For those of us licking our wounds after watching our respective NRL teams take the required number of beatings to eliminate them from semi-final contention, it is time to pick another horse to ride through September.
Very few people switch off completely when their mob is rendered an also-ran and depending on rivalries, history and personal experience, most will have a team or two that they would not mind seeing lift the trophy in 2022.
However, there will also be strong sentiments in many that will have people passionately hoping that certain teams do not earn the right to the silverware in early October.
So what are the most bearable and least offensive premiership narratives that could play out across the next month? Which teams can we simply not have winning and which premiers would be generally regarded as pleasing to the majority of NRL fans?
There is no doubt that a broad appreciation of the Panthers excellence is starting to wear thin, with their bravado and perceived arrogance beginning to rub people the wrong way. Seeking a third grand final on the trot, another Penrith triumph would not shock and whilst Ivan Cleary’s machine is far from hated, many would prefer a new and fresh winner.
Aside from Melbourne Storm fans themselves, it is hard to find anyone comfortable with yet another premiership for the team that rocked the NRL world by doing you know what, you know when; forever birthing a legion of jealous Storm haters.
Under Craig Bellamy, the club has become the benchmark, on and off the field, yet there are far more pleasing potential premiership narratives than watching Melbourne remind everyone of just how damn good they are.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Cowboys are a nice story in 2022. Todd Payten has killed it in the coach’s box and Chad Townsend has proven a masterstroke of recruitment.
From the cellar to what looks a likely second place on the home and away ladder this season, there will be few people offended should the fairy tale continue for a few more weeks.
Despite the support of a secretive jack-of-all trades and former Prime Minister, the Sharks are also a team likely to be backed by many neutrals across the finals’ series.
Nicho Hynes is a compelling watch, the brand is exciting and clean under Craig Fitzgibbon and perhaps only disgruntled St George-Illawarra fans will have their fingers crossed hoping for a Cronulla crash.
I think we have all finally arrived at the point where the humour extracted from Parramatta’s 35-year premiership drought needs to stop.
Even the most ardent Bulldog fan must now surely be able to climb aboard the Eels’ train and hope that the decades of pain will end in a blaze of glory in 2022?
Eels fans at CommBank Stadium. (Photo by Steven Markham/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The perennial contender has been mostly harmless of late, yet fans of other clubs are feeling remorseful and as a result, a Parramatta premiership could well put smiles on plenty of faces outside their supporter base.
Neutrals being satisfied with a Sydney Roosters’ 16th premiership is a ludicrous assertion. Sorry James Tedesco, Angus Crichton, Victor Radley and co, we love your style, your skill and your talent. However, the bland deja vu of your triumphs is off-putting at best for those of us envious of the consistency and excellence.
Similarly, the sound of Glory, Glory to South Sydney after each and every Rabbitohs point is scored throughout an entire finals’ series is not something anyone other than fans of the cardinal and myrtle needs to here. Sorry Bunnies fans, there are far more likeable horses to back in 2022.
Time will tell whether the Raiders or Broncos suit up for an elimination final next weekend.
Ricky Stuart has spent another season finding further ways to seem abrupt, rude and thoughtless, no doubt making it somewhat challenging for fans looking for a team to support that could potentially provide a feel good charge from 8th.
Should the Broncos claim that spot with a win against the Dragons on Saturday, the entire state of New South Wales will be hoping they crash and burn quickly, whilst Titan and Cowboy fans up north will be more than happy with the same result.
Every now and then a grand final throws up a clash were people find it hard to choose between the better of two evils. Such a scenario is different depending on your rugby league allegiances.
I hope the two clubs lucky enough to earn the right to compete for the ultimate prize in 2022 sit well with you.
If they do not, it could make for a painful end to the season.
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Shane
Guest
Parra/Melbourne...Salary cap rorters of the past, so forget it.... The Roosters....oh, if only I had time to write a novel about why they don't deserve a thing... Canberra....Nope, watching Stuart blow up after a loss is too entertaining.... Sharks....Move to Perth and I'll back you as a second team.... Penrith.....I love living here, but hate everything about the local team.... Cowboys.....pfftt, the rednecks in Qld won their Origin, and that's what most Qld fans consider more important... That leaves Souths.....who doesn't like watching a previous season's runner up going one better
Gus O
Roar Rookie
My 9yo nephew gave up on his life time support for Manly 2 weeks ago and has just informed us this week that he is now a Panthers supporter. Reminded me of 1975 when a couple of primary school friends announced in the lead up to the finals that they didn’t “go for St George anymore”, they jumped ship to become dedicated Easts supporters. Are Easts still in the comp or did they merge with the NSW government?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
My reply has been delayed. I wonder why? Was it Wests?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes there escorts and chasers whenever someone makes a break. I'm not surprised about the offside. The Wests try was late in the game and the Cowboys were rushing to avert an embarrassing defeat for a premiership hopeful. Wests have a history of being shafted. In the early days when you had to play for the district you lived in. Wests got the sparsely populated western suburbs and collected a few spoons or finished ahead of Annandale and University. They had a great team in the early 30s but lost players to Canterbury who entered in 1935 and won a premiership with players Wests lost due to the residential rule. Their 1915 3rd grade team won the premiership was the St.George team that couldn't muster enough players in 1908. Wests the fibros.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Interesting that the same moves are not penalised when a player is shepherding or 'escorting' a ball over the dead ball line and getting in the way of opponents... ALSO - Cows were offside from the kickoff, showing that there is room for the bunker to be biased and when looking back over an incident could pick a number of issues to change or enforce a result. Eg. had the situation been reversed or some favoured teams had been in the Tigers positions and in danger of missing the finals you can bet your house on the bunker finding the offside and going back to that.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good thought, this article. Move aside Storm - too many, Roosters and Panthers - for they way they won theirs (read unreasonable advantage from trainer and favouritism influences), Cows for their dodgy win over Tigers + it's no point, they will bow out in straight games anyway, Cronulla because we'll never hear the end of it over Fitz being the new mega-coach after climbing on the back of what Morris developed. Omit Raiders because we can't have Ricky carrying the spoils of war after his ill timed personal spray on a player. Leaves Souths and Parra. We can live with a Souths win because it would be a new talking point that a coach actually went one better after Wayne left a club. We can live with a Parra win because it will put an end to all the drought stories clogging media pages and they have Sivo... and who doesn't love a good Sivo chant when it goes up. So Parra or Souths win to leave the majority satisfied. :)
London Panther
Roar Rookie
If not Penrith I would like it to be Parra.
mushi
Roar Guru
So choosing who to play for is now sheepish too? Damn you parents failed us all
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
you can’t run into someones path This happens every time the ball is kicked high into the air, there are many players converging on the spot. The Tiger had his on the ball and was heading in that direction, slowly as he was close, and may have had to clean up bouncing ball. Even though the bunker made an error he must have seen it as a obstruction. There was already a few players under the ball and I can’t see why anyone would think one more jumper would be worth giving away a penalty for. In any bomb there are many obstructions and it came as a surprise that this one was singled out. There are number of pathways intersecting whenever a bomb goes up and I’d like to see them penalised out of existence but it should only be when it is an obvious obstruction but I didn’t see the it that way. It may have looked worse in slow motion. We’ll probably see a few more in the finals. At least the Dragons won’t be penalised.
Johnny
Roar Rookie
You don't have to move aside but you can't run into someones path which is what the tigers center did. NRL360 showed a really good frame by frame photo. He heads directly infield from the sideline before turning. The only reason you would do this is to put yourself in the way of the cowboys best jumper.
Greg
Roar Pro
Anyone but Parra. Not overly keen on seeing Sharks or Storm win either. Would probably be most keen to see either Panthers or Cowboys get up.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Victorians claim them though.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The Tiger was running towards the ball while looking up at it when he was hit from behind by the cat Feldt. The bunker made an error and was dropped because he, like you, thought it was an obstruction. Do the Cowboys move aside when the opposition put a kick into the air? The Cowboys are good chance to win this year but they won't win if they follow your advice to stand aside when the ball is in the air. As Greg said you’ve been handed the win from a decision which got the video ref stood down.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Bunnies for mine, mainly because I am a massive fan of the wonderful NRL freak show that is Latrell. However - and I can't believe I am writing this - after watching Parra do the Storm on Thursday night and thinking of the generational premiership free devotion that it takes to be an Eels fan, it would relieve a lot of suffering if Parra lifts the trophy this year. Whew, said it, time for a shower.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
I was so dirty when the contract dodger dodged his contract, but now he's at the Cows it's hilarious. He has form when he tries, but he doesn't try that much!
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
*Queensland players in a team based in Melbourne.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
Would love to see a Sharks v Parra GF.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'm not, but I thought Adam was.
Rob
Guest
Tigers did an escort without realising it’s Klein’s favourite penalty. Also a Chris James error is not a good career chose for any NRL official.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Are you a Tassie boy?