Our team is becoming a wrestling team. It takes time to perfect this. The raiders game showed that under fatigue at the end of the first half we struggled to slow the ruck down. I've noticed this is an area we are getting better in each week. If I keep seeing gradual improvement in this area I will be happy.
Slightly off topic but I remember during that match Peter Sterling was being used a guest commentator, he had still been playing for the Eels that season. I think it was about half time and Graham Hughes (the match caller) asked how he thought the sides were going. Balmain had the edge over Canberra at that stage if I recall.
Haha yeah definitely. Now totally off topic however the 89 GF was the game that got me into league - and also hooked on the Raiders up until the Warriors entry into the comp in 1995. A few years back I was lucky enough to find myself in the company of Belcher, Elias and Pearce (who regardless of how they come across on TV are all really good blokes). I started talking about the game with Belcher however even then he was uncomfortable discussing it in the presence of the other two. To this day they remain totally gutted about the drama of that day.Slightly off topic but I remember during that match Peter Sterling was being used a guest commentator, he had still been playing for the Eels that season. I think it was about half time and Graham Hughes (the match caller) asked how he thought the sides were going. Balmain had the edge over Canberra at that stage if I recall.
I will never forget what Sterlo said. He said Canberra will not give up. He said they were the toughest side he had played that season. He said they just don't stop coming at you. You might remember that.
That proved to be the case, they won the game by not giving up, and being fit enough to keep going. I won't argue the specifics of the Roache benching, because Sironen was involved as well. Warren Ryan was criticised for taking them off but he was/is a very astute judge of the game and maybe he could see just like Sterlo that his big forwards were not up to it.
If I recall that still is classed as one of the greatest finals ever and had a big part in getting more TV coverage of the game to NZ, and eventually an invitation for a NZ club to join the comp.
As a player goes Roache was very big, very tough, and very thick, can we agree on that?
That analogy doesnt really fit the NRL, teams have to hover at a 50 percent win rate or higher.
Good point. When Canberra won the GF in 1989 only the top 5 from 12 teams made the finals. Canberra had a slow start but a strong finish and made it into fifth. Some trainspotter can correct me but I think they were the first to qualify fifth and take out the final.
I would believe that too. Gary Freeman was disconsolate on the ground. They were the form team and they thought they had it. It is interesting that Sticky Stuart was playing that day. He is one guy who NEVER gives up, even after the final whistle. It might be his attitude is rubbing off on the team now, because they are really a bunch of no names that are playing together as a great team.
Laipana have to share a name between the two of them, that's how obscure they are.
All I was implying was the competition isn't over after 8 rounds.
Well to quote another common expression; My glass is still half full when when it comes to the Warriors making the play offs.
I think you'd be surprised. I don't think any team outside the top 8 after 8games has ever gone on to win the comp in the last 20 years.
They were technically outside on points differential but they still had a 50 percent win rate. If the Warriors lose this weekend they will be 2 games blow 50 percent
