Round 8 was the Anzac round, and therefore both sombre and heart-warming. It was wonderful to see so many close games, and so many moving ceremonies prior to each game.
Apart from that, here is what tickled my fancy:
1. Well, the Bulldogs were very ordinary, but they know how to have an unusual try scored against them. Kevin Naiqama’s miracle flick was backed up by Luke Brooks’ try off the upright.
2. Memories of Keith Barnes were refreshed when Pat Richards landed a penalty from 55 metres out.
3. The worst part of the Warriors vs Titans match was having no NRL Supercoach updates. You know you are hooked on Fantasy Footy when this actually upsets you during the game.
4. The concussion rule and the diving plague are sure to have a crash collision. Very soon a bloke will lay down too long, and be off for the match – and it will serve him right.
5. It was wonderful to see Lachlan Coote make a legs tackle on a rampaging Tariq Sims to save a try. Funnily enough he jumper grabbed Aquila Uate later, only to watch him run 70 metres to score.
6. Johnathan Thurston and Justin O’Neill pinballed each other defending Sione Mata’utia, and propelled him over the try line.
7. I know the rain was scary, but it seemed a bit soft to take the players off, on Anzac day of all days. I could swear we played in worse as kids.
8. Dragons fans will now join the Bulldogs as members of the Gerard Sutton fan club. To not even acknowledge the possibility of Dylan Farrell’s ‘try’ was very poor judgement.
9. Just as an aside, it has been so refreshing to have Billy Moore on NRL 360 as a legend. He is a great observer of the game.
10. Jordan MacLean joins my old-school ‘Black Boots’ club. Again, as an aside, why don’t they supply boots in club colours, rather than in 26 random rainbow colours each game? Surely there is a merchandising opportunity there.
11. Why did some teams not have Anzac shirts? The best by a long way was Penrith’s – very respectful and not covered with sponsors logos. The strangest was Manly’s, only because it looked like a game of shirts versus skins against Melbourne.
12. You have to feel for Jamie Buhrer, who looks to be out for the season. Still, I can’t help but say it was ‘Ferris’ Buhrer’s off day.
13. I loved Dale Copley’s giant falcon against the Eels.
14. Canberra won their match, but was Jose Feliciano in the video box for Edrick Lee’s no try, when Dylan Walker was holding him back off the ball?
15. I was happy for Chris ‘Lightning’ McQueen to score in his hundredth match. Not as happy to watch Cars with my grandson for the hundredth time.
16. A big shout out to Will Chambers from Imran Tahir and Abraham Lincoln.
You’ve gotta love the footy!
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