Finals Week 2 Review
We had two blowout score lines and are now down to the best four teams. Let’s start with the matches.
Eels v Raiders
The Eels march into their first Preliminary Final since 2009. All Eels supporters will remember that GF against the “Signed two contracts” Storm.
The Eels led 22 – 4 at halftime and ran out 40 – 4 winners. Their tries were outstanding and sets up an awesome match against the Cowboys in Cowboy Town.
Lay Down Sally Moses
Players milking penalties irks me. We saw a lot of them in the spiteful Roosters v Rabbitohs match last week.
Mitchell Moses, fresh from a game ending concussion last week, stayed down after a big hit. Was he looking to milk a penalty? Was he still suffering from the aftereffects of last week?
All I know, is he wasn’t happy to go off for an HIA but, I wouldn’t be staying down if I was him considering the previous week and any questions on integrity.
I have been saying all year in my rants if you stay down, then for your own welfare, you are off for 15 minutes for an HIA or out of the game.
Here is one of my many rants about this…
The Eels have the form, the Cows the home ground support.
This is THE difficult match to tip this round especially taking in account the Eels win when you don’t tip them and lose when you do. The Cows also let in 30 points in their last grasp win against the Sharks which is not up to finals standards.
I am happy for either team to make the GF but will cheer on the Eels for my long suffering Parra supporter friends.
I am not saying I will tip them.
Rabbitohs v Sharks
In contrast, this game was a mistake-athon. Completion rates were sub 70% which is not good enough to compete against a fresh Panthers team. The Bunnies were also helped by a couple soft tries in the first half. Having said that, they also scored some exciting tries.
The Sharkies, despite finishing 2nd, showed they don’t have the firepower to compete against the top teams. As they have shown all season. Sorry Sharkies fans, success was all down to a favourable draw.
The Rabbitohs have injury and suspension concerns and the Panthers are in the box seat to make their 3rd consecutive GF.
But, it only takes one game to change the course of history. I will be cheering on my Souths supporter friends.
Again, I am not saying I will tip them.
The Leaders
The field is catching up with MLC. Four Tipsters are one point behind, eight have a better differential. The Finals Series is brutal, and you don’t have many opportunities.
Three games to go. Who can/will catch MLC?
Good luck to your team and your tipping this week.
-Rob
