The NRL Finals Round 1 Thread

[Graham]

Dearden seals it with a try at the end.

[Farmduck]

78: Dearden try

after Leo Thompson got 2 and a half minutes in the bin

[Graham]

Holmes goal

FULL TIME

Cowboys 28 - 16 Knights

[Farmduck]

FT:   Cowboys  28  Newcastle  16

[Graham]

Cowboys march on, Knights bow out.

Edited September 14, 2024 by Graham

[Futtocks]

A good contest where the scores were close for most of the game.

[DoubleD]

The eliminator unsurprisingly was the best game of the round so far. The Knights will be kicking themselves as it was there for the taking. Gagai bombed it. 

Luki is an impressive player and Ponga is just all class. Would’ve liked to have seen the Knights progress but the Cowboys just have a bit more game breaking quality. Newcastle halves are just ordinary. Crossland is a better rake

[Anita Bath]

7 hours ago, Futtocks said:

A good contest where the scores were close for most of the game.

Yes much more competitive than the first two but we really could do with a nailbiter in the final game. AFL had too magnificent contests this weekend, though the melbourne mafia wouldnt like it. More Melbourne teams left in NRL playoffs than in AFL! And even the second tier VFL has Gold Coast based  Southport in next weeks final. Expect to hear bleating.

[DavidM]

4 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Newcastle halves are just ordinary.

Sums up their biggest problem this year. They need Ponga on the park and he basically plays fullback and half . None of them are really any good and theyve tried everyone in every formula .  Bit rough that Ponga did so much then didn’t get that key moment right . They’d be totally average without him ,  I don’t think they’re much at all tbh exempting him 

Edited September 14, 2024 by DavidM

[DavidM]

Melbourne and Penrith still look on a collision course . I feel a bit sorry for Hynes he looks a bit of a fragile character . See how he shapes up next week 

[DoubleD]

21 minutes ago, DavidM said:

Melbourne and Penrith still look on a collision course . I feel a bit sorry for Hynes he looks a bit of a fragile character . See how he shapes up next week 

Agreed

[DoubleD]

25 minutes ago, DavidM said:

Sums up their biggest problem this year. They need Ponga on the park and he basically plays fullback and half . None of them are really any good and theyve tried everyone in every formula .  Bit rough that Ponga did so much then didn’t get that key moment right . They’d be totally average without him ,  I don’t think they’re much at all tbh exempting him 

I put more blame on Gagai on that error. It was a little low but he should’ve still taken it. 

Newcastle have some good players other than Ponga, just not in the spine. Their props are quite hit and miss as well

[DavidM]

By the way I think Feldt is a good signing for Saints . And he’ll pass on a lot to the younger players there

[Graham]

Last game of Finals Wk 1

UK kick off time

Aussie time AEST

Edited September 15, 2024 by Graham

[StandOffHalf]

Mile forward but brings Manly back to 16-12 down.

The Manly forwards haven't really got going. They'll be glad to go in as they are.

[StandOffHalf]

Did somebody say ''anchor''? 

[The Future is League]

13 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Yes much more competitive than the first two but we really could do with a nailbiter in the final game. AFL had too magnificent contests this weekend, though the melbourne mafia wouldnt like it. More Melbourne teams left in NRL playoffs than in AFL! And even the second tier VFL has Gold Coast based  Southport in next weeks final. Expect to hear bleating.

I did notice that the AFL team GWS got knocked out so that's another $30 million down the swany. They really are a huge black hole for AFL house

Edited September 15, 2024 by The Future is League

[Graham]

Full Time

Bulldogs 22 - 24

Score Summary

J. Kiraz 7, V. Kikau 19, S. Crichton 24, J. Skelton 47	Tries	T. Talau 15, E. Bullemor 37, D. Cherry-Evans 56, T. Koula 72
M. Burton 21, M. Burton 26, M. Burton 48	Conversions	R. Garrick 16, R. Garrick 38, R. Garrick 58, R. Garrick 73

[Graham]

The winning points:
Tolu Koula levelled the score with a staggering effort, burning the Bulldogs' defence and turning opponents inside out to score from 40 metres out.

The goal was kicked successfully.
 

A crowd of 50, 704 was on hand at Accor Stadium.

Edited September 15, 2024 by Graham

[Anita Bath]

A real nailbiter in front of a record crowd for 1st week of playoffs in NRL era

[Anita Bath]

38 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

I did notice that the AFL team GWS got knocked out so that's another $30 million down the swany. They really are a huge black hole for AFL house

Maybe from a financial point of view but not in terms of being a competitive team who regularly make, and some years progress in the play offs. 

[Futtocks]

Just finished watching Canterbury/Manly on catch-up, as I fancied a lie-in. Really enjoyed it.

Not sure I can see Manly as Grand Finalists, considering the other contenders, but you've got to be in it to win it and they still are.

Edited September 15, 2024 by Futtocks

[The Future is League]

10 hours ago, Graham said:

The winning points:
Tolu Koula levelled the score with a staggering effort, burning the Bulldogs' defence and turning opponents inside out to score from 40 metres out.

The goal was kicked successfully.
 

A crowd of 50, 704 was on hand at Accor Stadium.

I'm disappointed that the Bulldogs lost, as I'm a big fan of Phil Gould despite his own huge ego.

[DavidM]

Super game , I wanted Manly to win mainly because I wanted Reed Mahoney to lose . Hes such a good wind up merchant he winds me up . I also waited 80 minutes for him to run the ball in so the opposition could get some back but alas he never did 

[Spotty Herbert]

On 12/09/2024 at 21:16, Spotty Herbert said:

I agree with everything except the view that Manly will beat the Dogs. Turbo has 2 dodgy shoulders to go with his iffy hamstrings and without him at full gas the Sea Eagles are only half the team they could be. Plus, they lack grunt up front and I can't back any team in the finals that is coached by Anthony Siebold.

Shows how much I know. Kudos to @THE RED ROOSTER