Round 25 Preview ? One chair left

This round of footy provides for some intriguing results. We?ve got seven definite semi-finalists allowing for up to five contenders for the remaining spot. That?s somewhat amusing considering the fanfare surrounding the top 8 resembling a game of musical chairs. Even more so given that this week the Sea Eagles can reach out and stop the tape deck by defeating New Zealand and thus stopping the game a week short of it?s expected expiry.

There?s pretty intense competition at either end of the table as well with four teams bidding for the J.J. to be paraded around their ground come next week. And ironically, three of the teams vying for that last spot in the eight could end up with the spoon, although it may require the Knights to rack-up around 200 points differential over the next fortnight. I bet Joey?s at least thought about it a couple of times.

With an indifferent 5 from 7 last week my total reaches 97 out of 160 with a possible 14 more coming my way?and that?s about as likely as the Knights avoiding the spoon.

Broncos v Roosters

This game does demonstrate one thing, when Channel 9 picked it they would have envisaged two powerhouses tackling one another head on. But what we?ve got now is two clubs in desperate circumstances looking to pick up some form.

Over the past few years Brisbane has resembled a bear with dysfunctional clockwork. They begin the season on fire but towards the end of the year they start looking around for the safe surrounds of their cave so they can hibernate for the winter. The problem is they should be sharpening their claws for the semis. Last year we heard big Gordie telling us at round 24 he thinks the team should have a couple of week?s off so they can recharge the batteries cause the season is too long. Well, they?re in the same spot right now and if they don?t start growling they?ll find themselves in bed too early. They just don?t look like they want to play.

The Roosters are still holding onto the moderately delusional belief that they can make the semis. Bizarrely results just keep going their way and each week they push another few balls down the wrong end of the abacus. I think the Broncos will get this only through a need to snap themselves out of a possible early slumber.

Storm v Tigers

We travel to Melbourne next as Super Saturday kicks-off in grand fashion. The Storm are coming off the bye although it didn?t bother them too much back in round 10. They?ve had some time to think about their season and some of the rank amateur efforts they?ve tossed up of late. It?s time for them to stand up and be counted as a contender in the comp and if not, they may as well walk away now. They have a good opportunity to beat someone above them.

The Tigers are a different story altogether though. All things considered they are probably the second best team running around at the moment and if they come away with victory here it will be hard to deny them premiership favouritism. They just continue to win as though some sort of contagion has spread throughout the team and all of a sudden they?ve caught the bug and it aint going anywhere.

On form you have to go with the visitors here, although Olympic Park is a small ground that makes it hard to play their brand of footy. But they?ve put 110 points on scoreboards in the last two weeks and that?s good enough for me.

Knights v Sharks

The return of Joey v Noddy should be a cracker as the second of our Saturday trilogy gets underway in Newcastle.

Last time Kimmorley scraped together a victory in extra time much to the discontent of Johns but I?m sure the memories of intercept passes still haunt the plucky half. It remains to be seen how Johns handled being shunted to the bench by Kimmorley in this week?s League Unlimited Team of the Week?hmmm I think that?s one we?re all going to have to think about.

The Sharks dealt out a record loss to the Sea Eagles last week in a highly publicised affair. It won?t be anything like that this week and don?t underestimate just how bad Manly actually were. To allow players to score tries from dummy-half untouched is perhaps a new low in rugby league.

The Knights are playing solid footy and in front of their home crowd they will want to put it on. I think they will get the points and continue in their unending quest to offload the evil wooden spoon.

Sea Eagles v Warriors

Night footy arrives at Brooky for the first time in a while with the Sea Eagles taking on the Warriors. The crowd figure here should be entertaining as people really won?t know how to react to last week. If anything they should know that most teams bounce back after a loss like that, especially if they?re coming home.

I think that?s what they?ll do. I?ve seen enough of the Warriors over the past few weeks to declare that they are easily the most erratic club running around. It?s a shame because Stacey?s last game will be one that he?d like to savour I?m sure and this could provide a little extra motivation for the visitors.

But like I said earlier, the Sea Eagles have a chance to close the book on this season with a victory at home and that's what will happen. Expect Guinness World Records to be monitoring the mistackle count though.

Bulldogs v Panthers

Sunday begins with a bang out at Telstra Stadium as the Doggies face the Panthers in a battle between two once great clubs who?ve fallen foul of the injury leprechaun.

Canterbury didn?t exactly have enthusiasm coursing through their veins last week though. If you had stopped the clock after eight minutes they would have won 2-nil, but instead they were savaged by a ruthless Tigers outfit who repelled wave after wave of Bulldogs attackers in the early stages only to turnaround and hand another 50-point drubbing to the once proud club for the second week in a row.

The Panthers have been a bit better in recent weeks with narrow wins over the Roosters and the Broncos either side of the bye. If you add in their round 21 triumph over the Warriors you might interpret that as form. Campbell is beginning to show glimpses of his former self and I think he might be the key this weekend. The forward clash should be a highlight of an otherwise dour struggle with the Panthers coming out on top.

Eels v Raiders

The Eels woke-up after 35 minutes last week and realised they were at a football game. Despite being 18-0 behind they staged a gallant comeback and nearly pulled off an upset at Kogarah. Plenty was made about the Dragons backing up after beating Brisbane the week before and how no team had done it this season. Well here?s a stat for you, the last time someone won a game the week after playing the Dragons was back in round 16 and that was the Tigers who aren?t doing it too shabbily right now.

I?m not sure if I subscribe to the theory here though as the Eels are generally good at home but their line-up is looking weakened at this point in time with a number of rookies in Reddy, Delaney and O?Dwyer plus the relative inexperience of the Smith?s.

Canberra were very competitive against the Cowboys last week and they travelled all the way to Townsville. They?ve got key players in Jason Smith, the Schif and Withers playing as well as Graham and Mogg in the centres. I think I?ve just talked myself into the Green Machine here and if the Dragons do beat up teams before they hand them on then this would appear to be a good time for the Raiders to get up. We all know how they love sneaking into the finals.

Rabbitohs v Cowboys

Last cab off the rank this round has a resurgent South Sydney up against the hot and cold Cowboys. The Pride of the League had some disappointing news earlier in the week with Mad Dog jnr outed for 10 matches and Ben Walker taking a one match ban. Both of these players have been performing well in the past few games and will be a big loss.

The Cowboys arrive in Sydney without captain Paul Rauhihi and I get the feeling they might be taking this game a little lightly. They?ve brought back a couple of players frivolously dropped from the previous week in Jensen, Faiumu and Tronc who should be hurting enough to make a big impact. But they want to take a look at where they are on the ladder. Ending up in 7th spot won?t help their cause.

I?m going to tip the Cowboys based on the fact the Bunnies have lost a few players and might be a little disjointed. But don?t be surprised if they give the boys from FNQ a big wake-up call or maybe even jag the win.

The Dragons have the bye this week and they are the form team of the comp right now. It will be interesting to watch their performance against the Knights in the final round as both teams will have different reasons for victory. In a strange twist the Dragons could be playing for the minor premiership and the Knights to avoid the spoon and they will know what?s up for grabs by kick-off.