Game Day: Cowboys v Manly [Round 25, 2021]

[JBW]

I just want to see the team turn up mentally minus the complacency that usually comes with a game like this... I think this will be a tougher game than most anticipate.

 

[Chip and Chase]

maybe Des didn't want to risk him getting suspended

Exactly - he's had a couple of charges this year so he loses the option of being fined for a minor offence. He and Toff are in the same boat, so resting him this week is smart as he gets an extra "fine" option for the finals series. Hopefully Sippers comes through clean

It means those players head into round 25 — the final round of the regular season — with their hopes of playing finals football on a precipice. Once players have been charged twice during the season, they are no longer eligible to receive fines for trivial offences.

In other words, even the most innocuous of charges will result in penalty points and a potential suspension given they are also carrying loading from prior offences into round 25.

The remarkable number of players with multiple charges beside their name no doubt owes much to the blitz on high contact this year, which has resulted in grade one offences skyrocketing.

It also means some of the game’s biggest stars are at risk of being rubbed out of the opening weekend of the finals should they transgress again.


Ordinarily players can only accept a fine for their first two offences of a season, before missing games after any further charges.

However, under the largely overshadowed 2020 rule - given the pandemic and changes the game has undergone since - players were granted one additional fine for the finals.

“Nobody wants to see players miss big games for relatively minor offences,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said at the time.

“Even if players have exhausted their monetary sanctions by round 25, all players involved in the finals series will receive an additional monetary fine they can apply for.”

But that won’t be enough to save any player charged this weekend.

 

[ALinda]

Assuming Aloiai must have a minor injury

maybe Des didn't want to risk him getting suspended

Supposedly ill but for the truth of the matter, see separate thread on Judiciary Loophole. Not maybe, Des definitely isn't taking any risks.

 

[davohan123]

Assuming Aloiai must have a minor injury

Apparently sick with a cold had not trained all week

 

[ALinda]

Game day, woohoo and 4th spot for the taking!

Please no complacency (like last week), no injuries and no suspensions. Hoping Des's chat with Maxwell during the week works in our favour but I fear even that may not help with Cummins.

It's going to be warm/humid in Townsville today but being on the Sunny coast has hopefully acclimatised them.

Go Manly!!!

 

[davohan123]

Any win will do
This will be closer than people think.
No injuries or suspensions and tank getting plenty of minutes plus keepie.
Manly by 13

 

[Snake]

That's a shame that Aloiai is missing. He has already missed too much football this year and was our best foward last week. I was looking forward to more value from him again this week.

 

[Snake]

Hopefully we take a leaf out of Penrith's book...they played with a great attitude last night and never once looked for the easy option. They just turned up and played smart % football and broke the Eels spirits to pile on the points at the back end of the game.

 

[The Wheel]

I am hoping Reuben cracks 300 today

 

[Ranga]

I am hoping Reuben cracks 300 today

And scores more points than the Dogs for the Season….

 

[EagleGT]

Thought last week we looked a bit tired compared to the Dogs in many patches. I think the heat played a factor and it's gonna be around 24-25c at game time today. So I think we really need to respect the ball and maintain a good completion rate. Cheap turnovers and too many 6 agains against us could cause us some issues. Hopefully we play a bit smarter today. Semi final type football required today fellas! Go Manly

So far this round, in the 3 completes games, there has been a total of only 7 6-again calls for ruck infringements. Let's see how many Cummins pulls out of the air (or out of somewhere else) today.

 

[Pittwater Legend]

I predict that MOST of us are going to be pretty happy by tonight. We’re going to wrap up a top 4 finish for the season

 

[Shoe1]

Teams sometimes lift for their last game of the year. I remember we bumped the sharks out of the top 4 in one of our lean years playing tough in the last round.

So manly have to turn up this afternoon.

 

[Rafferty]

I just want to see the team turn up mentally minus the complacency that usually comes with a game like this... I think this will be a tougher game than most anticipate.

Yep I agree and it’s always better to finish the year with a win, cowboys have nothing else to play for, this is their GF, so we best restart their losing streak, can’t have them wining 2 in a row to end their year

 

[Remy]

Time to wrap up this top 4, wrap up this amazing regular season revival (but we nowhere near done yet), wrap up Tom's Dally M, and build some strong momentum to carry towards Melbourne Scum next week. And let's pray we come out with NO INJURIES OR SUSPENSION. Let's go Manly Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Jeez I love sausage rolls. I must eat a lot of them because at the start of the year there was not a chance in hell I saw this coming for us to even remotely be in contention for a top 4 or even top 8 spot. I saw us as 10 to 12 team. I am very happy to be wrong and that humble pie is tasting very good (with sauce).

GO Manly and to all enjoy the ride of the next few weeks .... going to be fun.

Me too.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

maybe Des didn't want to risk him getting suspended

my thoughts as well

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

That's a shame that Aloiai is missing. He has already missed too much football this year and was our best foward last week. I was looking forward to more value from him again this week.

he really has been high quality and while he has missed some time - the games he has played he would be in our best two forwards every game - great defence and really rips in when hitting the ball up. Great signing

 

[Woodsie]

Also .. a reminder, that this is the time of the year that a wise man reminds his loved ones ... THAT LYING ON THE COUCH IN MY UNDIES WATCHING MANLY .... IS DOING SOMETHING !!!

 

[mickqld]

Our boys minds will be all on next week and self preservation. 4th or 5th either way it's been a great effort but the Cows will be determined to end on a high. It's their GF. Cows by 10.