15 replies to this topic

[G Las D]

Well who do you reckon is going to be 2012 Premiers?

Form has been up and down for some top 8 teams but surely some have caught your eye as likely to at least get to the GF or thereabouts?

Those prepared to bet money are faced with the bookies arranging the odds assuming the following as favouties:

1 Manly
2 Bulldogs
3 Melbourne
4 Rabbitohs

Souths being there surprises me. They've gone off the boil.

[Bourbon Rat]

Still think the Dogs are the team to beat,as for the bunnies ...................
They have a number of "We perform better in major games" type players in their squad - The main one being G.I.
If the final wash up after Rnd 26 is.
Bulldogs
Storm
SeaEagles
Rabbitohs

Then Canterbury will advance to week Three - Storm v Manly ??????????? Tough call but Wolfman is a telling loss.
North Queensland are the dark horse in the mix. IF Thurston & Bowen continue to fire.

Edited by Bourbon Rat, 21 August 2012 - 07:13 AM.

[G Las D]

For Rabbitohs and Cowboys it depends which team turns up on the day.
Either could go all the way, but I wouldn't put money on them.
Cowboys' last couple of results give them a platform.
All the same they did lose at home to Manly in R22 (6- and lost away at Bulldogs in R21 (32-18).

[Stoney100]

I said about a month ago that I had a felling for the Rabbitohs this year and even after a couple of bad results I stand by it.

I agree about depends what team turns up on the day - but if it is the day there are like the Warriors and they will rip you a new one.

They will finish in the top four which may help - Also Finals football well that is something else and I believe that they have big time players that will rise to the occasion and with the Eels and Dragons in the next two week - who are out of it they may gain the platform going into the finals.

I still believe anyway

[Bourbon Rat]

Thought I'd throw this up as a reminder of the new finals structure

[G Las D]

For comparison here's the previous system:

Week 1

• 4th Qualifying Final: 1st vs 8th
• 3rd Qualifying Final: 2nd vs 7th
• 2nd Qualifying Final: 3rd vs 6th
• 1st Qualifying Final: 4th vs 5th

The organisation of the rest of the finals series is dependent upon whether teams won or lost in week 1 and their final ranking on the ladder before the finals. The two lowest-ranked losers are eliminated from the finals, whilst the two highest-ranked winners progress straight to Week 3.
Week 2

• 1st Semi Final: 4th highest-ranked winner vs 2nd highest-ranked loser
• 2nd Semi Final: 3rd highest-ranked winner vs 1st highest-ranked loser

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week 3.
Week 3

• 1st Preliminary Final: 1st highest-ranked winner (from Week 1) vs winner of 1st Semi Final
• 2nd Preliminary Final: 2nd highest-ranked winner (from Week 1) vs winner of 2nd Semi Final

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week Four.
Week 4

• Grand Final: winner of 1st Preliminary Final vs winner of 2nd Preliminary Final

So if I read the new system properly The way last years 6th place finishers (and Grand Finalists) Warriors lost to Broncos (3rd) by a big margin in Week 1 (yet Warriors stayed in the finals as teams 7 and 8 both lost) wouldn't happen this time.
From BR's diagram 6 plays 7 and only the winner progresses. So in principle 6 gets lower opposition in Wk1 than previously but if they were to lose in R1 they'd be out.

Edited by G Las D, 23 August 2012 - 08:23 AM.

[R L Winger]

Doggies me thinks........Want in order Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Sharks.

[Stoney100]

Doggies me thinks........Want in order Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Sharks.

It's funny but that big defeat against the Raiders may just help the Doggies make them aware of the fact that they can not turn off for any match.

Strangely Radiers have hit form and looked good on Friday - would say they have the most momentum (like the Warriors last year) as they were all but dead re. finals football a month+ ago- but can not see them winning it at all.

I was wrong Rabbitohs have Eels and Knights last two matches - and they have just totally blitzed the Eels today as I thought - so don't write them off.

Edited by Stoney100, 26 August 2012 - 07:15 AM.

[Wiltshire Rhino]

I want the Bunnies to win but I think the Doggies will do it.

[G Las D]

The Round 25 results give reasonable hope to more teams than before it started.
Raiders look to be doing what Warriors did last year - finding their form at the right time.
Dogs have shown they can be beaten.
Manly looked ordinary in the second half against Broncos.
Cowboys look good but lost to Manly in R22

Edited by G Las D, 26 August 2012 - 06:58 PM.

[The Future is League]

I can't look seriously past Canterbury Bulldogs for the premiers.

[Johnoco]

Melbourne looking nervous against Cronulla. Lots of errors. Just scored though 4-0

[G Las D]

Handling and completion rate poor from Storm.
They trail at half time to a Sharks team gifted possession regularly.
Storm lacking composure.

[Johnoco]

Wow. What a finish!

Tough on Cronulla

[G Las D]

Tough on Storm fans too! Nurse, hand out the tranquillizers please.

[R L Winger]

I rate them this way

1 Bulldogs...Grand Final Winner
2 Sea Eagles...Grand Final Loser
3 Melbourne
4 Rabbitohs