), Rabbitohs and Roosters (34), Panthers (32), Cowboys, Storm and Bulldogs (30), with the Broncos, Warriors and Eels on 28.

And we won’t know the end result until the last game of the round at 6.30pm on Sunday between the Panthers and Warriors.

And what an abundance of talent will be on show.

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Greg Inglis, George Burgess, and his three brothers played in Souths’ loss to with Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cradner and Mitchell Pearce in Roosters colours. And on Friday Billy Slater, Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk will represent the Storm against the Broncos, who boast Justin Hodges, Ben Hunt and Corey Parker.

Come Saturday, Jarryd Hayne, and Chris Sandow (Eels) taking on the Raiders’ Anthony Milford and Jarrod Croker, and the Cowboy’s Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan will do battle with Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans and Brett Stewart.

On Sunday the Bulldogs’ James Graham, Josh Renolds and Trent Hodkinson come against the Titans’ Luke Bailey and Dave Taylor, before the super weekend ends with the Panthers’ Jamie Soward, Jamal Idris and Matt Morgan taking on Shaun Johnson and Simon Mannering of the Warriors.

So who will make the all-important top four, and final eight?

The Roosters and Rabbitohs are in the top four, with the Roosters hoping to see if Manly lose so they can be crowned minor premiers.

The Storm will be in the eight if they beat the Broncos, but there’s a possibility they can miss the eight with a loss.

The Broncos will be in the eight if they beat the Storm. But a loss could be fatal if the Warriors and Eels win.

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The Eels must beat the Raiders to have any chance of making the eight, but both the Broncos and Warriors must lose for this to happen.

Manly will definitely be in the top four, and minor premiers if they beat the Cowboys.

The Bulldogs are in the most precarious position. For starters they must beat the Titans to have any chance. If they lose and both the Warriors and Broncos win, the Bulldogs could miss out altogether.

And that leaves the Panthers, without doubt the best performed of the contenders, thanks to their massive injury list with nine front-liners on the sideline.

Despite their problems, the men from the mountain will make the top four with a win over the Warriors.

What a round, and worth repeating that rugby league comes alive this weekend with the finals series effectively starting a week early.

Let’s hope refereeing howlers go AWOL, and they let the playing talent be on show.

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