As sports seasons draw to a close writers have usually exhausted most of their superlatives, commentators have generally already proclaimed events to be the ‘best ever’, and newspapers have previously run their best headlines.
But then Friday night’s game comes along.
Reigning premiers meet perennial underdogs. World’s best Rugby League player (RLPA Players’ Award) meets (arguably) World’s best crossover rugby player. 30-Nil after thirty minutes. 30 all after 57 minutes. 31-30 full time after a winning try in the final minutes is ruled out.
Therein lies the hallmarks of an absolute classic. A game that deserves the superlatives, the headlines and the title of best ever. This was an absolute classic and the more I watch this seasons NRL the more I feel each and every single game from here on in is going to go the same way.
Saturday’s game was exactly the same. Who would have predicted both semi finals being settled by a solitary point?
Here’s a review of the action from Week Two of the NRL Finals 2014:
Roosters v Cowboys
The unlucky Cowboys may rue the performance of Gavin Badger and the video ref in denying what would have been a game-winning try, but the truth is there were a number of moments that cost them this one. A horror start had the cowboys down by thirty after a flat start and a number of Michael Morgan mistakes. Much like the Cowboys did to the Broncos the weak before, the Roosters were dominant with James Maloney scoring one and having a hand in three others.
Enter Johnathan Thurston (Matt Scott wasn’t bad either). Thurston got the Cowboys back into the contest with a spirited display of leadership, but in his own view contributed a couple of mistakes that may have influenced the game. He had the option of two points just before half time that in the end proved crucial, and he failed to see Morgan on his inside when he made a break in the second half which would have led to an inevitable 6 points. To marginalise Thurston though is unfair. Games of this ilk do not need villains, they simply need appreciation and no doubt this game had that by the bucket load.
Manly v Bulldogs
This season the Bulldogs have been the masters of the one point victory. On three occasions, in fact on three consecutive occasions, the Bulldogs have escaped thanks to the boot of Trent Hodkinson or Josh Reynolds and Saturday night was no different. Trent Hodkinson kicked a golden point field goal (his second of the night) to separate his team from the Manly Sea Eagles in another pulsating encounter.
Mirroring the earlier game, the Bulldogs made a fast start but as the Sea Eagles came back strongly, a Mick Ennis brain snap almost had the Brookvale outfit entering yet another finals series. Englishman James Graham enjoyed another silky skilled outing, as did the back three for the Bulldogs who all got their name on the scoresheet. Sam Perrett’s unlikely heroism (he also set up a try for Corey Thompson) means he’ll get another week on centre stage at the expense of Manly’s Brett Stewart who also scored in his 200th NRL match. Although Sam Perrett’s singing voice (YouTube it if you don’t believe me) is worth centre stage by itself.
In the end, Manly simply missed both Watmough and a quality hooker to help control the ruck. Their battling spirit kept them alive but not so far as to meet Penrith next week.
Check back in next week to see the odds on two more one-point results.
