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So, after 26 long weeks, it has come down to this, eh? They've
been circling each other like piranhas for months now, one or
two sides gaining momentum, and then falling off the pace as if
the competition is a greasy pole. In the final week of the regular
season, it was a lottery where teams would end up. Maybe in the
eight. Maybe top four. Maybe minor premiers. Maybe with the wooden
spoon. But now that the NRL final series is upon us in this most
volatile, unpredictable of seasons, are we about to suffer the
biggest anti-climax since the millennium bug?
Yep.
You do not have to be Einstein - or mastercoach Warren Ryan -
to realise this: a grand final between St George Illawarra and
Parramatta awaits us in a month's time. It is that simple. The
catch cry of this NRL season has been the closeness of the games;
that it's hard to tell who will win on the day. Ask any office
tipster and they will tell you. Ask the ones who were two points
ahead with three rounds to play. There have been no givens this
season, testament to a strictly enforced salary cap that has spread
the talent across the teams like never before. Now if only the
NRL would employ a draft. Correction: if only the Players' Association
would allow the NRL to employ a draft. The bookies would have
a field day.
But now that we're at the business end of the season, it all looks
like being a procession. You sense that outside of the Dragons
and Eels, the rest are making up the numbers. The Eels play Manly
on Sunday - they'll win by 30. The Dragons play the Sharks on
Saturday night at WIN Stadium - they'll declare before half-time.
That leaves the Broncos, Wests Tigers, Storm and Cowboys. Hands
up if you think any of those sides can push the Dragons and Eels
later in this finals series? Anyone? ANYONE? Thought so. The Broncos
are busted, the Tigers are too small, the Storm's best player
- Billy Slater - is in an almighty form slump and the Cowboys
are bound to score three tries in five minutes before conceding
four straight after.
It is incredibly ironic for a season when the final make-up of
the top eight went down to the last few minutes of play on Sunday.
Now it all seems headed towards an inevitable conclusion. Then
again, in this wackiest of seasons, it wouldn't surprise if Manly
and the Sharks ended up squaring off in the decider.
What do you think? Click your way to
our Comebacks
page and tell us. You could win a Shimano 2000 Fishing
Reel worth $80.00
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