Finals Week 1

[Alec]

I think the rule should be that if that there is even the slightest chance that Mini might have knocked on, he most likely has. He has twice as many feet as a normal human being.

 

[gordjw]

I think the rule should be that if that there is even the slightest chance that Mini might have knocked on, he most likely has. He has twice as many feet as a normal human being.

Not a knock on if its off the feet though mate. Maybe the refs know about his extra feet?

 

[Alec]

Not a knock on if its off the feet though mate. Maybe the refs know about his extra feet?

Wow, you know, you might be right. They should include his upper feet in the rulebook.

Anyway, as for the game, man I like Foran as a player. A half who can take on the defensive line, get absolutely smashed, get up and ask for more.

 

[Bull Shark]

if Manly can't score here they should stick a fork in themselves ...

 

[Bull Shark]

roosters defence is incredible

 

[Socnorb]

SBW is sorting out Wattmough. Awesome

 

[nopatience101]

Roosters defense is extraordinary, it's almost like because they are so accustomed to conceding penalties that they have become so good at defending them and absorbing the pressure. Manly were too much sideline-to-sideline and never really looked to try anything different. Great game and a real grand final performance by easts, if anyone beats them I will be surprised.

 

[vertigo]

That was like watching a masterclass in defence, especially goal line defence.

Crazy how Souths played like the Storm of old and the Roosters played like the Manly of old.

A changing of the guard perhaps?

 

[Socnorb]

Apparently the rooster's forwards " laid a platform" - James Maloney

 

[Kimlo]

How good is this final series?

At this stage I seriously think anyone of the remaining 6 this weekend are a chance, with the winner of the Bulldogs/Knights being the least likely but still possible. For the last 4-5 years it's felt like every finals series was a forgone conclusion between 1 or 2 teams.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't know, something about this opening week feels flat and frustrating.

Souths were just relentless on Friday. Received a couple of key calls which definitely helped their cause but they'd be happy to get through on a relatively solid performance. Melbourne were a little off the pace and made a couple of errors I wouldn't expect them to make. Still, even behind the 8 ball it was nice to see them put up a fight. I like watching Melbourne play from behind, that's when they play their most stylistic brand of football.

I really wanted to see the Cowboys rewarded at the death...that effort to go 90m and nearly score in the corner earned my respect and my heart broke when I saw Linnett's foot over the sideline. I reckon there was a collective 'bugger' across Australia as soon as that footage was revealed. Otherwise, it was a solid scrap between two desperate sides. Unfortunately, Cows were just a little off the pace and made errors at pivotal stages. Don't know why, but JT just couldn't get himself in that game.

Manly/Roosters left me feeling really unsatisfied. It was played at a ferocious pace and it felt like I had to keep my eye on the telly at all times but...it just never got out of third gear. Manly lacked thrust in the middle and without Brett Stewart, they didn't have enough weapons to truly threaten the Roosters out-wide. Reminded me a lot of our game against them in Round 3, obviously this was of higher quality, but it was one of those games where I felt like the better team were happy to defend all evening.

 

[CaptainHook]

What a joke. Absolutely unforgivable that something so basic as counting tackles can end a teams premiership chances. Poor ****ing cowboys were arse raped by refs.

It was a shocking decision. I can't remember the last real howler like that. The Cowboys missed 30 odd tackles though. Nowhere near good enough for a first grade game let alone a finals match. That contributed to their demise as well.

Do we need to look at a referral system, I wonder?

 

[Anonymous person]

How good is this final series?

2 out of 3 games were literally ruined by the referees - good is not the word I would use.

 

[Bull Shark]

Sharks' skipper Paul Gallen played down the impact of the incident on the result.
"It's part of the game; the Cowboys didn't stop trying to defend it," Gallen said.
"Unfortunate for them - about time we had a bit of luck."


yeah, clubs / athletes that are balls-deep in systematic drug cheating investigations really deserve to catch a break here and there ....

**** off Gallen

 

[KingWebcke]

Wow, you know, you might be right. They should include his upper feet in the rulebook.

Anyway, as for the game, man I like Foran as a player. A half who can take on the defensive line, get absolutely smashed, get up and ask for more.

he looked abandoned by his teammates though. he takes the ball to the line better than any other half butt his only options tonight were to run and then move the ball laterally to Matai. when Foran straightens the attack he should always have big backrowers steaming towards the line to his inside and outside every time, and then maybe have Matai or the fullback waiting wider and deeper.

 

[KingWebcke]

I thought Beau Ryan and Mick Gordon were excellent for Cronulla, their play was almost enough to make me stop hating the Sharks ... almost

also have to give mentions to Robert Lui and Glenn Stewart for absolute dud performances.

 

[Alec]

he looked abandoned by his teammates though. he takes the ball to the line better than any other half butt his only options tonight were to run and then move the ball laterally to Matai. when Foran straightens the attack he should always have big backrowers steaming towards the line to his inside and outside every time, and then maybe have Matai or the fullback waiting wider and deeper.

I'm looking forward to seeing if he and Glenn can combine well during the world cup, if they end up playing on the same side. Glenn running off him looking to hit a hole could cause trouble to the opposition defence. He only has Horo at Manly, I believe, who isn't particularly good.

 

[Jeba]

I like watching Melbourne play from behind

lol

[/immaturity]