Hi everyone!
And so we're down to the final four teams, and surprisingly it's not the top 4 playing off for the NRL Premiership.
The 7th placed Newcastle Knights continue their winning ways with a giant upset victory over the defending premiers, the Melbourne Storm 18-16 to move through to the 2nd Preliminary Final against the Minor Premiers, the Sydney Roosters.
In the 16 years since the NRL formed after the Superleague/ARL war, we still don't have back to back premiers crowned and we haven't seen it in Australian Rugby League since that great Brisbane Broncos side won back to back in 92-93 (not including the Broncos SL and NRL titles of 97-98).
In the other semi final, the Manly Seaeagles survived a late Cronulla Sharks comeback and a disallowed try to Captain Gallen to win 24-18 and book a place in the 1st Preliminary Final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Everything points to a Rabbitohs v Roosters Grand Final, seeing as both these sides have been impressive all season and they've been able to rest their bumps and bruises for a week to be the fresher sides for the Preliminary Finals.
But I guess in Rugby League, you can never say never, can you?
Manly have a wealth of finals experience and have been on this stage many times over the past decade, while the Newcastle Knights do have that Bennett factor that could help them find that extra something in a high stakes match such as this.
In our tipping competition, we have a very exciting finish coming up with the Top 3 final places still not confirmed. This weekend will be a huge weekend of tipping for the Top 5 tipsters involved. Check it all out below!
Here's what's happened in the second week of the Finals...
SHARKS DENIED AT THE DEATH TO SEND MANLY THROUGH TO PRELIMINARY SHOWDOWN v RABBITS
 |
| Gallen celebrates but is later denied a try which potentially could have sent the Semi Final into extra time. |
Running on empty for much of the second half, the Sea Eagles held on to set up a preliminary final against the Rabbitohs next Friday - with the grand final awaiting the winner.
They never trailed with Cherry-Evans the star scoring one try and setting up two others with precise kicks - but it was the intervention of Sharks hooker Morris which proved just as crucial - with his actions denying what would have been a match-levelling try to skipper Paul Gallen with seven minutes remaining.
Gallen charged over from 10 metres out to set the Sharks contingent in the disappointing 23,837-strong crowd into raptures, only for pocket referee Ashley Klein to spot Morris taking out Matt Ballin at marker.
Gallen was in disbelief as Shayne Hayne sent the decision up to the video referee.
"Are you serious? I beat five blokes," Gallen said.
The Sharks came again but it was appropriate that Cherry-Evans ended up with the ball to stop Cronulla's final charge, the absence of the injured Todd Carney hurting the underdogs as they struggled with their last-play options.
Still they were in the game until the last second against the wilting Sea Eagles, who face a monumental task backing up against the Rabbitohs in seven days.
Manly try-scorer Anthony Watmough lauded his side's effort to back up from a taxing 4-0 loss to the Roosters last week.
"The fans got us home," Watmough told the media
"Believe it or not, we were really tired from last week and it showed a bit tonight.
"The fans keep getting us there. It's good to have them and we can't thank them enough.
"We knew [the Sharks] were going to come hard, they were tit for tat there. They kept coming all night and it's a credit to our boys for turning up after a tough week last week."
Manly: 24 (A Watmough, K Foran, J Taufua, D Cherry-Evans tries; J Lyon 3/3 cons, 1/1 pens; D Cherry-Evans 0/1 cons)
Cronulla: 18 (M Gordon, A Fifita, J Wright tries; M Gordon 3/3 cons)
KNIGHTS SEAL PLACE IN PRELIMINARY FINAL WITH STUNNING UPSET OVER DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
 |
| Game set and match. Knights complete a stunning victory in Melbourne. |
Newcastle halted Melbourne's premiership defence with an 18-16 victory in their semi-final at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.
The Knights led 18-4 early in the second term and had to withstand a spirited Storm fight-back, with the hosts scoring two unanswered tries through Sisa Waga and Jesse Bromwich.
The visitors held on to a two-point lead for 13 minutes before booking a preliminary final berth against Sydney Roosters next Saturday.
The win extends Danny Buderus' career by at least one more week and the veteran Knights hooker could not have been be happier with the victory over the Storm.
"It's exciting, I just don't know what's coming up around the corner," Buderus told the media
"You go into a game thinking it's your last but your also having a hell of a ride with a great bunch of guys, who are having a dig for each other."
The Knights scraped into the top eight in seventh place but under seven-time premiership coach Wayne Bennett they look worthy contenders.
They repeatedly upset the Storm's rhythm with their speed and ferocity forcing uncharacteristic errors.
The first half was played with State of Origin-like intensity, with Newcastle coming out on top 12-4.
Buderus admits he and his team-mates are riding a wave of momentum, while committed to playing for their loyal supporters.
"We've got a whole region to play for," he said.
"I'm sure they will jump on the back of us this week and we're really going to enjoy the week with them, and build up into Saturday night against a red-hot Roosters team."
Newcastle: 18 (A Uate, C Houston, M Hilder tries; T Roberts 3/3 cons)
Melbourne: 16 (M Blair, S Waqa, J Bromwich tries; C Smith 2/ cons)
The Knights led 18-4 early in the second term and had to withstand a spirited Storm fight-back, with the hosts scoring two unanswered tries through Sisa Waga and Jesse Bromwich.
The visitors held on to a two-point lead for 13 minutes before booking a preliminary final berth against Sydney Roosters next Saturday.
The win extends Danny Buderus' career by at least one more week and the veteran Knights hooker could not have been be happier with the victory over the Storm.
"It's exciting, I just don't know what's coming up around the corner," Buderus told the media
"You go into a game thinking it's your last but your also having a hell of a ride with a great bunch of guys, who are having a dig for each other."
The Knights scraped into the top eight in seventh place but under seven-time premiership coach Wayne Bennett they look worthy contenders.
They repeatedly upset the Storm's rhythm with their speed and ferocity forcing uncharacteristic errors.
The first half was played with State of Origin-like intensity, with Newcastle coming out on top 12-4.
Buderus admits he and his team-mates are riding a wave of momentum, while committed to playing for their loyal supporters.
"We've got a whole region to play for," he said.
"I'm sure they will jump on the back of us this week and we're really going to enjoy the week with them, and build up into Saturday night against a red-hot Roosters team."
Newcastle: 18 (A Uate, C Houston, M Hilder tries; T Roberts 3/3 cons)
Melbourne: 16 (M Blair, S Waqa, J Bromwich tries; C Smith 2/ cons)
In one of the tightest finishes in Tipping history, the top 3 make up won't be officially decided until after the Grand Final is played.
In the battle for 1st prize and the Tipping Championship title, Scotsta (181) is still hanging on to a 1 point lead over Bronco2020 (180) but Bronco2020 will have some comfort in knowing that a 32 point greater margin will see him leapfrog Scotsta if he manages to draw even. Can Scotsta hang on to the spot he's held for most of the season or be pipped at the death?
Meanwhile in the battle for 3rd prize, Anu (176) made a costly error in week 02 final with his tips not saving allowing both Darren Scott (176) and Butch (175) to sniff an opportunity to overtake in the last two weeks. Butch also has a 60+ greater margin over Anu & Darren Scott which could work in his favour if he too manages to draw even.
Good luck to everyone in the last 2 weeks of the competition!
TO SEE WHO TIPPED WHAT - VISIT THE FOOTY TIPS 'WHO TIPPED WHAT' LINK (YOU MUST BE SIGNED IN TO VIEW).
2013 POOLS WATCH
Winner: Anu (176).
Winner: Rocketane (172).
WHERE ARE YOU? FOR THE LATEST POOLS TABLES PLACINGS - VISIT THE CURRENT POOLS TABLE PAGE
RANK
|
TIPPER
|
FINALS WEEK 2 SCORE
|
FINALS WEEK 2 MARGIN
|
TOTAL SCORE
|
TOTAL MARGIN
|
1
|
Scotsta
|
1
|
4
|
181
|
362
|
2
|
Bronco2020
|
1
|
4
|
180
|
330
|
3
|
Anu
|
0
|
6
|
176
|
353
|
4
|
Darren Scott
|
1
|
1
|
176
|
354
|
5
|
Butch
|
1
|
12
|
175
|
289
|
6
|
Link Abrams
|
1
|
6
|
173
|
323
|
7
|
Rocketane
|
1
|
8
|
172
|
323
|
8
|
Vee8head
|
1
|
10
|
172
|
344
|
9
|
Gorillagrip
|
0
|
12
|
172
|
350
|
10
|
devoid (2009 Champion)
|
1
|
4
|
170
|
326
|
11
|
Bruiser
|
2
|
4
|
168
|
355
|
12
|
Lainey
|
1
|
12
|
168
|
383
|
13
|
Feet Little
|
1
|
6
|
166
|
340
|
14
|
jall091 (2008 Champion)
|
1
|
2
|
166
|
349
|
15
|
taijay
|
1
|
9
|
165
|
354
|
16
|
Keith Wilton
|
1
|
6
|
164
|
342
|
17
|
Dean Campbell
|
1
|
4
|
163
|
316
|
18
|
Warmess
|
1
|
10
|
163
|
336
|
19
|
Heath Caldwell
|
1
|
10
|
162
|
293
|
20
|
Sincas
|
0
|
6
|
162
|
353
|
21
|
BEAR KNUCKLE
|
0
|
6
|
161
|
330
|
22
|
Harveysan
|
1
|
6
|
161
|
331
|
23
|
Kiwi_Misty
|
1
|
0
|
159
|
351
|
24
|
NZ Tiger (2004 Champion)
|
1
|
1
|
158
|
294
|
25
|
jared francois
|
1
|
2
|
158
|
331
|
26
|
Alfie
|
1
|
2
|
158
|
366
|
27
|
Richard McCourt (2007 Champion)
|
1
|
2
|
157
|
321
|
28
|
1YEARWONDERBARBA
|
0
|
6
|
157
|
462
|
29
|
tawa killers
|
1
|
0
|
155
|
385
|
30
|
Jessamine (2005 Champion)
|
1
|
4
|
154
|
385
|
31
|
BT Ross
|
1
|
9
|
154
|
389
|
32
|
Redv4me
|
0
|
8
|
153
|
361
|
33
|
Rob Killer (2006 Champion)
|
0
|
6
|
153
|
366
|
34
|
Bearass
|
1
|
11
|
153
|
368
|
35
|
killswitch
|
1
|
2
|
153
|
369
|
36
|
melz
|
0
|
12
|
153
|
372
|
37
|
steven bowers
|
1
|
10
|
152
|
361
|
38
|
Desire Wilton
|
1
|
7
|
151
|
335
|
39
|
The Neighbour
|
1
|
0
|
151
|
341
|
40
|
NO1QPRNZ
|
1
|
2
|
151
|
343
|
41
|
Simply The Bears
|
0
|
6
|
151
|
395
|
42
|
cmcnls+1day
|
0
|
6
|
151
|
398
|
43
|
ootz
|
1
|
44
|
151
|
423
|
44
|
sava4 (2012 Champion)
|
1
|
14
|
150
|
336
|
45
|
kelren
|
1
|
6
|
150
|
345
|
46
|
LOUNGIN SON
|
0
|
6
|
150
|
2844
|
47
|
tais1
|
0
|
6
|
149
|
327
|
48
|
mdt64
|
1
|
2
|
149
|
378
|
49
|
MrBusy
|
0
|
6
|
148
|
388
|
50
|
Stevefromoz (2009 Champion)
|
0
|
6
|
147
|
362
|
51
|
Pet Johnson (2010 Champion)
|
1
|
4
|
146
|
370
|
52
|
kazgriffo
|
1
|
0
|
145
|
369
|
53
|
Balmainadrian
|
1
|
2
|
145
|
394
|
54
|
Matthew Bowers (2011 Champion)
|
1
|
4
|
144
|
503
|
55
|
Craig Carnihan
|
2
|
4
|
143
|
367
|
56
|
trey waldron
|
1
|
4
|
142
|
395
|
57
|
boogs_nz
|
1
|
0
|
141
|
348
|
58
|
Gaddaffi
|
2
|
7
|
141
|
398
|
59
|
Yo Mama
|
1
|
4
|
140
|
347
|
60
|
TWiL Nate
|
2
|
10
|
138
|
308
|
61
|
Jojo Azrein
|
0
|
6
|
136
|
354
|
62
|
Rex Kwando
|
2
|
0
|
136
|
383
|
63
|
Kye Hudson
|
2
|
0
|
135
|
415
|
64
|
Staks
|
0
|
6
|
134
|
464
|
65
|
HUDS99
|
0
|
6
|
133
|
409
|
66
|
Tubasaurus
|
0
|
6
|
133
|
417
|
67
|
blo1
|
2
|
1
|
131
|
431
|
68
|
eviltwin
|
2
|
4
|
126
|
351
|
69
|
Team Upton
|
0
|
6
|
126
|
413
|
70
|
Bearette
|
1
|
5
|
117
|
407
|
71
|
rog the dodge
|
1
|
13
|
110
|
525
|
72
|
melros
|
0
|
6
|
98
|
368
|
73
|
tank (2004 Champion)
|
0
|
6
|
95
|
408
|
74
|
Kyle Thomson
|
0
|
6
|
80
|
377
|
75
|
haze13
|
0
|
6
|
76
|
529
|
76
|
Evra69
|
0
|
6
|
64
|
419
|
77
|
Wilshere Wonderland
|
0
|
6
|
62
|
407
|
78
|
Joejoez
|
0
|
6
|
49
|
411
|
That's it for this update!
Enjoy the 3rd week of FINALS FOOTY everyone and have a great weekend!
Mark
aka NZ Tiger
No comments:
Post a Comment