So with 8 rounds to go who are the pretenders/contenders?

[Pedro Morales Magonzales]

What you are forgetting slugster is Souths have had traumatic and failure riddled finals experience. There is a difference between this and memorable winning finals experience. They got smashed by Manly and the Dogs in back to back prelims, and only just got over the Storm in 2013 due to a couple of horrible pro Souths ref calls and a favourable 10 to 4 pen count.

:lol:

Actually the penalty count was 8-7.......but don't let facts get in the way of things.

http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/games/2013/201309132127.html

 

[The Pip]

:lol:

Actually the penalty count was 8-7.......but don't let facts get in the way of things.

http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/games/2013/201309132127.html

Hey Speedy Gonzalez, like I have said before, statistics can be misleading - its when and where you get them penalties that matter mate. Souths always lead the penalty count initially by a large margin @ say 6 -2, get that massive leg up, then, hey presto, when the games just about over the penalty count ends up 8-6. Wow - magic?

Perceptions do become reality - but we must lean towards facts I guess, like the 2 massive chokes by Souths in the prelims of 2012 & 2013?:lol:

 

[Valheru]

Both modern Manly and Melbourne lost a Grand Final before putting together their long run of appearances and Premierships. And yes Roosters count in that list as well. Brisbane as well had a team of players and a coach with the Grand Final experience. Of course the rule only works when a team is part of some long term dynasty not flash in the pans like Parra or the Warriors

So if Manly won it last year you would have pointed to 07 as the one "they had to lose"?

 

[maple_69]

Yep.

 

[LESStar58]

If Melbourne can match it with the Roosters in a couple of weeks time and not get blown of the park like earlier in the year I will give them a chance at the title.

until then I think it'll be manly v souffs decider and I wont care who wins.

Bit of a conundrum actually; hate Manly but love to lol@souff$

 

[BuddPanther]

We'll, after the mighty Panthers knock off Storm & Manly consecutively, the knockers might gives us a chance? Probably not!

 

[Pedro Morales Magonzales]

Hey Speedy Gonzalez, like I have said before, statistics can be misleading - its when and where you get them penalties that matter mate. Souths always lead the penalty count initially by a large margin @ say 6 -2, get that massive leg up, then, hey presto, when the games just about over the penalty count ends up 8-6. Wow - magic?

I agree that the timing and position of when penalties are awarded is crucial.

However, it still doesn't explain why you stated that the penalty count was 10-4.

 

[Fat Krion]

Hey Speedy Gonzalez, like I have said before, statistics can be misleading - its when and where you get them penalties that matter mate. Souths always lead the penalty count initially by a large margin @ say 6 -2, get that massive leg up, then, hey presto, when the games just about over the penalty count ends up 8-6. Wow - magic?

Perceptions do become reality - but we must lean towards facts I guess, like the 2 massive chokes by Souths in the prelims of 2012 & 2013?:lol:

That may have been the case but souths are winning the war of attrition.
With few injuries and in form key players souths will make the gf probably against the Roosters in a dream climax to the season for the Nrl.

 

[Billythekid]

I think the top 8 is the interesting battle. We could end up with 11 teams on 30 points which is just insane. The top 4 battle is also far from over. I know people are saying it's souths to lose because manly and the rooster are sucking it up but there are a few teams lower on the ladder who are a real threat imo.

 

[ouwet]

No real standouts... Any number of Teams Can win it on there day!! Luck and injuries are the key!

 

[Jason Maher]

Well Manly lost last night, so obviously they're shit. Souths lost tonight, so they're shit as well. Cowboys lost on Monday night to an injury-riddled Penrith team, so they're shit. Penrith are injury-riddled, so they're shit. Roosters have been shit all year. Ditto Storm. Eels got done by 50, so they're shit. Dogs lost 4 in a row. Shit. Warriors lost to the Knights. So, so shit. Broncos and Dragons... well, hardly needs to be stated, does it?

 

[Swarzey]

Imagine a Penrith vs Cowboys Grand Final?

Sydney's media would lose it's f**king mind...

 

[soc123_au]

Imagine a Penrith vs Cowboys Grand Final?

Sydney's media would lose it's f**king mind...

That would be a brilliant GF. I could even be mildly happy if we lost.

 

[Jason Maher]

It would be a very good Grand Final. Master vs apprentice. Sir James vs JT.

 

[soc123_au]

It would be a very good Grand Final. Master vs apprentice. Sir James vs JT.

:lol: JM knows.

 

[Swarzey]

It's nothing against teams like Manly, Roosters, Storm or Souths, but I'd much prefer a grand final without them. You just here about these teams being "certainties" throughout the year without any credit going to the other teams in the top 8. Even half way through this year they were touting them as the final four teams standing when only Manly looked like they were going to achieve something.

 

[TheFrog]

You have to lose one before you win one.

Prior to the Storm 1999 victory, no team had won a Grand Final without having appeared in another GF in the previous 4 seasons since mandatory Grand Finals started, with a single exception: Brisbane in 1992 was explained by the fact that this was basically the Queensland State of Origin side and they had big match experience in spades. I think the death of Ben Alexander took out the only side that might have stopped Brisbane that year and thus they were the best team in the comp by miles.

Then there was Melbourne in 1999. which was put together from the wreckage of sides culled after the Super League war. 1999 was the first aberration, but then they've come more frequently. Panthers 2003, Tigers 2005, (neither of which had even made the finals in the previous two years) and Dragons 2010, who like the '92 Broncos were far and away the best side in the comp.

Maybe its the salary cap. A strong team rises to the point of winning the comp faster than used to be the case.

 

[Charlie124]

It's nothing against teams like Manly, Roosters, Storm or Souths, but I'd much prefer a grand final without them. You just here about these teams being "certainties" throughout the year without any credit going to the other teams in the top 8. Even half way through this year they were touting them as the final four teams standing when only Manly looked like they were going to achieve something.

I get where you're coming from with the other teams you mentioned there but Souths?? they havent achieved shit let alone managed to feature in a GF since before my mother was born! How do they enter into any conversation about "certainties" for anything but failure?

Roosters, Manly, Storm have all made, won and lost plenty of big matches (GF's included) in recent history, they're powerhouse clubs that all other clubs aspire to emulate. Souths are a club full of hot air and hype who havent actually done anything to warrant being included in the same class as those teams. And dont get me wrong, i hate Manly and the Roosters, i dont like the Storm either but with so many QLDers i cant hate them, but these are clubs you have to respect so hate them or not you want your club to achieve what theyve been able to achieve in recent times.

Souths though??

Please..

 

[Jason Maher]

I get where you're coming from with the other teams you mentioned there but Souths?? they havent achieved shit let alone managed to feature in a GF since before my mother was born! How do they enter into any conversation about "certainties" for anything but failure?

Roosters, Manly, Storm have all made, won and lost plenty of big matches (GF's included) in recent history, they're powerhouse clubs that all other clubs aspire to emulate. Souths are a club full of hot air and hype who havent actually done anything to warrant being included in the same class as those teams. And dont get me wrong, i hate Manly and the Roosters, i dont like the Storm either but with so many QLDers i cant hate them, but these are clubs you have to respect so hate them or not you want your club to achieve what theyve been able to achieve in recent times.

Souths though??

Please..

Nice rant. What precisely is your point? Are you saying Souths are no chance because they haven't won in a long time?

 

[Charlie124]

No. Im saying that they havent done anything to deserve the hype and that they shouldnt be considered some sort of powerhouse like those other three mentioned.

I thought that was fairly clear, but whatever.