Johns Magic
Referee
- Messages
- 21,654
Round 7 Review
Match One: Maniac Marauders 83 - 47 The Spare Bats
It's been a long month and a half for the Marauders, with six consecutive losses marring the start of their premiership defence. But Round 7 saw a change of luck for Abpanther and his troops, who binded together to post 83 points and demoralise the Spare Bats side whose season is up in the air with the suspension of kingpin Todd Carney.
For the Marauders, Akuila Uate was the hero bagging a double and delivering on the matchwinning capabilities that saw him as the Marauders' number 1 draft pick. Ben Creagh, Aaron Payne and Beau Champion were also strong contributors for the side which will have received a real boost of confidence from what was an emphatic and emotional victory.
Coach Monk has some real problems to deal with in his side, and an injury to recent goalkicking recruit Bryson Goodwin has only added to the club's woes.
Match Two: Bondi Beasts 99 - 90 Lions RLFC
The latest episode of the Lions-Beasts local derby lived up to all expectations, with both teams turning up to play and giving it all they had. This was the highest scoring match of the round and came down to the 80th minute on Monday night, showing that when it comes to these sort of clashes, ladder positions mean nothing.
The Lions bolted out of the blocks to be on 58 points after Friday's games, and with Luke Douglas, Dallas Johnson, Chris McQueen and Sam Burgess collecting 26 points between them the following night Big Sam was gloating behind the scenes in expectation of a Lions' victory. However, the Beasts got to work and through some outstanding individual performances from Matai, Widdop and Thurston were able to rake the Lions in and seal the deal on Monday night.
Whilst Big Sam will certainly be disappointed not to collect the two points, he now knows he has a team that can match it with the top of the table, and will be aiming to climb the ladder in the second half of the year.
Match Three: Bulls 92 - 91 random. Suspects
It was the top of the table clash that had the NRLCEO fans salivating, with the undefeated Bulls taking on the Suspects who were nipping at their heels.
Friday night saw the Bulls strike first blood, with Tim Moltzen claiming a double and Michael Robertson and Trent Waterhouse racking up points whilst the Suspects remained dormant.
Saturday night saw a changing of the guard, with Ben Barba exploding out of the blocks to take the game to the opposition. Barba's mercurial performance was ably assisted by his Bulldog's teammates Aiden Tolman and Michael Ennis. With heroic skipper Cameron Smith still to play, the bookies had the Suspects as favourites going into Monday night, however a spirited Warriors performance gave Coach Tom a fairytale finish to keep his unbeaten record alive.
Match Four: The Dribbling Pooches RLFC 75 - 43 Los Bastardos
This middle of the table clash saw the Pooches reign easy victors over the Bastardos, who will be disappointed to notch up their second straight loss after an encouraging start to the season.
The Pooches impressed again, showing why punters consider them a top six side in posting a healthy score with only a minor contribution from star player Benji Marshall. Forwards Bronson Harrison and Dave Taylor rolled right over the top of the hapless Bastardos, whose meagre score had the club's fans wondering what went wrong.
Two valuable points for the Pooches, while concerns are starting to form that the Bastardos may start slipping down the ladder.
Match Five: Orange Alpacas 50 - 66 Rhinos XIII
The last match of the round was the lowest scoring, with both teams struggling to get any form of fluency in their play throughout the entire match.
In the end it was the teamwork of the Rhinos that got them the victory, with a lot of even performances across the board from their players.
For the Alpacas, fullback Darius Boyd and winger Steve Turner had magnificent games, and combined with the boot of Kurt Gidley to contribute 42 points for the match.
However, just 8 points between the other fourteen Alpaca players must surely be sending alarm bells to Orange coach Griffo. Whilst injuries are a concern at the club, such laziness from the bulk of the side is intolerable and will no doubt be addressed at training.
Griffo is one of the most liked coaches in the competition, but pressure is starting to mount out Orange way with all officials in question. The only home team to lose in the ANZAC round, the Alpacas now find themselves alone at the bottom of the ladder.
Ladder After Round 7
1. Bulls 14
2. Bondi Beasts 11
3. random. Suspects 10
4. The Dribbling Pooches RLFC 10
5. Rhinos XIII 8
6. Los Bastardos 7
---------------------------------------------------------------
7. The Spare Bats 4
8. Lions RLFC 4
9. Maniac Marauders 2
10. Orange Alpacas 0
Round 8 Preview
Rhinos XIII (5) vs (6) Los Bastardos
A midtable clash with significance for both teams, the winner will take 5th spot and provide themselves with a minor buffer over the rest of the sides pushing for the coveted top 6.
Neither of these sides has been lighting the world on fire in recent weeks, and this match could be telling in the general shape of their seasons.
Lions RLFC (8) vs (1) Bulls
Having shown strong form in their last match, the Lions' faithful will be looking for a victory against their more highly fancied and undefeated rivals the Bulls.
Whilst the Lions have been encouraging of late, close losses will not suffice in this cut-throat competition. The time to start winning is now, and there is no tougher task than the team they face this week. The loss of Sam Burgess is big for the Lions, but the depth of their forward pack leaves them more than competitive.
The Spare Bats (7) vs (2) Bondi Beasts
With a new kicker may bring a new change of fortune and results for the Spare Bats, whose form has failed to live up to their successful 2010 campaign.
The Beasts have now won four on the trot and will look to continue their winning ways.
Orange Alpacas (10) vs (9) Maniac Marauders
The two teams at the bottom of the ladder meet in Round 8, in a match which will have both coaches fancying their chances.
The Marauders are the clear favourites with the bookies having hit some recent form, but the side is yet to prove they can score consistently.
random. Suspects (3) vs (4) The Dribbling Pooches RLFC
The match of the round pits teams 3 and 4 against each other, in a clash which could go either way depending on a few individual performances.
Benji vs Barba is a marketer's dream, and whilst both teams are certainly not one-man bands, the similarities in style and flair of these two will bring the crowds in in droves.
The Suspects have been the more consistent of these sides this year and deserve favouritism, but anything can happen on game day and a Pooches victory may be the value bet this week.
Good luck all coaches in Round 8, teams to be named in here.
Match One: Maniac Marauders 83 - 47 The Spare Bats
It's been a long month and a half for the Marauders, with six consecutive losses marring the start of their premiership defence. But Round 7 saw a change of luck for Abpanther and his troops, who binded together to post 83 points and demoralise the Spare Bats side whose season is up in the air with the suspension of kingpin Todd Carney.
For the Marauders, Akuila Uate was the hero bagging a double and delivering on the matchwinning capabilities that saw him as the Marauders' number 1 draft pick. Ben Creagh, Aaron Payne and Beau Champion were also strong contributors for the side which will have received a real boost of confidence from what was an emphatic and emotional victory.
Coach Monk has some real problems to deal with in his side, and an injury to recent goalkicking recruit Bryson Goodwin has only added to the club's woes.
Match Two: Bondi Beasts 99 - 90 Lions RLFC
The latest episode of the Lions-Beasts local derby lived up to all expectations, with both teams turning up to play and giving it all they had. This was the highest scoring match of the round and came down to the 80th minute on Monday night, showing that when it comes to these sort of clashes, ladder positions mean nothing.
The Lions bolted out of the blocks to be on 58 points after Friday's games, and with Luke Douglas, Dallas Johnson, Chris McQueen and Sam Burgess collecting 26 points between them the following night Big Sam was gloating behind the scenes in expectation of a Lions' victory. However, the Beasts got to work and through some outstanding individual performances from Matai, Widdop and Thurston were able to rake the Lions in and seal the deal on Monday night.
Whilst Big Sam will certainly be disappointed not to collect the two points, he now knows he has a team that can match it with the top of the table, and will be aiming to climb the ladder in the second half of the year.
Match Three: Bulls 92 - 91 random. Suspects
It was the top of the table clash that had the NRLCEO fans salivating, with the undefeated Bulls taking on the Suspects who were nipping at their heels.
Friday night saw the Bulls strike first blood, with Tim Moltzen claiming a double and Michael Robertson and Trent Waterhouse racking up points whilst the Suspects remained dormant.
Saturday night saw a changing of the guard, with Ben Barba exploding out of the blocks to take the game to the opposition. Barba's mercurial performance was ably assisted by his Bulldog's teammates Aiden Tolman and Michael Ennis. With heroic skipper Cameron Smith still to play, the bookies had the Suspects as favourites going into Monday night, however a spirited Warriors performance gave Coach Tom a fairytale finish to keep his unbeaten record alive.
Match Four: The Dribbling Pooches RLFC 75 - 43 Los Bastardos
This middle of the table clash saw the Pooches reign easy victors over the Bastardos, who will be disappointed to notch up their second straight loss after an encouraging start to the season.
The Pooches impressed again, showing why punters consider them a top six side in posting a healthy score with only a minor contribution from star player Benji Marshall. Forwards Bronson Harrison and Dave Taylor rolled right over the top of the hapless Bastardos, whose meagre score had the club's fans wondering what went wrong.
Two valuable points for the Pooches, while concerns are starting to form that the Bastardos may start slipping down the ladder.
Match Five: Orange Alpacas 50 - 66 Rhinos XIII
The last match of the round was the lowest scoring, with both teams struggling to get any form of fluency in their play throughout the entire match.
In the end it was the teamwork of the Rhinos that got them the victory, with a lot of even performances across the board from their players.
For the Alpacas, fullback Darius Boyd and winger Steve Turner had magnificent games, and combined with the boot of Kurt Gidley to contribute 42 points for the match.
However, just 8 points between the other fourteen Alpaca players must surely be sending alarm bells to Orange coach Griffo. Whilst injuries are a concern at the club, such laziness from the bulk of the side is intolerable and will no doubt be addressed at training.
Griffo is one of the most liked coaches in the competition, but pressure is starting to mount out Orange way with all officials in question. The only home team to lose in the ANZAC round, the Alpacas now find themselves alone at the bottom of the ladder.
Ladder After Round 7
1. Bulls 14
2. Bondi Beasts 11
3. random. Suspects 10
4. The Dribbling Pooches RLFC 10
5. Rhinos XIII 8
6. Los Bastardos 7
---------------------------------------------------------------
7. The Spare Bats 4
8. Lions RLFC 4
9. Maniac Marauders 2
10. Orange Alpacas 0
Round 8 Preview
Rhinos XIII (5) vs (6) Los Bastardos
A midtable clash with significance for both teams, the winner will take 5th spot and provide themselves with a minor buffer over the rest of the sides pushing for the coveted top 6.
Neither of these sides has been lighting the world on fire in recent weeks, and this match could be telling in the general shape of their seasons.
Lions RLFC (8) vs (1) Bulls
Having shown strong form in their last match, the Lions' faithful will be looking for a victory against their more highly fancied and undefeated rivals the Bulls.
Whilst the Lions have been encouraging of late, close losses will not suffice in this cut-throat competition. The time to start winning is now, and there is no tougher task than the team they face this week. The loss of Sam Burgess is big for the Lions, but the depth of their forward pack leaves them more than competitive.
The Spare Bats (7) vs (2) Bondi Beasts
With a new kicker may bring a new change of fortune and results for the Spare Bats, whose form has failed to live up to their successful 2010 campaign.
The Beasts have now won four on the trot and will look to continue their winning ways.
Orange Alpacas (10) vs (9) Maniac Marauders
The two teams at the bottom of the ladder meet in Round 8, in a match which will have both coaches fancying their chances.
The Marauders are the clear favourites with the bookies having hit some recent form, but the side is yet to prove they can score consistently.
random. Suspects (3) vs (4) The Dribbling Pooches RLFC
The match of the round pits teams 3 and 4 against each other, in a clash which could go either way depending on a few individual performances.
Benji vs Barba is a marketer's dream, and whilst both teams are certainly not one-man bands, the similarities in style and flair of these two will bring the crowds in in droves.
The Suspects have been the more consistent of these sides this year and deserve favouritism, but anything can happen on game day and a Pooches victory may be the value bet this week.
Good luck all coaches in Round 8, teams to be named in here.
Last edited:
