The Finals thread:

[Eagle 1]

Some of my thoughts on the players and game

STORM

- Paps was missing for more than half the game, started exploring and threatening too late and needed to just take that tackle after his break was chased down

- Munster played his GF last week, had one good run at the back end of the game

- Losing Howarth was bad, not because Wishart wasn't good but because they couldn't use him to inject him into the game and add a spark and another playmaking option

- Meaney and Warbrick were pretty soft in defence on there try line

- Grant was shut down well

- Every time they got a chance, they shot themselves in the foot

- Loved Hughes try, Eli Katoa was great as always too

- Storm suck when going into halftime with a lead, they just seem to clock off and stop doing what was working for them

BRONCOS

- This might sound crazy to say but I think them losing Reyno made them more dangerous as Walsh and Mam stood up and they thrive with no structure

- Walsh was on fire tonight, couldn't see them winning without him, I still think that tackle was a shoulder charge though

- Payne Haas and Carrigan deserve a premiership win with their effort all season

- Glad Hunt also got his premiership win unfortunately he also probably got CTE tonight, I'd love to be a fly on the wall watching flannos reaction

- Really not a fan of Mam but he was on fire tonight with both attack and unexpectedly his defence, he was handling Warbrick like he was a fly on his shoulder, I still think someone needs to drug test him unless the key to being a gun player is toilet water and Walsh and Mam are onto something

- I hope Hetherington enjoys his first and last premiership

- Shibasaki showed why he got picked for origin after originally being on a train and trial

- Reyno and Hunt need to check themselves into the retirement home, especially Reyno with his legs starting to give out on him

- Happy that Reyno brought up Billy Walters to lift up the trophy, could only imagine the mixed feelings for Kevvy but I'm sure he would be so stoked for his son

Overall good game to watch, glad it was a close game and was something different compared to the last few years

With you on Reynolds, when he came off I thought, good, they don't really need him. By then Mam and Walsh were proving impossible to contain as the Storm started to fray on the edges and ultimately caved in in the last 15min.

 

[Under the Sticks]

Costly dropped ball from Warbrick that led to the Broncos going ahead. However, there was a lot of fatigue in the Storm pack and their bench was shown up by Brisbane’s middle. The Storm looked a couple of forwards short tonight. Stefano is a pretender and there wasn’t much else getting them over the ad line. Meaney was given a bath by Shibasaki on a couple of occasions, but losing the ruck in the middle meant a retreating defence. Basically, I think Brisbane ran harder and tackled harder and wanted it more.

NAS says hello! What a lump. He will be remembered as the biggest loser x 2 years running.

 

[wombatgc]

Not my fault you didn't drag mum half an hour to the border to give birth to me, you should be proud enough of your manly brainwashing to work out, I've seen many failed attempts by parents. In fact I sometimes wonder if you regret the brainwashing now that I don't go a day without talking footy and that when I get my bloods done it comes out maroon and white instead of red.

It wasn’t all my brainwashing. A lot of it can be contributed to @Mark from Brisbane and @vidmar along with certain members of the Manly Travelling Supporters Club ( you know who you are!lol). I think they would be very proud of their contribution to the making of a Manly girl for life

 

[Wombat Junior]

It wasn’t all my brainwashing. A lot of it can be contributed to @Mark from Brisbane and @vidmar along with certain members of the Manly Travelling Supporters Club ( you know who you are!lol). I think they would be very proud of their contribution to the making of a Manly girl for life

Honestly we should also be thanking the people that sold the hotdogs, chips and soft drink because that was the real selling point.

 

[Buddy Love]

Costly dropped ball from Warbrick that led to the Broncos going ahead. However, there was a lot of fatigue in the Storm pack and their bench was shown up by Brisbane’s middle. The Storm looked a couple of forwards short tonight. Stefano is a pretender and there wasn’t much else getting them over the ad line. Meaney was given a bath by Shibasaki on a couple of occasions, but losing the ruck in the middle meant a retreating defence. Basically, I think Brisbane ran harder and tackled harder and wanted it more.

Losing howarth screwed them. It would be like us Losing kolau and simpkin playing there for 70 minutes.

Agreed on Shiba and also Stefano he's a cat 🐈

 

[HK_Eagle]

NAS says hello! What a lump. He will be remembered as the biggest loser x 2 years running.

His highlight will be a punch up in Bali.

 

[Buddy Love]

That was the best grand final performance by a player I can remember seeing

Clearys 20 minutes against the Broncos was the best imo. Didn't he set up 3 tries score the decider and kick the winning goal? Maybe I'm mistaken.. he also stopped Reynolds trick shot drop out. Walsh did play better over the 80 but that 20 from Cleary was just ridiculous