NSW Cup

[Meth]

I don't really know what's best in terms of developing talent, but geez I'd love to see players like Laban and Halasima in our side ahead of players like Tevaga and Capewell (tonight) and Ford (generally)

 

[sup42]

A significant win over a Canterbury side with Gould running the show. I'm sure they'd hate to admit we might have better potential.

Indeed.

Gould is great at finding players on his rep, McFadden is in the same class without the Rep of Gould, McFadden is a freak at watching local NZ comps and all of Australias up and commers, this is reflected in that NSW cup team that has kids from the likes of the Roosters and kids from the South Island, representative of Cappys global vision for this club.

 

[Big Marn]

TT with 4 assists with 2 off grubbers. I like seeing that from a fullback.

 

[Big Marn]

Massive weekend for the Warriors who are sitting 4th on the table.
This is the final round for NSW Cup before the playoffs.
They play the Newtown Jets away (sitting 3rd), who are on the same points (33) but have a better f/a.

Canberra and the North Sydney Bears conjured up 2 draws each this season so are 1 point ahead of the Jets and the Warriors. The top 4 teams all had 14 wins.
Depending on results, the Warriors could finish anywhere between 1st and 5th.

They cant finish any lower than 5th so are assured of a spot in the finals.
The good news is their bogey team Blacktown Sea Eagles cant qualify for the finals.

The finals series will be based on a traditional top five format, which will see the Minor Premiers earn a weekend off in the opening week while the fourth and fifth-placed teams will square off in an Elimination Final and the second and third-placed teams in a Qualifying Final.

The winner of the Qualifying Final will then face the Minor Premiers in the Major Semi-final with the winner moving straight through to the Grand Final; while the loser of the Qualifying Final will face the winner of the Elimination Final in the sudden death Minor Semi-final.

The loser of the Major Semi-final will then face the winner of the Minor Semi-final in the Preliminary Final for the right to progress to the decider.

 

[Big Marn]

Looks like defence is optional today.20-38 with 30m to go

 

[Blair]

I'm not working next Saturday so I can see a trek into the city.

If the game's on Sunday I'm buggered.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Went to the game, thought we were going to get absolutely arseholed at half time. Great comeback by the lads and only just feel short. In the end I think the hometown advantage got the jets home particularly with a very tricky wind that was blowing across the ground. We stuffed a couple of important kicks because of it and the Jets used it for a 40/20.
Leka scored an absolute belter of a try finishing off a 70m break, really showed how much pace he’s got. Bunty had a big game too.

 

[Blair]

Went to the game, thought we were going to get absolutely arseholed at half time. Great comeback by the lads and only just feel short. In the end I think the hometown advantage got the jets home particularly with a very tricky wind that was blowing across the ground. We stuffed a couple of important kicks because of it and the Jets used it for a 40/20.
Leka scored an absolute belter of a try finishing off a 70m break, really showed how much pace he’s got. Bunty had a big game too.

It's nice you had a good time. Do you like Henson Park for watching footy? I find the location is great, it's historic, jets fly over (reminding you of the big world out there), there's a cool 'IPA-vibe' with the (often bearded) crowd (I know what I did there) but, the circular ground is rubbish.

I often find the crowd has to create its own atmosphere as the football is too far away.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

It's nice you had a good time. Do you like Henson Park for watching footy? I find the location is great, it's historic, jets fly over (reminding you of the big world out there), there's a cool 'IPA-vibe' with the (often bearded) crowd (I know what I did there) but, the circular ground is rubbish.

I often find the crowd has to create its own atmosphere as the football is too far away.

Yeah pretty much, the sightlines are ordinary because of the ground shape but the vibe of the place is great, and you always get a great atmosphere with a crowd of 8972 in the place (even if 1/4 of them are dogs). It oozes tradition and you end forming your own little traditions as well, one of the first things I noted yesterday was our group had changed our usual spot that we sit by about 10-15m (we always sit on the stone wall of the footpath at the base of the hill). Plus you can bring your own cans and the Henson Park Hotel is right next door.

 

[Big Marn]

so we finished 4th ahead of Panthers but to no advantage as the eliminator is being played at leichhardt oval.
So we play Panthers a flight away from home whereas Panthers play a bus ride from home.
Seems fair for finishing ahead of them on the table...

 

[Big Marn]

Ben Farr out due to concussion so Paul Roache who normally plays hooker is having to fill in at 7.

 

[Izz]

That's a pretty good team. I'm guessing Sifakula doesn't qualify as hasn't played enough Cup games.

Roache has played a lot in the halves this season. Often starts at hooker then shifts into the halves. Really, the Cup halves have been pretty makeshift for a lot of the season, so I think it's a decent marker that we finished 4th (and only 3 points out of 1st).

Our Jersey Flegg didn't do so well, but quite a few of that team featured in Cup at some time during the season, too.

 

[Rich102]

Go the Wahs!

 

[Big Marn]

I like the team. TT and Ali back is a big help

 

[Grizzman]

Looks a really good side!

What happened to the young prop Vagana? I haven't seen his name in the team list for some time. He looked like he was showing a lot of promise?

 

[Blair]

Farr out.

Plus cue R & S...

I might go to the game. The Warriors fans will be a decent size, 30 at least (which doesn't sound like much but, at Leichhardt for Cup, we make a lot of noise).

Mark Geyer might be there too!

 

[sup42]

Never thought I would say it but Ben Farr is a big out.
As Fugly as his game is, he does pair solidly for the kicking duties with Hansen. And he has been developing as a unlikely try scorer.

We really needed our full spine on display, however at least Farr will be back so we could see a rare full strength NSW cup side going forward.

How good would it be to have a Warriors side on GF day?

 

[sup42]

Also how fortunate are our cup lads to have Bunty? he is the form Prop of the NSW cup. As such he gets my respect all day long, our past Warriors cup sides that had NRL rejects without exception saw the NRL player drop their lip. Or said NRL players like Jazz and TMM or CHT would play hard with a mind to cracking the NRL side a week later.
Bunty stands alone as a guy putting in with no NRL incentive.

As such Bunty is breaking new ground and sadly many fans will not connect the dots. Trying hard to think of someone similar in terms of humility and attitude when playing reggies and James Gavet is the only forward I can come up with on the fly....and Bunty is way more impactful.

 

[Big Marn]

Eliminated.

That sucks.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

A very good season from the NSW Cup boys though when you consider that the constant injury toll in the first grade meant the cup side couldn’t really settle week to week either.