A great quartet of games chocked with everything a sports fan could want. Enough introduction – let’s rip into your talking points.
Went to a fight and a rugby league final broke out
What a game between the Roosters and Rabbitohs. A record seven sinbins (four of which was from two players), five HIAs (three failed), barely any tackles below the neck and genuine aggro between two teams who don’t like each other.
With so much going on the oddest thing was the amount of tries (five out of eight) scored by the team who had the numerical disadvantage, especially the Bunnies getting over when they only had 11.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The Roosters had their backs to the wall from the beginning when Victor Radley couldn’t help himself, got binned for a punch and it got worse from there. If they’d somehow managed to jag a win they’d be in all sorts from injuries and pending suspensions, not that South Sydney won’t have those concerns as they front up to Cronulla.
Amongst all the headshots, it was again Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker who stood tall and steered their side through the tempest (shoutout to Campbell Graham as well).
With those two firing, Souths are capable of anything.
I noticed lots of people bagging Ash Klein and the bunker for ‘losing control of the game’ on Sunday. Garbage. Let’s be 100 per cent clear – the lack of discipline and lack of football played was entirely the responsibility of the players. The only thing that could have been done better was sending Tom Burgess for his high hit which ended James Tedesco’s afternoon.
Everyone’s laying down for penalties
It came to a head with Michael Chammas trying to provoke Roosters coach Trent Robinson about players staying down to milk penalties, but forget about Sunday – the weekend had already been riddled with flops, dives, fake injuries and suuuuuper slow play the balls to try to hoodwink the ref or bunker into a favourable decision.
Melbourne and Canberra both put on Logie-worthy performances every few tackles, Parramatta and Penrith players took their sweet time playing the ball. Any game you watched, it was there. Every team does it Your team does it. And every team will continue to do it because there’s so much at stake.
Finals mode Penrith is here
It was fancied the Eels could make something of themselves against the Panthers but finals play is a completely different beast.
As explained in previous weekly talking points, the Panthers spent the last six weeks of the regular season tuning players up and getting the club ready for games that actually matter, and we all saw the results on Friday night.
The Panthers model is pretty simple – grind your enemy into a paste via relentless possession, building pressure through field position and then following through with an even more relentless defence. Nathan Cleary pinned the Eels in their own half and while Parramatta did what they could, they couldn’t carry their effort past the 50th minute.
Will anyone else be able to do any better for any longer? Right now it doesn’t look like it.
What a weekend for the big boppers
When the stakes get high the big fellas stay big, and this weekend was no exception. Jason Taumalolo was incredible against Cronulla while Toby Rudolf was immense for the Sharks. Canberra’s Joe Tapine was magnificent and Josh Papalii turned the clock back against Melbourne, who rode with a rampant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Tom Burgess was also great for the Bunnies in Sunday’s streetlight although will probably get suspended, and Jared Wearea-Hargreaves and Matthew Lodge were good as well for the vanquished Roosters.
Junior Paulo and Regan Campbell-Gillard held their own for the most against James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, although the Panthers front row won out in the end.
Quick hits
– Why is it only when we get to finals that grounds start playing inane music at every single stoppage? Leave that to the AFL.
– Expert commentary award for 2022 goes to Shane Flanagan, whose in-depth analysis of the Melbourne v Canberra elimination game included the gem “wins like this are so important at this time of year”.
– The Storm’s exit was the first time they’ve been out in week one since 2014.
– Keeping with stats and records, this is the first time since 2001 the Roosters and Storm didn’t progress past week one.
– Looking at the atmosphere and big crowd at the new Sydney Football Stadium makes it even more confounding as to why the NRL kept the top four finals in substandard facilities in Penrith and Cronulla.
– Got a quick hit of your own? Whack it in the comments.
To the next
Only two games, you all know what they are.
Friday night it’s Canberra heading to Commbank Stadium with a heart full of belief to face Parramatta, who would more than fancy their chances even though they couldn’t maintain the rage at Penrith.
Saturday night it’s Cronulla hosting South Sydney, with the Sharks trying to avoid a straight sets exit. After long, brushing contests it’s a big week in recovery for both clubs to get right for this one…
What did you make of week one’s finals, Roarers?
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Don
Roar Rookie
Parramatta pay rent for every match played at the Parra stadium. They balked at the original proposal and struck a deal before any games were played there. And the Roosters have a 25 year lease agreement for matches at Alliance. What makes you think that these clubs aren’t paying rent? Every club either pays to play at council or government owned stadiums, or may have a commercial deal in place where the stadium pays the club to play there and the club only gets a share of revenue if an agreed attendance number is exceeded. The Tigers and Souths were both lured to ANZ by a deal like the above. Most stadiums have 3 rent option types with differing revenue share based on the financial risk assumed by either the lessee or the lessor. The Sharks are the only NRL side to own their stadium and I think the NRL might have also bought a share.
KenW
Roar Rookie
There can’t be any complaining by any of them about any ‘ having to travel a long way to play finals ‘. They're not the ones complaining though. For some reason the only complaining is from Panthers supporters who don't have to travel at all during the entire finals series.
Chris
Guest
Yes, Meant to include Newcastle too!
Chris
Guest
I realise that . I’m just saying that travel can just come with the territory, depending on where you finish in the top 8. The Broncos, Cowboys, Titans, Warriors, Melbourne, soon to be Dolphins , Canberra. All knew what it meant to join what was really just the NSW competition, when they applied for new franchises to be included in the competition. Call it whatever you like . It was the NSW competition. There can’t be any complaining by any of them about any ‘ having to travel a long way to play finals ‘. That travel for them shouldn’t come as some big shock. :thumbup:
Chris
Guest
The Panthers pay a lease for their current ground. The Roosters & Parramatta pay no lease for the grounds that they use. So if it’s the same deal , with a lease that they pay for any new possible stadium . Shouldn’t the Panthers be able to use that stadium for whatever they want to do with it? Including or excluding any other events that they wish to .
KenW
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Panthers would have had to travel to Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle or Auckland is they were facing them in an away final. If those 4 teams were facing Penrith in a home final, those other teams would have had to travel to Sydney. This is what it means to have a home final.
Chris
Guest
Well, that’s not actually true for every season. They’ve had to play in Melbourne in a final. Other years they had to play in Canberra . If Cowboys, Brisbane ,Newcastle , Warriors had earned home finals against Penrith? They’d have to play at those clubs grounds too. They also played a GF in Brisbane.
Paul
Guest
Who wants to join the band of happy wandering clubs? Bulldogs, West’s , South’s are losing their identity, by not having one home ground in their own area . It’s at their own detriment. Which has really been a talking point for West’s in particular. All this argument will be gone for Penrith, if they have a new stadium? They can then play any finals at home that they earn , if they earn any in the future? For the time being, Parramatta’s stadium would be preferable to play teams at in any major finals. Other than when playing Parramatta.
Panthers
Guest
Clearly you can’t stand opinions that differ from your own . If you’ve got no real argument, go to swearing. :thumbup: You still have nothing to say about why an $825 million dollar stadium is required near the city at all ? No answer to why that stadium needed to be replaced at all ? It could have been updated too. No answer to why Parramatta required a new stadium? It could have been updated. Would have left lots of money to do work on other stadiums. Add to that. What’s the case for the other new $80 million complex built for Parramatta. All you have is. A stadium at Penrith isn’t viable? No reason why other sports , events can’t be held at any new stadium in Penrith. Juniors tournaments, island countries internationals already are. Why couldn’t West Sydney Wanderers play at Penrith ? Lots of other things could be held at a location that would be up to date. Including concerts. The Penrith supporter base has also grown at a greater rate , than any other club . Over the last couple of years. Your argument, doesn’t hold water. Don’t like a differing opinion . Tough luck!
Don
Roar Rookie
Oh FFS. We get it. You want a new stadium. Forget that Alliance will service at least 2 NRL teams, a Super Rugby side and an A League team. Penrith will service the Panthers and some NSW Cup footy. But run any independent business case for it, without politics and lobbying, and no one could make building a $300M+ stadium at Penrith stack up as viable. Only the self interested. Not with Parramatta stadium servicing a great big chunk of the West that you are grouping as Penrith heartland. Just up the highway…
Chris
Guest
If Andrew Fifita comes on & gets rid of Walker & Mitchell with high shots. All he gets is a sin bin or two? Then he can get the South’s supporters to speak up for him. Saying that he should be allowed to play in the GF after the Sharks win. As they say Burgess should be allowed to play his next game , after knocking two players out of their last game. Then of Course Milne is allowed to play after his two high shots. Now we all know how fair minded South Sydney supporters are. So they would surely support him! :laughing:
matth
Roar Guru
On winger money
Chris
Guest
I guess Burgess & Milne are top stars? Who even remembers that they play in that team most of the time? Unless they go around trying to take players heads off with high shots. Milne must be a super star though. As he walks away with a fine for two high shots , when May did one & gets a weeks suspension. What other on field offence did May commit? For high hit that May did do, Penisini came back on to play. The high hits that Burgess did, both Tedesco & Crichton couldn’t play the rest of the game. Given how fair you sound , surely you’d say that Burgess should have been sent off altogether then? Plus, where is Milne’s suspension? All depends on how you look at things?
Panthers
Guest
Why is a massive amount of money have to be spent on a new ground, near the centre of the city. Away from where the majority of the population live? They don’t live near the centre of Sydney. That’s thinking from 1930. It makes sense to have better stadiums where the people are. How big are the usual Roosters home crowds? How big are the Rugby Crowds , for games that may be played there? No reason other teams , sports can’t be played at Penrith etc. As you say, it isn’t that far away as far as time goes. Yet it is in amongst where the people live. It’s also the place where the vast majority of the people who play the game of league are. They’re not in around the centre of Sydney. The Roosters have to look to the west & central coast to get players. South Sydney is looking to get support from the people who live in the west. More people who play soccer , live in the west. The soccer junior centre of excellence, is in Sydney’s west. Get out of the 1930’s thinking! No need to have big stadiums in the centre of Sydney at all.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I loved the 10m march.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The question is more are they patient enough to play a few years on the wing
Rellum
Roar Guru
125 mins was pretty normal precovid.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Suburbia outdid them all.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
He didn't know the rules again. He was thinking Rapana was somehow trying to fool the Bunker by celebrating. He was mouthing 'no, it's not a try' while shaking his head. Read the rule book, Nelson, if you have the ability.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
The NRL wouldn't be asking home fans to travel. Their interest is bums on seats and Suncorp would offer a larger number of Southern Qld Cowboy fans to watch. Ultimately, I'm saying yes, you should have your right to play at QCB. It's your home ground. SO SHOULD PENRITH.