Jharal Yow Yeh scores in the corner during the NRL Round 26, Brisbane Broncos v Manly Sea Eagles match at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. (AAP Image/Action Photographics/Colin Whelan)
We’re set for the kind of week the NRL dreams of. Eight teams, plenty of good news stories and not a biffing boofhead in sight. Sound good? You bet.
Here’s how the first week of the 2011 NRL finals series will play out:
First Qualifying Final
Friday, September 9, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Wests Tigers (4) vs St George Illawarra Dragons (5)
When these two teams last met in round 22 it was defence and not attack that dominated proceedings.
The Tigers tackled the Dragons into submission, strangling the life out of their opponents’ somewhat sterile playbook to win 16-14. They’ll need a repeat performance this Friday night if they’re to have any chance of victory.
Benji Marshall has been red hot over the last month and although he looked sluggish against Cronulla on Saturday night he wasn’t alone.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens will no doubt be stressing the importance of completed sets and not flick passes at training this week.
Second Qualifying Final
Saturday, September 10, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos (3) vs New Zealand Warriors (6)
The Broncos have potentially ended up with the toughest match of the first week of the finals. Does anyone really know what the Warriors are capable of?
The Broncos deserve to be the favourites as they attempt to send inspirational captain Darren Lockyer into retirement with another premiership ring, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Warriors won.
The last and only time these two sides played each other this season was in round 22. The Broncos won 21-20 thanks to a late Peter Wallace field goal. Something tells me Wallace better have his kicking boots on again.
Third Qualifying Final
Saturday, September 10, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Manly Sea Eagles (2) vs North Queensland Cowboys (7)
Manly coach Des Hasler will no doubt have the ‘us against the world’ mentality well and truly installed in his players once again heading into this match if the performance in his post match news conference is anything to go by.
The Sea Eagles were brave in defeat against the Broncos yesterday. Hasler acted like he’d rather be anywhere else than sitting in-front of journalists after full-time.
Fight night wasn’t the fault of the medial, nor the NRL, but the Sea Eagles still feel like they’ve been beaten with a brick when a feather would’ve done.
Manly won’t be troubled by North Queensland and the return of Kieran Foran from suspension at five-eighth should ensure the Cowboys season comes to an end.
Fourth Qualifying Final
Sunday, September 11, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Melbourne Storm (1) vs Newcastle Knights (8)
If Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy had a swear jar he wouldn’t have had any trouble filling it over the last fortnight.
The Storm may have ended the season with the minor premiership, but losses to Manly and the Roosters would’ve had his blood pressure at a level usually reserved for John Lang. Is this a sign that Bellamy’s bit-part squad is finally unravelling after an arduous season?
The quality of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith should be enough to get the Storm over the line against the Knights, but the Roosters 40-8 win over Melbourne last night will give the Novacastrians hope.
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