It’s the eve of the rugby league final series, and I’m wondering who to barrack for?
My team, the Eels, are most definitely not playing finals football, so I’m bereft. To be fair, I’ve understood for some time that they would not play in September, since the end of week six actually, so I’ve had some time to accept the situation, but after the form they showed last season and all the pre-season hype … aarrgh, don’t get me started.
Back to business, who’ll be my finals team?
Let’s start by looking at the predictions of eight league experts in the Sydney Morning Herald (6th Sept). I’ve ranked the teams by their most common highest place prediction.
| Rank | Team | The experts’ predictions |
| 1 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Premiers x 5, out in week 3 x 3 |
| 2 | Sydney Roosters | Runners-up x 5, week 3 x 3 |
| 3 | Cronulla Sharks | Week 3 x 4, week 2 x 2, Runners-up x 2 |
| 4 | Brisbane Broncos | Week 3 x 3, week 2 x 2, week 1 x 2 |
| 5 | Melbourne Storm | Week 2 x 4, week 3 x 1, Premiers x 2, Runners-up x 1 |
| 6 | New Zealand Warriors | Week 2 x 4, week 1 x 1, week 3 x 1 |
| 7 | Penrith Panthers | Week 1 x 5, week 2 x 2, week 3 x 1 |
| 8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Week 1 x 6, week 2 x 1, Premiers x 1 |
The Rabbitohs are the experts’ clear favourite, as are the Roosters to be runners-up. The only other teams predicted to make the grand final are the Sharks, the Storm, and the Dragons.
The Dragons, however, are also expected to go out in week one by six of the experts, and out the following week by another. So, seven of eight experts have the Dragons out in two. One lone maverick has them winning the whole thing.
The predictions for the Storm are most intriguing. Half the eight experts have them out in week two, while three have them playing in the grand final.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
So, who’s it to be? Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Broncos, Storm, Warriors, Panthers or Dragons?
I can’t possibly support the Storm. They defeated the Eels in the 2009 grand final when they were over the salary cap, so I’m never supporting them. Absolutely not.
Also in the ‘I just can’t possibly’ bucket are the Warriors. I’m still smarting from the latest Bledisloe shellacking. Just the thought of them also holding the Provan-Summons trophy is… no, just no.
Brisbane? Exciting backline and I do like Sammy Thaiday, but there’s a problem, they’re Queenslanders. Yes, NSW won the State of Origin this year, but it’s the first time in a long time. So, not the Broncos either.
Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Panthers or Dragons?
None of these teams are automatically ruled out and there is a lot to like. Damien Cook running off his giant Rabbitohs forward pack, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco at the Roosters and I am a Cooper Cronk fan now that he is no longer at Melbourne.
There’s the thrill of anything-could-happen Andrew Fifita and the Nathan Cleary/James Maloney show at Penrith. Then there are the Dragons and the anticipation of which team will turn up.
So, if I’m going to jump on a bandwagon, why not hitch a ride on one that is likely to go a long way? Sure, nothing wrong with that, bring that winning feeling. Then again, I do like change. The experts’ pick, Souths, won in 2014, the Roosters, expected to be runners-up, won in 2013 and Cronulla won in 2016.
So, Penrith or St George?
The Panthers last won 15 years ago, so they tick the ‘someone new’ box, and I do like their halves and manscaped Josh Mansour on the wing.
But then there’s the Dragons and the ghost of Grandpa. Yes, I feel your presence, Grandpa. I remember those trips to Jubilee Oval in the ‘70s.
I also remember the way the Saints played in the early part of the season. The forwards, Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughn and Cameron McInnes, were punching through their opponents, and all in line for Blues jerseys. James Graham was leading the way, with a face that matched his jersey, roaring like a berserker.
In the backs, Matthew Dufty was mentioned in the same sentence as Tedesco, while Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop were at the height of their powers. What happened to that team? Can we have it back, please?
But what about the seven of eight experts who give them no hope?
I have Grandpa’s ghost in my heart and Gus Gould in my ear saying “no, no, no, no, no.”
What can I say? I’m a follower of lost causes. My hope is that the one lone maverick expert is not just delusional, not just given to wishful thinking.
Let’s go Saints, let’s march on in!
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