The Knights were the biggest winners over the weekend only being matched by the high-flying Roosters back on Anzac Day.
The Knights rolled a struggling Titans side 30-6 on home soil this afternoon.
Anzac Day kicked off with a very strong display from the Roosters who have replaced the Bulldogs in the NRL Top 4 from last year, the others being Storm, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles. The Dragons have had the wood on the Roosters in recent times when their traditional Anzac game was held but it was totally reversed this year with a 34-10 victory. It also ended The field goal streak of Jamie Soward who, incidentally, looks so much better in head gear.
The Storm fought off a very strong Warriors side in Melbourne later that night and had to come from behind to beat the New Zealanders 28-18 and maintain their unbeaten run this year. Are they really that good or is that just perception? When a team is considered brilliant do people question them or accept them? Billy Slater is a brilliant player, does that mean he wouldn't deliberately use his foot in the face of an opponent to fend them off? Cooper Cronk is also a great player, does that mean he never throws a forward pass? There is a murmur that the Melbourne Storm are a protected species, my question is that perhaps no one questions them because they perceive them as simply too good to ever be at fault. Your thoughts?
The round continued Friday with a brilliant display by the Rabbitohs in a big game that saw them down the highly fancied Manly team 20-12. They deserved the win as they out played the Sea Eagles, but it seemed pretty clear that Manly were more interested in damaging the players than playing football.
Greg Inglis was targeted all night and was more than 'roughed up' by Manly. It prompted me to ask, were they trying to get him out of the game with an injury. Now that it is becoming clear that Referees are not prepared to send off or sin bin players for obvious breaches, are we starting to see the re-emergence of the hired goon? We hear today that the NRL are going to look into using the sin bin for repeated offences. Are you telling me that it doesn't already exist? If that's the case then what a pathetic mess the NRL has gotten itself into, and where is the Players Association with occupational health and safety? Surely we are not going to wait and see how many spear tackles Greg Inglis can take before his spine breaks or worse? Richie Fa'aoso should not have remained on the field after doing the same thing on the same person twice, and if there is nothing in the rule book that can allow that to happen then shame on the NRL. If there is a rule that can allow this then shame on the Referees and Daniel Anderson. Then there's Steve Matai who has been suspended 10 times already for high tackles and is up on another charge this week. He somehow gets allowed to keep playing in our competition after being guilty and continuing to administer this illegal type of football. There should not only be suspensions but there needs to be greater consequences and rehabilitation for repeat offenders because if they continue to perform on this scale they should not be allowed in our game. What is it going to take? This is not about justice, this is about safety!
In other games, Cowboys downed the Raiders 30-12, and the Broncos downed the Tigers 20-10 in a game that looks set to be far more costly for the Tigers with season ending injuries for two of their players. Not great considering existing injuries as well.
Lastly, I am extremely pleased to report that the Bulldogs are back in the winners circle again finally after a fairly comprehensive 24-8 victory over the Cronulla Sharks.
It was interesting to hear just how ridiculously inaccurate the Channel 9 commentators were on this game, continually praising the sharks performance and constantly criticising that of the Bulldogs and foreseeing a apocalyptic comeback in the second half constantly.
But what the Channel 9 crew may not have known was that the Bulldogs performance taking place was the most dynamic and energetic effort they have put in all year. They must have read my blog of course as I spelt out everything that needed to happen to improve the side and it was all implemented.
(ha ha) :-)
Barba stopped throwing his 30 metre passes to Perret, Ennis stopped pleading for penalties in the play-the-ball and hence they were done at lightning speed gaining huge yards. Williams was not kept on the field for 80 minutes and Pritchard was in the starting line up again.
I have been extremely critical of Tony Williams and it was not without reason, we bought a lame duck. But it was very pleasing to finally see him being more proactive out there today and showing some good strength. He is not just a decoy anymore and seems to be starting to do his bit. He just needs to be a little more proactive about keeping onside. Not because he was the only one off-side, but because he gets noticed more than the others for good reasons.
It might have been an ugly effort but the win was created in the first half and forged in the second. The half time scoreline of 12-2 saw a 18/20 completion rate to 12/19 of the Sharks and only 2 errors to the Sharks 11. These errors were often bombed tries for the sharks and so everyone naturally assumed that they were the better team and should be miles in front. But in games you have to remember if the try is not scored it does not count and coming close does not make you the better team. It is the actual scoring that makes you the better team.
The game also brought up my pet hate in football in regards to penalties - Taking a penalty shot for goal or not. I believe one hundred per cent that you should NEVER take the two points unless it's within the last 10-15 minutes of the game, or half, and will serve a significant or purposeful gain. Taking a sure two points instead of going for the try does nothing for a team's strength and status in a game. It's not an advantage, its a consolation. It tells the opposition that you don't think you will score with 6 tackles from that spot, and if its within range of a kick, then that's usually 6 tackles in a very good position. Not only that, it then sends you back down to your half from a kick off with only 33% of the possible score you may have gotten by backing your self to do what the aim of the game is - score a try. Sure, you may not score the try if you go for it, but the possibilities that can stem from that far outweigh that of the kick for goal. It tells the opposition you intend on breaking them. Good football begins and ends upstairs in your mind and so much depends on conquering the spirit of your opposition.
Anyway, the Sharks have a battle this year, we all know that and no one wants to kick a team when they are down. There's a lot of good players on that field and hopefully the club can hold it together over the remainder of the season.
Just the Western derby to go tomorrow between Panthers and the Eels in a game only their fans probably give a stuff about :-)
That's my NRL review for this week. See you at ANZ on Friday night.
J G S
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