Interesting article from SMH
Every point counts as 11 vie for the eight
By Brad Walter
August 10, 2004
For the first time in the NRL's seven-year history, for-and-against may be needed to decide berths in the finals series.
With just four rounds remaining 11 teams are in finals contention, meaning the composition of the top eight may not be known until full-time in the final premiership match of the season on Sunday, September 5.
While the Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane are certain to finish in the top four, Penrith are the only other club guaranteed of making the play-offs - although a favourable draw, including a final-round bye, should assure St George Illawarra of a place in the eight.
The other six clubs are separated by just two points, with Melbourne, North Queensland, Wests Tigers and Newcastle each playing three other top-eight contenders, while Canberra and Cronulla meet two apiece.
The Tigers, Sharks and Raiders have a bye in hand, ensuring them of at least 24 points, but they are likely to need another two wins in what is shaping as the closest finish to a season since the introduction of the top-eight format in 1995 - the only year points differential has been used to separate teams for the finals.
Among the possibilities that may have seemed unthinkable until this week:
The Broncos may win the minor premiership;
The Dragons may finish in the top four;
Newcastle, Canberra and Cronulla may supplant the Storm, Cowboys and Tigers in the eight.
Should Penrith beat the Roosters on Friday night and Brisbane account for the Bulldogs by more than 21 points on Sunday, the Broncos would become the third competition leader in as many weeks. A Panthers loss leaves the premiers vulnerable to missing the top four as they face the Broncos in round 26.
That would also depend on St George Illawarra, whose for-and-against is second only to the Roosters, winning their remaining games against the Warriors, Knights and Manly, or Melbourne overcoming Canberra, the Bulldogs, Cronulla and the Sea Eagles.
The Raiders have the advantage of playing their three remaining matches at home, but with a poor for-and-against, they may find themselves sweating on the results of the September 4 Cowboys-Sharks and Knights-Tigers matches and chasing points as the Roosters did on the last day of the 1995 premiership.
Going into the final round, the Warriors (24 points) needed to either beat Brisbane or hope that North Sydney (23) lost and the Roosters failed to reverse a 67-point differential with the Auckland-based club.
But the Warriors were trailing 28-nil at half-time against Brisbane and Norths were also struggling against Gold Coast, inspiring the Roosters to a 44-6 thrashing of Balmain.
"We hadn't even seriously given ourselves a chance until about halfway through the second half when one of the trainers came on and told us the scores in the other matches," former Roosters second-rower Tony Iro recalled yesterday.
"We were scoring almost at will in the second half, but [finding out the scores] was probably the worst thing that could have happened because we froze up for a while."
In the end, the Warriors lost 44-6 and the Roosters won by the same scoreline, giving Iro's team a nine-points better differential, but it all counted for nothing as Norths prop Josh Stuart crashed over for a late try to snatch a 14-all draw and eighth-place on for-and-against.
"I remember coming off the field we thought we'd made the semis and then when we got to the dressing rooms someone told us we'd missed out," Iro said. "It was disappointing but at the same time it was pretty exciting to be involved in something like that."
Every point counts as 11 vie for the eight
By Brad Walter
August 10, 2004
For the first time in the NRL's seven-year history, for-and-against may be needed to decide berths in the finals series.
With just four rounds remaining 11 teams are in finals contention, meaning the composition of the top eight may not be known until full-time in the final premiership match of the season on Sunday, September 5.
While the Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane are certain to finish in the top four, Penrith are the only other club guaranteed of making the play-offs - although a favourable draw, including a final-round bye, should assure St George Illawarra of a place in the eight.
The other six clubs are separated by just two points, with Melbourne, North Queensland, Wests Tigers and Newcastle each playing three other top-eight contenders, while Canberra and Cronulla meet two apiece.
The Tigers, Sharks and Raiders have a bye in hand, ensuring them of at least 24 points, but they are likely to need another two wins in what is shaping as the closest finish to a season since the introduction of the top-eight format in 1995 - the only year points differential has been used to separate teams for the finals.
Among the possibilities that may have seemed unthinkable until this week:
The Broncos may win the minor premiership;
The Dragons may finish in the top four;
Newcastle, Canberra and Cronulla may supplant the Storm, Cowboys and Tigers in the eight.
Should Penrith beat the Roosters on Friday night and Brisbane account for the Bulldogs by more than 21 points on Sunday, the Broncos would become the third competition leader in as many weeks. A Panthers loss leaves the premiers vulnerable to missing the top four as they face the Broncos in round 26.
That would also depend on St George Illawarra, whose for-and-against is second only to the Roosters, winning their remaining games against the Warriors, Knights and Manly, or Melbourne overcoming Canberra, the Bulldogs, Cronulla and the Sea Eagles.
The Raiders have the advantage of playing their three remaining matches at home, but with a poor for-and-against, they may find themselves sweating on the results of the September 4 Cowboys-Sharks and Knights-Tigers matches and chasing points as the Roosters did on the last day of the 1995 premiership.
Going into the final round, the Warriors (24 points) needed to either beat Brisbane or hope that North Sydney (23) lost and the Roosters failed to reverse a 67-point differential with the Auckland-based club.
But the Warriors were trailing 28-nil at half-time against Brisbane and Norths were also struggling against Gold Coast, inspiring the Roosters to a 44-6 thrashing of Balmain.
"We hadn't even seriously given ourselves a chance until about halfway through the second half when one of the trainers came on and told us the scores in the other matches," former Roosters second-rower Tony Iro recalled yesterday.
"We were scoring almost at will in the second half, but [finding out the scores] was probably the worst thing that could have happened because we froze up for a while."
In the end, the Warriors lost 44-6 and the Roosters won by the same scoreline, giving Iro's team a nine-points better differential, but it all counted for nothing as Norths prop Josh Stuart crashed over for a late try to snatch a 14-all draw and eighth-place on for-and-against.
"I remember coming off the field we thought we'd made the semis and then when we got to the dressing rooms someone told us we'd missed out," Iro said. "It was disappointing but at the same time it was pretty exciting to be involved in something like that."
