‘Business end of the season’, ‘the competition starts now’, ‘playing for sheep stations’ – whatever your favourite cliché may be, the NRL finals are here and these well worn phrases all stand true.
So as we start debating with friends, workmates and strangers who start flying their team’s flag from their cars, the first week of the NRL semi finals poses a number of questions to consider.
1. Will the Dragons and the Bulldogs go the distance?
While they have been the best two teams all year, their last few weeks have raised questions about whether either team will reach the decider on October 4th.
The dramatic shift in the performance from the Dragons in the space of a week will instill both fear and confidence for those on the hill at Kogarah and Wollongong. Confidence, that they can again stick to the game plan that has served them so well and deliver the minor premiership. Fear, in that it could all change in the space of a week.
As for the Bulldogs, most fans will be concerned as to whether Friday night’s clash against the Tigers was a sign as to how the Dogs will cope without Brett Kimmorley. It has been Kimmorley’s experience and composure in steering the side around the park that has been the key factor in lifting them off last place and into Premiership contention.
2. What will happen to last season’s Grand Finalists?
Both Manly and Melbourne had strong wins in the final round and both have their tainted poster boys back for the semi finals. As they play each other in the first semi on Friday, chances are only one will have a realistic chance to progress to the Grand Final again.
I am tipping Melbourne will win on Friday night as in what should be one of the closest semis of the weekend. After that, I am tipping that Manly will earn back the tag as the team everyone loves to hate and enjoys seeing them take the back door out of the finals.
3. Will we remember the Titans?
2009 marks the first appearance in semi final football of the Gold Coast Titans. They have gone about their task quietly without too much fanfare; which is generally a good thing. Question will be whether they continue to focus on the task at hand or will semi-final nerves take hold against their big brother Brisbane. Methinks nerves and the Broncos by twelve.
4. Will Parramatta’s turnaround be for nought?
If any team is coming into the semis with a wet sail it is Parramatta; so much so that lots of dough was placed on them during the winning streak that ended on Friday night.
Many have said that not having to play sudden death footy, as they had been for weeks, played a part in the huge loss on Friday night. Losing Hindmarsh and Grothe wouldn’t have helped either but even with them back, if the Dragons repeat their efforts of Friday night it won’t make a lick of difference.
5. What will go wrong with the Grand Final entertainment this year?
A fact you cannot escape is that the NRL Grand Final entertainment has a history of being woeful and fraught with disaster. Be it the huge Optus Vision TV that didn’t want to inflate, the 42nd Street dancers that stood for 10 minutes waiting in vain for their music to start or Billy Idol whose snarling bottom lip couldn’t overcome the power failure; the pre-game entertainment has been ordinary.
I didn’t think it could get worse than those shining examples – that is until I had to sit through the choreographed BBQ ballet of last year. One wonders whether Wolfmother knows what they are getting themselves into!
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Canberra raised a few eyebrows when they re-signed Ricky Stuart earlier this week to a long-term contract extension but perhaps they know what they're…
Things got a bit heated after the final whistle, with the Raiders securing a 24-20 win over the Bulldogs.
Viliame Kikau produced this horror blunder from dummy half with his opposite number Hudson Young scoring soon after up the other end.
Josh Papalii was sent for ten after this hip-drop tackle on Viliame Kikau. Fans were torn over just how bad it was. https://twitter.com/Fireupnrl/status/1791392199185514588
It all went downhill for the Raiders after leading 12-0. Jordan Rapana and Josh Papalii were sent to the bin.
It was a comedy of errors in the first half. Jordan Rapana took out his teammate Xavier Savage in this Bulldogs try.
