NQ Cowboys v Wests Tigers - 2005 NRL Grand Final - Match Thread and *Spoilers

[Timmah]

2005 Telstra PremiershipNational Rugby League GRAND FINAL
TELSTRA STADIUM, 7:05PM
SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER 2005

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS vs WESTS TIGERS

REFEREE Tim MANDER
VB PREMIER LEAGUE 3:50pm Sydney Roosters v Parramatta Eels
JERSEY FLEGG CUP 2:00pmSt George-Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels

Initial Team Line-ups

Cowboys 1 Matthew Bowen 2 Ty Williams 3 Josh Hannay 4 Paul Bowman 5 Matt Sing
6 Johnathan Thurston 7 Brett Firman
8 Paul Rauhihi 9 Aaron Payne 10 Shane Tronc 11 Steven Southern 12 Luke O'Donnell 13 Travis Norton (C)
Interchange 14 Rod Jensen 15 David Faiumu 16 Justin Smith 17 Mitchell Sargent

Tigers 1 Brett Hodgson 2 Daniel Fitzhenry 3 Shane Elford 4 Paul Whatuira 5 Pat Richards
6 Benji Marshall 7 Scott Prince (C)
8 Anthony Laffranchi 9 Robbie Farah 10 John Skandalis 11 Ben Galea 12 Mark O'Neill 13 Dene Halatau
Interchange 14 Liam Fulton 15 Chris Heighington 16 Bryce Gibbs 17 Todd Payten
Reserves 18 John Wilson 19 Bronson Harrison

Tab Sportsbet Prices
12:50am Monday 26/9
Cowboys 2.30 Tigers 1.55
5pm Tuesday 27/9
Cowboys 2.20 Tigers 1.62
Midnight Friday 30/9
Cowboys 2.20 Tigers 1.62
FootyTAB Points Start
Cowboys +3.5

Head to Head 2005
TELSTRA FINAL SERIES WEEK ONE Tigers 50 Cowboys 6 @ Telstra
TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP ROUND 23 Tigers 28 Cowboys 16 @ Campbelltown
TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP ROUND 6 Cowboys 44 Tigers 20 @ Dairy Farmers

Who has your measure?

What's your team?

The Grand Final is only days away!

 

[Jordan]

Go Cowboys!

I think we can win, but only if we play to our best and have the same desperation in defence that we did against the Eels. I haven't seen that kind of defence from the Cowboys since last year's finals series. I flew down from Townsville to the game today and it almost was as if the Cowboys have spent half a season waiting for this game. The hunger was back...the desperation... they made a few mistakes especially at the start of the game, but they were fired up..they wanted to make amends for last year, and they did just that.

I think the GF will be a close game, and not as much of a high scoring affair as people might expect. Should be a beauty...can't wait!

 

[ParraDude_Jay]

Pat Richards is a HUGE loss, made worse by the fact that they have nobody to replace him.

The Cowboys SHOULD win, but the Dragons should have won and the Eels should have won, so nobody will know until the fulltime siren sounds on Sunday night.

 

[Timmah]

Unfortunately for the Tigers their first real test of depth has come on Grand Final Day.

They have the players to back him up but whether they're of premiership standard only time will tell.

Go COWBOYS!!!

 

[A_J_Gray]

Go The Tigers
this one will be close but I think we can hold off
However everyone will just be interested to see weather the wing replacement can be up to it, cause if he isnt it will be exploted ALA Matt Sing bomb invasion 2004, series game 1

 

[aussies1st]

Cowboys for me. Would love to see Thurston get back to back Grand Final wins.

 

[0neye]

COWBOYS BI 40 ;()

 

[aussies1st]

COWBOYS BYE 40 ;()

You may well have jinxed the Cowboys ;-)

 

[0neye]

:lol: THE 0NEYED KISS OF DEATH ;-)

 

[Timmah]

The Tigers bandwagon obviously hasn't been online yet... :lol:

 

[steven_tiger]

yeah... the genius can't even spell by.

 

[Mr_Raditch]

I think Sheens will push Elford out to the wing & bring Johnny white legs Wilson into the centres, or bring Collis back. But wilson has been training with the team & warming up with them b4 the games, so that would be my guess. Go tigers.

 

[Scott]

Elford to the wing, Wilson in the centres. I think Halatau is important at Lock and going into dummy half as often as he wants. He may not get to do this from centre.

 

[The Tank]

I dunno who to support - I'd like them both to win.

 

[Kid]

I'm surprised at the generous odds offered for the Cowboys. A stack of players with State of Origin experience and a drubbing of the minor premiers would have to make them favourites in my book. Still i'll be hoping and praying for the mighty WT to complete the fairytale.

 

[Dr Crane]

The Cowboys should win.

I don't really mind who wins. If i was pushed, probably the Tigers.

 

[Mr Saab]

i think the cows will win, only because of the pattern sine 1994.
Fav/outsider/fav/out...etc etc
last yr was the fav that one...this yr it is the outsider.
That is all that i am basing it on!

 

[Parra_Eels]

yeh im goin to the game and im still a bit torn on who to support. atm im saying wt but living in qld it'll be hard not to get swept up in cowboys fever. i think wt should be favourites

 

[0neye]

:lol: BI BY BYE TIGER:lol:

 

[simon says]

i think the cows will win

Crack open the bubbly.....tigers are specials.