The Brisbane Broncos proud Finals record rests on the shoulders of rookie halves Ben Hunt and Corey Norman.
Aiming for their 19th consecutive Finals campaign, the Broncos will be without halfback Peter Wallace (shoulder) and, most likely, captain Darren Lockyer (ribs) for Friday’s must win clash with Canberra.
Not only do the Broncos have to defeat the in-form Raiders, they need to do so by a minimum 15 point margin.
Even then, Brisbane must rely on the Dragons to beat South Sydney in the last match of the season on Sunday night to jag eighth spot.
Lockyer’s absence has been fatal for the Broncos season with the young squad aimless in slumping to three heavy defeats without their star leader.
While Lockyer will be desperate to play at Suncorp Stadium against Canberra, the painful injury may make it impossible.
The Raiders believe Lockyer will be a late inclusion but the Broncos will not risk further damage to their playmaker.
To make matters worse, Wallace played just 41 minutes in Brisbane’s horror 36-4 thumping loss to the Warriors in New Zealand last week.
Coach Ivan Henjak has thrust 20-year-old Hunt into the halfback position for Friday’s match.
Hunt was a regular halfback throughout his two years in the under 20’s competition but has played virtually all of his 19 NRL games this season from the bench as a backup hooker.
Five-eighth Norman, 19, has been retained despite having defensive deficiencies regularly exposed during the three matches he has substituted for Lockyer.
In the only other change Nick Kenny joins a four man prop rotation on the bench to combat Canberra’s massive forward pack.
If the Broncos fail to defeat Canberra, or win the game but fall short of the required 15 point margin, it will be Israel Folau’s final rugby league match before departing for his four year AFL contract.
The match will be broadcast live into Queensland on Channel Nine from 7:30pm Friday.
Rogers farewell
Gold Coast will use Friday night’s showdown with Wests Tigers to officially say goodbye to retiring veteran Mat Rogers.
Rogers announced earlier this month 2010 would be his final season and the Titans will pay tribute to one of their inaugural signings at Skilled Park this weekend.
The match however carries much more significance for the Gold Coast with victory securing either second or third place on the ladder and a home final Saturday week.
However a loss could see them slip as low as sixth after last week’s upset 30-16 loss to Cronulla.
Rogers missed the last half hour of the match with a hip injury but is adamant he will play this weekend.
Meanwhile prop Luke Bailey fractured his thump against the Sharks but has also been named in the side to face the Tigers.
Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) returns after missing last week while fullback Preston Campbell (hamstring) will likely be given at least another week off.
Back-row utility Sam Tagataese made a successful return from a shoulder injury last week but was not named by coach John Cartwright for the Tigers game.
The match kicks-off just after 7:30pm Friday but will be broadcast delayed on Channel Nine following the Broncos game.
Cowboys send-off Williams, O’Donnell
In a forgettable 2010 season, North Queensland will hope to farewell two favourite sons with a win against the sixth-placed Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.
Centre Ty Williams, who played his 150th match for the Cowboys last week, will retire after the match.
Luke O’Donnell, sidelined with a knee injury, departs North Queensland after seven seasons to play in the English Super League.
While desperate to play, it is unlikely O’Donnell will be fit to take on the Roosters.
It is also expected to be the final Cowboys appearance for Willie Mason and Carl Webb.
Mason is favoured to join the English Super League while Webb has been linked with Parramatta and Newcastle for next season.
Coach Neil Henry has made just one change to the inept team thrashed 48-4 by Canberra last weekend.
Anthony Watts returns to the bench while Clint Amos will start at hooker with Aaron Payne partnering Grant Rovelli in the halves.
In positive news, the Cowboys today announced the signing of former Storm and Queensland lock Dallas Johnson for the next three years.
Johnson joins the likes of fellow former Queensland and Australian rep Brent Tate, former Cowboy and current Panther Gavin Cooper plus Broncos Antonio Winterstein and Ashton Sims at the club next season.
The Cowboys have won just five matches this season and would have claimed the wooden spoon had it not been for Melbourne’s salary cap rorting.
Their opponents, the Roosters, have a mathematical chance of stealing fourth spot with victory over the Cowboys – pending other results.
North Queensland’s final match of the year will be available on Fox Sports Viewers Choice from 7:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Raiders, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Ben Hunt, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Nick Kenny, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Tigers, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 9:30pm).
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Jordan Atkins, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Roosters, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Ashley Graham, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Aaron Payne, Matt Scott, Clint Amos, Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Harris. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Nick Slyney, Carl Webb, Isaak Ah Mau.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Luke Burt, Darren Lockyer, Gold Coast Titans
Over the past seven days we have seen one campaign end, another one seriously wobble while a third seems to be firming by the day. It is a huge weekend for a number of teams and Round 25 could make it or break it. Today I will have a look at three of the recent, biggest influences we have seen on this competition.
Luke Burt and THAT miss
Anyone watching Sunday Football at about 5:57pm last week would have been shocked to see Luke Burt spray a relatively easy penalty kick wide of the posts – effectively putting a bullet into what’s been a bad season for Parramatta. You can drum it up all you want but unfortunately, Burt choked and cost his side the chance of going to golden point to fight for their season.
The fact of the matter is no season should ever come down to a missed goal in Round 24. Burt is a wonderful player and it is unfortunate that he will be associated with this. Season 2010 has been one that never was for Parramatta.
They started the year as premiership favourites and at no stage have they delivered. The Eels have been poor from start to finish and that is accurately reflected on the table. Even if they find a miracle and qualify for the Finals, they do not deserve it. For now, that missed goal sums up perfectly what has been a pretty ordinary campaign.
Darren Lockyer’s ribs
As much as it pains me to say it, the Broncos season looks to have cracked the moment Lockyer was hurt against the Cowboys. There is hope that Lockyer will return and things will be fine again – but his return, whenever that is, might be too late. The damage could have already been done.
A few weeks ago I wrote that with such a young team the Broncos will have as many good days as bad ones. At their best they can win the competition, but it is obvious their best means having a fully fit Lockyer on the field. There is just no confidence, belief or fighting spirit there without him and Brisbane desperately needs to find a way to deal with his absence.
Corey Norman looks a great young player but he has been exposed ... actually not just him, but the Under 20’s concept to a degree as well. It is also obvious that Peter Wallace is playing below his best and you have to question just how much does Lockyer make Wallace look good? The Broncos are not far off, but they are going to need a brilliant performance against the Warriors this weekend. It is possible – they won the impossible against Melbourne earlier in the season. Not only was it a win, it was a thumping. But Lockyer was there on that afternoon too ...
Gold Coast Titans
About a month ago I labelled the Gold Coast Titans as premiership pretenders. They had lost a heap of games in a row, had a tough draw and were not offering enough in attack. However that has all changed and I think I have got this one wrong.
The Titans now are looking the goods. I think they sit only behind the Dragons in Premiership betting and have a new found confidence and attacking dynamic about their work. Having watched them the last couple of weeks, I do not think there is a side in the competition the Titans can’t beat.
Gold Coast’s biggest test is still to come – the pressure of Finals football. They have failed the last few years and that will play on their minds. But they’re also much better placed as a unit to take that test this season.
A final note
For those who missed it, Brett Kimmorley announced his retirement today. I have very much grown up following rugby league with Kimmorley. I remember him back in the Super League days and running that ‘flat attack’ in Melbourne.
He has been a favourite of mine and should be very proud of his career. He has also conducted himself in a fine manner on and off the field and has been great to watch. I look forward to watching him next year and beyond on Fox Sports and congratulate him on a wonderful NRL career.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Eels, Titans, Dragons, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Panthers
Last Week – 5/8
Total – 98/176 (56%)
Thanks again for reading and you can email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), twitter (@keyto316) or comment below.
Cheers,
Keyto
Luke Burt and THAT miss
Anyone watching Sunday Football at about 5:57pm last week would have been shocked to see Luke Burt spray a relatively easy penalty kick wide of the posts – effectively putting a bullet into what’s been a bad season for Parramatta. You can drum it up all you want but unfortunately, Burt choked and cost his side the chance of going to golden point to fight for their season.
The fact of the matter is no season should ever come down to a missed goal in Round 24. Burt is a wonderful player and it is unfortunate that he will be associated with this. Season 2010 has been one that never was for Parramatta.
They started the year as premiership favourites and at no stage have they delivered. The Eels have been poor from start to finish and that is accurately reflected on the table. Even if they find a miracle and qualify for the Finals, they do not deserve it. For now, that missed goal sums up perfectly what has been a pretty ordinary campaign.
Darren Lockyer’s ribs
As much as it pains me to say it, the Broncos season looks to have cracked the moment Lockyer was hurt against the Cowboys. There is hope that Lockyer will return and things will be fine again – but his return, whenever that is, might be too late. The damage could have already been done.
A few weeks ago I wrote that with such a young team the Broncos will have as many good days as bad ones. At their best they can win the competition, but it is obvious their best means having a fully fit Lockyer on the field. There is just no confidence, belief or fighting spirit there without him and Brisbane desperately needs to find a way to deal with his absence.
Corey Norman looks a great young player but he has been exposed ... actually not just him, but the Under 20’s concept to a degree as well. It is also obvious that Peter Wallace is playing below his best and you have to question just how much does Lockyer make Wallace look good? The Broncos are not far off, but they are going to need a brilliant performance against the Warriors this weekend. It is possible – they won the impossible against Melbourne earlier in the season. Not only was it a win, it was a thumping. But Lockyer was there on that afternoon too ...
Gold Coast Titans
About a month ago I labelled the Gold Coast Titans as premiership pretenders. They had lost a heap of games in a row, had a tough draw and were not offering enough in attack. However that has all changed and I think I have got this one wrong.
The Titans now are looking the goods. I think they sit only behind the Dragons in Premiership betting and have a new found confidence and attacking dynamic about their work. Having watched them the last couple of weeks, I do not think there is a side in the competition the Titans can’t beat.
Gold Coast’s biggest test is still to come – the pressure of Finals football. They have failed the last few years and that will play on their minds. But they’re also much better placed as a unit to take that test this season.
A final note
For those who missed it, Brett Kimmorley announced his retirement today. I have very much grown up following rugby league with Kimmorley. I remember him back in the Super League days and running that ‘flat attack’ in Melbourne.
He has been a favourite of mine and should be very proud of his career. He has also conducted himself in a fine manner on and off the field and has been great to watch. I look forward to watching him next year and beyond on Fox Sports and congratulate him on a wonderful NRL career.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Eels, Titans, Dragons, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Panthers
Last Week – 5/8
Total – 98/176 (56%)
Thanks again for reading and you can email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), twitter (@keyto316) or comment below.
Cheers,
Keyto
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Qld Teams - Broncos still without Lockyer
Broncos coach Ivan Henjak has refused to rush Darren Lockyer back for Friday’s high stakes clash with the Warriors.
In a game the Broncos must win to control their own destiny, Henjak has backed his young troops to bounce back from the 44-18 thumping in Newcastle last week.
The squad leaves for Auckland on Wednesday and while Lockyer may make the trip, he is unlikely to play at this stage.
Lockyer has missed the last two losses due to a painful rib cartilage injury with the club banking on him returning within two weeks for the Finals.
However a loss to the seventh placed Warriors will likely mean an eighth-place showdown with the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week.
In the only change to the squad prop Nick Kenny returns to a five man bench.
Kenny injured his shoulder against the Cowboys three weeks ago and successfully returned in the Queensland Cup last week.
The match kicks off at 6:05pm Queensland time and will be broadcast on Channel Nine delayed from 7:30pm.
Titans eye home final
On the back of five consecutive victories the Gold Coast Titans can secure a top four finish with a win over Cronulla in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Titans came home strongly against the Roosters in their 23-14 victory last night to sit one win behind the Dragons in second position on the table.
Only two losses and other results can see the Titans slip below fourth but a win over the lowly Sharks will also keep Gold Coast in prime position for a top two finish.
Preston Campbell missed last night’s game with a hamstring injury but has been named for this weekend.
If passed fit he will return to fullback with William Zillman back to the wing replacing Jordan Atkins.
Another victory this weekend will make the Titans the first side in 2010 to record six consecutive wins.
Three teams, the Broncos, Roosters and Warriors, also managed five consecutive wins at various stages in the season.
The match kicks off Fox Sports Super Saturday live from 5:30pm.
Cowboys could help Brisbane
North Queensland could greatly assist their Bronco cousins with victory over Canberra on Saturday night.
The Cowboys travel to the nations’ capital and if they play spoiler, could effectively end the Raiders hopes of pipping the Broncos for eighth spot.
If Brisbane defeats the Warriors on Friday night, Canberra would have to down the Cowboys this weekend then beat the Broncos next week to steal eighth spot.
In a season to forget for the Cowboys they could gain some motivation knowing they have a chance to end the Raiders season.
North Queensland slumped to their 17th loss of the season last week when they conceded three tries in six minutes allowing the Bulldogs to run out 22-20 winners.
Willie Tonga suffered a groin injury in the loss and will be replaced by Ashley Graham for the Raiders match.
Graham moves in off the wing with Michael Bani recalled to the flank.
Aaron Payne will join Grant Rovelli in the halves with Clint Amos likely to take his place on the bench.
The game will be available live as a Fox Sports Viewers Choice option from 7:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Warriors, Friday 6:05pm AET, (Channel Nine, delayed 7:30pm).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson, Nick Kenny (one to be omitted).
Gold Coast Titans vs. Sharks, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Raiders, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Ashley Graham, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Aaron Payne, Matt Scott, Anthony Watts, Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Harris. Interchange: Clint Amos, Nick Slyney, Carl Webb, Isaak Ah Mau.
In a game the Broncos must win to control their own destiny, Henjak has backed his young troops to bounce back from the 44-18 thumping in Newcastle last week.
The squad leaves for Auckland on Wednesday and while Lockyer may make the trip, he is unlikely to play at this stage.
Lockyer has missed the last two losses due to a painful rib cartilage injury with the club banking on him returning within two weeks for the Finals.
However a loss to the seventh placed Warriors will likely mean an eighth-place showdown with the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week.
In the only change to the squad prop Nick Kenny returns to a five man bench.
Kenny injured his shoulder against the Cowboys three weeks ago and successfully returned in the Queensland Cup last week.
The match kicks off at 6:05pm Queensland time and will be broadcast on Channel Nine delayed from 7:30pm.
Titans eye home final
On the back of five consecutive victories the Gold Coast Titans can secure a top four finish with a win over Cronulla in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Titans came home strongly against the Roosters in their 23-14 victory last night to sit one win behind the Dragons in second position on the table.
Only two losses and other results can see the Titans slip below fourth but a win over the lowly Sharks will also keep Gold Coast in prime position for a top two finish.
Preston Campbell missed last night’s game with a hamstring injury but has been named for this weekend.
If passed fit he will return to fullback with William Zillman back to the wing replacing Jordan Atkins.
Another victory this weekend will make the Titans the first side in 2010 to record six consecutive wins.
Three teams, the Broncos, Roosters and Warriors, also managed five consecutive wins at various stages in the season.
The match kicks off Fox Sports Super Saturday live from 5:30pm.
Cowboys could help Brisbane
North Queensland could greatly assist their Bronco cousins with victory over Canberra on Saturday night.
The Cowboys travel to the nations’ capital and if they play spoiler, could effectively end the Raiders hopes of pipping the Broncos for eighth spot.
If Brisbane defeats the Warriors on Friday night, Canberra would have to down the Cowboys this weekend then beat the Broncos next week to steal eighth spot.
In a season to forget for the Cowboys they could gain some motivation knowing they have a chance to end the Raiders season.
North Queensland slumped to their 17th loss of the season last week when they conceded three tries in six minutes allowing the Bulldogs to run out 22-20 winners.
Willie Tonga suffered a groin injury in the loss and will be replaced by Ashley Graham for the Raiders match.
Graham moves in off the wing with Michael Bani recalled to the flank.
Aaron Payne will join Grant Rovelli in the halves with Clint Amos likely to take his place on the bench.
The game will be available live as a Fox Sports Viewers Choice option from 7:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Warriors, Friday 6:05pm AET, (Channel Nine, delayed 7:30pm).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson, Nick Kenny (one to be omitted).
Gold Coast Titans vs. Sharks, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Raiders, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Ashley Graham, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Aaron Payne, Matt Scott, Anthony Watts, Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Harris. Interchange: Clint Amos, Nick Slyney, Carl Webb, Isaak Ah Mau.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Open letter to NRL referee's
Dear NRL Referee’s ... STOP IT!!
STOP IT NOW!!
As Gus Gould says, we (NRL fans) pay good money to watch the players. We don’t want to see a refereeing exhibition.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you have the courage to do what is a thankless task. I know you work hard and are bound by strict rules and interpretations – which is a whole other issue.
But my word, you guys are pissing me off!!
The great thing about rugby league is 50-50 calls are made by a referee, with confidence based on what he sees. We can deal with the wrong calls – you have a split second and we get countless slow motion replays.
But it seems you are convinced there should be no grey areas in this game – everything is either black or white. That’s why we have two Refs, that’s why we tried a blanket 10 metre advantage rule, that’s why we have separation and video ref’s and all that other piddling crap.
While we’re here – where the hell has common sense gone in our game?
Every NRL fan knows what a try looks like, we know obstruction and we know what’s cheating and breaking the rules. Do you? We’re taking the humanisation out of the game. These players are not robots; every play is not going to be textbook.
But we know what looks right and what looks wrong. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck – IT’S A DAMN DUCK!!
Grey areas are okay, they’re part of the game. All we ask is the refereeing stays consistent throughout the course of a match.
Is that too much to ask?
And another thing, do you guys have any understanding of “feel for a game”?
Let me enlighten you – as a lifelong rugby league fan I have watched many hours of rugby league across all levels. When watching you get a feeling of when a penalty is needed and when a referee needs to take control. Most of you guys do not, or aren’t allowed to.
It seems you have a need to get through a set quota of penalties per match and ensure they even out between the two sides. I can tell you, every match is different and sometimes both teams don’t deserve to concede/earn the same number of penalties.
You must understand I’m not normally one to spray the Ref’s. They are vitally important to our great game and I know all of them are doing their best. But under this system, their best just does not cut it anymore. These guys are professionals, just like the players, and must be accountable for the mediocrity we see most weeks.
I was going to write this earlier in the year but thought I would give you all another many chances – unfortunately that ended with Bill Harrigan’s video ref call the other night.
On that note, let’s scrap the video referee. It’s turned our great game into a farce. We slow down everything to a thousand frames per second, then go looking for separation and blades of grass and other minuscule, often meaningless crap that only super slow-mo will detect.
Topping things off, video refs seem to get just as many wrong as they get right.
Good luck this weekend, I hope for your sake you stay out of the news. We have eight wonderful games ahead of us just three weeks before the Finals and I don’t want to see any more refereeing exhibitions in season 2010.
TIPPING
Tips – Penrith, Broncos, Manly, Bulldogs, Melbourne, Dragons, Tigers, Roosters
Last Week – 4/8
Total – 93/168 (55%)
If you want to do any ref bashing, or defending, you can reach me through the comment section below, on twitter (@keyto316) or directly on email (andrew.keyte@gmail.com).
Hope your team plays well,
Keyto
STOP IT NOW!!
As Gus Gould says, we (NRL fans) pay good money to watch the players. We don’t want to see a refereeing exhibition.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you have the courage to do what is a thankless task. I know you work hard and are bound by strict rules and interpretations – which is a whole other issue.
But my word, you guys are pissing me off!!
The great thing about rugby league is 50-50 calls are made by a referee, with confidence based on what he sees. We can deal with the wrong calls – you have a split second and we get countless slow motion replays.
But it seems you are convinced there should be no grey areas in this game – everything is either black or white. That’s why we have two Refs, that’s why we tried a blanket 10 metre advantage rule, that’s why we have separation and video ref’s and all that other piddling crap.
While we’re here – where the hell has common sense gone in our game?
Every NRL fan knows what a try looks like, we know obstruction and we know what’s cheating and breaking the rules. Do you? We’re taking the humanisation out of the game. These players are not robots; every play is not going to be textbook.
But we know what looks right and what looks wrong. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck – IT’S A DAMN DUCK!!
Grey areas are okay, they’re part of the game. All we ask is the refereeing stays consistent throughout the course of a match.
Is that too much to ask?
And another thing, do you guys have any understanding of “feel for a game”?
Let me enlighten you – as a lifelong rugby league fan I have watched many hours of rugby league across all levels. When watching you get a feeling of when a penalty is needed and when a referee needs to take control. Most of you guys do not, or aren’t allowed to.
It seems you have a need to get through a set quota of penalties per match and ensure they even out between the two sides. I can tell you, every match is different and sometimes both teams don’t deserve to concede/earn the same number of penalties.
You must understand I’m not normally one to spray the Ref’s. They are vitally important to our great game and I know all of them are doing their best. But under this system, their best just does not cut it anymore. These guys are professionals, just like the players, and must be accountable for the mediocrity we see most weeks.
I was going to write this earlier in the year but thought I would give you all another many chances – unfortunately that ended with Bill Harrigan’s video ref call the other night.
On that note, let’s scrap the video referee. It’s turned our great game into a farce. We slow down everything to a thousand frames per second, then go looking for separation and blades of grass and other minuscule, often meaningless crap that only super slow-mo will detect.
Topping things off, video refs seem to get just as many wrong as they get right.
Good luck this weekend, I hope for your sake you stay out of the news. We have eight wonderful games ahead of us just three weeks before the Finals and I don’t want to see any more refereeing exhibitions in season 2010.
TIPPING
Tips – Penrith, Broncos, Manly, Bulldogs, Melbourne, Dragons, Tigers, Roosters
Last Week – 4/8
Total – 93/168 (55%)
If you want to do any ref bashing, or defending, you can reach me through the comment section below, on twitter (@keyto316) or directly on email (andrew.keyte@gmail.com).
Hope your team plays well,
Keyto
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Qld Teams - Broncos walk Finals tightrope
Corey Norman is tipped to get a full game at five-eighth as the precariously placed Broncos travel to Newcastle Friday night.
With news Darren Lockyer may be sidelined longer than expected with a rib cartilage injury, coach Ivan Henjak may have no choice but to play the emerging playmaker alongside halfback Peter Wallace permanently.
Norman was named at pivot last week but spent the first 50 minutes warming the bench before Parramatta ran out comfortable 30-14 victors.
The result left Brisbane clinging to eighth spot but South Sydney, who have a superior point differential, sit just one win behind the Broncos.
Likely rookie of the year Matt Gillett was far from disappointing as starting five-eighth against the Eels but failed to create any real attacking opportunities.
His own creative attributes as a wide running forward or centre where also blunted with Brisbane unable to regularly build any pressure or points.
Gillett is likely to return to the back-row for the Knights game while Ben Te’o has again been named at prop in the absence of Nick Kenny.
While Newcastle are at very long odds to qualify for the finals, the Knights team believe winning their remaining three games will provide them with an outside chance.
The Broncos need to win at least two of their last three to secure a top eight berth while a win this week, at least mathematically, could see them rocket into fourth position.
Channel Nine will broadcast the match live into Queensland from 7:30pm Friday.
Cowboys lose two more
The season is definitely over for one North Queensland forward while another is battling to play a farewell match in Round 26.
Rookie back-rower Dane Hogan accepted a five game suspension for an ugly dangerous throw during the Cowboys 37-18 loss to the Titans last weekend.
He will be sidelined until Round Two next season while lock forward Luke O’Donnell may have played his last match in the NRL.
O’Donnell injured his knee and is only considered a 50-50 chance at best to play in the Cowboys last match of the year against the Roosters in three weeks.
The veteran lock links with English club Huddersfield next year and is desperate to farewell the Townsville crowd he’s played in front of since 2004.
Meanwhile impressive back-rower Scott Bolton will fly to Sydney tomorrow to fight a biting charge at the NRL judiciary.
Bolton was implicated by Titans centre Clinton Toopi during the match last week but Toopi did not make a formal complaint.
However the match review committee opted to send Bolton straight to the judiciary where he will plead his case.
North Queensland, with only pride to play for, host fellow 2010 disappointments Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Ben Harris will start at lock for O’Donnell while forward Nick Slyney has been named on the bench for what would be his first NRL match of the season.
Bolton has been included pending his judiciary hearing while Isaak Ah Mau, 18th man last week, has been named in place of Hogan on the bench.
The match will be available through Fox Sports Viewers Choice with kick-off at 7:30pm Saturday.
Bird flies back in
After aborting his comeback last week, the Titans will hope Greg Bird has fully recovered from his hamstring injury to face the Roosters on Monday night.
Coach John Cartwright again named Bird on a five man bench but with the longer turnaround before Monday’s game, the former international should be fit to return.
Bird has missed the Titans four consecutive victories but has been admirably replaced by retiring veteran Mat Rogers.
After playing most of the season at five-eighth, Bird’s immediate future looks likely to be a return to the back-row.
After announcing his retirement yesterday, Rogers is expected to play out his career alongside Scott Prince in the halves.
Rogers has been in exceptional form in the last month and centres Clinton Toopi and Steve Michaels are playing too well to justify being dropped.
Young interchange forward Ben Ridge is expected to drop out of the squad to accommodate Bird.
Prop Michael Henderson missed the big win over the Cowboys with a virus but has been named to replace Aaron Cannings on the bench this weekend.
The second-placed Titans face a Roosters side aiming to avoid their third consecutive loss and a possible slide down to eighth position.
The match will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium and kicks-off live on Fox Sports at 7pm Monday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Knights, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Bulldogs, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Arana Taumata, Grant Rovelli, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne (c), Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Harris. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Nick Slyney, Carl Webb, Isaak Ah Mau.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Roosters, Monday 7pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ben Ridge (one to be omitted).
With news Darren Lockyer may be sidelined longer than expected with a rib cartilage injury, coach Ivan Henjak may have no choice but to play the emerging playmaker alongside halfback Peter Wallace permanently.
Norman was named at pivot last week but spent the first 50 minutes warming the bench before Parramatta ran out comfortable 30-14 victors.
The result left Brisbane clinging to eighth spot but South Sydney, who have a superior point differential, sit just one win behind the Broncos.
Likely rookie of the year Matt Gillett was far from disappointing as starting five-eighth against the Eels but failed to create any real attacking opportunities.
His own creative attributes as a wide running forward or centre where also blunted with Brisbane unable to regularly build any pressure or points.
Gillett is likely to return to the back-row for the Knights game while Ben Te’o has again been named at prop in the absence of Nick Kenny.
While Newcastle are at very long odds to qualify for the finals, the Knights team believe winning their remaining three games will provide them with an outside chance.
The Broncos need to win at least two of their last three to secure a top eight berth while a win this week, at least mathematically, could see them rocket into fourth position.
Channel Nine will broadcast the match live into Queensland from 7:30pm Friday.
Cowboys lose two more
The season is definitely over for one North Queensland forward while another is battling to play a farewell match in Round 26.
Rookie back-rower Dane Hogan accepted a five game suspension for an ugly dangerous throw during the Cowboys 37-18 loss to the Titans last weekend.
He will be sidelined until Round Two next season while lock forward Luke O’Donnell may have played his last match in the NRL.
O’Donnell injured his knee and is only considered a 50-50 chance at best to play in the Cowboys last match of the year against the Roosters in three weeks.
The veteran lock links with English club Huddersfield next year and is desperate to farewell the Townsville crowd he’s played in front of since 2004.
Meanwhile impressive back-rower Scott Bolton will fly to Sydney tomorrow to fight a biting charge at the NRL judiciary.
Bolton was implicated by Titans centre Clinton Toopi during the match last week but Toopi did not make a formal complaint.
However the match review committee opted to send Bolton straight to the judiciary where he will plead his case.
North Queensland, with only pride to play for, host fellow 2010 disappointments Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Ben Harris will start at lock for O’Donnell while forward Nick Slyney has been named on the bench for what would be his first NRL match of the season.
Bolton has been included pending his judiciary hearing while Isaak Ah Mau, 18th man last week, has been named in place of Hogan on the bench.
The match will be available through Fox Sports Viewers Choice with kick-off at 7:30pm Saturday.
Bird flies back in
After aborting his comeback last week, the Titans will hope Greg Bird has fully recovered from his hamstring injury to face the Roosters on Monday night.
Coach John Cartwright again named Bird on a five man bench but with the longer turnaround before Monday’s game, the former international should be fit to return.
Bird has missed the Titans four consecutive victories but has been admirably replaced by retiring veteran Mat Rogers.
After playing most of the season at five-eighth, Bird’s immediate future looks likely to be a return to the back-row.
After announcing his retirement yesterday, Rogers is expected to play out his career alongside Scott Prince in the halves.
Rogers has been in exceptional form in the last month and centres Clinton Toopi and Steve Michaels are playing too well to justify being dropped.
Young interchange forward Ben Ridge is expected to drop out of the squad to accommodate Bird.
Prop Michael Henderson missed the big win over the Cowboys with a virus but has been named to replace Aaron Cannings on the bench this weekend.
The second-placed Titans face a Roosters side aiming to avoid their third consecutive loss and a possible slide down to eighth position.
The match will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium and kicks-off live on Fox Sports at 7pm Monday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Knights, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Bulldogs, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Arana Taumata, Grant Rovelli, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne (c), Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Harris. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Nick Slyney, Carl Webb, Isaak Ah Mau.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Roosters, Monday 7pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ben Ridge (one to be omitted).
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Is Brisbane the new Melbourne?
The Brisbane Broncos have the chance to embark on a Melbourne Storm-style dynasty. These Broncos have youth and experience, exuberance and excitement and are as skilful as any NRL team. Something special is brewing in Brisbane – something we saw in Melbourne the last five years.
Storm’s proud history
We all know how Melbourne’s dynasty crumbled in April this year, but let’s not forget what they had done for most of this decade. The Storm blooded and created stars out of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Adam Blair, Matt King and many more. Most of these guys came to the club as kids and left as stars.
Since 2006 Melbourne featured in all Grand Finals and would have been a contender this year. This is the best club we have seen in years and while they cheated to keep the band together, we can’t ignore what they created.
Broncos future path
Watching this Brisbane team on a weekly basis, gee whiz there are some similarities. Look at the young guys who have been in this squad fulltime for little more than a year: Hoffman, Gillett, McCullough, Yow Yeh, Glenn, Dodds, McGuire and Norman. Who’s to say in five years we won’t compare these guys to a Slater, Smith or Inglis?
The Brisbane side also has enough ‘old heads’ in the form of Lockyer, Thaiday, Tronc and Kenny to lead the rookies. Back in the day Melbourne had the likes of Robbie Kearns, Scott Hill, Matt Geyer and Michael Crocker guiding their new guys.
Most of this Brisbane squad will stay together for the next two years at least, creating the possibility of a Storm-style dynasty. Looking at this Broncos team now, you can see something special potentially lying beneath.
They are a young side in 2010 and we’ve seen they have as many good days as they do bad ones. However, as this squad grows under Lockyer, I think we could see another evolution just as we were lucky enough to have with the Melbourne Storm 2006-2010.
The coaches
Make no mistake why we have seen one great dynasty and the potential for another one under the watchful eyes of Craig Bellamy and Ivan Henjak. These two guys are quite similar and served very similar apprenticeships under Wayne Bennett.
They carry differences to Bennett and both have their own personalities, but the teachings and groundings are the same. They travelled an identical path created by the best coach we have seen in at least 25 years.
Salary Cap
Thanks to the Storm’s cheating, every successful team over the next few years will be heavily scrutinised. Any side that wins Grand Finals and contains more than four rep players will have salary cap doubts cast on them.
From a fans point of view, we have to believe that the clubs now are doing things above board. Of course Brisbane will be scrutinised, especially in the Sydney media, because of the names on their roster for 2011 following the Inglis signing.
I will say this – I have followed the club for more than 15 years and can tell you players will play for less money. Some of the great Broncos like Webcke, Tallis, Langer and Lockyer could all have made more money elsewhere but chose to stay.
The Broncos have also lost more quality players than any other club in the last decade or so – Sailor, Tuqiri, Hunt, Civoniceva, Berrigan – plus five guys from the current squad including Israel Folau. While the superstars are on good coin, these rising stars are not. They are well paid but could probably command more at other clubs now, and command more from the Broncos when their contract is up.
How the Broncos manage that will be the difference between them and the Storm.
2010 and beyond
I’m not saying Brisbane can win the competition this year – I think they’re in it up to their eyeballs and on their day can beat anyone though. No matter what happens over the next eight weeks, the potential in this squad is enormous. If they stay together, I think we will see Melbourne Storm Version 2 emulating out of Suncorp Stadium.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Roosters, Titans, Bulldogs, Warriors, Storm, Penrith, Dragons
Last Week – 2/8
Total – 89/160 (56%)
To share your thoughts please email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), tweet me (@keyto316) or comment me below.
Until next week,
Keyto
Storm’s proud history
We all know how Melbourne’s dynasty crumbled in April this year, but let’s not forget what they had done for most of this decade. The Storm blooded and created stars out of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Adam Blair, Matt King and many more. Most of these guys came to the club as kids and left as stars.
Since 2006 Melbourne featured in all Grand Finals and would have been a contender this year. This is the best club we have seen in years and while they cheated to keep the band together, we can’t ignore what they created.
Broncos future path
Watching this Brisbane team on a weekly basis, gee whiz there are some similarities. Look at the young guys who have been in this squad fulltime for little more than a year: Hoffman, Gillett, McCullough, Yow Yeh, Glenn, Dodds, McGuire and Norman. Who’s to say in five years we won’t compare these guys to a Slater, Smith or Inglis?
The Brisbane side also has enough ‘old heads’ in the form of Lockyer, Thaiday, Tronc and Kenny to lead the rookies. Back in the day Melbourne had the likes of Robbie Kearns, Scott Hill, Matt Geyer and Michael Crocker guiding their new guys.
Most of this Brisbane squad will stay together for the next two years at least, creating the possibility of a Storm-style dynasty. Looking at this Broncos team now, you can see something special potentially lying beneath.
They are a young side in 2010 and we’ve seen they have as many good days as they do bad ones. However, as this squad grows under Lockyer, I think we could see another evolution just as we were lucky enough to have with the Melbourne Storm 2006-2010.
The coaches
Make no mistake why we have seen one great dynasty and the potential for another one under the watchful eyes of Craig Bellamy and Ivan Henjak. These two guys are quite similar and served very similar apprenticeships under Wayne Bennett.
They carry differences to Bennett and both have their own personalities, but the teachings and groundings are the same. They travelled an identical path created by the best coach we have seen in at least 25 years.
Salary Cap
Thanks to the Storm’s cheating, every successful team over the next few years will be heavily scrutinised. Any side that wins Grand Finals and contains more than four rep players will have salary cap doubts cast on them.
From a fans point of view, we have to believe that the clubs now are doing things above board. Of course Brisbane will be scrutinised, especially in the Sydney media, because of the names on their roster for 2011 following the Inglis signing.
I will say this – I have followed the club for more than 15 years and can tell you players will play for less money. Some of the great Broncos like Webcke, Tallis, Langer and Lockyer could all have made more money elsewhere but chose to stay.
The Broncos have also lost more quality players than any other club in the last decade or so – Sailor, Tuqiri, Hunt, Civoniceva, Berrigan – plus five guys from the current squad including Israel Folau. While the superstars are on good coin, these rising stars are not. They are well paid but could probably command more at other clubs now, and command more from the Broncos when their contract is up.
How the Broncos manage that will be the difference between them and the Storm.
2010 and beyond
I’m not saying Brisbane can win the competition this year – I think they’re in it up to their eyeballs and on their day can beat anyone though. No matter what happens over the next eight weeks, the potential in this squad is enormous. If they stay together, I think we will see Melbourne Storm Version 2 emulating out of Suncorp Stadium.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Roosters, Titans, Bulldogs, Warriors, Storm, Penrith, Dragons
Last Week – 2/8
Total – 89/160 (56%)
To share your thoughts please email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), tweet me (@keyto316) or comment me below.
Until next week,
Keyto
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Qld Teams - Broncos chance to end Eels
Brisbane can crush Parramatta’s season with victory at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night but they will be without Darren Lockyer.
The Broncos 332 game veteran is likely to miss two weeks with a rib cartilage injury suffered in the 34-26 win over the Cowboys on the weekend.
Lockyer was hit in a hard, front-on tackle by North Queensland enforcer Luke O’Donnell in the 60th minute and left the field clutching his ribs moments later.
While the injury is not overly serious, Lockyer has been advised to rest for two weeks as the Broncos edge closer to their 19th consecutive Finals campaign.
A win over a desperate Parramatta this weekend will consolidate the Broncos position in the top eight while effectively ending the Eels hopes.
Sitting two wins outside the top eight and with an awful points differential (-70), Parramatta probably need to win all four remaining matches to qualify for the finals.
The Broncos sit in 7th but could slip out of the top eight if they lose to Parramatta and South Sydney defeat Melbourne on Sunday.
Rookie Corey Norman, as was the case for the two games without Origin players, will deputise for Lockyer alongside Peter Wallace in the halves with Corey Parker captaining the side.
Winger Antonio Winterstein missed the Cowboys match with a knee injury but has been named to take on the Eels.
Ben Te’o made a remarkable comeback from two fractured bones in his foot and played the entire 80 minutes against North Queensland.
Te’o returned just 10 days after an initial diagnose had him missing at least 4-6 weeks.
In a bit of a surprise move coach Ivan Henjak today named Te’o in the front row in place of the injured Nick Kenny for the Eels match.
Meanwhile the Broncos announced superstar Greg Inglis would join the club from next season.
Inglis, who should partner Justin Hodges in the centres next year, should be a wonderful replacement for the departing Israel Folau.
Friday’s match is expected to produce another stellar Suncorp Stadium crowd and will be live on Channel Nine from 7:30pm.
Bird flies back in
Greg Bird has missed the Titans last three impressive wins but has overcome a hamstring injury in time for Saturday night’s home match with the Cowboys.
Coach John Cartwright today retained Mat Rogers at five-eighth and included Bird on a five man bench.
His inclusion is the only addition to the in-form Titans squad chasing their fourth consecutive victory.
Gold Coast are firmly entrenched in the top eight as one of four teams on 28 points – two wins behind the ladder-leading Dragons.
In Round Four the Titans were soundly beaten 32-18 by the Cowboys in Townsville but with the finals just around the corner, Gold Coast should have more than revenge on their mind this weekend.
Thurston’s NRL season over
Johnathan Thurston will not play for the Cowboys again in 2010 but hopes to be part of Australia’s Four Nation squad in October.
Thurston lasted just 18 minutes against the Broncos on Friday night before suffering a medial ligament tear in his right ankle.
The Australian halfback has been playing with nerve damage in his feet and will use the enforced layoff to have surgery.
However the initial prognosis has Thurston recovering within 6-8 weeks making him available for Kangaroo selection.
His place for Saturday night’s ‘other local derby’ with the Titans at Skilled Park has been taken by Grant Rovelli.
Interchange forward James Tamou accepted a two match ban for punching Brisbane forward Josh McGuire in the back of the head during last week’s 32nd minute melee.
Ben Harris and Isaak Ah Mau are the new faces on a five man bench.
Luke O’Donnell struggled through the Broncos match with a leg injury but has been named to tackle the Titans.
The game will be live on Fox Sports with kick-off just after 5:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Eels, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Cowboys, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ben Ridge (one to be omitted).
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Titans, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, Will Tupou, Arana Taumata, Grant Rovelli, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne (c), Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Dane Hogan, Carl Webb, Ben Harris, Isaak Ah Mau (one to be omitted).
The Broncos 332 game veteran is likely to miss two weeks with a rib cartilage injury suffered in the 34-26 win over the Cowboys on the weekend.
Lockyer was hit in a hard, front-on tackle by North Queensland enforcer Luke O’Donnell in the 60th minute and left the field clutching his ribs moments later.
While the injury is not overly serious, Lockyer has been advised to rest for two weeks as the Broncos edge closer to their 19th consecutive Finals campaign.
A win over a desperate Parramatta this weekend will consolidate the Broncos position in the top eight while effectively ending the Eels hopes.
Sitting two wins outside the top eight and with an awful points differential (-70), Parramatta probably need to win all four remaining matches to qualify for the finals.
The Broncos sit in 7th but could slip out of the top eight if they lose to Parramatta and South Sydney defeat Melbourne on Sunday.
Rookie Corey Norman, as was the case for the two games without Origin players, will deputise for Lockyer alongside Peter Wallace in the halves with Corey Parker captaining the side.
Winger Antonio Winterstein missed the Cowboys match with a knee injury but has been named to take on the Eels.
Ben Te’o made a remarkable comeback from two fractured bones in his foot and played the entire 80 minutes against North Queensland.
Te’o returned just 10 days after an initial diagnose had him missing at least 4-6 weeks.
In a bit of a surprise move coach Ivan Henjak today named Te’o in the front row in place of the injured Nick Kenny for the Eels match.
Meanwhile the Broncos announced superstar Greg Inglis would join the club from next season.
Inglis, who should partner Justin Hodges in the centres next year, should be a wonderful replacement for the departing Israel Folau.
Friday’s match is expected to produce another stellar Suncorp Stadium crowd and will be live on Channel Nine from 7:30pm.
Bird flies back in
Greg Bird has missed the Titans last three impressive wins but has overcome a hamstring injury in time for Saturday night’s home match with the Cowboys.
Coach John Cartwright today retained Mat Rogers at five-eighth and included Bird on a five man bench.
His inclusion is the only addition to the in-form Titans squad chasing their fourth consecutive victory.
Gold Coast are firmly entrenched in the top eight as one of four teams on 28 points – two wins behind the ladder-leading Dragons.
In Round Four the Titans were soundly beaten 32-18 by the Cowboys in Townsville but with the finals just around the corner, Gold Coast should have more than revenge on their mind this weekend.
Thurston’s NRL season over
Johnathan Thurston will not play for the Cowboys again in 2010 but hopes to be part of Australia’s Four Nation squad in October.
Thurston lasted just 18 minutes against the Broncos on Friday night before suffering a medial ligament tear in his right ankle.
The Australian halfback has been playing with nerve damage in his feet and will use the enforced layoff to have surgery.
However the initial prognosis has Thurston recovering within 6-8 weeks making him available for Kangaroo selection.
His place for Saturday night’s ‘other local derby’ with the Titans at Skilled Park has been taken by Grant Rovelli.
Interchange forward James Tamou accepted a two match ban for punching Brisbane forward Josh McGuire in the back of the head during last week’s 32nd minute melee.
Ben Harris and Isaak Ah Mau are the new faces on a five man bench.
Luke O’Donnell struggled through the Broncos match with a leg injury but has been named to tackle the Titans.
The game will be live on Fox Sports with kick-off just after 5:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Eels, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Cowboys, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ben Ridge (one to be omitted).
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Titans, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, Will Tupou, Arana Taumata, Grant Rovelli, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne (c), Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Dane Hogan, Carl Webb, Ben Harris, Isaak Ah Mau (one to be omitted).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Chokers, Chargers, Creepers and Capitulators
There are five rounds to go and this year’s top eight is far from decided. In a week where plenty of questions have been asked about various teams, I will give my view on where four of the most popular sides are at.
Dragons Choking?
We saw it last year and the warning signs are back again, so after leading the comp all year are the Dragons stumbling towards an early finals exit again? One thing many underestimate is the pressure in leading the ladder for a sustained period of time. Every team you come up against is out to beat you and make a statement about the state of their club. It can’t be easy for the Dragons to contend with this on a weekly basis rather than a 6-8 week period leading into the Grand Final. Especially since they have had their top eight spot sealed since May.
Wendell Sailor told NRL on Fox “if the Dragons were in a form slump they would be getting beaten by 20 each week”. That’s a reasonable point and the criticism and blame on Mark Gasnier for the Dragons woes is a bit unfair too.
I don’t think the Dragons are choking, I think they are stumbling through a rough patch where other teams are on the rise. They’re playing a bit tired but quite possibly are simply saving and conserving themselves for September. I think they can get back to their best and it would really surprise me if, after last year, Wayne Bennett did NOT have something special up his sleeve for the Finals.
Roosters Charging?
The other big story doing the rounds regards the Roosters and their amazing winning streak courtesy of a breathtaking brand of attacking football. However, as the story goes, have they peaked too soon?
I think the Roosters are well placed and it’s not as if they are beating teams 12 to 16. The Chooks have knocked over genuine Finals aspirants Brisbane, Parramatta, Souths and the Bulldogs (at the time).
I don’t think they have peaked too early as such. They’re going to face some quality, and possibly desperate, sides in the coming weeks including Gold Coast and Manly. If they have the toughness to hang in those games the Roosters will confirm themselves as genuine title contenders. If they were to lose those games and succumb to a meek exit, hindsight will tell us a truer tale.
Very little is really known about the side with a still fresh halves combination (in terms of playing together) and a heap of solid yet relatively unknown players throughout the squad. No matter what happens, the Roosters story from wooden spooners to top four pace-setters is a nice one.
Broncos Creeping?
Brisbane are a sleeping giant in this competition. I’m biased towards them but I genuinely think the Broncos, if they make the eight, are in this competition up to their eyeballs. Who’d have thought after a 2-6 record two months into the season!
The Broncos have three good things going for them – combination of youth and experience, proud history and culture of the club and finally, Darren Lockyer. Throw in x-factors like Israel Folau and it will take a good team to beat a momentum-riding Brisbane.
However they still have plenty of work to do in order to qualify with any loss suffered over the next five weeks possibly slipping Brisbane out of the eight. But if they can make it, they’ll shake it.
Eels Capitulating?
After Parramatta’s debacle last week I got on Twitter to determine if I should lead with Hayne Train Derailed or Hayne Plane Grounded. This club relies solely on the one player. He relies on the forwards etc, but at the end of the day if Hayne doesn’t play well the Eels WON’T win.
A month ago I wrote them off as a title contender and nothing has changed my mind. They beat the Cowboys and an ordinary Bulldogs side, with a freakish win over Penrith in the middle – a win that happens for a club once every few seasons, if that.
Parramatta finally came up against a real premiership threat last week, in a ‘fair’ match void of freak displays, and got their bums smacked. The Eels were flogged from bell-to-bell and that performance showed me where they are really at.
The Eels play the Titans and Broncos in Queensland in the next two weeks. Honestly I think they need to win both but would be happy with one. However I’m not confident they can win either ... having said that I will reluctantly (not confidently) tip them under the ‘Hayne factor’ to get over the Titans this week.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Eels, Storm, Tigers, Sharks, Bulldogs, Dragons, Penrith
Last Week – 7/8
Total – 87/152 (57%)
Thanks for reading and as always you can email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), tweet me (@keyto316) or comment me below.
Cheers,
Keyto
Dragons Choking?
We saw it last year and the warning signs are back again, so after leading the comp all year are the Dragons stumbling towards an early finals exit again? One thing many underestimate is the pressure in leading the ladder for a sustained period of time. Every team you come up against is out to beat you and make a statement about the state of their club. It can’t be easy for the Dragons to contend with this on a weekly basis rather than a 6-8 week period leading into the Grand Final. Especially since they have had their top eight spot sealed since May.
Wendell Sailor told NRL on Fox “if the Dragons were in a form slump they would be getting beaten by 20 each week”. That’s a reasonable point and the criticism and blame on Mark Gasnier for the Dragons woes is a bit unfair too.
I don’t think the Dragons are choking, I think they are stumbling through a rough patch where other teams are on the rise. They’re playing a bit tired but quite possibly are simply saving and conserving themselves for September. I think they can get back to their best and it would really surprise me if, after last year, Wayne Bennett did NOT have something special up his sleeve for the Finals.
Roosters Charging?
The other big story doing the rounds regards the Roosters and their amazing winning streak courtesy of a breathtaking brand of attacking football. However, as the story goes, have they peaked too soon?
I think the Roosters are well placed and it’s not as if they are beating teams 12 to 16. The Chooks have knocked over genuine Finals aspirants Brisbane, Parramatta, Souths and the Bulldogs (at the time).
I don’t think they have peaked too early as such. They’re going to face some quality, and possibly desperate, sides in the coming weeks including Gold Coast and Manly. If they have the toughness to hang in those games the Roosters will confirm themselves as genuine title contenders. If they were to lose those games and succumb to a meek exit, hindsight will tell us a truer tale.
Very little is really known about the side with a still fresh halves combination (in terms of playing together) and a heap of solid yet relatively unknown players throughout the squad. No matter what happens, the Roosters story from wooden spooners to top four pace-setters is a nice one.
Broncos Creeping?
Brisbane are a sleeping giant in this competition. I’m biased towards them but I genuinely think the Broncos, if they make the eight, are in this competition up to their eyeballs. Who’d have thought after a 2-6 record two months into the season!
The Broncos have three good things going for them – combination of youth and experience, proud history and culture of the club and finally, Darren Lockyer. Throw in x-factors like Israel Folau and it will take a good team to beat a momentum-riding Brisbane.
However they still have plenty of work to do in order to qualify with any loss suffered over the next five weeks possibly slipping Brisbane out of the eight. But if they can make it, they’ll shake it.
Eels Capitulating?
After Parramatta’s debacle last week I got on Twitter to determine if I should lead with Hayne Train Derailed or Hayne Plane Grounded. This club relies solely on the one player. He relies on the forwards etc, but at the end of the day if Hayne doesn’t play well the Eels WON’T win.
A month ago I wrote them off as a title contender and nothing has changed my mind. They beat the Cowboys and an ordinary Bulldogs side, with a freakish win over Penrith in the middle – a win that happens for a club once every few seasons, if that.
Parramatta finally came up against a real premiership threat last week, in a ‘fair’ match void of freak displays, and got their bums smacked. The Eels were flogged from bell-to-bell and that performance showed me where they are really at.
The Eels play the Titans and Broncos in Queensland in the next two weeks. Honestly I think they need to win both but would be happy with one. However I’m not confident they can win either ... having said that I will reluctantly (not confidently) tip them under the ‘Hayne factor’ to get over the Titans this week.
TIPPING
Tips – Broncos, Eels, Storm, Tigers, Sharks, Bulldogs, Dragons, Penrith
Last Week – 7/8
Total – 87/152 (57%)
Thanks for reading and as always you can email me (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), tweet me (@keyto316) or comment me below.
Cheers,
Keyto
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Qld Teams - Queensland's Friday night feast
In a rare occurrence, all three Queensland-based NRL clubs will feature on Channel Nine’s Friday Night Football this weekend.
The night will kick off at 7:30pm with the Townsville blockbuster between the North Queensland Cowboys and arch rivals Brisbane Broncos live throughout the state.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast Titans will host Parramatta simultaneously at Skilled Park with the delayed broadcast to follow from approximately 9:30pm.
Dairy Farmers Stadium will be close to capacity with the match traditionally North Queensland’s biggest draw of the year irrespective of how the Cowboys and Broncos seasons are faring.
The Cowboys have had two solid recent performances with their golden point win at home against Newcastle backed up with a competitive showing against the Panthers in Penrith last week.
North Queensland led the match, played in slippery conditions, for all but the final five minutes with a brilliant solo try ultimately condemning the Cowboys to a 24-16 loss.
Coach Neil Henry has stuck with the same squad for the Broncos match while utility Ben Harris comes in as 18th man.
Captain Johnathan Thurston was found to have no case to answer at the judiciary despite being penalised for dissent against the Panthers.
He will lead a mouth-watering head-to-head battle against Darren Lockyer while Queensland team mates Israel Folau and Willie Tonga will oppose each other in the centres.
Centre Ty Williams has only a handful of NRL matches left with the former Queensland representative announcing his retirement at the end of the 2010 season.
Meanwhile with Willie Mason increasingly likely to join lock Luke O’Donnell in England next season, the Cowboys have recruited Broncos forward Ashton Sims for 2011.
Sims, not named this weekend, will join Brisbane winger Antonio Winterstein at the Cowboys with North Queensland continuing their active recruitment policy in preparation for the 2011 season.
Broncos Unchanged
On the back of a gritty 10-6 victory over the Dragons on Sunday, coach Ivan Henjak will take the same 17 man squad to Townsville.
Sunday’s victorious arm wrestle saw the Broncos again jump into the top eight but a loss on Friday could see them again slip down the ladder.
Brisbane has been in and out of the top eight as they have followed a win-loss pattern for the past seven weeks.
With the Broncos unable to gather winning momentum since their five game winning streak mid-season, they will target the Cowboys match as the catalyst for a strong run towards September.
Prop Shane Tronc, who played 125 games for the Cowboys over six seasons, returns to Townsville to face his former club for the first time.
Some reports out of Brisbane suggest Ben Te’o may complete an incredibly quick recovery from a mid-foot sprain and play Friday night.
However it is more likely Te’o will be available for next week’s match against Parramatta but regardless his speedy return will be a bonus for Brisbane.
Coast eye the Hayne Train
The message from Sydney following the Eels 48-12 thumping at the hands of the Roosters on Saturday has been stopping Jarryd Hayne means stopping Parramatta.
Hearing that message is easy but executing it is the huge task facing the Titans Friday night.
The Titans season has been reinvigorated by a golden point win over the Dragons before Sunday’s impressive 28-20 victory over the Warriors in New Zealand.
Gold Coast sit in fifth position on the table and should only need two wins from their final five games to secure a finals berth.
Last year Parramatta sent the Titans crashing to their second loss in the Finals series with a 27-2 thumping in Sydney.
It is the only time the Titans have lost to the Eels but memories of the humiliating season exit are likely to still linger.
Ashley Harrison returns to the squad after missing two weeks with a knee injury and replaces Bodene Thompson at lock.
Thompson will play off the bench in place of Luke O’Dwyer while exciting young back Shannon Walker, like last week, is 18th man.
A win for the Titans will seriously dent Parramatta’s chances of qualifying for the 2010 Finals series.
However a loss could see the Gold Coast slip to eighth such is the closeness of the competition.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Broncos, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, Will Tupou, Arana Taumata, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott, Aaron Payne, Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Dane Hogan, Carl Webb, James Tamou, Ben Harris (one to be omitted).
Brisbane Broncos vs. Cowboys, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Nick Kenny, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Eels, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 9:30pm).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Ben Ridge, Bodene Thompson, Shannon Walker (one to be omitted).
The night will kick off at 7:30pm with the Townsville blockbuster between the North Queensland Cowboys and arch rivals Brisbane Broncos live throughout the state.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast Titans will host Parramatta simultaneously at Skilled Park with the delayed broadcast to follow from approximately 9:30pm.
Dairy Farmers Stadium will be close to capacity with the match traditionally North Queensland’s biggest draw of the year irrespective of how the Cowboys and Broncos seasons are faring.
The Cowboys have had two solid recent performances with their golden point win at home against Newcastle backed up with a competitive showing against the Panthers in Penrith last week.
North Queensland led the match, played in slippery conditions, for all but the final five minutes with a brilliant solo try ultimately condemning the Cowboys to a 24-16 loss.
Coach Neil Henry has stuck with the same squad for the Broncos match while utility Ben Harris comes in as 18th man.
Captain Johnathan Thurston was found to have no case to answer at the judiciary despite being penalised for dissent against the Panthers.
He will lead a mouth-watering head-to-head battle against Darren Lockyer while Queensland team mates Israel Folau and Willie Tonga will oppose each other in the centres.
Centre Ty Williams has only a handful of NRL matches left with the former Queensland representative announcing his retirement at the end of the 2010 season.
Meanwhile with Willie Mason increasingly likely to join lock Luke O’Donnell in England next season, the Cowboys have recruited Broncos forward Ashton Sims for 2011.
Sims, not named this weekend, will join Brisbane winger Antonio Winterstein at the Cowboys with North Queensland continuing their active recruitment policy in preparation for the 2011 season.
Broncos Unchanged
On the back of a gritty 10-6 victory over the Dragons on Sunday, coach Ivan Henjak will take the same 17 man squad to Townsville.
Sunday’s victorious arm wrestle saw the Broncos again jump into the top eight but a loss on Friday could see them again slip down the ladder.
Brisbane has been in and out of the top eight as they have followed a win-loss pattern for the past seven weeks.
With the Broncos unable to gather winning momentum since their five game winning streak mid-season, they will target the Cowboys match as the catalyst for a strong run towards September.
Prop Shane Tronc, who played 125 games for the Cowboys over six seasons, returns to Townsville to face his former club for the first time.
Some reports out of Brisbane suggest Ben Te’o may complete an incredibly quick recovery from a mid-foot sprain and play Friday night.
However it is more likely Te’o will be available for next week’s match against Parramatta but regardless his speedy return will be a bonus for Brisbane.
Coast eye the Hayne Train
The message from Sydney following the Eels 48-12 thumping at the hands of the Roosters on Saturday has been stopping Jarryd Hayne means stopping Parramatta.
Hearing that message is easy but executing it is the huge task facing the Titans Friday night.
The Titans season has been reinvigorated by a golden point win over the Dragons before Sunday’s impressive 28-20 victory over the Warriors in New Zealand.
Gold Coast sit in fifth position on the table and should only need two wins from their final five games to secure a finals berth.
Last year Parramatta sent the Titans crashing to their second loss in the Finals series with a 27-2 thumping in Sydney.
It is the only time the Titans have lost to the Eels but memories of the humiliating season exit are likely to still linger.
Ashley Harrison returns to the squad after missing two weeks with a knee injury and replaces Bodene Thompson at lock.
Thompson will play off the bench in place of Luke O’Dwyer while exciting young back Shannon Walker, like last week, is 18th man.
A win for the Titans will seriously dent Parramatta’s chances of qualifying for the 2010 Finals series.
However a loss could see the Gold Coast slip to eighth such is the closeness of the competition.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Broncos, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, Will Tupou, Arana Taumata, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott, Aaron Payne, Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Dane Hogan, Carl Webb, James Tamou, Ben Harris (one to be omitted).
Brisbane Broncos vs. Cowboys, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Nick Kenny, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Eels, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 9:30pm).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Ben Ridge, Bodene Thompson, Shannon Walker (one to be omitted).
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