Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – AAMI Park
These sides have met twice already this season. Way back in round three these sides fought out a gropping contest at AAMI Park. The round seventeen clash wasn't quite as gripping, but we did see the Storm at their dominant best in a 42-12 drubbing at Suncorp. Deluded I may be, but I'm calling out the round three game as a better guide to this preliminary final than the drubbing. In round seventeen the Broncos were without Milford, Boyd and Oates and they gave us one of their most error-riddled displays all season. In round three they were better, and while the Storm dominated possession for much of that contest the Broncos led until the 76th minute, with Cameron Smith converting the late try to put the purple machine in front. The Storm still won, as they generally do, but they had to earn it. The Broncos lost, as they generally do when they play the Storm, but I'd call that game out as their best loss all season. The Broncos are one of the best in the NRL at defending their line. That was on display back in round three, and it was on display last weekend against Penrith. Boyd returns this week which should, I expect, make them an even tougher nut to crack. Unfortunately for Broncos fans, no-one cracks nuts like the Melbourne Storm. They'll keep their composure. They'll stick to their structures. They'll continue to believe that the game plan will get them the win if they stick to the game plan. Some people may call it out as boring, but some may call a top end BMW boring. The purple machine works. They hum along like a perfectly tuned piece of engineering. They are a metronome. I would describe it as hypnotic rather than boring. I'm like a cobra sitting on the couch dazzled by chief snake charmer Cameron Smith. They've been the best team all year, and they deserve a place in the grand final. Cooper Cronk, in his last game in Melbourne, can slot the field goal that gets them there.
Verdict – Storm by 1
Result – Storm by 30
Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium
The people of Sydney have just one local team to cheer for this season – let's hope they turn up in numbers on Saturday night. The Parramatta Eels brought more then 41000 through the gates for their loss to the Cowboys last week – a fantastic turnout given the local AFL team was playing in a final at the same time and drew just 14000. No doubt a couple of thousand Cowboys diehards will make the trek all the way down the eastern seaboard to support the fairytale team in season 2017. The Cowboys are winning by adopting a fairly simple approach to their game plan. In their last three games their completion rates have stood at 87%, 80% and 85%. That alone will keep your team in the game, but when you couple that with a deft kicking game you become a very difficult team to beat. Michael Morgan had the ball on a string in that second half against the Eels. The pressure mounted on the Eels and the errors came. More errors brought more pressure. The Eels led at half time, but by the 60th minute the contest was all but over, and it was only ever going to be a Cowboys victory. The Roosters had a week off on the back of their win over the Broncos but they won that game by the skin of their beaks, and the Broncos were a long way off their best that night. The Chooks deserve to be a very warm favourite on Saturday night, but I'm a sucker for a fairytale. Taumalolo needs to make 200+ metres with the ball under his arm. Morgan needs a repeat of his brilliant performance against the Eels. Ethan Lowe needs to slot two-pointers like he did last weekend. Winterstein needs to match his much taller opponent under the high ball. I'm asking for a lot here, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
Verdict – Cowboys by 10
Result – Cowboys by 13
Wally Lewis - finals week three (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- STORM vs Broncos
- ROOSTERS vs Cowboys
Comments
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Wow Adam Blair is a class player, people whinge about Gallen but Blair is close in the running.
Submitted by Mary S on
In the play after half time it seemed as if the game was going to continue to be very close. Boy, did Storm banish that idea after the 55min mark!!! The result was certainly a lot different to what was anticipated.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Well there you go, bloody broncos could have put the pressure on the storm early but Moga wanted to be the hero and stuffed a certain try. That stupid decision lost Broncos any chance of winning the game. Great win to the Storm who are going to be tough to beat in the final, but the Cowboys should do it. :)
Submitted by Mary S on
Like your thinking Tailspin!!!
Submitted by christine on
I can't see why bennet kept persisting with using darius last night ...
Submitted by a on
Yeah good thinker Tailspin
Submitted by The Annoying Devil on
I think the footy gods are trying to make tonights game even
It might be in Sydney but the forecast is 37c and 26c at kickoff to make the cowboys feel at home
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Well is south east Queensland it is about 36 but the wind is quite strong so it could be a howling gale there later, bring the game down to forwards and a short to mid kicking game if the change keeps rolling down that way.
Submitted by a on
Hopefully Matt Scott plays tonight
Submitted by mark ashford on
Yes Christine
Boyd was a passenger and should of come off. Don't know what Wayne was thinking. It was a final after all.
Blair didn't win any supporters and Moga was trying to win the game on his own.
Broncs were in it for say 50 minutes then Storm showed their class.
The best team won no doubt.
My only gripe is Cam Smith mouthing off at Jordan Kahu after he landed on Billy Slater after Slater scored. This happens in almost all tries scored.
Cam you won and I thought you were better than that.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Just a news flash Mark, Can Smith is a GRUB, I agree, it happens to everyone from ever team after a try but obviously it's OK for a Storm player to drop on a player after the try is scored but not fine for anyone to do it to them. Poor winner.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Tonight I'm praying for a Cowboys win (sorry Newbie)
If Scott can play that will be a huge bonus take some pressure off Taumalomo..
Saw JT on a footy show (first time I've watched in 10 years its rubbish)
when he was asked if there was a chance of him playing he said he'd like to but would probably leave his arm on the field.
Good luck Cowboys!
Submitted by The Annoying Devil on
Cam smith is a grub he even complained to the ref after the Alex McKinnon tackle
I'm praying for a roosters win
They haven't been able to sell all the GF tickets if it's storm/cowboys their going to give tickets away
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Thanks for sharing that Mark, it's nice to see a footballer put family and health in front of personal glory. If JT never plays again he has had a full career and has shown that there is more important parts to the game than being on the field for everything.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Im going to disagree with you guys. Landing on a player late after he's scored a try is poor no matter what teams are playing. The Para boy did it against the Storm week one too & that was the cause of the fracas. It's like late hits on the kicker on the 5th tackle (Blair's on Cronk). Same thing it's an act that needs to be stamped out.
Submitted by a on
Smith is not a grub
Submitted by newbie from perth on
Can guys get fake nails? Just wondering as I have none left and it's only half-time! Bloody Cowboys are the real deal here guys. Cross fingers for a better 40 mins (well, for my sake at least). Good game so far nevertheless. Off we go...
Submitted by The Annoying Devil on
Don't worry newbie
Cowboys have had enough possession to be leading by 20
When it evens out I think the roosters can put on enough points
Submitted by newbie from perth on
I am calling time now. As much as I hate to say it, we're gawn! Better team won tonight. Well done Cows. Congratulations to Mary, Tailspin, Hardyards and "a".
Sheesh! They've scored again! I'm off to take some pills...
Go the Cows! Enjoy...
Submitted by Hardyards on
WE ARE IN THE GRAND FINAL I LOVE BEER, I mean COWBOYS!!!!
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Simply phenomenal win by the Cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Hardyards on
TAD, the real football fans will go to the grand final to watch the two best teams of the year battle it out. I don't care if they give the tickets away, cheaper for me. Don't go, don't watch, us up here will love it anyway.
Submitted by The Thinker on
90% completion rate from the Cowboys tonight...5 line breaks to 1.
They've done it again.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Giddy up Giddy up Giddy up you incredible Cowboys.
What an amazing win. I wont name all you Cowboys supporters but all I can say is YOU BEAUGHTY the Cows into the GF.
All the talk about how the Roosters were going to smash the Cows JWH was going to belt Jason T. What a joke, Jason T outplayed him all over the park.
Michael Morgan the next superstar. Look out Storm.
Submitted by a on
Yeah the Cowboys are coming up
of we better get this party started and bring on the Storm
Submitted by Tailspin on
Hey TAD, I went to the 2015 grand final between the Broncos and Cowboys. It was a sell out and the atmosphere was unbelievable. I would put it up there with a state of origin decider. One of the best games I've ever seen. This grand final will be no different I think. The Cowboys played great footy and deserve to be in the final. Go the Cowboys, YE HA. Hardyards, beer and footy, what a great combo. Bad luck to all the rooster fans and Congrats to all the Cowboys supporters out there.
What do you reckon Thinker, Cowboys in with a chance.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Tailspin
Yes. No doubt about it.
Sydney will have 30000+ interstate visitors for this long weekend that otherwise wouldn't be there. The staff at Tourism NSW will be high-fiving each other in the office tomorrow morning.
And Tailspin is spot on. 2015 gave us one of the best (if not best) grand finals we have ever seen. 83000 people turned up and there was plenty of atmosphere at that one.
You've got the best team all year taking on the form team of the finals series. Couldn't ask for much more than that.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
The only thing better would be if the BOYS hadn't cracked, but the Cowboys have done quite well and have produced when it counts.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Hopefully all pull up OK.
Thinker and all tipsters, question in regards to Scott playing in the finals.
Should he or shouldn't he.
Personally, I don't think he should. The boys on the field are doing the job without him and also if he goes in then someone drops out. I think its definitely the wrong time of the year for that.
Also he has been out for a long time and has no match fitness at all and a grand final is where you definitely need that.
Thoughts please.
Submitted by christine on
Well done to cowboys for there win last night & to everyone who tipped them ...
Submitted by The Annoying Devil on
I was at the 2015 GF and yes it was one of the best by the way well done cowboys
But if you were at that game the crowd was 80% broncos and last year was 80% sharks so all I'm saying it will be close to a sell out but half the crowd are people who bought tickets that teams didn't make it so their neutral but are sure to go for the underdogs
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Tailspin I'm with you on your thoughts about Scott playing. He's a club legend & this is professional sport but I'd hate to be the guy who missed out if he plays. If everyone pulls up ok then I'd be sticking with the same 17. Feldt looked like the only one really struggling last night. Good luck to the Cowboys this weekend. Win or lose you're a champion team!!
Submitted by christine on
Tailspin I wouldn't be playing scott I would use the same players they have been using it seems to be working for them so why change it now ...
Submitted by The Annoying Devil on
If Scott is fit you have to play him you have to give yourself the best chance of winning
It's a shame a player misses out but they are only there because Scott is injured and should be grateful of the time they got to spend while he was out
If Thurston came good would you dump Martin.....in a heartbeat that's reality
By the way Scott won't play but that's my thinking
Submitted by a on
Thruston won't play
Submitted by christine on
TAD I get what your saying about playing scott but what they've been doing while jt has been out & scott seems to be working so why upset things now by making changes , it would be different if scott had been playing for the last couple of weeks to get some match fitness in & be match fit to play in a grand final then that's a different story but he's been out too long to just throw him in there now so I stand by what I originally said to tailspin they shouldn't play scott & stick with what they have been doing because it seems to be working for them ...
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings football fans.
I've updated the tipping comp and we have a two way battle for the first prize. – Scott M vs BigPeteBX. Scott M has led for most of the season but BigPete is coming home strong like the Cowboys.
I'm in third place but am ineligible, so that means Lillychino, Footy Chick, Steel Panther or The Voyeur can claim a prize.
Prizes are as follows:
First place – $200 NRL gift shop voucher
Second place – $100 NRL gift shop voucher
Third place – $50 NRL gift shop voucher
I will also pick a tipster randomly from those who have been here all season and they too will receive a $50 NRL gift shop voucher.
Wow...what nice prizes....that Thinker guy must be pretty darn alright.
I'll have the grand final page published as soon as I can....thank you to all of you for taking part and enjoy your 2017 Grand Final.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Yeh, you go alright Thinker. Congrats to the prize winners.
Submitted by christine on
Thanks Thinker / TLH for running this comp & website for all of us to use & share our thougts & views we appreciate all the work & effort Thinker & Tlh put in week in week out so again thank you ...
Submitted by The Thinker on
That exciting feeling when you get offered a free ticket to the grand final....quickly replaced by that horrible feeling when you realise that you won't be able to go.
Sigh!!!
Submitted by christine on
Green Has ruled out matt scott for the grand final he won't be playing ...
Submitted by mark ashford on
Tailspinner
Yeah go those Cowboys.
While I love Scott I agree with other posters he should sit in the Cowboys box with JT.
The existing team deserve a shot at the big one. Who would you leave out?
The top performing team v the team on a roll.
Storm had an easy run against my Broncs while the Cowboys fought for every point.
Storm will be favourite but I feel the crowd will get behind the Cowboys.
Submitted by a on
Yeah the team should just stick together the 17 have been doing a great job and none of them should be cut
Submitted by Russell on
I agree with you, that wasn't just late it was tomorrow, a very cheap shot. I also do not agree with people call Cam Smith a grub and I'm not from QLD.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Russell
I, like you and most people would call it a cheap shot.
Just as bad or worse as late shots on kickers. In most clubs the kickers are the smallest guys and regularly get smashed.
I blame the refs or touchies for not doing anything about it.
I wasn't defending Kahu just surprised at Cam Smiths reaction.
Storm players like most clubs do it all the time.
AND I agree Cam Smith is no grub. Lots of NSW supporters dislike him because he has been so successful. Tall poppy anyone?
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