Broncos and Cowboys’ NRL finals hopes could stumble on injuries to star players, writes Mal Meninga
FINALS matches are won and lost on the back of a club’s star players — and that is why I worry about the chances of the Broncos and Cowboys, writes MAL MENINGA.
FINALS matches are won and lost on the back of a club’s star players — and that is why I worry about the chances of the Broncos and Cowboys this weekend.
We all know the cliches about the finals being a whole new competition and everyone starting on equal points.
They have become cliched only because they are true.
Yes, momentum is a great thing to carry into the finals series, but the form displayed by most of the top eight teams over the past few weeks can be discounted as any sort of guide about what we are going to see over the next month.
I say “most” teams, because Melbourne as usual are a team apart from the rest.
Their last two games of the season, wins against South Sydney and Canberra, showed exactly what we will see from Melbourne — an irresistible mix of discipline and consistency.
It’s pretty much what we have seen from them over the past 10 years.
Both Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater were interviewed at halftime in those matches and on both occasions both players spoke of the importance of building “good habits” leading into the finals.
The Storm are ready. They have the best players and they have the best team.
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THE MEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
STAR players are what separate the teams at this time of year.
All of the teams in the top eight are fairly evenly matched in terms of ability. None of the teams in the finals got there because they got lucky.
So when two good teams that are evenly matched square off, it comes down to the brilliance of the individual to break the big games apart.
It might be a moment of magic, or having the guts and desire to work through 50 tackles in the middle without missing a single one.
They are the plays and the players that win big matches.
BRONCOS LACK GAME-CHANGER
THAT is why I think Brisbane look understrength without their captain Darius Boyd against the Roosters on Friday night.
Darius brings so much to the Broncos, with his leadership, his outstanding defence and his ability to supercharge Brisbane’s attack as an extra five-eighth, his absence will really hurt them.
Already missing Andrew McCullough — another player who can produce those 50 tackles and moments of magic to turn a game — Brisbane’s spine looks too unsettled for this time of year.
Benji Marshall will be great at halfback and his experience is a huge boost for Brisbane.
But the Broncos still have their first-choice halfback playing at hooker, their back-up halfback playing at fullback, and their interchange weapon at No.7.
The Roosters by comparison are very settled and have terrific firepower and big-game players across the field.
Yes, the Roosters were lucky to get away with a win against the Gold Coast last weekend. And full credit should go to the Titans, who played exceptionally well to finish a tough year on a positive note.
But I suspect the Roosters’ minds were already half on this week and Brisbane will get their full attention.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR COWBOYS
THE Cowboys are in the same position with injuries, although they have had longer to adjust to life without Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.
As brave as the Cowboys have been this year, they have spent a lot of energy just getting to the finals and I am not sure they have the gas or the star power they will need to beat Cronulla.
The unfortunate thing for North Queensland is, they don’t get a second chance.
Brisbane can cop a loss and wait for Boyd to return next weekend. The Cowboys don’t have that luxury.
Originally published as Broncos and Cowboys’ NRL finals hopes could stumble on injuries to star players, writes Mal Meninga