Finals

[Lydon]

Penrith can have an armchair ride all they like but the big game finals aren’t played at Penrith Park against Parra they are played at Suncorp & the ECG against the 2 toughest roughest dirtiest grubby sides in the League who will sort them out trust me. I’m not saying the Panthers aren’t good but blokes like Crighton, Laui, Naden, To’o, Edwards & Martin are untried & will be found out by the Roosters & Melbourne in the big end of season games.

100% agreed..
Penrith can enjoy their little fairytale run now, they won’t get past Roosters or Storm in the finals!

[roostermcgregor]

"Originally posted by ism22"

Beat the Drizz and we could setup a perfect run to the GF where Drizz and Pemriff have to playoff in a preliminary final. You definitely make your own luck during the finals. I mean if we can post a big win against the Drizz then go figure. Suddenly they've gotta beat the Riff and then us again to get a premiership (as do the Riff). Doubt either team wants to do that while we get to destroy some joke team in a preliminary.


Yeah, interesting analysis ism22.
I reckon the Riff and the Storm would bash each other senseless trying to get into the GF.
They would be softened up for the big game, while we had the saloon passage to the big one.
I also reckon the Storm have weaknesses on their outer edges, when defending near their own line.

[Tommy Smith]

Another way of looking at it: the Storm thought they were going to face the Eels at Suncorp with a free ticket to a Prelim and two weeks off.

Next minute the might of the b2b Premiers - the team that's dusted them in two consecutive finals series - is on the cards instead.

How would they be feeling about that?

[ROC181]

Meeting the Storm first up means that there is a possibility of meeting them again at the GF....Coming 4th and having to play Penrith at Penrith and if we were to lose there, then that means that now we go to the Storms side of the draw and then if we win the next finals game means that we still play the Storm in Brisbane at the Prelim...That would be much harder to beat them then.

[Johnny Brass]

If we finish 3rd as expected it will be a huge advantage winning that first final and getting the week off and swapping to a much easier prelim final. The loser faces a very tough 3 game stretch to win the grand final.

[roostermcgregor]

I actually thought last year that the real GF was played a week before the actual game took place.
This year might be no different- the real GF might be held in a little over 2 weeks from now.

[Arties Pie]

When we are on we are on and no team can match us, Brilliant attack outstanding defence are are hallmarks.

[roosterproud]

Trent is slowly getting us up for the finals. Resting and trialing newbies.

The game we played the cap thieves in brissy was a joke.. We won that game but the ref missed the dummy half knock on. I have no fear of them nor the flanny wearers.
winning round 1 is critical

[Mickie Lane]

Both teams are getting all their players back from injury it should be a beauty up in qld if we meet as expected in the first week of the finals.
Storm are a massive side and it's like Bellamy has built a team with us specifically in mind which isn't surprising as we have beaten them the last two years.
Olam a terrific defender has been brought in to nullify Manu's brilliance and they will try to bash us out of the game. The quick improvement of Paps at fullback and Hughes as a halfback now gives them a great spine .
I still think they have a few weaknesses that our class can expose particularly if we move their big forwards around.
We are going to have to beat them and the Panthers to get the title so it's just a matter of which weekend we face them.
I have faith in our coach and team whenever that may be.

Really well written post mate.
How tough & hard arse is that Olam. He hits like a sledge hammer & you need a sledge hammer to tackle him. Very impressed with him.
The Roosters v Melbourne game with both teams playing their best available teams will be an absolute corker.

[Thirteen]

QUOTE=Maxy Walker;n846732]

Perhaps the dumbest thing ever written on this site. Which would be quite some achievement.[/QUOTE]

Someone disagrees with you and you refer to them
as dumb. That’s really intelligent Maxy.

Yeh we really need to fear Bellamy’s drive after knocking them out the last two seasons.

Doesn’t Robbo have any drive?
Sounds like you’re a Storm supporter.

[Johnny Brass]

Really well written post mate.
How tough & hard arse is that Olam. He hits like a sledge hammer & you need a sledge hammer to tackle him. Very impressed with him.
The Roosters v Melbourne game with both teams playing their best available teams will be an absolute corker.

Thanks Mickie , I love the roosters but I try to acknowledge the strengths of of good players from other teams. I'm a huge fan of Olam he is a beauty and he dusted Joey up last time they clashed. He is made of granite and goes flatchat all the time.

[ccfc bondi]

Not afraid of any team away, but this highlights a flaw in this finals system. The teams that finish 5th and 6th get the luxury of a home ground against weak opposition whilst 3rd & 4th are away to 1st and 2nd. Getting a second chance if you lose seems small compensation.

[Thirteen]

Not afraid of any team away, but this highlights a flaw in this finals system. The teams that finish 5th and 6th get the luxury of a home ground against weak opposition whilst 3rd & 4th are away to 1st and 2nd. Getting a second chance if you lose seems small compensation.

True but the teams who finish 5th and 6th don’t get the luxury of playing for the right to get the all important week off. It’s not a flawless system but I’d rather we play away in round 1 and fight for a week off then host a game against shit opposition.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Speaking of finals, I think the whole idea of a TOP EIGHT, in a 16 team comp is ridiculous, and a pure money grab by the NRL. Teams finishing below 6th have no right to be playing for the title. I would love to go to a TOP SIX. Finish first or second you get a week off, 3rd place gets a home semi against 6th, same with 4th against 5th. First play the winner of 4th v 5th, Second play the winner of 3rd v 6th. Then the GF.

[Crab]

I'd go further and make it back to top 5 as it used to be . Top 8 rewards mediocrity