The Prism - Round 14 2015

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Hot topic

Can DCE ever have the same aura as the great Sea Eagles stalwarts who defined the club? Champions such as Bob Fulton, Graeme Eadie, Cliffy Lyons, Rex Mossop, Steve Menzies and Geoff Toovey were always seen as loyal club men who were the fabric of the winning culture. Manly has generally been hated by rival fans, but the team has always stayed strong with its siege mentality.

A bit of the club's culture was lost when their modern day champion played the management as fools. Along the way the team has suffered, the roster has been diluted and the coach is on death row. Hat's off to DCE for maximising his income over the next 8 years, but will his teammates ever see him as someone to rely on in the trenches?

Manly had a very difficult decision with both of their halves looking for the exit. The club is always looking to win a comp and does not look to spend any time rebuilding. Since their first grand final appearance in 1951 they have been in 20 deciders; winning 9. That is a strike rate of a grand final every 3.1 years.

With DCE the club has a great strike weapon. However, this may not be enough. The Cowboys have their own champion, but it has only yielded them 1 grand final appearance in his 10 seasons there. Unless the club can heal and rebuild their unity, there may be some lean years with the blowtorch on their multi-million dollar man.

Predictions

Last week I picked 5/8. Here are my picks for this week.

Tigers vs. Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium
The Tigers get the Rabbitohs on Origin week but this will hurt them more. Rabbitohs by 10

Warriors vs. Roosters Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors will benefit from meeting a representative impacted Roosters. Warriors by 16

Titans vs. Bulldogs Cbus Super Stadium
The Titans can upset the Origin impacted Bulldogs. Titans by 4

Storm vs. Eels AAMI Park
The Storm will miss their big 3. Eels by 4

Byes: Broncos, Cowboys, Dragons, Knights, Panthers, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Sharks

Form Guide

The form guide is based on a predictive model that gives more weight to recent performances. There is no adjustment for personal bias, injury or their position on the table. Byes are given a 50% weighting.

  1. Cowboys (-) : 10 on the trot with a massive come from behind win at Parramatta
  2. Broncos (-) : the other in form Queensland team
  3. Rabbitohs (+3) : are warming up nicely
  4. Storm (+3) : have quickly put behind them the Roosters thrashing
  5. Dragons (-2) : another loss against a monster pack
  6. Bulldogs (+2) : can they continue their run with an in-again, out-again leader?
  7. Sharks (+3) : beat the Roosters to keep up the hoodoo
  8. Warriors (-4) : struggled to win after their marathon road trip to Perth
  9. Roosters (-4) : struggling to assert their superior roster
  10. Titans (+2) : nice win against the Tigers
  11. Raiders (+2) : can score points, but need to tighten up their defence
  12. Panthers (-3) : injuries have cruelled their season
  13. Eels (-2) : threw away a huge lead
  14. Sea Eagles (-1) : they have their man back, but are still awful
  15. Tigers (-) : only 2 wins in their last 10 games with the byes giving them their only hope
  16. Knights (-) : only one win in the last 9 rounds after winning their first 4

Composite Team

Last week's composite team was made up of Clive Churchill Medallists. Can you work out the theme for the team below?

  1. Tim Brasher
  2. Matt Geyer
  3. Paul McGreggor
  4. Shannon Hegarty
  5. Adam MacDougall
  6. Darren Lockyer
  7. Allan Langer
  8. Luke Bailey
  9. Kerrod Walters
  10. Michael Weyman
  11. Ben Kennedy
  12. David Barnhill
  13. Craig Fitzgibbon
  14. Geoff Toovey
  15. Mark O'Mearley
  16. Corey Patterson
  17. Adrian Purtell

This team has a bussling backline, legendary Queensland halves and a hard working pack. The bench is tough. Predicted placing in 2015 table: 5th

Flash Back

This week's Flash Back was a Dragons second rower who played in the late 60's and 70's. Barry Beath made his debut in 1966 for the Dragons, the last year of their fabled 11 year premiership run.

In 1965, whilst playing for Eugowra, his local team in central NSW, he was selected to represent Country against City. His performance gained him selection for both NSW team and Australia quad that year. Beath represented NSW in 1967 and 1971 and played his sole test against NZ in 1971.

Beath followed Fellow Eugowra local Ian Walsh to St George in 1966. In his second year at the Dragons, he scored 9 tries as a second-rower. He scored over 10 tries in ‘69, '71 and '72. He ended up scoring 61 tries in his 11 years and 198 games with the club.

Beath started in the 1971 grand final against the Rabbitohs and scored a try. The Dragons lost 10-16. He also played in the losing 1975 decider against the Roosters where they were flogged 38-0.

Beath retired on a high after the 1977 grand final replay against Parramatta. He came off the bench to help the Dragons win 22-0.

In 1999, Beath was involved in a highly publicised incident at a post-match function at Cronulla Leagues Club. He stepped in to defend a young St George supporter whose jersey was being defaced by Cronulla President Peter Gow. The incident led to Gow's resignation.

Beath is remembered as a quick, robust and a tough back rower. He epitomised the Dragons teams of the 1970's.

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