Team list Tuesday- Week 3: Grand Final Qualifier - Parra v Cowboys discussion thread

[Chipmunk]

This season, unlike the previous three seasons at least, when we've been challenged, we've met that challenge almost every time.
- We've come up against Premiership contenders and beat them (Panthers and Storm twice, Roosters once). On three of those occasions they were never in the contest.
- We always needed to finish in the Top 4, and we went to Melbourne and needed the win to secure 4th spot and we won.
- We've come to the second week of the Finals and won, after failing 4 times in the last 5 years.
- We've beaten the Raiders in Canberra earlier in the year, a place we hadn't won for something like 15 years.
- When we've lost and come under fire for our performance, we've responded with a good win the next week.
- Sure we've lost random games against two teams running last at the time, but we've won every game we had to win to get us into the Top 4.

Going to Townsville to play the Cowboys, a ground we have a similar record to the Raiders in Canberra, is just another challenge. Hopefully we're good enough to meet the challenge and get the win.

 

[strider]

Well I've watched all of their wins on TV and will be watching the TV again next week.

well we can't lose

 

[strider]

I am 99% right. I get that it would be annoying.

the problem is you actually genuinely believe this

 

[Gronk]

the problem is you actually genuinely believe this

You’ve jumped into the middle of gronk / hindy111 banter.

Don’t be all sandy vag about it mate.

 

[hindy111]

This is the best season in 13yrs. Lets all spread our love to each other and be kind.

 

[Gronk]

This is the best season in 13yrs. Lets all spread our love to each other and be kind.

Im not even scared about next week. Weird.

 

[Jake the snake]

Who will replace Opacic?

 

[emjaycee]

This season, unlike the previous three seasons at least, when we've been challenged, we've met that challenge almost every time.
- We've come up against Premiership contenders and beat them (Panthers and Storm twice, Roosters once). On three of those occasions they were never in the contest.
- We always needed to finish in the Top 4, and we went to Melbourne and needed the win to secure 4th spot and we won.
- We've come to the second week of the Finals and won, after failing 4 times in the last 5 years.
- We've beaten the Raiders in Canberra earlier in the year, a place we hadn't won for something like 15 years.
- When we've lost and come under fire for our performance, we've responded with a good win the next week.
- Sure we've lost random games against two teams running last at the time, but we've won every game we had to win to get us into the Top 4.

Going to Townsville to play the Cowboys, a ground we have a similar record to the Raiders in Canberra, is just another challenge. Hopefully we're good enough to meet the challenge and get the win.

Just a couple of minor corrections mate.
1. We played Melbourne at CommBank for the win to secure the top 4 (2 weeks ago) not in Melbourne.
2. We havent yet played at the new Cowboys stadium which opened in 2020 as we played them at Bankwest in 2020, Gold Coast in 2021 and Darwin this year.

 

[DaveMc]

Just a couple of minor corrections mate.
1. We played Melbourne at CommBank for the win to secure the top 4 (2 weeks ago) not in Melbourne.
2. We havent yet played at the new Cowboys stadium which opened in 2020 as we played them at Bankwest in 2020, Gold Coast in 2021 and Darwin this year.

We also beat Canberra in Canberra last year too, though I think that was our first win there for 15 years or something.

 

[Chipmunk]

We also beat Canberra in Canberra last year too, though I think that was our first win there for 15 years or something.

Very true, I had forgotten about that. The Faids fell apart after that game, it was a great win.

 

[IFR33K]

Who will replace Opacic?

Marata to centre brown back in.

 

[DaveMc]

Very true, I had forgotten about that. The Faids fell apart after that game, it was a great win.

Yep, spot on. They kinda imploded, I think it was pretty soon after that game when George Williams asked to leave.

 

[the phantom menace]

Do we have have realistic chance and why?

We do have a chance... but after the dust settles on the Raiders thrashing, we have to acknowledge Cowboys are a different prospect all together.

In the Cowboys' favour... they finsihed above us on the ladder, they defeated us quite well in our only meeting this season, they will be fresher after the longer lead in time, and they will have home ground/town advantage.

We will go into the match as underdogs (deservedly), but if Arthur can get the team pumped like they were for last night, then we'll likely try our standard game plan of giving it to them up front, laying a platform early and trying some skill to spin some points on the back of that, before the big guys first start to get tired around 25-30mins in.

 

[the phantom menace]

Oh yes, and if Oppa is out, we're looking fragile in wider D... we've been shit in those parts of the season where he wasn't selected.

As others have said, we need Nuikore's defence at centre, and need someone to start the first 20mins in middle before Matterson comes on. Perfect role for the return of Nathan Brown, or a change of use for Makatoa (with Brown on the bench in Makatoa's spot).

Swap Jake Arthur out for Cartwright as the final bench spot, and 1-17 is then as good as it can be.

 

[Gronk]

Who will replace Opacic?

Riccio on MMM reckons he pulled up OK.

Could be smoke and mirrors by BA.

 

[Jake the snake]

Riccio on MMM reckons he pulled up OK.

Could be smoke and mirrors by BA.

Hammy is 2-3 weeks. I can’t see it happening def smoke and mirrors. Would we give Cini a shot ?

 

[the phantom menace]

Cows flogged us when we played this year …. What went wrong for us and how do we turn it around ?

I missed that game and didn’t go back and watch cause the score line ….

We had 3 "back ups" in our starting backline (who won't get near the top 17 this time), and Nuikore wasn't playing either... turnstiles and flood gates - and an inability to score any points.

 

[crocodile]

A bit of revenge might be in order for 2005 ?
They got you in the prelim at Homebush , a life time ago i know but history has funny ways of being re lived

More recently they stopped you again at Homebush in 2017 week 2 too when you were on a bit of a run

Going up to their patch & knocking them out in front of their people would be a dish served cold..

A lifetime ago. Seems just like a week ago. Still burns.

 

[the phantom menace]

^ If Coach Arthur goes with this same Jake starting option to fill Oppa's possible backline vacancy, I think I'll kick the television even before kick off!

 

[IFR33K]

It’ll be insane to think Ba will start ja at 6 and move brown to centre. Surely he won’t be that silly.