Round 5 started with what we thought would be a good game for the Dolphins to flex their muscles against a weakened Sea Eagles team after the sacking of their coach. However, the Sea Eagles completely dominated the Dolphins, putting 52 points on the scoreboard before Redcliffe scored their first try. It is most probably the Dolphins’ worst performance in their time in the NRL, and it is very worrying as to how they played. They were at home And the House Fell Down. Clearly the Manly players had a point to prove, and Coach Seibold having been sent off The Diving Board must have wondered where that enthusiasm was eight days ago.
There were two games on Friday night, with the first seeing the Rabbitohs Looking Up being too strong for the Bulldogs. Once again, the Bulldogs’ backline seemed clunky, and the Rabbitohs were too good and are starting to show a bit of form that might see them climb and, importantly, stay up in the top half of the ladder. The second Friday night game was the much-anticipated Penrith versus Melbourne match, but no one could have anticipated the scoreline. Penrith completely dominated Melbourne by 50 points to 10 and if we are to use the 50-point rule, that means neither Melbourne nor Redcliffe can win the comp. Penrith are a class above any other side in the competition at this juncture and are looking very much like The One. It looks as though Nobody Wins against them at the moment.
There were two games on Saturday. The first was the Dragons at home to the Cowboys, and I think this game can be best summed up by the fact that the Dragons were booed off the field by their Restless home crowd. Cowboys 32, Dragons 0, and in a very deep hole. The second game was an entertaining clash where the Gold Coast hosted Brisbane. The game was solid for the most part, but a couple of decisions – and I hate to start up The Man from South of the Border on forward passes – did hurt the Titans. However, the Broncos were too good as expected. They have suffered some injuries from this match, including Walsh and Hunt, so in The Big Picture it is important that they win their next few games.
There were two games on Sunday. The Sharks proved to be too strong for the Warriors who were very disappointing, and they have seemed to lose the type of football they were playing at the start of the year, slipping like they are on The Big Dipper. The Sharks were not great but did the job. In the final Sunday game, the Knights ran out 32-12 winners over the Raiders, raising concern about the Raiders’ performance. They have now lost four of their first five games and as of, yet we have not had a Hard Luck Story from their Coach. The Knights, on the other hand, look particularly good. Their defence was strong and they were shifting the ball around the field well. Dominic Young and Dane Gagai proved to be extremely dangerous on Newcastle’s right edge, and Coach Holbrook has them playing well.
The final game of the round was a thriller where the Eels were hosting the Tigers. The score chopped and changed through the match. And was locked at 18-all with three minutes to go when the Tigers were penalised for a very weak high tackle. Moses converted and then, in return, the West Tigers got a penalty for another very weak Penalty, which most probably leveled the score in both the scoreboard and in the game sense. Madden kicked a penalty during extra time to win the match in a very entertaining game. Moses has developed a particularly bad habit of haranguing the referee and even touched him on several occasions. It is a bad look for the league, and he needs to be told to Bite your Lip as something needs to be done about it.
Round 6 begins with a match on Thursday night between Canterbury and Penrith. This will really test the mettle of Canterbury because the Panthers are unbackable favorites and seemingly will put the Dogs in The Cage. If you look at the ladder, Penrith’s for and against differential is so far ahead of any other teams it Amazes Me. And even worse for all other teams, it seems as though the best is yet to come. It is difficult to see where the Bulldogs will find the attack to score points against them, especially with their star three-quarter Crichton out. It looks like a case of Penrith by between 17 and 20 or even more.
The first of the Friday night games has the Dragons at home to the Sea Eagles. The Dragons are in disarray and were booed off by their home crowd last week, whilst the Manly Sea Eagles have found a new enthusiasm since Coach Foran took over. The word coming out from the Dragon’s playing group is that they need to Grow Some Funk of their own. It really is a case of whether Manly can reproduce the form from last week or whether the Dragons can find something to give their season some hope. Certainly, the coach of the Dragons is under tremendous pressure with the Ball and Chain of 9 straight losses. His much-maligned son returns from a head knock at half, and Daniel Atkinson moves to his preferred 5/8 position. The second Friday night game is always a classic match with the Broncos at Home Again for the Cowboys. This will be a test for the Broncos as the Cowboys have found some recent form, and the Broncos will be without a number of key players, including Walsh. If the Broncos are going to challenge Penrith later in the season, they must beat the Cowboys with whoever they put on the field. It is a particularly important match for both sides who are now both sitting in the 8.
Saturday has three games, the first of which sees the Rabbits up against the Raiders. The Rabbits are rolling along nicely now, and the Raiders are desperate for a win. Coach Stuart has not hit the panic button just yet, but he must be starting to worry about where his sides’ next win will come from as it is close to Curtains for them. They have had sinbins in their last two matches that have both hurt the way their side has performed. Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Rabbitohs season is gathering momentum. The second game on Saturday has the Sharks at home to the Roosters. This is an interesting clash as the Sharks found some form last week against the Warriors, although the Warriors were extremely poor. The Roosters are coming off the bye and if they can click, they may be a side that can challenge Penrith later in the year. I think the Roosters will be too strong although their veterans need to prove that you are Never too Old. The final game on Saturday night has the Storm at home to the Warriors. To be honest, the Storm performance Amazes Me. We have said the Storm do not usually lose 2 games, then they do not normally lose 3 games. It has been a long time since they lost four on the trot. However, there have been some worrying signs from the Warriors’ last two performances. I cannot see the Storm not getting back to a much better level of rugby league this week as their injury toll improves.
Sunday has the final two matches in the round, with the first one seeing the Eels at home to the Titans. It will be interesting to see just how much that extra time match has taken out of the Eels, and they did suffer a few injuries. Eels’ fans, although passionate, are well known Part Time Lovers when things don’t go their way. Meanwhile, the Titans have looked better and maybe Coach Hannay’s game plans are starting to sink in. However, it will be difficult for the Titans to win that one away from home. The last game of the round is the real surprise packet with the West Tigers and Knights in second and third positions respectively playing each other. Both sides are starting to Believe there Ain’t Nothing the Real Thing. The West Tigers are at home, and both sides have been playing attractive and open football. One of these teams can really consolidate their position in the top four with a win. The battle of the outside backs should be a cracker. With the experience and guile of Gagai and Young up against the young Tigers outside backs makes for a cracking game. Fortunately, the Dolphins have the bye this weekend where they need to reassess their position in the competition or they will be a Candle in the Wind.
Last week’s embedded music clue was of Elton John. I used the same Bee Gees song from last week which Elton also chose to play – Don’t Forget to Remember –which was still as bad and the word Believe, a song from the ‘Made in England’ album of 1995. Of course, all of Elton John’s songs were written in collaboration with Bernie Taupin. See if you can find this week’s clue.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin First 13
1 Les Johns (Canterbury, Aust.) 2 John Ferguson 3 Chris Johns 4 Elton Flatley (Souths Sunnybank) 5 Bernie Lowther (Canterbury, NZ.) 6 Matt Johns 7 Andrew Johns 8 Joe Tapine 9 Bernie Seymour (first to play 200 games for Manly) 10 Elton Rassmussen (Mackay, St George, Aust.) 11 Bernie Purcell (Souths, Aust.) 12 Bernie Carroll (Balmain) 13 Bernie Drew (Bundaberg, Newtown, Aust.). Referee Bernie Pramberg
Coach
Round 6 Tips
Panthers, Manly, Broncos, Souths, Sharks, Storm, Eels, Tigers
I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard
1 Souffs(26) 2 Flying Mattress, Gerry (25), Tim Robbo, and others 24
The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 5 is 33.
My Pre Season Top Eight
1 Penrith 4 Souths 6 Cronulla 8 Brisbane 9 Canterbury 10 Roosters 11 Melbourne 16 Canberra
Odd Fact
Maybe useless fact:
The Denver Broncos have a hold on the Dallas Cowboys of 10 –5 0ver 33 years;
The Brisbane Broncos have a hold on the NQ Cowboys of 39 –10 over 31 years;
The Dallas Cowboys have met the Denver Broncos in one Superbowl and won;
The NQ Cowboys have met the Brisbane Broncos in one GF and won;
The Brisbane Broncos have played in 8 NRL GFs;
The Denver Broncos have played in 8 NFL GFs.
Finally, the Stawell Gift was great theatre on Monday before the footy and the women’s race was a fantastic race. If you have not seen it, take a look.
Rugby League is no longer on Vacation – It is a Quest
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