I’m hoping North Queensland beat Gold Coast on Saturday night, if for no other reason than I’d love to go to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon for a rocking good time with everything on the line for Wests Tigers against Canberra.
I don’t actually follow the Tigers, but I do like how they’re threatening to become a really good team. James Tedesco has been one of my favourite players in the NRL for a couple of years now and Mitchell Moses has shot up the list over the second half of this season.
Moses out-Shaun Johnsoned Shaun Johnson with the brilliant individual try he scored for the Tigers to put the Warriors on the precipice late in Sunday’s game. Then the Tigers pushed them off it with the last try of the game, very soon after.
They’re back in the hunt for a place in the finals as a result of that win and the loss by the Titans to Penrith on Saturday.
This finals race is such a tight one, on several fronts.
Had Gold Coast kicked the winning field goal instead of the Panthers, who won 15-14 on Saturday, the top eight would be complete.
The Titans would be in seventh place on 29 points, and although the Panthers, on 28, would only be two points ahead of the ninth-placed Tigers on the competition table, they would be too far ahead of them in terms of points for-and-against differential for the Tigers to overcome.
But had the Tigers kicked the winning field goal against Gold Coast two rounds back, instead of losing 19-18, and results since been the same, the top eight would now be complete in favour of the Tigers in eighth and Gold Coast out of the running.
Those are just a couple of examples of how critically important some close results have been recently.
It has been and continues to be a fascinating competition right down to the last round and if the Tigers are still alive going into Sunday it promises to be an absolute blast on the hill at the old lady that is Leichhardt.
So much is riding on this last round. Six of the eight games are going to have a bearing on finishing positions in the top eight, with only the St George Illawarra-Newcastle and Warriors-Parramatta games not mattering.
Brisbane versus Sydney Roosters, on Thursday, Canterbury-South Sydney (Friday), Cowboys-Titans, Melbourne-Cronulla (Saturday), Tigers-Raiders and Penrith-Manly (Sunday) are all crucial, either to the minor premiership, the top two, the top four or the top eight.
Depending on who wins between the Storm and Sharks in the minor premiership showdown, the Raiders could be playing for a top-two spot against the Tigers. Or they will be locked into third place.
The Tigers will, of course, start the round very much alive, but will be dead if the Titans manage to upset the Cowboys on the road.
It’s that sort of competition – and you’ve got to love it for that.
Fourth-placed North Queensland will finish somewhere from fourth to sixth.
Fifth-placed Brisbane will almost certainly finish somewhere from fourth to sixth, but if they lose and sixth-placed Canterbury and seventh-placed Penrith both win, and there is a sizeable but possible points for-and-against turnaround between Brisbane and Penrith, the Broncos could finish seventh.
Sixth-placed Canterbury are vulnerable to Penrith as well. The Bulldogs could finish anywhere from fourth to seventh.
The Panthers will finish fifth, sixth or seventh, although they could be locked into seventh by the time they play.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how it all plays out.
Right now, the first five teams on the competition table – the Storm, Sharks, Raiders, Cowboys and Broncos – all look capable of winning the premiership.
Outside of them, I reckon the Panthers have a rough chance. They’re a team of the future and it’s a matter of how quickly that future can come around.
It’s unlikely it will happen as soon as this season, but it’s not out of the question.
Jacko
Guest
Pity you dont know the law Oingo. Bit like you dont know much at all really. You cant marry a same sex person in this country so therefore I must be married to a woman. Her name is slago Boingo. Is that your mum or your sister?
Muzz
Guest
I'll wax and brush my teeth which is foreign to most Sou ffs fans.
3_Hats in Sydney
Guest
I hope you Wax first.
Nat
Roar Guru
Here's hoping for warm weather for you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Friday will be a very tough game. Souths are playing very well. I'm certainly not going in expecting that the Bulldogs will win. I don't think both the Cowboys and Broncos will lose. Maybe one of them, probably neither of them. A game against any of the Panthers, Titans or Tigers will be a bloody tough first up semi final. At least it will be a home game. If that's won, hopefully the losing top 4 side we play the following week has had the stuffing knocked out of them. Anyway, they'll be there. The way they're playing I expect an early exit so anything else is a bonus.
3_Hats in Sydney
Guest
That is rubbish as Ch9 has first pick they just chose the wrong games for Thursday and Sunday!
3_Hats in Sydney
Guest
Jack Gibson once said while he was coaching Cronulla. He said and I QUOTE "You know when you're team is going bad when you have to death ride sides to make it" "I would like to think that we can make it on our own" UNQUOTE We all; know the Dogs will be playing next week but where? They can still finish 4th with a win, but they need the Rorters and Titans to win also. Would you prefer to go down to Melbourne or play the Sharks? 5th or 6th position and a home final? OR Finish in 7th position? All I know is this, Souths are in good form and could well beat the Dogs on Friday Night.
MAX
Guest
Don't frighten the horses Muzz.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
For the sake of humanity and my breakfast Muzz,please don't.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The NRL has invested heavily in the Knights,Tigers and flashed quite a few dollars at the Dragons.Again the financial love has been spread so these clubs can survive. Bulwark? The Panthers are in the 8 a Western Sydney team,the Dogs are in the 8 a west Sydney team,the Raiders are in the top 3 a team from the Greater Western Sydney area known as canberra (whatever that means).If the Tigers get in the 8 the west is well and truly smothered err covered.Oh and they are actually watched on Sydney TV in decent numbers. " NRL insiders". Thought any referee employed by the NRL is an insider.The conspiracy theories abound this time of the year,as sure as the sun rises in the east.
Muzz
Guest
I'll run naked down Bondi Rd and eat my hat if Hayne doesn't make the 8.
Wilson
Guest
Griffo, did you have to say 'rooting for'? Are we that far down the U.S. Path? Come on mate.....
Oingo Boingo
Guest
What's his name ?
Plato
Guest
Surely Nine have first or second choice for Sunday?? What is the breakup in the $$ of the TV agreement or does that start next year.
Plato
Guest
The NRL has invested heavily in the Titans but Tigers need to be a bulwark against GWS. Interesting dilemma!! I think Sutton , Cummins will do those games as they are NRL insiders???
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...good point. You're right. Dogs are far from certainties. Souths are looking sharp. It's a long, long way from the lay down misere that playing the rabbits a month or so ago would have been.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If as expected the Cows puts the Titans to the sword(which would rubbish any claim of NRL preferential treatment to the Titans),the Leichhardt oval will be as crowded as the Ginza at peak hour.And so it should,regardless of whether Ricky chooses to rest players or not. The Tigers play an adventurous brand of rugby league as do the Raiders,that's what fans come to watch,and a sunny or non rainy day on Sunday will, have the place heaving. 6 matches over the next round involving teams in the 8,couldn't have planned it better.Just the right lead in to the semis.
andrew
Guest
Almost everyone in the AFL hates the week off.
planko
Guest
King firstly the money is there now but there will be even when you have a TV Deal with a second comp in it. The NRL players in NRL 2 will not need to be as good as NRL 1. There are lots of options for all the road blocks for all of the problems you have mentioned. Cowboys playing in NRL 2 would be more viable then Fiji playing in NSW but that is happening. PNG play in QLD Cup. There is not a problem in that NRL 2 would create that can't be solved. Anyone who thinks it would not work and be better for the game overall have not thought it through. Doing a Norths, or a Newtown to any of the olde Sydney teams will be more detrimental to the long term future of the game than NRL 2. NRL 2 opens up marketing and money that currently the NRL can even comprehend. But keeping the game small and narrow it needs many of expanding. Not just the blunt instruments that are currently used. You in or your out. It does not need to be this black or whilte.
Albo
Guest
You can have rows 3 through 87 at ANZ all to yourself and you can scream yourself silly to create the "atmosphere" , whilst adjusting your binoculars and enjoying your overpriced pies & beer.