Tony the touchies haven’t been as useless and ornamental since Phil Gould last picked up a flag and ran on the touchline. 😂 😂 😂

I forgot to throw in Benji’s name to the pressure of sentimentality weighing down the Bunnies. That will be just as HUGE as well! 😁 👍

You are slipping up, Walter. Not one mention of “the evil empire” in that comment. Souths will rely on those little slip ups next week. Stay on message, mate.

As for me and my message during the coming week, I’m already claiming underdog status for the Bunnies irrespective of who wins tonight. No Latrell Mitchell, Adam Reynolds as a dodgy groin and will nurse it through the week and on Grand Final day, they will be just happy to have made the GF, too much pressure on the boys with sentiment weighing them down due to Reynolds and Gagai’s last game, the end of Bennett’s tenure at Redfern etc.

If the Panthers win… lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. If the Storm win, what are your chances of being hit by lightning anyway? In the case of the Storm, very high indeed in the first 20 mins of the game, as the Panthers will find out tonight. 😂

Have I covered all my bases, Walter?

Is there any chance we can get the custodians of Suncorp stadium to swap out the floodlights for Bathroom Heat Lamps, matth? 😂

Not only that Steve but the Panthers have had to go the tough route with tough games against the Rabbitohs, the Eels and the Storm without the benefit of a week’s rest. Worse, Souths rested their key players in round 25 and after the qualifying final while Ivan Cleary elected to play his full strength side in round 25 gambling on a week off after the qualifying final. At this stage of the season, that will be very impactful. Especially after what is shaping up to be a brutal contest tonight.

I believe that the Storm will start even better than the Rabbitohs did last night in the first 20 mins and the Panthers will have to play catch up football all night. They are great front-runners but panic and lack patience and confidence when they are chasing a lead… especially on tired, weary legs.

I forgot to add…

Commiserations to all Manly fans. There is plenty to be proud of this year in how Manly turned an 0-4 start to the season around to finishing 4th on the ladder and in making it to their first prelim final since 2013. Definitely a solid platform to build on next year.

Not much went Manly’s way tonight, while virtually nothing went wrong for Souths. The week off certainly helps. Both Des and DCE were all class in their press conference. It was nice to see mutual respect and sincere compliments for the rival side instead of bickering and antipathy for a change. Something for Ivan Cleary to remember for tomorrow night, perhaps? No excuses, no cheap shots, no secret agenda. Suck it up if you lose and be gracious if you win. I’ll try to remember that for next week. 😛

Very proud of the boy’s effort. But facing facts, Souths were on the easier side of the draw, and a prelim final against the Storm would have been a tough ask. That said, Souths have to beat whoever is left standing from the 2nd prelim final.

You have to think there would be less of the Panthers left standing than the Storm after playing the Bunnies, the Eels and the Storm back-to-back without a week off. Souths also have the mental edge over the Panthers, after the qualifying final.

Also, if the Panthers should defeat the Storm, Ivan Cleary will be having nightmares all week worrying about saying the wrong thing for Bennett to seize on. That press conference will no doubt haunt Cleary for some time to come. In all truth, I always expected the 2nd prelim final to be a much tougher contest than the game tonight. Time will tell if I am right. But I expect the Storm to go after the Panthers in the first 20 mins just as I predicted Souths would do to Manly tonight.

I just hope it is a tough game and the winners are still feeling the effects of that game next week. Premiership no. 22 beckons. Go the Bunnies! Glory, glory!

[Oops! Not the Live scores blog}

From what I hear, only Turbo has a shot at joining that club. Clever cookie, your Turbo. Too smart for football ball, but thank goodness for the game he plays anyway.

Just as long as it is Graham marking Suli and not Gagai. Otherwise, I would get them to switch to cover Suli defensively. Gagai has played on the right side before, and Graham is a whisker off playing State of Origin and will play anywhere you put him.

Hardly, mate. Even the Storm wouldn’t be able to finish a top 4 side only 10 mins into a game. Kick off is at 7:50pm, remember?

I have never experienced a GF loss, and I’m not keen to ever experience one. That said, there is a prelim final to win tonight against a worthy opponent who deserves respect. I can’t get too far ahead of myself. One game at a time.

I was at the 2014 prelim final against the Roosters with my son. It was a magic night and a memorable experience. I would love to a GF, but I haven’t been to one yet either. One day though. Funny enough, as I now live in Brisbane, this year might be the last chance I get. Go the Bunnies!

TB3 I’m hoping you can answer a question others from this forum have been unable to answer? Can you remember which game the famous photo of Denis Pittard diving full stretch, tongue out, tackling Graeme “Changa” Langlands occurred in?

I was at the SCG at a finals game in the early 70’s when Souths beat the Dragons. My uncle was a Dragons supporter, and I was sitting on his shoulders behind the goalposts. I was about 4 years old. I remember Souths were in front and pressing the Dragons line. Time was almost up and Souths threw a long cutout pass which was intercepted… by Langlands.

The only player to turn and give chase was Denis Pittard. From what I recall, a try in the late stages of that game would have given the Dragons the win (as much as I can remember, my uncle’s explanation. Langlands ran practically the full length of the field but Pittard dived and brought him down just short of the line. The Rabbitohs then had to defend with their back to their try line until the siren sounded. After what seemed an eternity, Souths won the game and my uncle explained that the Rabbitohs were going through to the GF.

I have always thought THAT photo was of that moment, my first lasting memory of the game being at the ground. But the results don’t marry up with those facts. Souths never beat the Dragons in the lead up to a GF from 1969 – 1971. It has been a mystery that I would dearly love to have solved.

When Souths beat the Dragons in the finals in 1968 they won 20-8. Hardly a close game, with everything hinging on that last scoring opportunity.

Btw, I went to school with and played football with Nathan Merritt’s dad. I told Nathan as much after one of the Bunnies games at Gosford (Central Coast stadium).

TB3 I’m hoping you can answer a question others from this forum have been unable to answer? Can you remember which game the famous photo of Denis Pittard diving full stretch, tongue out, tackling Graeme “Changa” Langlands occurred in?

I was at the SCG at a finals game in the early 70’s when Souths beat the Dragons. My uncle was a Dragons supporter, and I was sitting on his shoulders behind the goalposts. I was about 4 years old. I remember Souths were in front and pressing the Dragons line. Time was almost up and Souths threw a long cutout pass which was intercepted… by Langlands.

The only player to turn and give chase was Denis Pittard. From what I recall, a try in the late stages of that game would have given the Dragons the win (as much as I can remember, my uncle’s explanation. Langlands ran practically the full length of the field but Pittard dived and brought him down just short of the line. The Rabbitohs then had to defend with their back to their try line until the siren sounded. After what seemed an eternity, Souths won the game and my uncle explained that the Rabbitohs were going through to the GF.

I have always thought THAT photo was of that moment, my first lasting memory of the game being at the ground. But the results don’t marry up with those facts (see below). Souths never beat the Dragons in the lead up to a GF from 1969 – 1971. It has been a mystery that I would dearly love to have solved.

When Souths beat the Dragons in the finals in 1968 they won 20-8. Hardly a close game, with everything hinging on that last scoring opportunity.

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1968/summary.html

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1969/summary.html
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1970/summary.html
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1971/summary.html
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/summary.html

Souths should have done everything in their power to keep both Reynolds and Gagai. They will leave two huge holes in Souths squad next year, and already Milford is being investigated for an alleged offence that could derail Souths plans for him next year. I’m not at all happy about how Souths have gone about their recruitment and retention for 2022. Still, we need to stay focused on 2021. Go the Bunnies.

Here’s something for you, DPS and Tony to enjoy, andrew. The last time the Dragons made the finals and looked good in a semi-final. Enjoy! 😁 👍

That last five minutes though | Rabbitohs v Dragons Match Mini | Semi Final, 2018 | NRL

If Souths forwards can dominate the Sea Eagles pack like they did against the Panthers, then Manly will be fighting off the back foot all night and hoping for a lucky punch. Like Wilder in his second fight against Fury. If Souths stay in the driver’s seat and neutralise Turbo, they should be OK. Fingers crossed anyway. There is no room for error and no second chances.

Not only am I hoping for a convincing win, allowing Souths to rest key players early, but I am hoping for Souths to remain injury and suspension free. That will be crucial for whichever team advances tonight against either the Storm or the Panthers next week. Go the Bunnies!

I could be… I should be… but I will be watching from home. And feeling ill until victory is assured. Then the cycle will start all over again for another week, should the boys repeat their qualifying final success. Go the Bunnies! 👍

Nice attempt at misdirection there, Ivan. But just like Bennett exposed your subterfuge in the press conference following the Panthers’ qualifying final loss to Souths, your attempts at misdirection only backfire. Better stay away from the forums and get back to coaching, mate. Just a tip for future press conferences, though. Bring a loaded gun to a gun fight, not a pea shooter, and then try not to shoot yourself in the foot! 😂 😂 😂

You should know by now, andrew, every word of mine is The Final Word… until it becomes the penultimate word. 😛

Look, it’s quite simple. That message is for his players, not the media or the public. Bennett is not about to hype up Manly’s biggest threat publicly. He doesn’t want his players putting any one player on a pedestal and being overawed unnecessarily.

The Storm showed how to neutralise Turbo. Starve Manly of possession, cover Turbo with 3 men and maintain communication in your defensive line. Kick away from Turbo wherever possible, unless you can pin Tom in a postage stamp corner, and finally work him over with your defence and tire him out.

It will take an 80-minute effort to win this game, and a team that can stay focused for that full period. Souths have already proven they could do that against the Panthers. On the other hand, Manly got belted by the Storm in week 1 of the finals, then had everything go their way in a canter over the Roosters last week. Honestly, if this comes down to an 80-minute grind, Souths are way ahead. Especially in the first 20 mins and last 20 mins of the game, given that they have had the benefit of a week’s rest.

This game will be won or lost in the forwards, and the Bunnies have a massive advantage there and the confidence from the qualifying final to back that up. And did I mention they have had a week off to rest up and prepare?

Best to let sleeping Dally’s lie, Albo. Let DCE nod off for one more week, then he can do as he pleases. 😛 👍

For some much-needed hope, Wests need to look north… a merger with the Brisbane Tigers? 😛