What an extraordinary weekend of preliminary final action! Here are the talking points.
Storm surge
What else is left to say about the Melbourne Storm? The 30-0 shut out of the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night showed everything there is to love about this team. Last week we wondered if the week off would slow them down, and it's clear that they were clunky and out of sorts in the first half. Once they clicked into gear, though, there was nothing Brisbane could do to slow them down. The truth is, a better team than Brisbane could have led at half time. They threw away two golden chances as Melbourne were as vulnerable as they get early. Those Melbourne mistakes disappeared in the second half as they shed the rustiness and found their groove, and you get the feeling they will be back to their well oiled best next week.
As for Brisbane, it was a strange season that came to an end on Friday. Injuries were undoubtedly an issue, but it was patently clear against the Storm that they have major issues in the halves. Neither Milford or Nikorima were able to offer any direction, especially attacking the Storm line, and there seemed to be no discernible game plan at all. You can only assume that they are biding their time waiting for Ash Taylor to come home, but if that's the case you can write off 2018 already.
The fairytale lives on
Every week for the last month has looked like being the Cowboys’ last, but somehow their dream run has taken them all the way to the grand final. It's hard to believe that it was only the Bulldogs upsetting the Dragons that allowed the Cowboys to sneak into the finals at all, and now they find themselves in the big dance. It is absolutely one of the most unlikely, yet heart-warming storylines in NRL history. This is a team that is playing on pure self belief, and an intense desire to prove the doubters wrong. Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo continue to dominate the headlines, but the support crew deserve as much credit. Lowe, Cooper, Bolton, Martin, Coote… all have been outstanding. Morgan now looks the likely next Queensland number 7, an extraordinary development for someone who has rarely, if ever, played halfback in the top grade. Can they keep it up for one more week? We'll find out soon enough, while the Roosters head into another off season wondering how they squandered a top 2 finish. Some tough questions will need to be asked down Bondi way.
Happy Hunters
We can't not mention the unbelievable result in the Intrust Super Cup grand final in Brisbane on Sunday. The PNG Hunters grabbed a try with 2 minutes remaining to sneak past the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a classic finish. What an amazing achievement for a team that had to overcome all sorts of adversity just to compete in this competition, let alone win it all. Players don't see their families for the entire season, as they are unable to return to their remote villages between games. PNG will be partying for a week off the back of this result, and will only pause to watch their local heroes shape up again in Sydney next week. You can only hope that the fantastic crowd they had behind them at Suncorp Stadium can make the trip to Homebush, because the atmosphere will be something to behold. Strap yourselves in, Sydney, the Hunters are coming for you!
What's next?
What else? It's grand final week, the Storm vs the Cowboys in one of the more unlikely match ups in recent memory. Before then though, we will see Cameron Smith crowned the Dally M player of the year. Well, he's about as short priced as you can get, and deservedly so. The battle for Coach of the Year is probably more interesting, as there are a number of worthy contenders. Bellamy, Green, Robinson and Arthur could all make a case for the top honour. But really, it's all about the GF. Enjoy the week!
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