The finals are here! And not before time.
After more off-field crud in the NRL this week I’m more than keen to get stuck into this most intriguing of postseasons and I know you all are too.
For the first time in a long time you can make a pretty convincing case for all eight teams to take the premiership, but final ladder positions make some roads tougher than others.
All the focus in the lead in is on the usual household names like Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Valentine Holmes and how their flair, skill and x-factor will take their team to the promised land.
Well, I’m not about all that. This isn’t talking about ‘superstars’ or ‘game breakers’. That’s boring.
This is a look at the workhorses, unsung heroes, underrated players and meat and potato grinders who can stand up and make a difference for the eight finalists.
Who can make an impact from an unexpected place? Let’s take a look.
Sydney Roosters: Siosiua Taukeiaho
The Roosters love a player who tears in with minimum fuss and maximum effort and Taukeiaho is just the right fit.
He’s one of my favourite players because he gets metres. He averages 140 per game and guess what? He only plays about 45 minutes per game. Just two weeks ago against Canberra he racked up 216 metres in 50 minutes.
Taukeiaho can be hit, but it’s incredibly tough to get him to ground and bring him to a complete stop. That’s exactly why he’s becoming one of the better front rowers in the game.
In finals where real estate is at its most valuable, he’s a huge factor in getting Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk the time and space to make things happen.
Oh – and he kicks goals. I love a big fella kicking goals.
Melbourne Storm: Dale Finucane
Finucane has had a lot of time away in 2018 with injury but he heads into the finals in great shape.
He’s a Craig Bellamy favourite and it’s clear why. Finucane does the grind work that lays the platform for the Storm attack and he’s a metronome in defence, ticking up tackle after tackle.
Watch the Storm inside the attacking half and you’ll see him take three and four defenders with him as he drives forward. That’s how the ‘flair’ players get the time and space they need to do what they do.
Dale Finucane of the Storm (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Finucane’s style and consistency is the foundation champion teams build around. His team mates love him and they know he can be relied on.
He won’t score try after try, but without his energy, the Storm won’t either.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Thomas Burgess
There’s not a lot of difference in Thomas’ stat line between this season and the last one. His run metres (114 per game) and tackle numbers (527 at 90 per cent), offloads and tackle breaks are all remarkably similar.
But there’s one thing that’s noticeably different: errors. Thomas has replaced his frying pan hands with a pair that actually carry the ball properly, cutting his errors from 18 last year to 9 in 2018.
Now that he’s keeping the ball in hand he’s the top try-scoring prop of the final eight sides, crossing the line five times.
All the fuss will surround his brother Sam and electrifying players like Cody Walker, Rob Jennings and Dane Gagai, but finals are won in the guts and Thomas Burgess is primed to do good things.
Cronulla Sharks: Luke Lewis
It may seem a no brainer to pick a player who has well over 300 games under his belt, two premierships and a Clive Churchill medal, but I’ve got Lewis here because not only is he a proven pressure player, he’ll be in the back of his team mate’s minds when things get tough.
After announcing his retirement at the end of the season you can guarantee the Sharks are playing to send Lewis off with a third premiership to his name.
And the man himself will be putting every ounce of his fibre into reaching the mountain summit one last time.
Sharks captain Paul Gallen celebrates with Luke Lewis after a win. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Penrith Panthers: Tyrone Peachey
Peachey’s work in the halves with James Maloney pretty much held the Panthers’ season together when he covered for Nathan Cleary earlier this year. So effective was Peachey’s work that he was selected for his Origin debut.
His ability to adapt his game to what the team needs is crucial for finals play. Peachey can plug a gap at the back, protect the halves in defence and also break out a pretty effective kicking game here and there.
He’ll be a key figure in how far Penrith goes over the next month.
Brisbane Broncos: Jamayne Isaako
Young players in finals can go one of two ways; freeze like a roo in headlights or take their game to a whole new level.
But this is no ordinary young player. The Broncos winger is the highest scoring rookie in rugby league history with 233 points and goal kicking at 84 per cent.
Isaako is one talent who can push himself and his team to the heights some are tipping them for. The Broncos are going to do it tough to win it all but with youthful energy they might be able to make a run at the title.
This kid is great. Exciting play with strong running, decent defence and most importantly – he makes Wayne Bennett smile.
St George Dragons: Cameron McInnes
An early New South Wales Origin contender, McInnes is having a career-best season for running metres (62.7 per game) and try assists (6) but he’s under the pump to deliver for his stumbling Dragons.
More is expected of the number nine these days in attack and McInnes definitely has the offensive weaponry, but hasn’t produced consistently enough to take some heat off Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop.
He always gives a massive defensive effort (44 tackles per game at 93%), but he’ll need to cut down the penalties and find ways to inject himself into the attack. While he doesn’t chew up the turf he does have a canny kicking game close to the line, and that’s where a lot of finals football is played.
New Zealand Warriors: Solomone Kata
Confession: I love Warriors centre Solomone Kata. It feels like he’s been in the NRL for decades but he’s only played 86 games.
He’s a great foil for the silk of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and David Fusitu’a, a player who will hurt the opposition on the scoreboard and in the ribs when he gets a tackle in.
Solomone Kata of the Warriors. (Naparazzi / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
We all enjoy watching a bullocking, no-nonsense centre who never saw a tackle he couldn’t bust. If Kata gets the ball anywhere inside the 20 he’s capable of scoring… But he’s also capable of being completely invisible for 80 minutes.
That’s eight possible unexpected finals heroes. Who do you suggest?
Renegade
Roar Guru
That’s definitely left field there Albo, I like the picks though!
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
hehehehe. Now that would be some kind of show of solidarity for Elliott there BA! Though personally I wouldn't like to be sitting next to gyrating penii whilst Sweet Caroline is being played....but that's just me.
RM
Guest
Still one of my all-time favourite GF moments.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Nice read. I would have Tohu as the possible unsung Warrior hero. To me Kata falls into that 'hit and miss' category, where if they hit they will be difference makers, but if they miss it could be really bad news for their team. E.g Roosters: Tupou Souths: Walker Cronulla: Moylan Warriors: Kata Penrith: Tamou Melbourne: Croft Brisbane: Milford Dragons: … They are all a bit rocks and diamonds at the moment... The unsung hero though will be the referee who penalises Souths when they play the ball crooked and quickly so Damien Cook can dart from dummy half, or the referee who sends Penrith and Cronulla players to the sin bin the first time they hold a player down inside the attacking 10, not wait for the third or fourth time.. Or if they start playing "Sweet Caroline" at any of the games, as they have tried to do at many grounds this year - imitating Fenway Park in Boston, it would be fantastic if the entire crowd showed their support for Adam Elliott and dropped their shorts and swayed side to side - They would be my hero's.
Albo
Roar Rookie
My unlikely heroes from the 8 x finalist teams : Storm - Joe Stimson Souths - Cam Murray Panthers - James Fisher-Harris Warriors - Tohu Harris Roosters - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves Sharks - Josh Dugan Broncos - Matt Lodge Dragons - Nene Macdonald
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Souths: Gagai...one on one Chayse Blair isn’t fair Sharks..the Fek,been outstanding.. Others don’t know
RM
Guest
Good list - although for the Broncos I'd have gone with Joe O - Isaako has been too much of a star this year to fall into the category of unsung hero. If not Joe, then Korbin Sims. I've been a bit critical of him in the past, but over the last month or so he has been playing like an absolute demon and making a huge impact off the bench. You need a forward on the bench in the finals who can come on and shift momentum in your favour/keep it going if you're already on top and Sims has been doing that recently. Mannering for the Warriors. Perhaps not an unsung hero with over 300 games, but similar to Luke Lewis in that respect. Both of them are among my favourite players and I hope their teams can lift for them (as long as they're not playing the Broncos).
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
Absolutely spot on about Tohu. His influence is immense! He completely changes the right side attack and is a major reason that Fusitua has 22 tries this year. If you look at stats, the Warriors won at 62.5% this year (overall), but at only 37.5% when Tohu didn't play, and 75% when he did. If you look at all the key players, Harris, Johson, Luke & Blair all improve the team win percentage, while RTS, Green and Mannering have a negative effect on their winning percentages (though for Green it is only by 0.5%). I think the key for the Warriors, other than Tohu, is they have to have Blair playing long minutes and Johnson & Luke on the field. I do fear that if Tohu gets injured the Warriors will get flogged!
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree about Mann being really underrated. I sometimes wonder if he regrets moving to the Dragons because of how he's been used? Maybe if Hunt doesn't lift his game, The Dragons might see whether Hastings is on the market!! Whiddop can't play for ever either.
aem
Guest
Kata is trash - just as (if not more) likely to cost you games than win you them. Extremely strong runner, but doesn't pass the ball (it goes way, waaaay beyond the usual 'greedy/ball hog centre' archetype) and his positioning and reads in defence are all over the place. I'd go Tohu - doesn't get talked about nearly as much as he should because the spine and the wingers get so much attention - and he's so vital to this team... their win rate halves without him there, he's been the best edge forward in the game this year - no mean feat, given several other contenders (such as the guy Tohu will be marking tomorrow, Kikau). Broncos it's Lodge, if he sets the platform they will be hard to beat. Panthers it's one of the left edge guys - Kikau or Blake. That's the strike side for Penrith - if they dominate their edge the Panthers will go far. Sharks = Moylan. I don't know why, but he hasn't really got much of a mention this year. He had a slower start, but he deserves that mention now. Their best playmaker.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Nice one AJ Love the work of Finucane. He’s played six seasons of first grade and played in four grand finals. Of course he’s not the main reason why but he’s not not a very good reason why - if I can be permitted a double negative. He seems destined to have a career described as ‘unsung’ and ‘underrated’ but he’s tough as teak, hits like a sledgehammer, does thegrunt work in the middle and never backs down or has a dud game. The very epitome of a country footballer. I’d love him to nab a dark horse Churchill or a few rep games.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Maloney has limped into the finals and is tackling like a dog which doesn't like biting people but will throw it's body at them to make a point. If he's fit he could surprise the punters again with one last big effort in his career.
Nat
Roar Guru
Warriors: Adam Blair. He does the 1% better than most, sometimes taking too far but everyone on the field knows he's there. Saints: Leeson Ah Mau. Not sure why I've failed to notice this guy too much in the past but since Rnd 1 he has been a consistent achiever. Ave 39min, 104m and 20 tackles. Strong as an Ox and good offload. Broncos: Joey O was my first pick for the yr he has built but I have to go with Lodge. 46min, 121m and soft hands. He put Milford through the hole off the restart last week as one of many LBAs. Panthers: Respect the Peach but can't shy away from the obvious Kikua. Can be intimidating in D but making Waqa Blake look like a diamond when he's been 'in the rough' for a few years. Sharks: Love Lewis but have to go with Gal. Rarely loses the ruck, his RM are slightly down (for him) but so are his penalties conceded. Don't like him but cannot ignore his work. Souths: Yep, Tom. For all the reasons you said. Give him clean ball and he chews meters and wins the ruck. Storm: Yeah, love Finucane. Reminds me of an old school, hard as prop. No frills about him. Roosters: To quote Churchill "History is written by the Victors". So many superstars in Bondi by I actively look for Radley's involvement. For all their attacking weapons, Radley goes out with the intention to hit and hurt. 20yo and cracked the glamour club's first grade pack says plenty to me.
kk
Roar Pro
Excellent list, AJ. Safety first with proven products.
kk
Roar Pro
Hi Paul, I rate Kurt Mann as one of the most underrated players in the NRL. Would love to see him paired with Jackson Hastings in Super League, or better still the NRL.
Major Bumsore
Guest
Firstly, Roos don’t freeze in the headlights, they just bounce off the front of the car. Every team needs these types of players , and they generally stand up in the big games and put in almost super human efforts. Like quite a few on here , the leagues dramas ( refs , rules and abysmal management) have taken its toll on me this year , but the closeness of the finals and a genuine feeling that almost any team in the eight can pull off an upset ( Dragons excluded ) is going to make this a great finals . Looking forward to some good footy .
Paul
Roar Guru
A really good article AJ and you're right, these are the sort of guys every side needs because they'll do the hard work while the rest of the "stars" get the accolades. For my Dragons, I'd have to throw in Leeson Ah Maau. This guys come ahead in leaps and bounds this year and I reckon he could go to another level in the finals if he doesn't become overawed. The other guy who could be a hero is Kurt Mann. I can see him coming on and really taking over again, if he puts his mind to it. The first player who entered my mind when I read your article was Scott Sattler. Still a hero after his 5 star GF performance in 2003. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjvL5sBas_Q