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 Baggy_Gee on
Nice run. Paulo had no hope.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
That was crap, no frigging consistency, all season it's just been a penalty, same as most of the other calls.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Waste of my time, why was that sent upstairs? Apart from giving the bunker and KFC time in the sun?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Send him off too. That was just as blatant. The problem is if he didn't do that he would have run off the mark unpenalised
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
What's with that scrum, another time it would be shot clock off and repack. Get Austin in the bin too. Storm to win and be gifted the gf, and be the dynasty like QLD. Shame it was a good game for a while.
Submitted by The Thinker on
They can still do this....
Submitted by The Thinker on
eugh!!!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Lol, there's the game. Poor raiders would be up by 2 if the converserion missed. 8 if sezer kicked them.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Still holding down as long as the raiders, where is the constant call for a penalty
Submitted by The Thinker on
Oh gosh....if they just fall short tonight.
Oh gosh....
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Lee's in the dog house. They won't go left again.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Wasn't sure earlier about the Paulo off load though, was calling it forward.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
He caught that one.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Cechkin you flaming wanker, go burn in hell.
Submitted by The Thinker on
The Raiders try through the hands to score that try out wide - Paulo, Tapine, Whitehead.....that's a big backline.
That result...gutted
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
At least if you take the refs out it was tight. Unless Lee catches those 3 and then it's a blow out to the raiders.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
It'll be good next week if they have the right people in control, Patton in the mistake box, Cummings and badger on the ground.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I'll leave coach and the boss to dissect the post game, can't stand listening to either lockyer of fitlers questions.
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Mart checcin you a a disgracefull dog you robbed my team, and now you rob the raiders that was obstruction by the cheating storm , than Austin throws a great pass ruled forward bullshit a disgraceful inept ignorant arragant dog referee mart checcin you not only a pathetic scum of a ref but a blight on the human race the raiders robbed they won not the storm what a sham what a shocking cheat this referee is get rid of him hope you get thrown to the dogs u disgusting sum bag mart checcin.
Go the sharks next week come on sydney come on all sydney footy fans all of nsw no matter what team you follow let's all cheer the sharks on to victory anyone but the biggest cheats the biggest rorters in the history of the game the dogs the Melbourne scum storm and mart checcin the pathetic dog of a ref Robbed robbed robbed robbed. Go the sharks go the sharks go the sharks go the sharks.
And this is from a mighty sea eagles supporter !!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Nah, terrible reffing, but like the cows last night the raiders cost themselves the game. Great play, but the execution cost them as well as playing at the ball in the last 5 minutes, that ball would have gone dead.
Submitted by a on
Raiders and Cowboys robbed
Submitted by The Thinker on
Feeling a bit empty after that game, but I've updated the tipping comp.
Footy Chick has a one point lead with one game to play. Rick in second can still catch Footy Chick in first. Nick in third can still catch Rick in second, and Tigerholic in fourth can still catch Nick in third.
I'll have the grand final page published during the week and I'll have my preview and selection published on Wednesday.
If your team made the grand final...congratulations and good luck on Sunday.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
#Footy Chick you know that others have clung on to your shirttails last few weeks. Cling back onto theirs and you can't lose now.
#Is it so predictable that a coach comes out midweek and complains about the ruck, and the next thing you know there are a dozen ruck penalties. Is the game that easily influenced ? Obviously yes. I'm sure Stuart was hoping his comments would allow for faster play the balls but what it did was translate into more penalties,and on a wet night, did t hurt the offending team nearly as much. In a way, it backfired. Had the ruck penalties been less, and so less stoppages, I think that would have helped Canberra more. Should have just shut ya mouth Ricky.
#Was only three weeks ago the Grand Finalists played for the JJ Giltinan. Not sure if there's ever been a year where two teams played off for both trophies.?!
#JR, your on the podium, just which step will it be? At this stage though, you're Dancing and Prancing on your own.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Well thanks mark, we will be back harder and faster next year, and QLD to win the series again, not a fairy tale ending for the Raiders but good to see the Storm get up and smash the Sharks next week.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
We are all goldfish.
You. Me. Everyone.
Wouldn't remember what happened 5 seconds ago.
Gerard Sutton on field ref was said to be sacked after the debacle known as Broncos Titans week 1.
Yet he has been on field in weeks 2 - Raiders Panthers and again in week 3 -Sharks Cowboys.
Where was he sacked?
Who would know?
We are just all goldfish.
We don't remember what happened 5 seconds ago.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Morning Coach,
Sutton wasn't 'sacked' as such. He was 'demoted' from lead referee to pocket referee.
Gavin Badger was sacked though...following a review of the Broncos/Titans game.
I am a goldfish though. I forget stuff all the time. I blame g00gle. Now I have g00gly eyes....like a goldfish.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Apologies also for my fan-tales but does the pocket referee have any less say in the game than the lead ref? The only thing he got demoted from was the coin-toss.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hear ye Hear ye
Spread the news far and wide,
Requesting the presence of ...
Johnny Ray esquire
at the Grand Final Gala Ball 630pm on Sunday 2nd October 2016.
Dance and Prance the light fantastic.
Regards
The Honorable Coach Potato
------------------------------------------------------------------
***Grand Final Ball Ticketing System Glitch Alert*****
Please note due to people's lack of interest, failure to follow the rules, or comnination of both, there has been only one ticket awarded thus far.
Dragonsfan asked for (MEL) - CRO but that's not good enough. Scroll back to my first post of the week to see what you need to ge the (MEL) - CRO ticket. Everyone is back in the running, barring JR. If he remains the only one Dancing and Prancing in a week's time, so be it.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
@Coach Potato - Me on the podium, dancing and prancing on my own : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTbjLOem2Qg ;-D
Submitted by Coach Potato on
JR either:
A/ People just don't give a shit in Qld about non-Qld Grand Finals;
B/ People have not yet discovered how to use Google;
C/ This is one hell of a protest against the Storm beating the Sharks
A guaranteed prize for anyone in the universe that answers a question - and not a hint of anyone giving a shit.
Not too much point running comps in future is there?
PS- my monies on answer A.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Afternoon Coach
Here are the five cities that visit this site the most:
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, Perth.
Plenty of people outside of Queensland here.
Anyways.....here's the answer because it looks like no-one else wants it more than me:
2015 - Cowboys
2006 - Broncos
2004 - Bulldogs
Great trivia question....by the way. Last year wasn't so hard...but then you have to really think about it....or cheat.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Well done Thinker.
(MEL) - CRO is yours.
Sorry Dragonsfan, I explained it as clearly and as I could.
I expect you may claim your prize next week and I'll have to explain again.
Research is not cheating.
Finding out something you didn't know before can only be a good thing.
1999 Melbourne Storm was the previous team to lose their first semi and still take the title.
Prior to that it was the Raiders in 1990, even though their first game played was in week 2.
Prior to that it was Parramatta, 1982.
It's not something that happens too often, but does mean the second chance is not fiction.
Curious that the last 5 teams to have lost their first semi and finished Premier, were all part of this year's finals.
The other 3 teams :
Panthers who did not lose in their winning years 91, 03
Sharks who have never won a title.
Titans who have never made a Grand Final, let alone win a title.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach when it comes to embarrassment you won the grand final with your grandiose predictions about the Panthers.
Queenslanders will of course support the Storm seeing as they supply a big part of our origin team.
I understand most of the posters on this site but you are an enigma.
You claim support of Rugby League on a whole but are so narrow minded I would like to see a picture of your head.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
The full list of teams that lost on the way to the title and then something truly amazing (to me anyway).
Cowboys 2015
Broncos 2006
Bulldogs 2004
Storm 1999
Raiders 1990
Eels 1982
Sea Eagles 1978
Sea Eagles 1976
Roosters 1975
Roosters 1974
Tigers 1969
Rabbitohs 1968
Dragons 1963
Dragons 1958
Wests 1952
Rabbitohs 1951
Wests 1948
Newtown 1943
Bulldogs 1942
Any further back and Grand Finals were just top 4 , two semis and a Grand Final, or first past the post meaning losing was not an option.
1942 Bulldogs was a weird set up where as Minor Premiers the Bulldogs were guaranteed a spot in the Grand Final. They lost their first semi, and went straight to a Grand Final?!?!
1943 Newtown. Again lose their first semi as Minor Premiers and go straight to the Grand Final.
But then I found 1944 - the request for re-match.
Jets and Tigers, teams 1 and 2 win their respective semis and then meet in what would be the Grand Final. The Tigers win, but as Minor Premiers, the Jets invoke the "right of challenge" , a re-match to be played the following week. It doesn't work. Tigers win again.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Mark, I'm hardly the only one that thought my team would finish Premiers. Where are you getting these ideas in that headspace?
I could name a dozen who spruiked their team as October bound.
Why don't you write individual crud to each of them as well?
Surely I'm not so deserving as to receive all of it.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Shafted again.
ANZ Grand Final schedule
Gates open 1:15pm
NYC Holden. Cup 1:35pm
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters
Stats Championship (NSW cup / QLD cup) 3:40pm
Illawarra Cutters v Burleigh Bears
NRL Grand Final 7:15pm
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks
Third grade is once again the curtain-raiser, whilst with NYC you coukd get in 5 minutes after the gates open, find your seat , take a leak and still probably miss the kick off.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach, I only pick on you because of your constant belittling of QLD supporters and the QLd teams.
If you look back I have praised your Panthers and other NSW/Sydney teams on many occasions.
Whereas you never praise any club north of the border.
Baggy, Fortress, BigPete and others have offered some comfort but never you.
That's why, and I won't stop until you do.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I dislike most rival clubs, some just more than others.
As for the Broncos, I mean, do I have to tell the whole Origin story all over?
Origin started in 82.
The whole of NSW couldn't hate another team more.
Then 6 years later a maroon coloured team from Brisbane wants to join the Sydney comp and play their State squad each weekend.
How much comfort does such a bloody team require?
Broncos no doubt are at the higher end of the dislike spectrum for me.
That's just how it is. What am I supposed to do about fhat?
So they miss out on the title by a whisker two years running?
Couldn't be more bloody happy for the club who's power brokers try and run the game with grossly unfair weekly scheduling of games, and who's fans appear to suffer from the biggest of superiority complexes.
What a bloody pleasure to pip you by a point at Pepper, then knock you for friggin six at Suncorp. Was a season for the true believers.
When all's said and done, know that rivalry is what makes this game great, and comfort is a snack best served cold.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Coach,
The first thing Phil Gould did when he took on the General Manager role at Penrith was fly to Brisbane. He spent days at Broncos HQ, because that was the kind of club he wanted Penrith to be.
When he decided he was going to sack Nathan's dad, he called Anthony Griffin, because that was the kind of coach he wanted Penrith to have.
And when he learned that Broncos CEO Paul White was off contract at the end of 2016, that was the CEO he wanted. He couldn't get him, but that was the kind of Administrator he wanted Penrith to have.
Hate them if you must, but the Broncos were the blueprint for whatever success your team has in the years to come.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
... and don't think for a second longer than the Panther style will be copied throughout the league as the way to play.
Who copies who?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
... and Thinker, military strategy dictates that to bring down the enemy, you need to know what they know. Easier to wear an interested CEO's visitors lanyard, then to set up surveillance spyware.
More fool Broncos for not wanting anything to do with Panthers development complex.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Maybe...I'd like to see it, but the two grand finalists this year don't play like Penrith. The Cowboys don't play like Penrith. Penrith couldn't beat any of them this year.
And why copy Penrith when you can copy the Raiders?
They did okay this season too.
Submitted by St.George Illawarra Dragonsfan4ever on
Thanks mate and with you too Big Pete!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by St.George Illawarra Dragonsfan4ever on
Coach too late now but I'll answer anyways since I'm bothered.
1. Cowboys in 2015
2. Broncos in 2006
and 3. Bulldogs in 2004
Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Penrith picked the Broncos game to use the old early kick ploy.
This had not been a strategy by any team for years if not decades.
No sooner had Broncos been taken down with this masterstroke to tire lazy forwards , then they start using it themselves. Only two weeks later, they start kicking early just as the Panthers had done to them.
The Panthers style is not just about offlloads and playing off the cuff. Its much more strategic.
With the imminent death of the block play, teams will decide to follow, else refuse, and fall behind. Mark my words.
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