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The regular season top four remained the final top four as we head to our 2023 Grand Final qualifiers. The eye test says we have two lopsided contests, but is there a surprise on offer? Here come your midweek talking points for the second last week of the season.
Good god, many an hour was wasted this week fanning a self-interested brainfart from Penrith Chief Executive Brian Fletcher. Fletcher seemed put out that Brisbane were being allowed to play their home final path their home ground while Penrith had to play theirs at Accor Stadium, a venue light years ahead of their own in every aspect. His thought is all games after week two should be in neutral venues.
Sold out Suncorp ????️
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) September 19, 2023
This one’s going to be fun ???? pic.twitter.com/9R2TNMjg7o
It was an insult to the rugby league community to see supposedly serious NRL journalists giving this take any credence and maddening (but not surprising) to see so much time wasted in discussion of the topic. Small time, provincial thinking yet again captures rugby league when the focus should be on a massive weekend for the code.
Penrith’s dog box of a stadium holds 22,500ish people and doesn’t meet the NRL’s capacity requirements. They’ve missed out on government funding for a rebuild but are getting money to upgrade, and if they’re smart they’ll make it fit the bill. That’s the end of the discussion.
Let’s be open and honest with each other, folks. This finals series has been a bit of a bludger.
Games for the most part have felt pretty flat, with half so far decided by 26 or more points. Even the close games haven’t been the highest quality because the Roosters have needed to scramble and grind to keep themselves alive while well down on troops. It also hasn’t helped the atmosphere at the suburban venues was lacking, but that’s another story for another time.
Last week we highlighted the impact of the AFL Finals on Melbourne’s crowds and ratings and this week was no different. The Storm/Roosters game was up against the Carlton/Melbourne’s eliminator, which resulted in a crowd of 19,534 at AAMI Park and local TV ratings of around 50,000, both well below average for this time of the year.
Yes, the broadcaster run the show for the NRL but surely there’s a way to schedule to avoid clashes like this, or even schedule for the NZ crowd as well to maximise the eyes on the games. It’s not an easy task and I don’t envy the people trying to sort it out.
Let’s begin with Saturday’s game, New Zealand in Brisbane to battle the Broncos, after righting their ship with a straightforward 30-10 win over Newcastle across the ditch.
These teams have only had two game decided by double figures since 2018, which gives some heart to those of us begging for a contest. Added to this is the Warriors beating Brisbane just last year at Suncorp Stadium.
Kotoni Staggs. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It’s also a good coaching matchup with the rookie coach of the year candidate Andrew Webster plotting against the much maligned yet highly effective Kevin Walters, who just last year was facing calls for his booting, such is the nature of being in charge at Red Hill.
In a sense the Warriors are playing with house money. They weren’t thought of much before the year, many were surprised they were around the eight, then even more surprised they finished top four. But laurels aren’t Andrew Webster’s idea of a place to rest and his team will go full speed until they drop.
Friday’s game sees Penrith welcome Melbourne, the third finals meeting in a late rivalry which features the 26-20 grand final win to the Storm in 2020, and a 10-6 preliminary final upset win to Penrith in 2021 on their way to the premiership.
It’s worth noting that since that 2020 grand final Melbourne have only won two from seven games against Penrith. Ivan Cleary’s men took that loss personally and make a point of lifting against the Storm.
Every year people eulogise Melbourne and say they’re cooked, but here they are one week away yet again from a Grand Final. The Storm are an incredible club. I’d love my team to have ‘down’ years like this. There’s no doubt they’re up against it with a mighty challenge, but this is a team that will give a mighty effort.
Melbourne’s Will Warbrick scores the winner against the Roosters. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
#NRLW matches have had an average audience of 150k across FTA & STV for a cumulative audience of over 6 million, up 25% on last year.#NRL club members & under 18’s get free access to finals games this weekend.https://t.co/ujqvoxal63
— John (@John_Michaels1) September 19, 2023
What’s got you talking ahead of the weekend, Roarers?