The two oldest players on the field will get the biggest workouts at ANZ Stadium tonight and the result could rest heavily on how Anthony Minichiello and Lote Tuqiri handle it.
Minichiello is 34. Tuqiri turned 35 on Tuesday. They are each still capable of playing a great game, but it has also become clear that they can struggle sometimes at the back end of their careers.
Sydney Roosters fullback Minichiello has a had a few issues under the high ball recently.
He’ll never shirk the responsibility and stop going for them, but to spill the ball a few times has to damage your confidence.
Then there was that awful pass from Minichiello on his own line against North Queensland, which led to a Cowboys try.
Minichiello is, of course, in the final stage of his career. He has made the right decision to retire at the end of the season and has one or two games left, depending on the result of tonight’s game against South Sydney.
Sometimes, a veteran player can prepare the same as he does every week and go out and have a bad game for no apparent reason. It’s called being old – at least in football terms. You’ve got no control over it – it’s just the way it is.
We’ll have to wait and see if Minichiello is on his game or not tonight, but one thing for sure is that if he is going to get something positive out of the game Souths will make him earn it.
Their forward drive will ensure they get into position to bomb Minichiello, and when they put the ball up the runners will chase with that extra bit of enthusiasm as a result of what they’ve seen on video.
Minichiello might go out there and catch everything that falls, but the bottom line is that he’ll be forced to work under extreme pressure, and in what is likely to be a tight game any big mistakes at the back could prove catastrophic.
Tuqiri has looked great when the Rabbitohs are powering along. He has turned the clock back with some of his efforts in attack. But the fact remains he can be a liability when his team is under the pump.
When opposition teams move the ball quickly towards his wing and the threat of an overlap develops, he can get caught in two minds about whether to come in or stay out.
Sometimes, the result is that he will end up stuck in the middle, creating an opportunity for the opposition to draw and pass for the try.
The Roosters are very good at moving the ball swiftly along the backline and using cut-out passes from their halves – James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce – to speed up the process. They are going to put Tuqiri’s judgement to the ultimate test.
Tuqiri can also struggle to turn around quickly and chase little kicks that are put in behind him.
Maloney and Pearce each have the ability to put precise grubber kicks in behind the opposition centre and towards the corner for their wingers to chase.
If Tuqiri hangs too far back in defence, the Roosters can run the ball. If he’s too far forward, they can kick in behind him. He has to ensure his positional play is spot-on.
I’m tipping the Roosters. I tipped them to win the premiership at the start of the season, so I can hardly not tip them in a preliminary final, but starting afresh I’d still tip them anyway.
There may not be much in it, but I just think they’re a bit better than Souths.
I’m tipping Penrith in Saturday night’s game. I think they’ll be too smart for Canterbury.
Last weekend, the Bulldogs almost gave up a win to a Manly side that entered the game severely weakened in the forwards. That form isn’t good enough going into a preliminary final.
Joel
Guest
I think it is you who won't accept the facts, who is scared to face the truth, ignorance is bliss hey Barry. can you now accept all the 50/50's gained by the Roosters?
Joel
Guest
Joel
Guest
I don't ignore it, I accept it, I have acknowledged it, I have never said these events didn't happen, there was a flat ball 50/50 forward in the lead up to Big Coops try, and there was a grab on Mini's arm by Morgan before Mini's feet touched the ground. but it is not the point, when you get a 100% sheppard and 3x 50/50′s go your way in one attacking raid at the end of the game, to get you 1 point to win, well that is the point isn't it? or do you fail to have a mental ability to comprehend the difference here in which case we won't waste our time conversing with you. Can you stand up and accept that Hayne gave the Roosters a massive advantage at the end of the game to win?
Joel
Guest
Joel
Guest
I don't ignore it, I acknowledge it. it's not the point Barry .. when you get a 100% sheppard and 3x 50/50′s go your way in one attacking raid at the end of the game to get you the win, there is something wrong there, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it, why are you trying to hide it, how about you step up to the plate and accept it for what it is ....? and why is Hayne rewarded refereeing finals when he is dropped mid year?
BrumbyJack
Guest
Very very easy in the last 20 as I said it would be. Hope all the Roarers backed the Rabbitohs. They will be unstoppable next week. Neither the Panthers or Dogs can or will match them.
The Barry
Guest
You say you know the game is full of 50/50s but then only look at the 50s for one team. Cowboys got plenty of luck in that game (including two tries) but you keep ignoring that.
Clark
Guest
I never said they didn't matter, I said they mattered more. The strip, knock on and the Cowboys no try we're the more crucial considering they were so close to the end of the game. You can argue the 50/50s did help shift momentum but you can't predict what will happen regardless. Also Luis given try was a fair try.
Matt
Guest
Stats are meaningless without context. Being a fullback he'd often be sweeping around the back, it's quite possible he's often on the back of a line ball which is hard to take. Obviously forwards aren't dropping many balls, they are given candy passes and rarely have to do anything else, yet they find a way to drop them constantly. In relation to how many hard balls he has to catch vs others in the team he's probably not going *that* badly.
Joel
Guest
I know the game is full of 50/50's I have watched the game for years and played. But when you get a 100% sheppard and 3x 50/50's go your way in one attacking raid at the end of the game, to get you 1 point, and when the Cows have a 50/50, as they were the attacking side go against them, comon, fairs fair huh? No try, check for a knock on ... where is the advantage to the attacking side? First try Guerra takes out Morgan late and leaves a gaping hole for Pearce to run through, Morgan tackled without the ball, second try forward pass from Jennings to Topu. Not to mention the late hits on Thurston and Simms not penalised? Hayne gets booted from State of Origin duties for questionable refereeing and then gets rewarded by Refereeing finals?
Benny
Guest
Yeah that's all fair enough, you can't debate the errors that he's made, although I still don't know where most of these errors have come from as I have watched every roosters game and imo he is one of the most solid fbs under the highball, last week was a very uncharacteristic mistake. Most of his errors must come from other places because he certainly doesn't drop bombs very often. I guess what I'm trying to say is he's too good a player to count out after some bad form.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Intertesting article focused on the veterans. Scott who are you tipping for both games ? Come on Bunnies.
BrumbyJack
Guest
Greg I like what you're trying to say, but you've really missed the Mark with that article. Both Mini and Lote are great players, but they certainly don't hold the keys. The two packs hold the keys, and then the young halves will determine which way the bounce of the ball goes. Souths have the bigger, fresher pack. And Souths have the more skillful and better defensive halves. Maloney and Pearce will be shell shocked tonight. Souths will get home on the back of a tougher, superior forward pack and Keary and Reynolds will be the keys.
Squirrel
Guest
I won't bet on my beloved Chooks as I think Mini will have an absolute shocker tonight but you can't exactly leave a past legend out. Go the Chookies don't choke
The Barry
Guest
So when the Cowboys scored two tries directly off the back of poor decisions it didn't matter...?
Joel
Guest
lol, classic
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Benny Not sure where you have been mate: The Mini File He has made 16 errors in his last six games, five errors in the last two games and 41 all season — the most errors of any player, in any position, in the NRL. He directly cost his team 2 tries last week and the try he cost them the previous week cost them a weeks rest.
Parrafan
Guest
I wouldn't be too confident. Mini has made two clangers under finals pressure which were lucky not to cost Roosters the game last week. Lote can do less damage from the wing though.
Clark
Guest
The 50/50 calls went both ways, they jus happened to go to the Roosters when it mattered most
Clark
Guest
He was partaking in their "fitness session" if I remember correctly...