As they might say in ‘Wombat Land’ – ‘being able to see in the dark can help’ … when those big [Boyd, Paulo] Canberra forwards were running amock in the first half – look at Fafita’s stats – in watching he actually made sure he was last man in against those charges … whimp I say and and the proof is – he and his brother physically intimadating a boy referee last season if you remember – should have been tossed from the game then IMO …

LOL … thanks for your bravery …

Pre-warned is forewarned … but then lollies always attract … pandering to the converted always makes one feel good with all the back slapping. Honest opinion spoken aloud resonates – sometimes badly for those afflicted. I accept your opinion, you returned the serve, and we both move on.

If you’re a Cronulla fan, you might not want to read this …

As impressive as your stat analysis is, nobody factors in the player and their emotiveness and how that translates to on field performance. Call it performance anxiety, or big game nerves, right now Townsend will be having sleepless nights, Fifita dreaming about his mistake and penalty giveaways, Gallen about a career without a Premiership, Maloney and a charging bull with horns aimed at his genitalia. Maloney and Gallen have also been on the backend of SOO losses for years, only Cronulla fans think Fafita has a right to be in the NRL – everybody else thinks he is a dud and should be kicked out.

What Cronulla have going for them is Ennis, Prior, their wingers, with a dose of Baba if he is allowed any room.

In all his NRL games – Fifita has never put in a man-of-the-match performance. In many instances he has cost his team victory because of his lack of self-control. ‘Mr Flopper’ [Fifita] as I call him, is almost always last man to fall on a tackled player, his front on defence is non-existent, and as for his tackle breaks, he runs cross field pushing off would be tacklers, if that counts as tackle busts, the statistician keeping records needs to go back to school. He always submits in tackles early and gets a fast play the ball – which if referees took notice of would yield a penalty because he hardly even puts his foot on the ball, his off-loads happen mostly near the opposition goal-line, and referees see him as an easy player to penalised. Whatever he brings to the game in size and intimidation, his on-field performances paint him as a cheap-shot thug.

As for Gallen – he proves his dumbness every game – nobody doubts his heart, but to argue with the referee as he so often does, proves his stupidity – never has a referee ever reversed his on-field decision when a player gets in his face. Yes – The Bunker has reversed some this year – but never when Gallen has complained. As his body has aged, he is always looking for the game breather for himself and as an afterthought, his team-mates. His early career stats belie his real value to this team – experience. His stats might show hit-ups and tackles, but none have the impact his early career performances showed. Like Scott, his body is failing, and in an important game as this is, I’d back Scott to win the battle against Gallen any day of the week and always on a Friday night.

Ennis and Prior won that game against Canberra with firstly Prior’s defence in the 1st half, and then his charges in the second. Ennis with his experience drove his forwards down on firepower without Graham and the injured Gallen. Canberra made many mistakes and failed to convert opportunities into points in their first half performance – the Cowboys won’t make those mistakes. The Cowboys were slow to start against the Broncos – a hangover from the tough game against Melbourne 6 days prior. They have a 7 day turn around for this game and I expect them to be sluggish early, but once warmed up and into the game, the Sharkies will think they are in amongst a ‘Killer Whale’ pod and the feeding war will be ugly – the Sharks are not ‘white pointers’ – perhaps it’ll be a bit like the 39-0 result last season.

The prediction, Townsend’s nightmares will translate to reality on the field, and if Flannigan plays 4 forwards on the bench, he won’t have the luxury of yanking him and coming out on top like he did in Canberra. The only way Cronulla has a shot is if Fifita takes out Thurston illegally and stays on the field. And even then I’ll still go for the Cowboys because the damage Fifita does to his own team is in the mental category. Everybody knows he is a ‘bomb’ just waiting to explode, and when he does, even the team-mates around him pay the price. For mine he is on the ‘NRL terrorist watch list’ – and they will use any excuse to boot him out of the game.

LOL – As the season panned out, as in many past seasons, there are the bottom feeders, the middle of the rungers, and then the ones who always find a way to be there come finals time.

This season middle rungers Penrith and Canberra made it, so too Cronulla, but Souths and Roosters fell from the tree making room for others to rise. Next weekend will tell if both Canberra and Cronulla can mount a serious challenge to the premiership title – I say they can’t. Canberra because their defence is not up to scratch, and Cronulla have a time bomb in their midst – Fifita.

With Melbourne, Cowboys and Broncos heavily impacted through the SOO period, other teams made good – have to mention Cronulla also did good with 3-5 players away on SOO duty at various times.

Broncos had a problem with their left and right side centres all season, the loss of Hodges and Reed has been significant. The Cowboys home and away record this season has been well down on last season. Melbourne weathered the SOO best, even though Cronk and Smith did not miss a regular season game. All creds to Bellamy.

Cronulla’s streak was impressive, but their finish to the season against higher or equally ranked teams was disappointing. Without Prior in that semi-final against Canberra their season would be over. Can’t see anything other than a Melb v Cowboys final – provided the Cowboys come through injury free from Fridays thriller against the Broncos.

The intensity of the Can v Penrith game was a fifth of the Cows v Broncos game, and if that is the standard bearer, both Cronulla and Canberra are a season or two away from playing at that level on player rankings alone. Same with the coach’s, and the ‘star’ players involved. I see the Townsend drama as being Cronulla’s crux – he plays the side will lack confidence, he does not play, the dynamics change and the team balance is ill-defined. Townsend’s sacking in that game against Canberra will have consequences going forward.

You lost me when you wrote – “Melbourne, Canberra, Cronulla, and North Queensland all ran one through four in the regular season respectively, with daylight running fifth to 16th. ”

Your memory must be non-existent – Canberra and Newcastle drew when they player in Rd 3 right … you remember that right … and the many other top 4 team defeats throughout the season – ‘daylight running 5th -16th” … perhaps your metaphoric licence became monolithic and you had a word freeze … but surely a re-read would have reminded you of the utter gibberish this sentence represents.

This from a Judiciary already wearing ‘DUNCE HATS’ … this means swinging arms aimed at the heads of opposition players is OK … another goof from the ‘GOON’ squad …

Why did Bennett only play Tevita Pangai Junior for the last 5 mins of extra time?

NRL stats show 58 missed tackles by the Broncos. In all my stat keeping this year, and dispite the extra time, that 15+% of missed tackles is streets ahead of any other game stat this season.

No mention of Thurston, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Darrius Boyd, etc …

I accept this is a subjective article, but you saw the game last night and probably last years GF, and the two golden point deciders played earlier this season – and that being a given, you still have only manage to pick a single player from those contests for you ‘2016 NRL Team of the year’.

Can I politely suggest you are either a NSW’men, living in Canberra, and with some Kiwi origins, or someone with phobias about QLD’ers probably caused by your SOO nightmares.

This will put a cat amongst the media scribes.

Sports journalism sells, particularly if is drama that can be played out on the NRL stage. If Sports betting was not legal, then it would be done illegally and the taxes paid would never end up in Government coffers. Not to say they have any idea how to spend taxpayer monies.

This guy had something to say, and from what is reported here, he said it right and propper. Has Channel 7 issues Matai an apology yet, or a settlement offer?

Great analyses Tim … and in that vein I’m sure you can confirm – Scott, Tamou, and Taumalolo’s meters gain per run has declined in recent weeks – i.e. their run metres per hit-up. We know Scott is carrying an injury, Tamou can be hot and cold, and Taumalolo is making more hit-up’s and has not been as dynamic.

Also Michael Morgan has not made a line-break in a while, nor try assist, his form is down as is Gavin Cooper, and Ethan Lowe’s. Grandville is not running from dummy-half as much and I’m sure his stats show this as well. Hess has stood up.

What I’m alluding to is that whilst the Bronco’s victories have been unimpressive, except for the Storm victory which was the best defensive effort by any team this season, the Broncos can lift their game off recent poor performances, whereas as with last week when the Storm had the Cowboys attack covered, the Cowboys look flat.

With as much respect for JT as I have, the team’s reliance on him does come back and bite the Cowboys in these big games. Fact – if JT does not perform, then the team struggles. Shutting down JT’s time and options is the key in defeating the Cowboys. Bennett is a master coach for tactics, and Green has proven he has a trick or two as well. All season the Cowboys have been strong as you point out in the last 20 because the ‘big 3’ forwards re-enter the fray. Last week against the Storm, they were nullified in that period.

Grandville not starting has been pretty much the only other tactic Green has used all season. I believe Blair will mark Thurston all night and take his hits to the edge. Whether Blair is up to the task is another thing.

You’re right, no Reed, nor Hodge, and also now Roberts, means Broncos are not who they were this time last season. Opacic, and Pearson are inexperience at this level, but for mine offer more than Roberts in defence and attack workload. Gillet’s form is better than last year as is the bench in terms of their work ethic. My ratings of individual players have the Cowboys team ahead comfortably, But when the Bench, Coach, Home and away, and season stats factor in the Broncos come out 8 points winners.

It’s all subjective of course, and a great game is awaiting us all. Good luck to you and your Cowboys by 8 prediction, but I’m the other way.

I’ve been a fun watching the Sharks this season, watching Ennis and Maloney bring on their experience and the team grow in confidence. Both these players are on my niggle list along with Gallen, ‘Floppy’ Fifita is on a worse list for what he brings to the game.

Their wingers are exceptional but I think Holmes is down on form at the moment – possibly injury related. Bird at centre has been great in defence but his attack is less than what he offered at 5/8 last season. Their bench has worked all season but Paulo he has come in for injuries is a dud …

The key to their performance this weekend as mentioned is Townsend and whether he plays down on confidence of the Coach rubs him out for the season. It’s a big call putting Maloney in at half, closer to the ruck – more defence and his running game will be stifled …

It is what makes this game what it is – everybody either sees it differently, or they only see what they want to see based on their fan support. All you said might and could happen.

Some people read player form better than others, same with team performances and coach tactics. This is finals footy and mis-direction is part of the game. A Sharks v Panthers final would be a game changer and please NSW v QLD fans. Let’s face it – NSW fans have not had too much to cheer about lately and with Roosters and the Rabbits not making the finals this year, a Shark v Panther final would balance their world so to speak.

Won’t happen if form is a guide, Fifita will blow the Sharks up before they get to the final, and Ricky does not think his team is seasoned enough this season.

Thanks – I love my football – detest bad referees. I’ve looked at Canberra, Penrith and Cronulla closely all season. Canberra have grown as a side but Broncos accounted for them in a gritty match when they last played – Rd 14 when the scoreline was 26-18. Broncos had McCulloch out that night and their SOO players – [SOO 1 played 1st June 2016], were on the field. The week before against the Warriors they were towelled 36-18 some 3 days after SOO 1.

You might recall Stuart undersold his team before the Broncos matchup, and in the presser afterwards, challenged his side that they would have to improve if they wanted to play and win against the big boys. Not long after Canberra lost that game against St George when extra time beckoned – that ill-discipline, the ‘getting lost at times’ by their forwards, and the loss of Hodgson for me is why this season they are underdone – next season will see then as a much more mature side. That would mean I expect to see Cronulla advance and play against the Storm.

The Cowboys for some reason since Thurston took that game off with his hamstring strain, just don’t appear the same side since. Against the Titans in Rd 26 they won 32-16 – same margin as the Broncos won by last week – 44-28. I agree with other comments here that the Broncos did not impress but still managed 44 points. Compare that performance with the defeat of Storm in Rd 25 – 26-16, that effort for mine was their best performance since the two games they played against the Cowboys in Rd 6 and Rd 11 – each golden point decision games.

As for Cronulla, what happens to Townsend? I don’t see Jack Bird stepping up as 5/8, for mine he has had a quiet season at centre, thrusting new responsibility at this point of the season would unbalance the team. Maloney to No 7 would also unsettle him in terms of his running game. If Prior continues to step up who knows what might happen.

NP Peeeko … I was hoping for that as well … I crushed Storm, Cowboys and Broncos with the bookmakers with Broncos offering the biggest win. This weekends clash – NQL v BRI will determine the other GF’ist with Storm already there for mine.

Honest – I’m a Qld’er but the Bookies almost all agree … before the weekend past at least … the only team inside these three was Cronulla @ $6 … Storm were $3.50, Cowboys $4.50 and Broncos @ $8 … so apart from residential status, others are also like minded.

Have to admit, Cronulla’s performance in the 2nd half offered plenty to think about moving forward, losing Gallen and then Graham after 10 min really showed they might have more to offer.

As for using Archer to support your argument – have you not argued elsewhere your opinion of Archer … please … you are gasping and the air up there stinks.

No need to be ‘The Barry’ – the rule states:

Mid-air tackle 1. (b) It is illegal to tackle an opposing player attempting to field a kick whilst the player is in mid-air. The catcher must have returned to the ground before being tackled. (See Section 5.).Applies only when a player on the non-kicking team catches the ball on the full.

Given the position Oates was put in because Mead took his legs out from the ground – does not matter if he was trying to catch the ball … once the defending player leaps, the only contest that can happen is if the attacking player leaps as well in a fair contest …

There was a no-contest play on Waqa [Storm Winger] two seasons ago that fair dinkum look like he broke his neck when the attacking player moved through the line of the ball and took Waqa’s legs from under him.

This is just dangerous play and when someone is seriously injured – i.e. Yow-Ye when coming down after leaping for the ball in his own goal line when the attacking player is just there to harass the leaping player – I’d send them off –

That defensive player leaping only has eyes for the ball and if he is expecting the opposition to leave him alone unless someone else leaps to contest, any attacking player anywhere nead the leap and not leaping to contest IMO should be instantly penlalised, given last nights result should be put on report.

The Rule text above is clear, you say tackle as opposed to touching the player in mid-air – you are incorrect Mr Barry – please have the metal to admit it and move on.

The Barry – Sometimes emotional responses prove stupidity – Ref Sutton said ‘dangerous position’ – whether Mead was contesting is not the point, because Oates was in the air and Mead on the ground, any contact with the player in the air is a penalty … contesting means making an attempt, not walking and taking the legs out from a player with your arms above your head.

If you are serious about your argument – what about the push on Peterson when the ‘no-try’ denied the Titans a try. A penalty there to the Broncos was the right call yet Titans got a repeat set. I agree the re calls last night were woeful but both sides suffered. There is one enemy here – the poor referring … team loyalty has no play in this debate.

Obviously money talks when people have opinions about referee decisions. The first disallowed try to the Titans went through several replays to get a knock on decision to rule ‘No-Try’. But what I saw on the replay was when Peterson was in the air contesting the ball, Hoffman laid his hands on Peterson and pushed him, made him unbalanced which led to him dropping the ball. That was dangerous and everybody missed it.

The Bunker with full replay access did not see this either, and from the resultant scrum feed the Titans score off another kick. The correct rule should have been a penalty to Broncos for the push by Hoffman. That repeat set does not happen in that ruling.

There were several contentious decisions made last night, and in watching the game, I was bemused at how the Broncos seemed to get more than their fair share of the 50/50’s. On the Mead/Oats contest, no brainer, Mead did not really jump for the ball as opposed to reaching, and in doing so took Oates’ legs from under him. That is dangerous play as was evidenced in the fall after Oates dropped the ball.

The penalty against Roberts for ‘shouldering’ someone off the ball on the short kick-off… shouldering is legal, Sutton had a shocker and this was a square up for the ‘kick’ incident from the previous set when Broncos scored after the Roberts kick incident.

The standard of referring for this game was not good, being semi-finals one would have expected more, from the players as well in regards to their urgency of play. This was a fast and loose game where the wet weather played its part, Footing was slippery, dropped ball was pretty good overall, 9 errors by Broncos and 13 by Titans. Penalties – Broncos conceded 4 and Titans 9. So procession controlled the game and in that, Broncos were just a bit too classy with the ball in hand. The loss of Taylor was crucial, and Hayne was still a passenger pacing himself.

A great season by the Titans against all expectations – well done Neil Henry and his charges.

Someone jumped the gun seriously – big fat check coming Matai’s way in the near future if he is innocent.

Domn’t forget my ‘bugbear’ – walking over the mark when taking penalty kicks for touch.

The question of how much or how little we want hold-ups in the game goes directly to where we want the game to be in 5-10 years. Who has that plan and shared it with the fans?

It seems someone at the NRL either hears a good idea, or makes a decision based on some advice to take the game to a new direction. But the 5-10 year plan is never at the reasoning for implementing such well-intentioned changes.

Recent changes – i.e. the shoulder charge, the interchange reduction, the scrum clusterfu_k, the two referees, the third man in tackle, the Bunker, the referral system beforehand, the ‘punch’ rule, Interchange, and the many more going back – how many have given us a better game, how many have inadvertently created rule infringements that are not policed, how many were thought though as opposed to knee-jerk responses?

Coaches have made defence the game changer it is, Coaches have made players muscle up and engage the wrestle, Coaches have evolved with the rule changes and provided ways to get around the intent of the rules. That is their job, the job of administrators is to protect the game and its integrity above all else.

It appears to me that as good as coaches are at finding ways around the new rules, the rule makers never think beyond the idea when implementing a rule change. We all know what type of footy we want to watch, the brand that mixes exciting nimble players plying their trade in the running game. There is plenty of room for stout and robust defence but interchange altered all that. The risk of an error these days is a heavy price and coaches coach the no risk policy to safeguard weaknesses and strengths.

Ball players cost a team the most in salary cap terms – then why is the game so orientated around defence and the play the ball delays? All to a cause so defence lines can be reset – this is well known, yet the NRL continue to allow the slow play the ball tactics to a fault. Rule makers have barely reacted to this eyesore in our game.