I remember what late July used to feel like.
We’ve come through the Origin period okay. We’ve dropped a game or two that we didn’t expect, but we’re still in the eight, we’ve got players coming back and our run to October glory is looking perfectly timed.
Unfortunately for us Bulldogs fans it’s a memory that’s fading faster than a Queenslander’s curtains. We’ve passed the point in the season where we’re even a remote mathematical chance.
So it’s time to turn the attention to which semi-final bound bandwagon I’m going to hitch a ride on and the relative pros and cons of each.
Melbourne Storm
Pros: they’re so damned good! Jump on the Storm wagon and you are likely to have a successful September. Most of their team are among the top couple of players in their positions and brilliant to watch. Their game is as clean and perfectly coordinated as the inner workings of a Swiss watch.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Cons: they’re so damned good! We get it, okay. You guys are good. You don’t have to keep winning everything to prove it. Three premierships in nine years. Four grand final appearances in the past five years. Enough already!
Verdict: not enough underdog factor.
Penrith Panthers
Pros: the Panthers are also great to watch and brutal in their execution. They have a total football approach where even their tough guys like Isaah Yeo and James Fisher-Harris are potential ball players. Speaking of JFH – he’s my favourite (non-Bulldogs) player in the comp right now with Brian To’o not far behind. It’ll also be nice to see Matt Burton, Brent Naden and Tevita Pangai Jr strut into Belmore next year with a premiership title.
Cons: anyone noticed that with some of their fans it’s almost like they’ve won already. ‘It’s obvious really, if you want sustained success like ours you must build your junior pathways. Why don’t the Roosters produce as many juniors as we do, I just don’t get it?’ It’s two premierships in 50-plus years. From a selfish point of view, they’re one of the few clubs whose most recent premiership was longer ago than the Bulldogs.
Verdict: I’d be really happy to see this group of players and their playing style get a premiership. They’re probably my second pick and if it gets down to a grand final replay as expected, I’m definitely on board.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Pros: foundation club with a huge supporter base. It’s awesome and maybe under-appreciated to have a club in the NRL with such strong links to our Indigenous community. I don’t think there’s many major sports or clubs in the world that can say that. Respect. On the field they have a scintillating back line, particularly down the left edge. I could also get behind seeing Clint Eastwood walking off into the sunset with a final premiership.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Cons: having to watch Rusty get that f***ing bell out again and listen to ‘Glory, Glory’ before kick off. Just quietly some of their fans are hard to deal with too… if you don’t want to change your last name to Burgess, you’re a hater. It’s a tough hang listening to them bang on about premierships won 60 years before they were born too.
Verdict: only if they’re playing Parra. Or Melbourne.
Parramatta Eels
Pros: I like some of their players? Their home ground is nice? Geez, this is tough…
Cons: not much point jumping on a bandwagon that will be out in straight sets again. I’m trying to escape that sort of disappointment. Don’t really want to see that 1986 drought broken either.
Verdict: I’m a Bulldogs fan of the ’80s. I’m more likely to find a cure for COVID than cheer for the Eels.
Sydney Roosters
Pros: how good would it be seeing Josh Morris get a premiership? Given their injury troubles this year it’s hard for the long standing jealousy not to start melting into a little bit of pity.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cons: they’ve played in eight of the last 21 grand finals and have four premierships in that period. Give someone else a go. No, not you Melbourne, you’ve had your turn too. Worst of all if they win, we’ll get six months of refs faulting and salary sombrero sour grapes, especially if they knock out the Raiders.
Verdict: I could jump on if they somehow went deep, but it’s hard to see them getting past Week 2.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Pros: Tom Trbojevic. The thought of him tearing up a semi-final series is mouth watering. I also like their back row of Jake Trbojevic, Josh Schuster and Haumole Olakau’atu. Throw in some former Bulldogs in Marty Taupau and Morgan Harper and what’s not to like? See below.
Cons: Dylan Walker. Dylan Walker. I know technically that’s only one reason, but it’s such a big one I thought it was worth mentioning twice. Hard to turn around a lifetime of ‘hating’ Manly.
Verdict: the Walker factor makes it tough but Tommy and the Eagles (is that a potential band name?) are the best thing to happen this season and the most likely to cause an upset to the top two. Sorry Manly fans, move over, I think I’m jumping on.
The rest
I guess we can’t rule out the fairytale factor that would accompany a Dragons, Raiders, Sharks or Knights deep run but at this stage there’s no point jumping on a bandwagon that will only travel a week down the road.
mushi
Roar Guru
Depends on how the "4 years" worked. If it includes 2012 then you're right it's 09, 10, 11 and 12.
eels47
Roar Rookie
I forgot Souths. I don't like the whole "pride of the league" garbage the fans carry on about, but I do like Cam Murray......
eels47
Roar Rookie
This is a hard one for me. If (When? :crying: ) my Eels get knocked out there isn't a lot left for me. As a local of Penrith who has lived here my whole life, I just can't follow the Panthers, especially, as you have mentioned, given so many of there supporters act as though it is a given for them. I have been raised to hate Manly, Roosters have had enough recent success and Melbourne are Melbourne. There are things I like about these teams too though. I am a big fan of Liam Martin, and would love him at Parra, as well as Luai and To'o. Melbourne are getting herder to dislike given players like Cheese, Paps, Hynes etc. Manly have the Turbos and The Roosters have the Morris factor. I really don't know to be honest.....
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Storm will win the title this year methinks…or Panthers if injuries don’t kill off their chances. I have a very tribal hate for your Storm. My people wish our lot had what Storm is having. It is what it is. Long live the tribes.
Ken
Guest
2012-4=2008 lol I didn’t check post before hitting send
ken
Guest
As a Storm supporter since 1998, previously a Manly supporter ,sitting up till 1 in the morning to watch the Storm play because channel 9 didn’t want to show them in those days made me jump on the them against us train , than in the Gf in 1999 when they cut away after the presentations not even bothering to interview our players and coach made me fume even more , a NSW team winning woulda have had half the team an coach interviewed .The salary cap rorting was a Low point an no excuses but if one more Parramatta fan claims we stole their premiership in 2009 when it was proven in 2012 the Eels had been rorting for 4 years for reportedly over $2 million dollars , do the maths 2012-4=2009 , at least don’t play the victim.Its 2021 now 11 years since the salary cap punishment and 14 years since the storm were accused of illegal wrestling moves , in that time we’ve had the eels an manly salary cap rorting , cronulla injecting drugs for a unfair advantage an allowed the following year to win a premiership , Matt Lodge bashing a young couple in the states threatening to kill them and their young child being allowed to play in the NRL .The NSW media hate led by Paul Kent an James Hooper on Fox 360 repeating the same old line from 11 years ago is past pathetic , Gus Gould’s calling of last years Gf was diabolical embarrassing an biased .I get the Storm hate is based now more on our success than our past but if one more person uses rhetoric about things that’s happened 12 years ago when our average player was 10 years old please come up with something current .I know full well there’s a Nsw media anti storm agenda because it helps stirs the hatred for anything that’s not traditionally NSW,if you can’t see the media manipulate the sheep than you are blind .
AJ Mithen
Expert
Loved this Baz. Storm all the way for me. Although I'm not above Souths or Manly for the Wayne/Des chaos that would ensue... :)
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Sorry TB now I see why you wrote this article.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
This one's easy. Sunny Coast Storm all the way!
The Barry
Roar Guru
I know what you mean… I’ve definitely mellowed on the ‘hate’ of teams as I’ve gotten older. I think I’ve realised most of it is pretty pantomime stuff to create a bad guy or born out of jealousy How much I like or don’t like a team these days tends to be based more around how I feel about the players than any inherent dislike of a club I definitely find a team to cheer for in a GF when the Bulldogs aren’t playing. I can get sucked in for a good underdog story
The Barry
Roar Guru
“Unfortunately for us Bulldogs fans…” First line of the second paragraph… not clear enough….?
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Is this a NSW only forum, it seems so from the comments. By the way TB who do you refer to as us in your article, it’s about as clear as mud.
Tony
Roar Guru
Hi John, I'm with you. I don't dislike any team, I just like watching good footy.
peterj
Roar Rookie
I love Reyno and am absolutely gutted they didn’t offer him another deal.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Souths - fitting final tribute to Adam Reynolds and Clint Eastwood.
Greg
Roar Pro
Great article The Barry, and also really enjoyed some of the comments as well. I'd say I will be jumping on the Panthers bandwagon for the reasons youve outlined. I hope it is Storm vs Panthers Grand Final as i think any other combination would be a let down after the two have been so dominant this year. I would like to get behind Roosters with the band aid team they will be reduced come finals time but just can't see them going deep. Will likely open myself up for a barrage of criticism here but can't believe Panthers and Souths fans copped a hit but Melbourne fans did not. Their ignorance of salary cap rorting, wrestling allegations as well as their leading the charge of "Sydney bias" i find as irritating as anything Panthers and Souths fans do. Disclaimer, just as not ALL Souths and Panthers fans are guilty of such irritating behavior neither are all Storm fans. Joe if you read this you are one such Storm aligned contributor who's comments I value.
peterj
Roar Rookie
I'm a strong Bunnies man and have been there for many years. I support them through thick and thin but even I get annoyed by some of the fans! You should see the Facebook page TB! Obviously I want Souths to go on and win it, although, I don’t think that will eventuate. I’m happy to jump on the bandwagon of the Riff or The Turbos, not Manly, just the Turbos :silly: Anyone know where I can get the tickets if required?
Paul
Roar Guru
simple on the footy field works for me; simple off the field.... not so much.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:shocked:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Hey TB, nice one mate! Nothing wrong with a good bandwagon, it's a great tradition and where would we be without tradition? Superleague? As supporters everywhere are getting the calculators out and embracing "mathematical possibility" as a mantra it's timely to be preparing a fall back position. After all, no one plans to fail, they fail to plan! Cheers