The Road to the Finals

[jamaman]

Go Benji!

 

[vvvrulz]

Leading 20-6 with 15 minutes left.
Cheers St Merge!!

 

[Diesel]

Dragons helping the Warriors cause tonight

24-12

 

[WithTheDawn]

We hold onto 8th place for the end of the round! This is the first time we have ended a round inside the top 8 since around halfway through 2012 (over 2 years ago). It has been far too long...nice feeling though, we control our own fate from here.

 

[jamaman]

could finish 7th end next round.. pre eels

 

[sup42]

Yep and the Bye has come at a good time.

We need to work out our defence again and we need to play a bit tighter.

Being in the eight for two weeks is humble stuff but gee three wins off top spot and the massive boost that would bring mentally.

The Eels game should draw the biggest crowd of the season.

Well done Mcfadden for making your first top eight.

 

[Rich102]

Yes!!!!

 

[Izz]

The Dragons looked pretty clinical last night, i thought, apart from down the Beale/Runcimann edge.

 

[sup42]

The Dragons looked pretty clinical last night, i thought, apart from down the Beale/Runcimann edge.

Yes.
I'm glad we don't play them again....their dummy half running with their light speedy backs and forwards troubles us like they troubled Melbourne last night....and as you say they are looking very tidy again.


The tables crazy. They have gone from being unlikely to cause any upsets to within one win of threatening us.

The cows look trouble again. Tigers haven't gone away completely , Knights are looking a lot of trouble too.....everyone is in the same desperation boat now to make the finals.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

I cant see any of the bottom 5 teams making a run and out of the top 8 I see the Bronx and possibly Tigers slippingout and missing the finals, Us and Eels to complement the others in the 8 Storm to miss out as well

 

[Campion]

i reckon of all finals contenders hovering at the risk point, Tigers are the least deserving/threatening team of the bunch. Them along with Broncos, Warriors, Storm, Eels, Cowboys vying for the 6, 7 and 8 spots. Don't rate the Dragons a show despite being on par with Cowboys points-wise.

 

[Izz]

I can see the Storm missing out. Apart from a couple blowouts, they've looked consistently ordinary this season.

Also think the Eels will continue their fade.

 

[reykaine]

cant see how tigers will recover from Tedesco loss.
Cowboys without Tate and Scott will struggle.
Knights have lost a few games they should have won and should be higher.
The only really poor team this year is Canberra. Wouldn't be surprised if Stuart is sacked before the end of the year.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

stuart is on a 7 year 7 million contract so hes going no where

 

[sup42]

Read all the posts about who is going to do wot.....

The weird thing is any one of us could be right in our predictions this year no matter how outlandish.

 

[reykaine]

stuart is on a 7 year 7 million contract so hes going no where

Heh, That means nothing. Look at Bluey and Elliot. If performances aren't up to scratch, Coach gets the bullet. They don't pay out the 7 million as a good bye present unless he's got a really good and from Canberras perspective, stupid contract. Surely.

 

[Izz]

Look how long Canberra stuck with Furner before Sticky...

 

[reykaine]

Look how long Canberra stuck with Furner before Sticky...

yeh, well that's true, but wasn't his father Don a bigwig there and previously got them premierships with Sheen?

 

[Izz]

yeh, well that's true, but wasn't his father Don a bigwig there and previously got them premierships with Sheen?

Their whole board/ownership is a cesspool of inbreeding and self-interest.

 

[TheDMC]

Dare I say it, but we are in with a shot to be minor premiers.
Or top 4.
Or finish as low as 13th.
It's that congested.

Usually by now (round 17) the no 1 team is almost unreachable by the 8th team.

Points gap between 1st and 8th - Round 17 last 5 years

2014 - 4 pt spread (top 10 teams)
2013 - 12 pt spread
2012 - 8 pt spread
2011 - 10 pt spread
2010 - 6 pt spread

I didn't think we were a realistic chance of making the top 4 as of last week, despite our form.

But with other results: Broncos and Roosters being beaten by the mighty Sharks, dragons overcoming Storm and Cowboys, Eels losing to Newcastle plus us beating high flying Panthers.

Plus quite a reasonable run of games to end the season.

And that under MacFadden a 2012 late season capitulation seems unlikely, I feel me have a shot.

Anyway, whatever happens, at the moment it feels bloody good that despite a season of some considerable lows, we are in the running for the minor premiership.

Righteo, back to reality...