The NRL FInals Week 3 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

making it to the bid dance

Heres trying to be objective about these games

Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm

• Craig Bellamy's psy-ops operation appears to be backfiring with Storm players in Panthers gear almost gagging for a meme in response.
• James Graham advocating the "dark arts" against Nathan Cleary's finger and Jerome Luai's shoulder, but not advocating Melbournes forwards having added "bite" .
• Any side featuring, Munster, Grant and Hughes has a punchers chance but forwards set the platform and Melbourne have been forward lite.
• Big Ccrowd behind the mountain men  who have been there and done it before, against a Storm side that struggled at home against a depleted Roosters.

Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors

• Best of the two games and a Suncorp Sellout. Not all Queenslandahs as there are heaps of Kiwis in the Brisbane Area and the Wahs have captured the heart of a nation.
• Will Brisbane get stage fright, they are heavily tipped, are still Queensland's team, with bit of a media beat-up over contracts - Feeling confident ?.
• Unlike the Storm the Warriors comprehensively clobbered the Knights riding a wave of Mount Smart emotion. To some degree as no-one would really have thought at the start that the Warriors could be top 4 the pressures off
• Shaun Johnson suddenly looking like he is enjoying his footy against Adam Reynolds determined to oprove a point or two with the forwards evenly matched it might well come down to the halves and who turns up on the day.

Good luck with yourt tips and remember there are no mugs at this stage.

 

[Graham]

They are my tips too.

So far it’s just Barney who’s gone Storm and Warriors.

Stranger things have happened.

Still Panthers and Broncos have been the cream that has risen to the top this season. Chances are they’ll be the two that go through to the grand final. I hope I’m wrong and that Barney’s right.

[Farmduck]

As a Westie I think I'm required by law to tip Panthers. The other game? Two foreign countries play each other, who cares?

[Farmduck]

[Graham]

[Graham]

Two for the price of one! - see above

Edited September 22, 2023 by Graham

[Graham]

Craig Bellamy has made a couple of switches before kick-off with Harry Grant and Christian Welch dropping back to the bench and Bronson Garlick and Nelson Asofa-Solomona to start in their places.

[Graham]

Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes is back from a calf injury and Penrith’s Jarome Luai is a confirmed starter after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.

The Panthers also welcome back Izack Tago.

 

[Graham]

Panthers aiming to make four consecutive Grand Finals.

[Farmduck]

Uh-oh! To'o try'o

[Graham]

Wow, their first chance on the back of a penalty and Panthers score a beautifully worked try in the right corner.

To’o is the scorer.

4-0 Panthers, ktc

[Graham]

Another penalty conceded by Storm.

Another try for Panthers will it be?

[Graham]

Olam in at the left corner as he slips through a line that couldn’t stop him.

4-4

[Graham]

No goal

[Farmduck]

[Graham]

Late tackle on Cleary by NAS results in the third or fourth mass wrestle between the teams.

Penalty to Panthers. 
Goaled by Cleary

6-4 Panthers.

NAS rested, Harry Grant on.

[Futtocks]

Two'o for To'o!

[Farmduck]

to'o gets two'o

[Graham]

Storm making handling errors present Panthers with possession. 
They use it and a six more to score in the same corner, same man, To’o

[Graham]

10-4 ktc

[Graham]

Great conversion this time by Cleary

12-4

Storm’s errors are being punished heavily.

[Graham]

Panthers forwards getting on top.

[Futtocks]

Turuva scores - this is great stuff from the Panthers.

[Farmduck]

Turuva'o over'o

[Farmduck]

Just now, Futtocks said:

Turuva scores - this is great stuff from the Panthers.

Are you from the future?