From The Couch: Finals Week 2
From The Couch: Finals Week 2
Rampaging Roosters Run Out of Puff: The Sydney Roosters are far from done. As long as Trent Robinson is at the helm, the Roosters will be contending or preparing to contend. But this run is over. After creating history by winning back-to-back premierships last year, a tilt at a third was just too hard. Despite being title favourites as recently as three weeks ago, the Chooks are now out and the first streak in a generation is over.
There were legitimate reasons. For starters, going back-to-back is hard. Winning three straight is virtually impossible. The mental toll is difficult. There was also a physical price. The Roosters rarely seemed healthy all year. The loss of Victor Radley hurt immensely while there were other serious long-term injuries. Boyd Cordner has head issues all season. Hooker was a major worry. The list went on-and-on.
There were other reasons. The loss of Cooper Cronk could not be underestimated. The club went all-in on Kyle Flanagan to be the replacement. Flanagan will do well to keep the jumper next season. He went missing in the big moments. The decline of Jake Friend has been huge. Cordner is clearly not in the club’s best backrow these days and his future must come under doubt.
Like them or hate them – most abide by the latter – the Roosters have been a joy to watch under Trent Robinson, particularly after Cooper Cronk arrived. They play a brilliant brand of football and have some genuine footballers in their team. They will be a force again next year. We should take a moment to reflect on what they have achieved though because winning consecutive titles truly is some feet.
Bulldogs Boardroom Coup Provides Little Hope: Lynne Anderson last week fell on her sword when it became apparent that her and two other directors were about to be ousted at an Extraordinary General Meeting. It was a sad but inevitable end for the daughter of arguably Canterbury’s most important ever figure. Anderson swept to power a few years back amid much support and plenty of promises but her and her cadre could just get nothing going. They were playing checkers when the rest of the game was playing chess. As widely respected as Anderson is, as much as her family has contributed to the club and as driven as well-meaning as her intentions were, the club is stunningly in a worse situation than it was three years ago. It is a complete menagerie of burning garbage and blood-sucking vermin. Anderson’s departure unfortunately won’t clear the decks. It will not end the infighting. It will not rid the club of the mediocrity to which it has become accustomed to. There is nobody at the Bulldogs to lead the club back to the light. This is just another pointless coup that will deliver nothing but redirected checks and new faces in the corporate suites.
A Bad Week For Eels Outside Backs: Parramatta could not have copped a worse week for their outside backs. Maika Sivo was ruled out for the year. Blake Ferguson could not overcome a leg injury. On game day Michael Jennings was provisionally suspended by the NRL for testing positive to a performance enhancing drug. Arguably the bigger tragedy for the Eels though was the requirement to play Waqa Blake. What an awful bit of luck.
Not So Sonny Return: To the surprise of nobody who knows anything about Rugby League, Sonny Bill Williams’ return to the NRL was a massive failure. His return completely upset the balance at the Roosters. His fitness was more accustomed to rugby union than rugby league. At one stage rumour had it he was dropped for the first final. It was an arrogant decision to bring him back and one with very little consideration of the wider game. It was neither surprising or unpleasant that it failed miserably.
2020 Field Goal Update – 18: No field goals this week though George Williams did attempt one before halftime that would have been delicious.
Fun Fact #1: The three worst finals win records of any coach to lead a team into at least five finals are Matt Elliott (0-7), George Piggins (1-5) and Neil Henry (1-5). Two have recently been hired as assistants.
Fun Fact #2: The worst finals record of any coach to win a premiership is Ron Willey (7-12).
Fun Fact #3: Steve Clark has refereed the most finals games – 17 – without refereeing a Grand Final
Betting Market of the Week: What is Nick Walshaw on after claiming Rugby League “owes Sonny Bill Williams thanks”:
$3.00: The ink of Peter Fitzsimmons’ red do-rag
$2.50: A serious illness that makes him think Tim Allen-level humour is what the world wants
$2.25: Crack cocaine
$1.50: The same chemical lobotomy that makes Sonny Bill Williams speak in meaningless cliches
Rumour Mill: Cameron Smith is expected to announce his retirement this week in what will be one of the biggest stories of the NRLseason. Caleb Aekins is expected to sign with the Raiders for the 2021 season. Anthony Milford is expected to be named the new captain of the Broncos for 2021. Canterbury have been linked to Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan in what looks like a blatant attempt to both tank and troll your author.
The Coaching Crosshairs: The pressure is already on Cronulla coach John Morris with the Sharks mentor no doubt entering the 2021 season as the favourite to be first coach fired. Morris made the finals this year but the Sharks were very lucky and the club is reportedly trying to lure back former coach Shane Flanagan. Morris does not strike as a long-term head coach and the Sharks are usually trigger-happy so a change seems likely next season.
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: Trent Robinson is arguably the smartest and most thoughtful coach in the NRL but his decision to start Mitch Aubusson ahead of either Angus Crichton or Nat Butcher was perplexing to say the least.
Beard Watch: Elliot Whitehead certainly wins the honours this year for the most junkie beard in the finals. It would not surprise at all if you found him in Garema Place rattling the tin and trying to bum a cigarette.
Watch It: This week we saw the end of the great Roosters run of back-to-back premierships, the longest streak in two decades. We go back to 1967 and the famous preliminary final where Canterbury ended St George’s famous streak at 11 straight premierships. Watch the extended highlights here.