The Roar
The Roar

League
Advertisement

NRL: The final four are in form
Fred Magee
Roar Pro
20th September, 2009
3
Join the conversation
Advertisement
Write for The Roar

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Fred Magee
Roar Pro
20th September, 2009
3

Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music sung about Love being a drug in the 1980’s. Well, there is another drug called hope and this year the Dragons have been guilty of drug dealing.

Like Parramatta the week before, Brisbane were red hot and timing their run into September to perfection. The Dragons, on the other hand, looked like a side playing on empty; both physically and mentally. In retrospect, the game against Souths was more of an indication of their current state.

I have said previously that I always thought that 2010 would be the Dragons year, but their performance this year gave us supporters hope; hope that miracles do happen.

Wayne Bennett is one of the great coaches, but to expect him to walk into a new club and guide them to the Premiership in his first year was akin to asking him to climb Everest in his first attempt.

The fact is, this season is one that Bennett and the team should be congratulated on, rather than ridiculed, as The Sun Herald did on their back page yesterday.

Not to mention the not-so subtle knifing Phil Gould gave in his post-match comments. Note to Gus: yes, the Broncos were well coached but after you say it twenty-odd times, one begins to wonder the true sentiments behind your comments.

In the end, the final four teams remaining are the form sides in the competition. Consequently, the Grand Final qualifiers coming up are shaping up to be the best two games of the season so far.

ANZ Stadium should be packed to the rafters for a game most Sydneysiders wish was played a week later. If Parramatta continues the form they showed against the Dragons and the Titans, they will beat Canterbury and have every chance of winning the Premiership from eighth spot.

Advertisement

The only chance the Dogs will have is if Brett Kimmorley takes the field to lead the side against the red hot Eels. Not only does he drive the attacking options but more importantly, he can read the game and direct the defence. This is essential to stop Moi Moi, Hindmarsh and Cayless making the yards to give room to Hayne and Mortimer (if fit).

Brisbane, on the other hand, will play Melbourne and look to reverse the heartbreaking result from Suncorp Stadium last year. If both sides take their ‘A Game’ on the field on Saturday night, it should be as good a game as the one on Friday night promises to be.

Brisbane railroaded the Dragons, and have plenty of strike weapons in the stable. I don’t think that the possible loss of Peter Wallace will have much of an adverse effect on them; not as much as losing Lockyer, Hunt or Folau would.

Melbourne is rightly the favourite for the competition. One has to look at their performance against the Sea Eagles in week one of the finals, and their probable team list, to see that there isn’t that much lost over the last four years; the last three resulting in Grand Final appearances. It will be evenly fought and at this stage, one that is too close to call.

Irrespective of who will win this week, this year’s Grand Final should be a closely fought and thrilling affair. I will be one Dragons supporter not on e-Bay this week.

3
Join the conversation

Reckon you can pick the winning team?  Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match.  For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp.  Imagine what you could be buying instead.  Set a deposit limit.

Related Posts

close