Granty
30-09-2005, 10:15 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16760581%255E10389,00.html
Fingers crossed for a ripper
For Argument's Sake, Barry Dick, rugby league editor
30sep05
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5054805,00.jpg
COWBOYS fans Helena Jimmieson and Alana Hollings from Ryan Catholic College at training this week. Picture: Peter Wallis.
SUNDAY'S NRL grand final could turn out to be one of the best on record . . . or one of the worst.
Given the amount of attacking flair in the two teams, there is no reason to think the former won't be the case but there is a niggling fear that, having got to the big one by playing a certain way, Wests Tigers and Cowboys will allow the occasion to get the better of them and go into their shells.
Only five of the players who run on to Telstra Stadium on Sunday have played in a grand final and the pressure of a premiership decider has been known to find a few blokes out in the past.
The Tigers and Cowboys have thrilled fans this year with an enthusiastic style of play based on letting the ball do the work but they've also shown us they can defend – the Tigers kept the Dragons juggernaut to 12 points last Saturday and the Cowboys reduced the Parramatta Eels to a pointless rabble on Sunday.
The grand final match-up is a dream for the game. Fans of both clubs have turned out in terrific numbers to see their teams with what has seemed like the entire city of Townsville celebrating the Cowboys' first grand final.
It has been a sensational week for the code by any measure.
One of the beauties of this grand final is that it will provide the seventh different NRL premier in a row which is a testament to the evenness of the competition and the balancing effect of the tight salary cap which, of course, go hand in hand.
That makes it fun for the fans but it sure makes life hard for the coaches who at times have to use players in first grade who they wouldn't normally consider and then have to wear the end results.
After the Dragons bowed out last week, Nathan Brown reminded us how hard it was to win a title, pointing out that Bob Fulton, rated one of the great coaches, had won only two in 20 years.
Wayne Bennett has said the same thing, but when he says it everyone accuses him of making excuses for the Broncos; when Brown says it they nod their head sagely and say "hmm . . . he could be right".
And another thing . . .
AMID all the delirium in Townsville this week it might have been easy to forget the tough times the Cowboys went through and the people who fought so hard for the club. One of those people was founding chairman Ron McLean. Ron, a former Centrals ASA halfback, and wife Judy have never lost faith in the 'Boys and bought their grand final tickets ages ago in the hope Graham Murray's men would make it. There was some mirth in the McLean family this week when they saw thousands of Cowboys fans greeting the team at Townsville airport after the preliminary final. Not so many years back, Judy was the only supporter who would be there week after week, win or lose, waving her flag. These are the people you're playing for, 'Boys.
HAVE Queenslanders rolled over on the Sunday night grand final issue? All the heat that came from fans last year seems to have dissipated. That's a shame because the night grand final is still wrong with a capital W.
ONE Spiv City scribbler picked grand final week to have a snide, sanctimonious and unfunny shot at league players. I could tell you a few things about the bloke's own behaviour but best to do what most of Sydney does: ignore him.
GOONDIWINDI took out the Toowoomba Districts grand final last weekend 36-24 over Brothers. "Gundy" also won the reserve grade, beating Pittsworth 40-20.
DESPITE Wests Panthers Colts coach Glenn Lazarus telling his players before the grand final a fortnight ago they could be playing the "last game ever" for the club, the Panthers are determined to be back in the Queensland Wizard Cup in 2007 or 2008. And good luck to them, too – the game needs them.
Fingers crossed for a ripper
For Argument's Sake, Barry Dick, rugby league editor
30sep05
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5054805,00.jpg
COWBOYS fans Helena Jimmieson and Alana Hollings from Ryan Catholic College at training this week. Picture: Peter Wallis.
SUNDAY'S NRL grand final could turn out to be one of the best on record . . . or one of the worst.
Given the amount of attacking flair in the two teams, there is no reason to think the former won't be the case but there is a niggling fear that, having got to the big one by playing a certain way, Wests Tigers and Cowboys will allow the occasion to get the better of them and go into their shells.
Only five of the players who run on to Telstra Stadium on Sunday have played in a grand final and the pressure of a premiership decider has been known to find a few blokes out in the past.
The Tigers and Cowboys have thrilled fans this year with an enthusiastic style of play based on letting the ball do the work but they've also shown us they can defend – the Tigers kept the Dragons juggernaut to 12 points last Saturday and the Cowboys reduced the Parramatta Eels to a pointless rabble on Sunday.
The grand final match-up is a dream for the game. Fans of both clubs have turned out in terrific numbers to see their teams with what has seemed like the entire city of Townsville celebrating the Cowboys' first grand final.
It has been a sensational week for the code by any measure.
One of the beauties of this grand final is that it will provide the seventh different NRL premier in a row which is a testament to the evenness of the competition and the balancing effect of the tight salary cap which, of course, go hand in hand.
That makes it fun for the fans but it sure makes life hard for the coaches who at times have to use players in first grade who they wouldn't normally consider and then have to wear the end results.
After the Dragons bowed out last week, Nathan Brown reminded us how hard it was to win a title, pointing out that Bob Fulton, rated one of the great coaches, had won only two in 20 years.
Wayne Bennett has said the same thing, but when he says it everyone accuses him of making excuses for the Broncos; when Brown says it they nod their head sagely and say "hmm . . . he could be right".
And another thing . . .
AMID all the delirium in Townsville this week it might have been easy to forget the tough times the Cowboys went through and the people who fought so hard for the club. One of those people was founding chairman Ron McLean. Ron, a former Centrals ASA halfback, and wife Judy have never lost faith in the 'Boys and bought their grand final tickets ages ago in the hope Graham Murray's men would make it. There was some mirth in the McLean family this week when they saw thousands of Cowboys fans greeting the team at Townsville airport after the preliminary final. Not so many years back, Judy was the only supporter who would be there week after week, win or lose, waving her flag. These are the people you're playing for, 'Boys.
HAVE Queenslanders rolled over on the Sunday night grand final issue? All the heat that came from fans last year seems to have dissipated. That's a shame because the night grand final is still wrong with a capital W.
ONE Spiv City scribbler picked grand final week to have a snide, sanctimonious and unfunny shot at league players. I could tell you a few things about the bloke's own behaviour but best to do what most of Sydney does: ignore him.
GOONDIWINDI took out the Toowoomba Districts grand final last weekend 36-24 over Brothers. "Gundy" also won the reserve grade, beating Pittsworth 40-20.
DESPITE Wests Panthers Colts coach Glenn Lazarus telling his players before the grand final a fortnight ago they could be playing the "last game ever" for the club, the Panthers are determined to be back in the Queensland Wizard Cup in 2007 or 2008. And good luck to them, too – the game needs them.