Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys – Friday night – Allianz Stadium
Sometimes you don't want to be right. This is one of those times. All things being equal the Cowboys are a better side than the Cronulla Sharks, but this weekend equality takes a backward step. This is not a criticism of the Sharks who have had a fantastic season. They earned the week off with an unlikely victory and good luck to them. They'll be close to full-strength, and any niggling injuries have had plenty of rest. Gallen and Graham will be back...no question about it. The Cowboys victory over the Broncos was probably the game of the season. Some people (Andrew Johns) are calling it the best game they've ever seen, but some people (Andrew Johns) are prone to getting carried away. What a game it was though...all 90 minutes of it. Cowboys co-captains Matt Scott and Jonathan Thurston looked down and out on several occasions, but they kept hauling themselves off the canvas. Can the champs raise another effort and do it all again? I want them to. I really want them to, but that Sharks pack is rested and ready to rumble. Those little men in the Sharks backline will be seeking out tired opponents and taking them on with pace and footwork. 50 years without a premiership, Cronulla are a live chance in 2016.
Verdict – Sharks by 7
Result - Sharks 32 defeated Cowboys 20
Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – AAMI Park
No-one needs a reason to lift for a preliminary final, but both teams have something they can call on if they need firing up. Cooper Cronk plays his 300th game on Saturday night, and the list of players that have reached that milestone at one club is a very short list. Raiders coach Ricky Stuart lost his mentor this week in the great Ron Massey. Massey has had as big an influence on the modern game as anyone. Stuart will discuss Massey with his troops during the week, and the team will lift. They were probably going to lift anyway. Barring a runaway victory (which looks unlikely) we'll get 80 minutes of football from both sides, just as we did in round 23 when the Raiders defeated the Storm 22-8 in Canberra. It was with that victory that the Raiders announced themselves to the world as premiership contenders. In successive weeks they defeated the teams (Sharks...then Storm) at the top of the ladder, and they've rarely let us down since. The Raiders know they can beat the Storm, and they know they can beat the Storm in Melbourne. I think their style of play troubles the purple machine - providing the purple machine doesn't trick the green machine into playing like Melbourne they win this. The injury to Asofa-Solomona means the Raiders pack have one less monolith to manage. He's a big out...literally. A victory for the Raiders is a massive task - any victory over the Storm is, but this team and this coach are up to it. We're getting a viking clap at the grand final.
Verdict – Raiders by 2
Result - Storm 14 defeated Raiders 12
Wally Lewis - finals week three (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- SHARKS vs Cowboys
- STORM vs Raiders
Comments
Submitted by Tailspin on
Ye ha. Go the cowboys to beat the sharks by 7 and storm to beat the raiders by 8. Happy days.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Giddy Folks
Back from Airlie Beach after a great weekend with the Missus. Went to a wedding on Sunday that was beautiful and in an amazing setting.
Back to the footy and I see poor old Coach is still hurting from the loss. One of those things Coachy Boy, you will find your team will bounce back better for the loss next year. Have to move on old boy, I must say in your defence, true supporters feel the pain as bad as the team and in saying that I still feel the pain of 1988 and 1989, good to see true footy lovers Coach, cheer up.
I am off to a little fishing place called Iluka tomorrow with the family for 10 days, have a great week folks and good luck to Sharks, Raiders, Storm and Cowboys fans.
Cheers
Submitted by The Thinker on
Good luck tigerholic...im in Brunswick heads.....give us a wave as you scoot past on the pacific motorway. My seven year old is winning the family comp for largest fish at the moment. Its not over yet.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Funny how too busy to write gets taken. Manic withdrawal whenever I miss a day.
Hear ye Hear ye.
By order of his Excellency, the right Honorable Coach Potato
It is hereby declared that entries for The Dancer And The Prancer have reopened.
Well, there's only one spot left, but it's back open again.
Not just a matter of putting your hand up though.
No. The one who shall receive the last pick (MEL) - CRO will be the one who can tell us who were the last three teams that lost in Finals week 1, and went on to take the Premiership.
I need team and year of the last three.
If you have had a pick in this comp and yours has lucked out, you're back in. A second chance. If you still have a live pick, you can't play his one.
Also if you're a first timer on this page, you're just as welcome.
The first correct entry gets (MEL) - CRO
3.(MEL) - CRO ....??????
4.MEL - (CRO) - Johnny Ray
5.(MEL)- COW - GaryChesterUK
6.MEL - (COW)- christine
15.(CAN) - CRO - Baggy_Gee
16.CAN - (CRO) - Islander
17.(CAN) - COW - Rick
18.CAN - (COW)- 'a'
Submitted by Coach Potato on
7 live chances left representing a total of 4 countries, is that right?
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Sharks
+Storm
----------
=Party !!! ;-D
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Does the NRL think we're all f-ing goldfish??
Was only week 1 game 1 Broncos v Titans where all and sundry called the Bunkers performance the worst in living memory.
Bernard Sutton duely sacked. Or so we thought.
Lsst week he was back in charge of the Cowboys Broncos, and Raiders Panthers where he gave a try to Croker that was a lost ball all year long.
This week he"s in charge of both Prelims and offer you one guess who gets the Finals say in the Grand Final close calls.
So maybe we are all just f-ing goldfish. Wouldn't remember what happened 3 seconds ago, let alone 2 weekends ago.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Interesting.
Both Holden Cup Prelims will precede the Sharks Cowboys game on Friday night, a triple header of sorts.
Panthers Cowboys at Friday 3pm (well they should be just jam packed at that time NRL. I mean really, who actually works or goes to school on a Friday?!!- (you bloody idiots) and Dragons Roosters following at 5:15pm.
Had the main game been in Townsville there would have been no doubt that minor premiers Panthers would have had to play an away Prelim.- but what's new.
The NRL also had the choice to send one game down to Melbourne, but didn't.
In the end, as we always do, we eat our veges, as unpalatable as they may be.
Submitted by christine on
My tips for finals week 3 are
sharks
raiders
Submitted by Doggie on
Hi Coach. Something fishy about that Sutton situation. Methinks he might of threatened unfair dismissal and the NRL backed down. How's my capitals today?
Submitted by a on
Here are my tips
Cowboys by 4 I think Cowboys are going to win by beating the Sharks here
Raiders by 2 Yes I think Raiders are going to beat Storm in Melbourne here
Submitted by Sp8rk3y on
Hey guys love the site wish I discovered it sooner. I love footy the finals series just so fun to watch. I don't support any club or made any bets on the finals series but I did mock up my own predications for fun before the finals series even started, so far 1 wrong in first week but not really counting that as a lose since I'm predicting both the Sharks and Raiders to make the GF so that's still a possibility just had to swap Sharks for Raiders in my picks but they all remained the same. Take a look at the photo if I get this week right I will be over the moon lol. It's one thing to make tips week in, week out, based on injuries but to completely predict the entire finals series before it even started is pretty special lol.
http://s11.postimg.org/jktba4lnn/12211.jpg
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hi dOGGIE,
No it's not what you are think.
Hey just got the wrong Sutton.
It was on field refs Gerard Sutton and Gavin Badger who were demoted. Video ref Bernard Sutton did not come under any scrutiny at all, even he was the one to blame.
What Tom Foolery to come out and tell people they were doing something about refereeing and then allowed the on field refs to take the fall on behalf of the Bunker.
Pathetic.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
# Welcome to the person who's name is like one of those number plates that looks like a word - kind of, but not really.
If you don't follow a team, just pick one.
I would like think it's against NRL fan religion to just follow the game itself, and no team in particular.
# If Melbourne are 44 - 6 up against Cronulla next week with 20 minute to go, will people still refuse to take them in the tipping comp?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hey D..oggie
A dog that smells something fishy. I hope this isn't you ..
https://www.cuteness.com/blog/content/why-does-my-dog-smell-fishy
Submitted by Coach Potato on
6 days ago I said the Cowboys were gassed. And physically they were- and possibly are. But mentally is where they are strong.
Darius dropping one in extra time that he never drops, ala Ben Hunt in the GF, then Gillett sticking the leg out as a last resort, was much less about the physically gassed, and much more about the mentally gassed. Finals time you train less anyway. Tapering they like to call it. Resting more like it. Anyway, physically they will be back tomorrow and me mentally they are strong.
They play the Sharks who are burdened by 50 years of expectation not to mention facing the team who ended their 49th season. Physically stronger, mentally weaker.
So who would you rather be, the physically stronger or the mentally?
Feels like 50 years is gonna come and go without even lighting a candle.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Sparkey, have fun on this site it is good.
Declare yourself, a team and a State.
Coach your "doggie" attachment explains a lot of things about dogs.
But nothing about your hatred of horses (read Broncos)
I just read Panthers are an endangered species. Their capitulation last weekend would seem so.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach interesting you are tipping the Cows...are you mellowing?
Not so much QLD hatred in your comment.
I agree the Cows will win, despite the Sharks week off.
Professional footballers shouldn't need more than a week to recover.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sorry Mark, we're not. I found this
Q: Are black panthers endangered?
A: Black panthers are not endangered because the term "black panther" is used for any black cat from a big cat species that is normally spotted. Black panthers are not a species on their own. Most black panthers are jaguars or leopards that have a condition called melanism.
Melanism occurs when an animal carries a variant on a coloration gene that makes the animal produce an abundance of black pigment. Black panthers still have markings, but they are obscured by the surrounding black fur except in strong sunlight.
Melanism is found in many species of cat and is often an advantage for them. In Asia, black panthers are associated with dense woodlands whose shade makes dark fur excellent camouflage; these black panthers are leopards. In the Americas, black panthers are usually jaguars, though other species of smaller cat may show similar coloration, such as bobcats. Melanism may offer some other advantages to cats besides camouflage, such as an improved immune system, though dark fur can also cause cats to stand out in well-lit habitats such as grasslands.
#23-23
#31-12
#26-20
#NerNerNaNerNer
Submitted by Coach Potato on
23-22 I meant. How dare the Broncos accidentally escape with a draw against the Panthers.
Submitted by Sp8rk3y on
Well since you guys must know yes I support NSW in origin :(, the Kangaroos and if the Sharks win this year I will become a member. When I pick a team to support it's permanent life choice I don't change or switch lol.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
How much will it hurt the Broncos if Cowboys go back to back?
One tackle away in 2015.
One stray leg away in 2016.
Must be horrible dreaming it happened differently, and then you wake up.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
If the Warriors took a step forward to improve their culture by ditching Hurrell, they just took ten steps backwards by signing Foran.
http://www.nrl.com/foran-signs-with-warriors/tabid/10874/newsid/101627/d...
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Well folks week 3 o the finals and it gets harder to pick every week.
Any of these 4 teams can go on and win the title it's that close but I have to pick 2 teams and here are my tips.
The sharks........... Just like the cowboys were desperate to win there first title so to are the sharks. The cowboys are the better alround team but the sharks want this more if they don't win it this year than maybe they never will . It's the sharks desperation that will win in the end after a titanic struggle
The sharks by 2
The raiders........... If you look at the teams the storm hate most to play it's the unorthodox teams the eagles,the warriors ,the raiders , the panthers these teams are unpredictable. The storm like the grind and forever in your face football the raiders have the flair I'm attack to worry them . If it's played on the storms terms yes the storm win, but if the raiders open the game up than they have the more points in them to win.
In another thriller the raiders to shock the storm by. 1
Well that's my tips good luck everyone to your teams and wishing everyone a very good evening .
Submitted by newbie from perth on
Hi everyone,
Firstly @ the Coach and the Boss
Received my Roosters beanie a couple of days ago and am absolutely stoked! It’s been quite a few years since I’ve worn one and they’ve changed a little since then. Mighty Roosters badge on the left with the tri colours on the right. Looks like I have some sort of skull cap on. Freakin’ awesome! Gonna wear this little beauty whenever I’m “out and about” and definitely Saturday week when I’m at my mates place watching the AFL GF. Sincere thanks to both of you guys for making Newbie’s world a little happier. Cheers!
Secondly @ Fortess, Big Pete, Seaeagle47, EagleROCKS et al
Just in case you weren’t aware, all was not lost this year as far as your Sea Eagles go. How you ask? Well, over here in the West we had our WARL Grand Finals last weekend and believe it or not, North Beach (who just happen to be the Sea Eagles and same colours and so on) managed to win not only the First Grade GF but also the Second and Third Grade ones as well. The North Beach Sea Eagles were a thorn in the Fremantle Roosters side way back in the day (great rivalry in those days) and basically, still are a force to be reckoned with in our comp over here. Congratulations guys, something to shout about eh? Oh and BTW, well done to North Beach and their supporters from this still passionate Freo Roosters tragic.
OK, onto this weeks penultimate round of finals. And then there were four…
Sharks v Cowboys
I can’t quite believe the Cowboys are favourites in this one. I think the bookies have got this wrong. The Cows are playing away from home, they had an absolutely bruising encounter last week and they’re up against a Sharks outfit that’s had an extra week off and as much as I hate to admit, they have that crybaby Gallen back too. I’m thinking the Sharkies will be just too strong and will blunt the Cows with their grinding style of play.
Storm v Raiders
Newbie likes this game as the “one to watch” this weekend. The Storm are favourites and I think that’s how it should be (especially at AAMI) but having said that, I think they’re a bit too short. I’m thinking they should be closer to the $1.75 mark and not the $1.46 I saw tonight. Mind you, they boast an impressive 10 wins from their past 12 games as home favourites so maybe that’s why they’re at the price they are. As good as the Raiders have been this year, I’m thinking the Stormers might have a bit more “big game” experience than the Vikings and the home ground crowd will definitely help as well. Melbourne for me.
OK kids, good luck with your tipping and if your team’s playing this week, may they win by 40 points!
Inspired by my new beanie, here’s this week’s closing thought…
P.S. If a chicken had lips, could it whistle? Hmmm…
Submitted by Coach Potato on
No worries Newbie.
Who knows, you may just be formally obligated to don for the Holden Cup grand final next Sunday.
Dragons /Roosters Prelim @ 515pm AEST this evening.
What can you say, requiring to thank a last minute refereeing debacle for the win?!?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Who would think that there has been three Prelims played at AAMI and only once has the Storm marched on to the Grand Final.
Well, no doubt the fans know all about this.
Raiders will definitely have the power to make this crowd feel nervous all over again . But nervous energy does funny things.
Should Storm score first, the noise at ground level measured in deci-cow-bels, could be enough to blow Canberra away.
We saw a completely different Panthers team play last week. One factor was the away game and close calls not going their way. There was also lots of leniency for the home team in the ruck. Not a snowballs chance of getting a penalty for lying on the tackled player, and thst's how it panned out. Raiders ended up the better team, but not playing on a level playing field, they were given every opportunity.
How ironic that Stuart has come out to lambast the Storm ruck tactics, when his own team embraced the Melbourne strategy so lovingly last week. Doubly ironic it has now been scripted that the away team will receive the odd ruck penalty, when nothing was offered to the visitor at GIO.
Karma Ricky Stuart.
For your dodgy salary cap dealings back at Parra.
You fled like a thief in the night just when shit was due to hit fan.
For all your whingey-poo, $10k post-game Rockets, ultimately money towards the poor little Rickster influence, on the media and officials.
For the Viking Clap, given the green light by the NRL, but not just used as a celebration of the team, but as a dirty bad-sport tactic to put opposition kickers off. (Yes, you know that Karma had both kicks sail through).
For all these things Ricky, I wish Calmer on you.
But I'm not telling that the word is actually Karma.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Good luck to Panthers and Cowboys in Holden Cup Prelim at 3pm.
No doubt Cleary qualifies to play, but the club knows it would not be in the spirit of the game.
Ponga returns for the Cows so will see if his speed and evasiveness is back or whether first grade has taken the edge off.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/06/09/08/31/shark-creeps-up-on-joh...
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Thanks for that newbie great news something to cheer about mate,
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Why did they make the Panthers Cowboys Holden Cup Prelim the game that noone will see.
Panthers averaging a massive 35 points a game, Cowboys averaging 32. Teams 1 and 2 going head to head.
Surely they at least deserved to be the game before the main game.
SFS members / Roosters supporters wanting their team playing after business hours is the culprit.
NRL scheduling continues to stink.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Sorry everyone, just had a holiday at the Gold Coast for a week, my youngest boy was picked in a Westham training squad at Southport bording school and the lucky few picked from that go to pommy country to be in the Westham academy, and who knows from there. Loves his soccer but for a 12 year old he is a monster and would be great in league. Time will tell. Anyway, back to League, good to see Coach that you are backing the right side tonight, hopefully fingers and toes crossed they stick to their game plan and smash the bloody shoulder charge off the ball get off scott free sharks. Anyway, best of luck everyone, hope you have a great weekend.
Submitted by Tailspin on
P.S. I turn 50 on Sunday, so Cowboys winning will be a great present, ye ha.
Submitted by Islander on
To make it to the big dance, i think...
Sharks by 12
Raiders by 8
Good luck everyone!
Submitted by St.George Illawarra Dragonsfan4ever on
Hello everyone, my tips for this week for spots in the grand final are:
Sharks by 1- The sharks will be desperate to win their first title in their 50th season. Sharks in a thriller.
And finally... Storm by 4- The Storm to just beat the Raiders in this one for Cronk in his 300th game.
So that means, the grand final will then be Sharks-Storm, I hope that I'm right.
Awesome. That's done. Good luck to the remaining teams this week and good luck with everyone's tips. And just to finish up, good luck to the Junior Dragons today hope we make it to the big one. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by St.George Illawarra Dragonsfan4ever on
And Coach if available, I'll take number 3.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Dragon you need to answer the question.
Last three teams to lose Finals week one and still win the Premiership.
Google will help.
Number 3 is still open to anyone that wants to be student of the game, and closed to anyone that doesn't.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Good evening Tippers.
Mine for Week 3 Finals are Cowboys and Storm.
Experience guys - those that have been there, know whats required.
Happy Tipping and Good Luck - have a great weekend.
Big Pete
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Have a great day Tailspin - 50 and all that.
Big Pete
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Football/soccer is a great game Tailspin. I grew up with it playing and coaching. There are some very good academy coaching camps around. A fellow who I coached as a youngster, took his son to the UK for Liverpools Camp.
Inter Milan bring one here to Australia. What I like about the camps is they piss the parents off so they aren't hanging around nagging and comparing, with what and how others do it.
I wish your young bloke well mate. I was lucky to see West Ham play Arsenal in an FA Cup Final at Wembley. What a feeling being there in that packed house when there was standing on the terraces. Gone now, seating only. Did a tour during the week preceding the final and West Ham's team were there getting the team photo done for the program.
As I've commented before Tailspin - athletics teaches athletes to run properly and increase their speed. Soccer teaches the natural sidestep, which a player has acquired if he decides to migrate to any of the rugby codes.
Keep well mate and nice to know there is another on the site that has a slight love for the round-ball game.
Big Pete
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Thanks for the WA Update there Newbie. Furthermore, thanks for remembering us.
Great to know - my mate over there at Pinjarra would most likely support those Chooks as he did here in NSW in former ARL (before NRL).
Yes Manly here had a tough season - injuries won our Best and Fairest.
Cheers - Big Pete
Enjoy the beanie mate!!!
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Good luck with it all Draggo - there wont be much separating us come Grand Final night.
Been a good season mate - there'll be new ones on board for 2017 and good to see the site enlarge.
Coach will need a stenographer/assistant.
Cheers - Big Pete
Submitted by GaryChesterUK on
Good morning folks.
Pretty easy this week -
Cowboys by 6 - May have had a week less to recover but know how to get over the line, have been impressive over the last couple of months, sadly the sharks haven't been.
Storm by 10 - I really really like the raiders but for me the storm have been the best team throughout the season and should win this pretty comfortably!
Good luck all tippers, and fans of the 4 teams playing.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Newbie get yr chicken hat out - It's the Panthers v Roosters in the Grand Final prelude.
Will Nathan Cleary play.
Yeah stuff it. Give him the ball one more time.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach congrats to your Panthers over the Cows in the Holden cup.
You're going to have some depth in the next couple of years.
Tonight Cows doing it tough so far but will come back
Submitted by mark ashford on
Wow Maloney's pass travels at least a metre forward, Ref on the spot and doesn't call it.
Cowboys duded yet again in finals football.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
% Qld teams stat anyone?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hear it here first, going to extra time.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
0%
Submitted by mark ashford on
Yeah Coach not looking good. Looks like you'll have a Sydney side in the big one.
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