Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Where your team could be after this round
By Dean Ritchie | August 22, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24219285-5006066,00.html
WARRIORS and Queensland centre Brent Tate last night spoke of the horror prospect that his side could actually plummet eight positions in just 80 minutes of footy this weekend. In a wonderful round for the NRL, all eight games will have a bearing on the finals with some teams facing the possibility of crashing out of contention.
NRL statistician David Middleton yesterday compiled a comprehensive guide which shows where clubs could finish this weekend with a win and where they could with defeat.
New Zealand could be fifth with victory over St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Sunday - but 13th with a loss. The Dragons could be fifth or 12th.
Penrith, Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta - with wins - could push to seventh but drop to 13th with a loss.
Canberra, the team gathering momentum, could rise to fifth with victory over Souths at Homebush but slide to 11th with defeat.
"It's unbelievable to think we could drop eight spots in one game," Tate told The Daily Telegraph.
"Everything is so close. Everyone is so desperate.
"I think everyone will see some desperate football this weekend.
"We are aware how big this game is. It's pretty important for St George Illawarra as well.
"It really is semi-final football come a few weeks early. It has a finals feel about it.
"It's all there to play for.
"I guess it shows this is a great competition and that the salary cap is working."
Wests Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson is aware how crucial his side's match is against Manly tomorrow.
"You feel the intensity lift at this time of the year," Hodgson said.
"You need quality in your game. We will need to lift after Monday night's loss (to Parramatta) otherwise we will fall away."
The Knights face the possibility of falling six places with a loss against North Queensland.
"So many teams are so even," Knights and NSW forward Steve Simpson said last night.
"It will be a massive game for us. They all will be from here on in.
"It is coming down to the last few games. It is good to see such an even competition."
Raiders skipper Alan Tongue said his side won't be altering their attractive playing style because of the tense competition.
"We understand the importance of this game against Souths and the position we're in," Tongue said.
"But we just want to focus of keeping our momentum going.
"We've had tough challenges all year - this is another one we will face."
NRL chief executive David Gallop added: "Every week matters now."
Meanwhile Roosters prop Mark O'Meley has spoken of the difficulties about confronting Cronulla tonight at Toyota Stadium.
"They are a team that like the grind. They like the 80-minute arm wrestle," O'Meley told The Daily Telegraph.
"Cronulla try to wear you down. They get three in a tackle and try and fatigue their opposition.
"When they see you are vulnerable, they go and attack you.
"They are willing to work you over and be patient."
Asked was Cronulla a premiership force, O'Meley said: "I think they are. There are a few teams in form and they are certainly one of them."
By Dean Ritchie | August 22, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24219285-5006066,00.html
WARRIORS and Queensland centre Brent Tate last night spoke of the horror prospect that his side could actually plummet eight positions in just 80 minutes of footy this weekend. In a wonderful round for the NRL, all eight games will have a bearing on the finals with some teams facing the possibility of crashing out of contention.
NRL statistician David Middleton yesterday compiled a comprehensive guide which shows where clubs could finish this weekend with a win and where they could with defeat.
New Zealand could be fifth with victory over St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Sunday - but 13th with a loss. The Dragons could be fifth or 12th.
Penrith, Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta - with wins - could push to seventh but drop to 13th with a loss.
Canberra, the team gathering momentum, could rise to fifth with victory over Souths at Homebush but slide to 11th with defeat.
"It's unbelievable to think we could drop eight spots in one game," Tate told The Daily Telegraph.
"Everything is so close. Everyone is so desperate.
"I think everyone will see some desperate football this weekend.
"We are aware how big this game is. It's pretty important for St George Illawarra as well.
"It really is semi-final football come a few weeks early. It has a finals feel about it.
"It's all there to play for.
"I guess it shows this is a great competition and that the salary cap is working."
Wests Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson is aware how crucial his side's match is against Manly tomorrow.
"You feel the intensity lift at this time of the year," Hodgson said.
"You need quality in your game. We will need to lift after Monday night's loss (to Parramatta) otherwise we will fall away."
The Knights face the possibility of falling six places with a loss against North Queensland.
"So many teams are so even," Knights and NSW forward Steve Simpson said last night.
"It will be a massive game for us. They all will be from here on in.
"It is coming down to the last few games. It is good to see such an even competition."
Raiders skipper Alan Tongue said his side won't be altering their attractive playing style because of the tense competition.
"We understand the importance of this game against Souths and the position we're in," Tongue said.
"But we just want to focus of keeping our momentum going.
"We've had tough challenges all year - this is another one we will face."
NRL chief executive David Gallop added: "Every week matters now."
Meanwhile Roosters prop Mark O'Meley has spoken of the difficulties about confronting Cronulla tonight at Toyota Stadium.
"They are a team that like the grind. They like the 80-minute arm wrestle," O'Meley told The Daily Telegraph.
"Cronulla try to wear you down. They get three in a tackle and try and fatigue their opposition.
"When they see you are vulnerable, they go and attack you.
"They are willing to work you over and be patient."
Asked was Cronulla a premiership force, O'Meley said: "I think they are. There are a few teams in form and they are certainly one of them."
