Can the underdogs prevail in the NRL semi-finals?

Papi, you were one of the rabbitoh fans spreading misinformation online about a young rooster player and about the online woman in Sams case. i see you're still slinging the bs. souffs were going to sack AJ for the fox, your club eats its own

That being the case, we´ll have to update the expression from under- dog to bottom - horse. The saddest part is that i´m from Brisbane.

nah, doesn't count! :happy:

"I wonder how long it’s been since the Roosters lost 3 in a row?" .....not that long ago Paul. In 2019 they lost to Brisbane, Newcastle and Penrith on the trot (BUT it was during Origin).

Roosters v Raiders, Roosters have a significant home ground advantage so that may give them an edge; its hard beating the Chooks at the SGC, however the Roosters have conceded 89 points in their last two games, something is broken, it won’t be fixed in a week against a Raiders team that is fighting the underdog tag (Ricky loves this) and hungry for a GF. It will be a beat up session, so the winner will really depend on who on the night wants it most and who gets ‘less’ beaten up; Parra v Souths, I can’t see Parra “outscoring’ the Bunnies. They haven’t really got a home ground advantage given the Rabbitohs have had to play at Bankwest many+6 times this year already with a good success rate, having also beaten parra 38-0 at Bankwest 5 weeks ago. The Rabbitohs are on a try scoring bonanza (in the last 6 weeks they have scored 56 v Manly, 38 v Eels, 60 v Chooks, 46 v Knights) – Parra will need to score more tries than Souths and given no Sivo and a re-adjustment of their backline I doubt they will have the fluidity to do this. Parra’s forwards will hold their own, but the Rabbitohs will target Moses, W. Blake defensive liabilities. Bringing in George Jennings and Brad Takairangi may be a blessing in disguise for Parra. Bunnies will win.

It wasn't even when Brayley was injured, it was when his replacement dummy half Sorenson got injured and Tracey had to move from five eight to hooker that Cronulla became completely disorganised. Cronulla actually almost scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half before the dreaded Wighton 'INCIDENT' and the six agains started flowing willy nilly. It's doubtful the Roosters could fall apart that badly even if Keary and Friend got injured.

The Roosters were the Walking Dead against South's. And apparently nodded off for about 40 minutes against Penrith. From that I'm reading they look tired. Have a good sleep JA.

Brailey getting injured was definitely a massive game-changer. It's an interesting hypothetical: would it have been better for the Sharks to keep Brailey, but not get the try that he scored which is when he got injured? Or keep the try but lose Brailey? I think the former, without a doubt.

Woody I love the Sharks mate but we were pretty shot after Brailey went off injured. The intensity was there, and we pushed them hard but the Raiders were the far better side on the night. There was no ref leg up that I saw, just one team playing better than the other when it mattered.

Seeking an explanation from you. If somebody is looking old is it because they are old? Or do they look older than they are? Is it because they are tired? How do you determine apparent tiredness in players? Do they yawn or are their eyes half closed? I think this is all wishful thinking on your part and part of your pre game therapy. I have no objection if it makes you feel good about yourself. Guru Gus regularly commented that a team looked tired and they usually went on to win the game. I am off to bed as I just looked in the mirror and appeared to be old and tired.

I think we’re applying “old” NRL logic. Now it feels like anyone can put points on in bunches with the momentum. I’d be real surprised to see any team maintain the score difference for 60 minutes these finals

If the Raiders play anything like they did last week even an out of sorts Roosters side will take care of them fairly easily. If Canberra have another slow start like last week it could be over by halftime. The 2nd game could go either way. If Parra learn how to defend on their right edge again I think they can definitely win. They were much better last week in attack and if that continues I think they might just sneak past the Bunnies.

I think the Raiders still have some upside in them Albo and the Roosters are looking old and tired

Serious? The Raiders flogged the Sharks in the second half. Keep talking them down - just how we like it.

The Eels have too many players who's form has retreated as the season has gone on. The wingers were a big plus for them but even before injury they had come right back to the pack, meanwhile the Fox has only got better.

Hi Papi. Hope you are well. You refer to somebody who would break a contract, think they are bigger than the game plus have an inflated opinion of themselves. Sounds like a description of a former Rooster now a Souths fullback out injured.

Which is a good thing at this time of year.

Yep ! I can't too excited about the Raiders chances. The Sharks lost Blayke Brailey who was killing them with up tempo play and leading them 14-6 at the 26th minute mark when he was injured. Followed then by the silly intercept pass on halftime and then the captains challenge debacle Till then the Raiders were not in the game. Maybe the week off rest was the cause, but they were ordinary , and I can't see them getting any such leeway at the SCG against the desperate Roosters. I think the Eels v Souths might be a lot closer than many think. The game is at Bankwest for a start. Dylan Brown should be better for his first run back last week. If the Eels can somehow sort out their right side defence , I think they have a pack with the potential to overpower the Bunnies. Though the Bunnies are riding high on confidence with Reynolds & Walker in control & Cook & Murray running the pack. I think this will be a close one.

It derives from when The Dogs of War were the Top Dogs in the 1980’s and all other sides were Under the Dogs. I’m pretty sure that’s it!

I think both games are 50-50 this week.