Second Teams

Everyone reading this has their favourite team – the team they support, the team they tip and the team they love. You're either a Dragons supporter, an Eels fan, a Rabbitohs diehard or some other type of supporter for any of the other teams. But who of you has a ‘second’ team? Or a third or a fourth?

Your ‘second’ team plays great football at times, don’t have many enemies and you don’t mind when they win. I’m thrilled the following three sides have made strong starts to the season and I would love so much to see them all in the Finals come the end of the year – unless it comes down to one of them against the Broncos!!

Wests Tigers

I think everybody has got some love for the Tigers. They are a wonderful, skilful team to watch and most rugby league supporters would enjoy seeing them play well week to week. So what is it that we love about the Tigers?

For one their attack and flair is fantastic to watch. Guys like Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Lote Tuqiri and Tim Moltzen are great. You have up and comers like Chris Lawrence thrown in, cult figures such as Taniela Tuiaki and hard-heads Keith Galloway and Gareth Ellis. They are a very positive team that stays clean off the field. You hardly hear a bad word about the Tigers and when that is combined with their football, it becomes hard to be a hater.

Just on a sad note – as far as rugby league tragedies go, the injury to Moltzen the other day was up there. He is a very, very good kid coming through and covering that match I was extremely disappointing to see him go down. I know he will be back bigger and better next season.

Penrith Panthers

I love the Penrith Panthers – without a doubt they are my second team. I really enjoy their home games when the Panthers are playing well. The place is always close to full and there are so many children making up the crowd.

The Panthers are a football side – it is not a team of pure athletes or muscles heads, they have footballers like Luke Lewis, Luke Walsh, Lachlan Coote, Petero and Kevin Kingston. Plus of course their stars Jennings and Pritchard.

Two of my favourite footballers to watch are the two Luke’s – Lewis and Walsh. These two guys are hard workers and a bit of a throwback to the older days. They are natural players that just know the game. What’s more they hold the key to the Panthers fortunes this season.

Canberra Raiders

Earlier this season I picked the Raiders to make the Top 4. This group of kids is something very special down there. Canberra won the 2008 Toyota Cup and slowly the nucleus of that side is coming through the NRL level. Guys like Dugan, Carney, Thompson, Vidot, Croker and Fensom amongst some pretty decent (and massive) forwards, a great playmaker and under the leadership of Alan Tongue makes for a pretty good side.

Take a look at the current Raiders squad and make a note – if they are able to keep this squad together (maybe lose one or two), this Canberra Raiders side will play in at least one Grand Final in the next three years.

I can’t quite put my finger on it or explain what I see, I just know when I watch Canberra play well I get the feeling we are seeing the early buildings of something special.

TIPPING
Tips – Bulldogs, Titans, Newcastle, Roosters, Warriors, Brisbane, Parramatta, Melbourne
Last Week – 3/8
Total – 20/40 (50%)

As you can see I haven’t actually tipped any of the mentioned three sides this weekend, but that’s the nature of ‘second’ teams! If you have any thoughts you can find me at Sports Australia, Facebook, Twitter (@keyto316) and directly on email at andrew.keyte@gmail.com.

There are plenty of good games on this weekend so if you have a chance to go and support your side (or second team) hopefully it works out well.

Talk to you later,
Keyto