2017 R24 Sat - Cowboys 16-26 Sharks @ 1300SMILES

[Desert Qlder]

Each to their own.

I wouldn't trade them for anyone.

Maloney, like the Sharks, has been down much of the year (mind you, we're still all the way down to 4th, at the moment), but I think there is a fair argument he has been one of the most important finals figures for several years in a row.

Gallen has been magnificent this year, as always. He is always one of the best few on the park. But it is not his individual form I'm hoping will lift us (I've no doubt he will play well in the finals), but his drive that will ignite the rest of the team.

Every premier hopes they have something different that helps them back up, and realistically, since we have had a different premier every year for years, it is tough for a team to win twice in a decade, let alone in two years (and that isn't due to "hunger" 10 years later, just how hard it is to win, as there are always several genuine contenders).

I just like to think no other premier has had the trifecta of an absolute winner like Maloney, a mighty leader like Gallen, and the vast experience of the whole squad. But chances are, I'll be wrong, like every premier supporting fan before me in the NRL era.

I saw exactly the same thing last year mate, and our club had exactly what you describe in your last pragraph.

Their is clearly no shame in not being able to back up after a premiership, no team has done it for 25 years.

The story of the club who does next will be legend.

 

[Big Pete]

They most likely only need 1 more win, but the side they appear able to field will have trouble with the Tiges next week, let alone the Broncos. I have this feeling the Broncos will be in no mood to take pity on their fellow Qlders.

Unless they lose more players, the Cowboys should be too strong for the Tigers. They've played solid football for the past month, they just haven't been given many favours with their draw.

I also wouldn't put Round 26 beyond doubt just yet. By rights, the Cowboys should have lost the past two clashes between the two sides and yet they've found a way to win. Mentally they have it over Brisbane and the Broncos will have to lift if they want to leave Townsville with the 2 points.

 

[Pedge1971]

It's a real clusterf**k the bottom half of the 8 is, any team as far down as 10th has a legitimate chance of getting in the 8, I don't think any team below 3rd has a legitimate chance of winning the comp though

Would even go as far as to sag 1st. How will anyone beat Melbourne?

 

[Pedge1971]

That "hunger" seems to be the key. If we go like most premiers, we will be bundled out of the finals as more enthusiastic teams out muscle us.

Obviously I'm hoping that the combination of oodles of experience, Gallen's relentless competitive leadership, and Maloney's finals and gf experience will get us there.

But this really is a very open competition

Erm a very open comp for 2nd spot. I despise the way they defend so cynically but it is the Storms to lose.

 

[blaza88z]

Would even go as far as to sag 1st. How will anyone beat Melbourne?

They're beatable, they're unbelievably hard to beat when they get a lead (I know that sounds like the most obvious thing to say) but they get a lead and grind any team they want into submission, I think you have to belt them up the middle, Roosters would be my pick if they got them in the GF, we (Broncos) could possibly beat them but we'd be relying on either Melbourne handing over the ball cheaply or dare I say.. a rub from the refs, just don't know how we'd get the field position to execute our plays

 

[wibble]

Erm a very open comp for 2nd spot. I despise the way they defend so cynically but it is the Storms to lose.

This year, the Storm have lost to Sharks, Roosters, and Eels, beat the Broncos by 2, beat the Sharks and Roosters with a try in the last 5 minutes, and smashed the Broncos once.

Yes, some of those results were origin affected, but the Storm are very consistent and plough through lower teams, but against the other top teams they are not so dominant.

They are deserved favourites, but like any other team, to win it all they have to win at least 3 big finals matches against good opposition.

Mathematically if you think they are 75 percent likely to win each of those games (which is a very high probability, I doubt any "fox lab" or betting agency would have them so high on any one finals match) that would "only" make them 42 percent likely to win the comp (or odds of about $2.40 not counting profit margins).

They are strong favourites, and should be. But even so, if you were to ask me, or apparently the betting agencies that have them at fantastically low odds, if a Storm win or an "other" win is most likely, the "other" is the most likely result.

Since the "other" is extremely open, the comp is still very open despite Melbourne's well earned favouritism.