Rooty Hill RSL NRL Blog

The end of the 2009 season

Well the Melbourne Storm are deserved premiers for 2009 and after the dust has settled and the Parra fans have cried and Storm fans celebrated we can look back on a pretty good grand final.

 

The Storm deserved to win it no doubt about that. The decision to penalise Fui Fui was the right one and you can see in the replay that Slater’s arm got hit with the knee of Daniel Mortimer so even if it wasn't a tackle penalty it was certainly a penalty.

 

And if Will Chambers knew the rules the Storm would've gotten a penalty in front of the posts and kicked a goal anyway.

 

The Eels were fantastic in defeat. The way they came back from defeat with the 2 tries in the final 20 to really give the crowd something to cheer about was spectacular and they will be a team of the future for sure.

 

The Storm have to go down as the best of the decade and maybe the best in the past 20 years.  4 successive grand finals, winning 2 of them. The same core-group of players and coach have done a wonderful job and deserve all the plaudits they get.

 

The big names were fantastic. Slater, Smith, Inglis, Cronk, while for Parra the effort from Hindmarsh was superb and so too Fui Fui, who is fast becoming a cult hero of the game.

 

It would have been wonderful for the Eels to win. For Hindy, Cayless and co but it wasn't to be and it remains to be seen if they can continue on next year.  I notice they have been put up as favourites but I wouldn't be rushing into those odds.

 

 

It’s been a very weird 2009. The off field dramas and the on field form have been poles apart so it’s fitting I give the awards for 2009 on and off the field.

 

I reckon there are some big things about to happen in the next few weeks so let’s break out the crystal ball....

 

 

TEAM OF THE YEAR:  Melbourne Storm (obviously)

 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jarryd Hayne

 

YOUNG GUN AND FUTURE STAR: Canberra Fullback, Josh Dugan

 

COACH OF THE YEAR: A tie between Daniel Anderson, Kevin Moore and Craig Bellamy

 

GOOD GUY OF THE YEAR:  Nathan Hindmarsh, never says no to interviews or appearances

 

2010 PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Melbourne Storm (They only loose 2 or 3 players for next season)

 

2010 PREMIERSHIP RUNNERS UP: Bulldogs or Dragons

 

2010 DALLY M PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Billy Slater

 

2010 WOODEN SPOON WINNER: Sydney Roosters, they have brought a few but Brian Smith generally takes some time to get things going

 

NEXT BIG SIGNING: Loti Tuquri to the tigers within the week!!!

 

AND NOW THE BAD STUFF

 

WORST ON FIELD PERFORMANCE FOR 2009: Even though they are not on the field, some of the video decisions this year defy explanation., An easy target I know, but surely they read the same rulebook as the rest of us, so how come they a different spin on things.

 

WORST OFF FIELD PERFORMANCE FOR 2009: It’s hard not to say Greg Inglis or Bret Stewart given the amount of unwanted publicity the respective acts drew to the clubs concerned. Not smart and not good by any stretch of the Imagination. Special mention to Nate Myles.

 

WORST PERFORMANCE BY A CLUB: No not Cronulla or the Roosters. This one goes to the weak individuals at Souths who thought sacking Jason Taylor was fair and just. There was no way that any person should be saked for being knocked out. If he was drunk then so be it, fine him like you would a player. The hypocrisy at Souths defied logic especially since one of the players who did a nudie run, was in fact playing in a semi final a few days after Taylor was sacked. He will win his court action.

  

It’s been fun this year and I can safely say we will miss the footy but the cricket is what we do in summer.

 

I hope you finished in front and the tips I gave got you some pocket money every so often.

 

Take it easy and see you next year for more NRL.

 

A cracking end to the season.

Parramatta playing Melbourne in the NRL grand final eh?? What a cracking end to the season.

And probably the season some of us thought would go down as one of the worst. The year after the games centenary has been marred by seemingly endless off field dramas but a man named Hayne and a team renowned for their courage and ability to be the best will fittingly end this year on a high.

The Eels can now officially be called a juggernaut. They destroyed the Dogs Friday night and while the scoreline said only a couple of tries were the difference, we who watched the game know they were never going to lose.

The real work starts now however. Keeping the young players feet on the ground and working out how to get Jarryd Hayne off his charge. There is no doubt he went in with the knees but a grade 1 is good enough for me, not grade 2. Nathan Cayless surely can’t play but I hope he does. He’s a great bloke and deserves to lead his team onto the field.

The Storm were simply awesome, destroying the Broncos in the first 20 minutes, never letting them get into the game. If I was a Parra supporter I would be worried about the likes of Slater, Inglis, Smith and co who have hit amazing form in the last month.

They have beaten the Warriors, Manly and Brisbane scoring in excess of 100 points and giving up 16 or so. Stats don’t lie.

They don’t have a worry in the world. No injuries, no judiciary and they live in Melbourne so most importantly, no pressure.

Parra on the other hand have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

$1.70 Melb and $2.10 Parra. Don’t be surprised if those odds are shorter by game time, with or without Hayne.

The Storm look the goods. They have the resolve to avenge last year exactly as Geelong did in the AFL but it will be close either way.

And have a think about this for a moment, would the Storm had made the grand final without Brett Finch, and just importantly would Parra have made it with Him???

It’s Something to ponder during grand final week.

Finals Fever- The Preliminary's

Well I can’t believe the hype surrounding tonight’s game, but its fantastic, isn’t it?

The amount of people crammed into Homebush makes this the most anticipated game of the year, without a doubt, and every time I look at the match I can’t say for sure which team is going to win.

The Dogs have their positives and negatives and so too do the Eels. Canterbury have won 8 out of 10, Parra have won 9 out of 10. The Dogs got a weekend off, the Eels are a juggernaut and are playing so well.

Doubts about Mortimer are probably offset by doubts about Kimmorley. A lack of big-game experience on both sides. It’s an absolute toss of the coin job but the one thing is it will be a ripper of a game.

I’m tipping Parramatta but with no confidence at all. I’ve basically been on the Eels now for the past 2 months and find it hard to jump off at this late stage. Thats not to say the Bulldog haven’t been a popular team of mine.

In the end I went for a game breaker and kept coming back to Jarryd Hayne. He has been unbelievable for the past few months and why would anyone think that would stop tonight. I think He is loving being the ‘man of the moment’ and if he does it again tonight, then the Eels will win.

The Dogs will play conservative footy and that might just bite them on the bum with the Eels prepared to throw it about. If Parra got on a roll then watch out.

But like I say, it’s a toss of the coin.

The other match on paper looks easier to pick now that Wallace is out of the Broncos line-up and Melbourne have had the week off. But I’m not so sure. Again I keep coming back to the effort of Brisbane last week. They smashed St George and if they do that again in the first 20 against Melbourne, then they may cause an upset. Either way there is no way they should be 2.60 hopes in this match and for that reason I am tipping the Broncos.

Whatever the case, tomorrow’s game will be as good as tonight’s and if he who loves the Dome steps out again (Billy Slater) then watch out Broncos. He’s scored 7 tries in his last 2 games there and picked up about 4 man-of-the-match awards when he plays there.

If they can stop Billy, Brisbane can win. If they don’t, they wont.

So my tips are with no confidence whatsoever.

Parramatta and Brisbane.

In the Toyota Cup, I will be cheering the Tigers and Storm so that there is an even spread of teams in the Finals.

And for the record I like St Kilda in the AFL Grand Final.

Semi Finals

There is a heap of interest in the 2 semi finals this weekend with Parramatta expected to be too strong for the Titans, the other match is seriously flip of the coin odds.

 

I can't see Parra getting beaten tonight and I was really disappointed with the Titans last weekend.

In a match where they had to show some ticker defensively they let in 40 points. It’s not what wins you finals, that’s for sure and this match tonight will need a lot more of an effort or they will get 40 put on them again.

 

Every time I look at this game I keep coming back to Parra and the record of 8 wins from 9 games...form is everything at this time of the year...Parra have it and the Titans don't.

 

Playing in Sydney is also the killer. The titans don't win enough away for mine and the pressure tonight will be too much.

 

Watch for it be a blow out as the heads will go down if they are out of contention no matter who is winning.

 

Tip Parra 10 plus

 

 

The other match is worth flying up for so that's what I'm doing...heading up to Brisvegas to get amongst it with the Broncos and Dragons fans. This will be a ripper and I can't wait.

 

I can't say with any confidence who will win but I said before that form is everything and the Broncos have won 7 in a row and Saints have won 1 out of 5 so that alone tilts the scale Brisbane’s way.

 

It will be a ripping match and the punters have launched into the Dragons and they are generally on the mark with these games. Having said that, they also backed Saints last week.

 

The pressure on them is enormous with the minor premiers facing the axe after 2 straight finals games.

 

It’s take your pick on this one but I bet somewhere in the game a field goal will be kicked...

 

Tip Broncos by 1 (maybe extra time)

 

 

 

Good luck and enjoy the footy

Finals Fallout

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times…this McIntyre system stinks.

How is it the Saints win the minor premiership and are now on a worse scenario than the Eels who finished 8th. It just doesn't make sense.

 

Surely one of these so called geniuses in the NRL can work out that when the AFL gave the system the rissole and came up with a better one then we should've done the same!!!

I'm not for a moment suggesting Parra don't deserve to be where they are. They just won and let the rules work themselves out but do St George deserve to be headed to Brisbane?

Anyway the Dragons now have to go there and equally the Titans come down here to face Parra. Both games should be played but a simple change to the rule is this.
 

If a team loses in the first week but finished in the top 4 then they still retain home ground advantage in the 2nd week of the finals....if it’s a team outside the top 4 then those rules don't apply.

 

Brisbane and Parra still play their respective opponents but they do the travelling not the 1st placed Saints or the 3rd placed Titans.

 

Anyway enough of my bleat. I really think it will be a case of Melbourne and Canterbury playing in the finals anyway so watch these games this week be a bash a thon and then next week a refreshed Dogs and Storm will carve both teams up whoever they play.

 

The Broncos can’t win 9 in a row and that's what they are faced with to get to the grand final. So even if they win this week...a trip down to Melbourne will be too tough although after last year they may have extra incentive.

 

And Parra surely can’t keep the fairy tale going..or can they???

 

And in case you forgot these were my exclusive tips for last week were...

Melbourne
Titans
Newcastle
Dragons

Yep 1 out of 4 so don't go putting your hard earned cash on whatever I say because I officially have no clue!!!

In fact a quick look back at my tips over the past month would mean most of us are in the poor house big time…I'm sorry and I apologise. I am a dud tipster.

But given there is only 3 weeks left it seems silly not to have a crack for the final few games don't you think?? Better yet, wait till I tip, and bet on everything else that way you are assured of winning.

Top 8 Finalised

The final 8 is sorted and I don't think anyone can realistically say they are morals to win the comp.

 

If the Dragons play this week like they did on Friday then watch out. The Dogs have to work out a way to win without Kimmorley. The Titans have to stop the Broncos and the Storm and Manly are set to pounce.

 

Even Newcastle have a chance and Parra are a different team when Hindy and Grothe are back so don't write them off either.

 

I had a think about the finals and looking at the 4 semis this weekend I, like many others reckon it’s time to change to the newer updated McIntyre system the AFL use.

 

1st should play 4th, 2nd v 3rd and the bottom 4 should be sudden death, which would be Manly v Parra and Brisbane v Newcastle.

 

It just seems a lot fairer to the top teams and the situation like we had last year when the Warriors got a home final after finishing 8th.

 

But that's for another time. One thing the AFL finals did show us was that cream rises to the top and I expect that to happen this week...teams 1,2,3 and 4 will all win because they have been the benchmarks all year. Certainly the Dragons showed their class, the Titans are good at home and Melbourne made a statement on the weekend albeit against New Zealand. The Dogs are the wildcard but I expect them to be a lot better with everything on the line.

 

As for the games this weekend

Parramatta will play better this week against the Dragons, Newcastle have beaten the Dogs this year and will be confident coming off their thumping of the Panthers. Manly has beaten Melbourne in Melbourne and while the Titans haven't played Brisbane at home this year the Broncos beat them earlier in Brisbane.

 

So make what you want out of all that but for mine it’s still very open and while I am tipping the top 4 to win this week. There will be an upset somewhere for sure...I haven't tipped 4 from 4 all year!!

 

As for the Dally Ms tomorrow night, I think Jamie Soward will scoop the pool. He deserves to win the Dally M. He will also be high up there in the Provan Summons medal. He has done so well after being cut by the Roosters and admitted to me over the weekend he was going to give it away and head overseas but he toughed it out and is a better person on and off the field for it.

 

Rookie of the year will be between the Eels Daniel Mortimer, Canberra's Josh Dugan and Jharal Yow Yeh from the Broncos.

Final Round

What a weekend we have, what a night as well!!

 

The minor premiership, the top 8, the top 4, the wooden spoon…all going to be decided in the final round of the competition. All this drama in a year that off field incidents have been front page news, it’s great that we can still have a classic finish to the season.

 

David Gallop is parking himself at the airport to go to Kogarah or the SFS to present the JJ Giltinan shield to the winner of the minor premiership.

 

I think the Bulldogs can win it but I reckon the Tigers will show some flair tonight in a game which means nothing other than stuffing up the Dogs finals campaign. Minus Brett Kimmorley, and I like Daniel Holdsworth but he is not Noddy and for that reason I think there will be a split hair in it. The Tigers have just struggled to win at the back end of games and maybe it will happen again.

 

The other match is not as easy to pick. Hindmarsh isn't playing which brings the DRAGONS into play. Before that news came out I thought the Eels were fair dinkum over the line but now I'm a little cautious. I still think they will win because I think the Dragons haven't been able to get themselves ready and right for the finals. Losses to Canberra, the Broncos and South's is not good form as opposed to the Eels who have won 7 in a row and averaged less than 10 points scored against them in all of those losses.

 

The Dragons have scored 1 try in 160 minutes of Footy, the Eels have scored 12. Hard to tip against that form so I' going again with Parra. 

 

Saturday is heart attack day. I want the Warriors to win so Manly have got the top 4 to play for but I doubt it’s going to happen. Storm should be too good and have too much to play for, but the Warriors are their bogey team.

 

MANLY AFTER LAST WEEK SHOULD NEVER BE TRUSTED. The Gold Coast are solid and again will be tough to beat so toss of the coin. (Tell you what though, best bet of the weekend is the Manly Toyota Cup minus 31 against the Titans)

 

Just leave me out of Sharks and South’s completely. Take the missus out to dinner so you don't have to watch this.
 

Depending on results the Roosters might get something out of a disastrous season by avoiding the wooden spoon but at worst they should send Fitzy out on a high. However they deserve the spoon so you can’t really predict that will change.

 

Everybody is telling me the Knights are morals because the ex players have their end of year reunion, but backing up from Monday against Penrith might not be that easy. I'm tipping an upset here. I know the Panthers were awful last week but they can turn it around with a click of the finger.

 

Brisbane don't play until Sunday night but the wait will be worth it. They have stopped Saints, Cowboys and Penrith in the past 3 weeks and Canberra had their big game Monday so will probably still be thinking about that. Broncos morals of the weekend

 

BEST BET BRISBANE

NEXT BEST MANLY TOYOTA CUP

SNEAKY OUTSIDER PENRITH

 

Enjoy the footy

Finals Race

 

Well the Manly Sea Eagles are 100% the luckiest team in the comp. The fact they got over the line against Cronulla yesterday despite the Sharks leading and playing with 12 men is a miracle.

 

Their form and the Dragons poor efforts recently has blown the comp wide open. Throw in the loss of Kimmorley for the Dogs, the Eels and Broncos big wins and all of a sudden it’s a 7 team race for the premiership.

 

If I was a bookie (and I wish I was) this would be my market.

 

$6 Bulldogs, Parramatta, Titans

$7 Melbourne, Manly, Brisbane, Dragons

20 Newcastle

$50 Penrith

$100 + Tigers

 

The reason I have the Titans so well up there is the fact they will play a home semi final and I will tip them to win that no matter who they play. And if there is an upset in the other games then the Titans get another home semi for the major semi, albeit at Suncorp but the bottom line is they may not have to travel.

 

That also applies to the Broncos who may play the Titans in week 1 of the finals.

 

Parra will do it tough but if they win against the Dragons on Friday night then they will be favourites to win the comp on form and they probably will win it.

 

The Bulldogs without Kimmorley are a different team. Melbourne have their mojo back if last week is anything to go by and Manly are unpredictable after yesterdays performance.

All of my predictions could go pear shaped if the Raiders win tonight, leaving the door slightly open for the Tigers and Panthers next week.

 

But here is my Grand final tip for now...

 

Bulldogs and Titans

Round 25

Once again we have a crucial round in the NRL and even though 5 of the games look easy to pick on paper you get the feeling at least 1 upset is on the cards.

 

Can South’s, the Warriors, Roosters or the Tigers pull something special out. You will notice I left out Cronulla because they are the one team I can guarantee will get beaten.

 

Tonight’s game is season defining for the Eels and Panthers. Remember even with all the hype around Parramatta at the moment the fact is they are not in the 8!! And they have St George to come next week so even if they win tonight they are no guarantees to make the finals.

 

Having said that I am a born again Eels fan and Hayne fever has got me also so I'm tipping them to continue their winning run.

 

The Panthers can still make the finals but next play the Knights in a tough one.

 

 

I think the Saturday games pick themselves with the Titans too good for the Tigers. Melbourne will belt the Roosters now Inglis is back and the Dragons can't lose 3 in a row can they?

 

I know of all the clubs in the comp South’s play their best when they are underdogs and they would love nothing more than to mess up the Dragons season.

 

Sunday again should be put in and take out. The Warriors are not good travellers and miss Steve Price and I think a few players might 'save' themselves for the Stacey Jones farewell game the following week.

 

And if the Bulldogs don't turn one on for Hazem I will be very surprised.

 

Equally Manly with Brett Stewart back could score more than Australia in the cricket, against the Sharks who have had a wretched season. The only thing that they might not get is the wooden spoon but they are not over the line yet, Manly will win.

 

Monday’s game is a crucial one. Newcastle will know their fate after Sunday but you expect if they win they can wrap up a finals spot but the Raiders at home have beaten the Saints and Brisbane recently so they will do me.

 

Best of the weekend

 

Titans to beat an under strength Tigers

Manly to put 30 on the Sharks

Round 25

So 2 Rounds to go in the NRL and I think there are at least 6 teams who can win the comp, possibly 7.

At this stage you can’t say that any of the top 3 sides can’t win & its pretty obvious but then you get to Melbourne, once Inglis is back they can win it. Manly, are a big chance as well. The Broncos can definitely win it just because they know how to and the win over the Dragons tell me they are back. The Eels are playing the best of anyone so they can win it. Whoever finishes 8^th, Penrith or Newcastle well they might find the going a little too tough…but then I do you remember the Warriors beating the Storm last year.

The Eels win on Friday was sensational but the Tigers were good as well. People forget they scored 3 tries to 2 but trailed because of the 8 point try and the other conversion, but games against the Titans and the Bulldogs and the growing injury toll will make life very hard for the Tigers to make the 8.

I just pinch myself thinking about the finals series especially after the year of off field dramas we have had and I am amazed that the game is still going strong and the Football is so good. Imagine what sort of crowds we would be having if the off field dramas were not happening?

The games this week aren’t as enticing as last week but given the number of upsets that we have had in the last few weeks then maybe South’s, Roosters, Canberra and the Sharks are thinking about knocking off a few more scalps before they head off on their end of season trip.

I must chip in about Jarryd Hayne being talked about as the best footballer in any code in Australia. Dangerous, dangerous stuff from Gus Gould.

For starters it’s ridiculous to compare but if we were:

·         Shane Smeltz has played 3 games for Gold Coast and scored 6 goals

·         Gary Ablett averages 30 – 35 possessions a game for Geelong who have been sensational for the Cats all year

I will cop the Union comparison as they are fairly ordinary but comparing between AFL, Soccer and League is a bit hard, but at least it grabbed a headline and that’s what Gus does well. I wait in anticipation for the follow up Rugby Union ‘offer’ to appear in the papers in the next few days.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks one thing is for sure, when this year is over we will miss the footy.

Its about this time of year that I start to wonder what we are going to do on Friday Nights or ‘Super’ Saturday when we all have no Rugby League to watch.

The game this Friday between Parra and Penrith should have all of us Westies salivating at the contest. The Parra fans have come out of the woodwork over the last month or so and this will be a sellout.

If Hayne can manage another big performance then he will almost certainly win the Dally M award named next month…how things have turned around…remember he was the one who got shot at in Kings Cross earlier this year.

He now prays regularly at Church along with team mate and flatmate Ben Smith and both are playing better football at the moment so maybe we will see a rush of others who turn things around. The good thing Hayne said was he still enjoys a beer and hasn’t given up celebrating but he just doesn’t want to waste his talent.

Sounds like some good advice to me !!!