Looking forward to another dose of the Roosters versus the Rabbitohs in the first week of the finals – as long as the Sea Eagles do the right thing and make it happen by beating the Cowboys.
There is obviously a question mark over whether that will happen, with Manly down on forward strength and playing away from a home against a North Queensland outfit that will presumably be chastened by what happened against Cronulla on Monday night.
But rule one in this competition is that you don’t rule anything out. The Cowboys will start favourites, but hardly overwhelming ones. It won’t be a shock if the Sea Eagles win.
So what do we make of the 22-18 win by the Roosters over South Sydney last night?
First, I thought the Roosters had a bit more of an advantage in the first half than the 8-2 halftime score in their favour suggested.
Second, the Roosters scored 14 points to nil, advancing their lead to 22-2, while the Rabbitohs were down to 12 men following the sin-binning of Kirisome Auva’a early in the second half.
I would have predicted them to go further ahead anyway, with 13 on 13, but not as far as 22-2.
And third, Souths ate right into the deficit with three tries in the last 16 minutes to make the final difference just four points.
Important? Not important? Has some meaning? I go for option three.
The Roosters, with a 20-point lead, looked like they had lost a bit of intensity and didn’t appear to rise again in that area until after Souths had scored the second of their three tries.
But the fact is it got a bit too close for comfort and what happened in those last 16 minutes will at least allow the Rabbitohs to feel a bit better about themselves, regardless of whether they’re playing the Roosters or their only other possible opponents next weekend – Manly.
The Rabbitohs certainly missed the suspended Adam Reynolds. They could have done with his kicking game, in particular, and his direction.
But he will be back next weekend, while the Roosters have a couple of players whose on-field actions last night are bound to be scrutinised by the match review committee.
Plus, Sam Burgess wasn’t at his best for Souths. He was injured against Canterbury last weekend and looked to be playing hurt against the Roosters. Maybe next week, with further treatment and at least eight days between games, he’ll be better.
So, a key player back for the Rabbitohs, and another hopefully in his best form, plus one or two players potentially in judiciary trouble for the Roosters – all these things could have a bearing.
Whatever happens, if the Roosters do play the Rabbitohs again it’s bound to be intriguing. Their clashes are very watchable.
Even when last night’s score stretched to that 20-point advantage to the Roosters, it was worth watching to see if it got really embarrassing for Souths or whether they were going to be able to stop the bleeding.
It’s always tricky for those involved when we get these situations where two teams play each other two weeks in a row. Quite often, the team line-ups look pretty similar from game to game, but we get a different result the second week to the one we got the first week.
That lingering uncertainty is why I’ll be cheering for Manly when they play North Queensland. I want to see the Roosters going around against the Rabbitohs again, with a jump straight from week one of the finals to week three as the prize for the winners.
That would make it a fascinating contest.
Gumbo
Guest
Bad case of sour grapes. You've been eating them for 43 years and it's turned you into bad sports.
Gumbo
Guest
If we did that Sam Burgess wouldn't have finished a full game since he came to Australia.
Gumbo
Guest
I heard the same thing last season, Steve. And the season before that. For the last 43 seasons in fact. Words are cheap. Actions mean something. The Roosters keep winning premierships and you keep talking tough and winning nothing. Rugby league has been laughing at you for a long time.
Jay C
Roar Guru
We can't all sit around on the dole mate
Pot Stirrer
Guest
What a sad man you are, Did u set your alarm to get up early and be a negative sook. 5.32 am ?
bearfax
Guest
Steve. Firstly Brett Stewart is contracted to Manly until the end of the 2016 season. All of this talk of him wanting out has nothing to do with his contractual status. Secondly most clubs have dramas happening behind the scenes. Its just that you are hearing an exaggerated and enhanced version in the media from information supplied from someone in the club wanting to cause trouble because of disenchantment with the present management. Sure there are some dramas happening but they are no way as destructive as everyone is being led to believe. No one is disputing that Watmough, Brett Stewart and Matai were upset over the Glen Stewart episode which was handled poorly by management. They may or may not leave, though I doubt they will before their contracts expire. But that doesnt have anything to do with performance on the field. These guys are professionals, and the chance of another premiership in their resume is very much their primary focus. The rest is secondary
Tom G
Guest
Mate with all this continual crap about disharmony they are going to finish at worst second on the ladder!!! So if that is the result of all this , I hope it never gets sorted.
steveng
Guest
There is lots of troubles at Manly (Brett Stewart no contract as yet) and I mean internally there seems to be no spirit and the will to win like it was in 2013 and that will be a big factor coming into the finals.
steveng
Guest
Yeah, a blatant forward pass try and that is about right of what happened throughout the game, all decisions going the Roosters way with ref Cecchin and the lineos all with their blinkers on when it came to making the hard decisions against the Roosters.
steveng
Guest
That's a suitable and comforting excuse to all the Roosters supporters but the next game will be all on between these two and don't think that the Clydesdales won't trample and barge through the Cox Platers who are really only sprinters in comparison to us 2014 Rabbits and that is where the Rabbits are at their best hard old bruising runs with enough heart and might to take them through to the 80th minute. The war has just begun, bring on the semis and we will take no prisoners all the way to the top. Next, it doesn't matter either the Roosters or the Eagles WE DON'T CARE and then the rest lol
Gumbo
Guest
You know nothink.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Maybe the Roosters only won because the powers that be
Steve
Guest
What really p's me off is that the chicken wing tackle by Teo a few weeks ago was replayed so many times during the week by every sports show in town...especially channel 9. That plus I must have seen 2 or 3 articles on it in the paper during the next week. By the end of it I must have seen it replayed 50 times in a blatant attempt to influence the judiciary before Teo's hearing. Lets see how many times Guerra's tackle gets replayed...my guess is that the only way you'll see it again is if you watch the full replay on Fox. Channel 9 has a clear conflict of interest where the Roosters are concerned.
Jacksyd
Guest
Which ref is this?
john badseed
Guest
Mate - easts were at their best in last years GF and we still smashed them. They're about half as good this year so get the bubbly on ice. Souths are just plain hopeless.
bilbo
Guest
the game where the loser is gone for the year?
john badseed
Guest
I've never noticed the easts Board using any influence. I heard the cash for ch 9's billion dollar deal came straight from their fearless leaders piggy bank.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Thats alright. Tonights the Grand Final preview anyway.
john badseed
Guest
Imagine if easts got away with throwing forward passes in a GF!
Jay C
Roar Guru
Premiership winning, Origin playing Scott Minto! Ha. Maybe.