Loudstrat
Coach
- Messages
- 15,224
For mine - it's down to three.
Saints as minor premiers - and being so good against Parra on Friday are one. However all year I have wondered about their mongrel factor - something that was partly dispelled on Friday. If they are down by 8 with 12 to go, can they do it? I'm not so sure - being a likeable club who deserves success never helped Norths.
Canterbury have the mongrel, but don't have Noddy, and let the MP slip at the hands of enthusiasm. They need to beat Newcastle - who throw the ball around like Wests. If they do, Noddy's in for the prelim final. If not, would you back them in week 2 against Parra/Brisbane/Melbourne/Manly? I'm not so sure.
Manly are near full strength at the right time, and with Snake back flogged a genuine contender. I think they are my favorites if I was a betting man, because they have the flair and the mongrel. Their only downside is that they will have to play the best month of footy they have played all year, but maybe they will have their best side too.
Forget the rest.
The Titans haven't got the mongrel. Melbourne are lacking something and they have lost games to other finallists in recent months. Brisbane - lol. With their starting 6 training in Belmore, they haven't got the firepower to match the top sides.
Parra and Newy have a shot at the prelim finals, but that's best case scenario. Full strength Parra have a chance to reverse Friday's result and run back into some sort of form. Newcastle concentrating can beat a Noddyless Canterbury and advance a week. That means teams 4-6 are vulnerable next weekend - Manly, Melbourne and Brisbane. If Melbourne beat Manly at home (they didn't a few weeks ago) the comp will be decided between Saints and the Dogs.
But I still think Manly are most likely.
Saints as minor premiers - and being so good against Parra on Friday are one. However all year I have wondered about their mongrel factor - something that was partly dispelled on Friday. If they are down by 8 with 12 to go, can they do it? I'm not so sure - being a likeable club who deserves success never helped Norths.
Canterbury have the mongrel, but don't have Noddy, and let the MP slip at the hands of enthusiasm. They need to beat Newcastle - who throw the ball around like Wests. If they do, Noddy's in for the prelim final. If not, would you back them in week 2 against Parra/Brisbane/Melbourne/Manly? I'm not so sure.
Manly are near full strength at the right time, and with Snake back flogged a genuine contender. I think they are my favorites if I was a betting man, because they have the flair and the mongrel. Their only downside is that they will have to play the best month of footy they have played all year, but maybe they will have their best side too.
Forget the rest.
The Titans haven't got the mongrel. Melbourne are lacking something and they have lost games to other finallists in recent months. Brisbane - lol. With their starting 6 training in Belmore, they haven't got the firepower to match the top sides.
Parra and Newy have a shot at the prelim finals, but that's best case scenario. Full strength Parra have a chance to reverse Friday's result and run back into some sort of form. Newcastle concentrating can beat a Noddyless Canterbury and advance a week. That means teams 4-6 are vulnerable next weekend - Manly, Melbourne and Brisbane. If Melbourne beat Manly at home (they didn't a few weeks ago) the comp will be decided between Saints and the Dogs.
But I still think Manly are most likely.
