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Game NRL 2021 Final Series

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Finals week 1 schedule​

Friday, September 10​

Qualifying final: Melbourne v Manly, 7.50pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Saturday, September 11​

Elimination final: Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast, 5.40pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Qualifying final: Penrith v South Sydney, 7.50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Sunday, September 12​

Elimination final: Parramatta v Newcastle, 4.05pm at Browne Park, Rockhampton

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This is how I'd like to see the finals unfold, however I think it'll be very slightly changed.

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Captain Ibis

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I'm liking Manly for an ambush against the Storm.. feel like we haven't seen the best of some of their players.

I think Penrith will cruise through to the GF.. Obviously Cleary is their main man but I alsk think To'o is also a key to them taking it out.. guy takes a lot of juice out of defenders and can make over 200m in a seemingly 'quiet' game.

The Cam Smith loss could finally prove significant come grand final day (if it's the rematch) as he tore Penrith apart in the first half of the 2020 grand final.

It's between those three imo.
 
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Manly get destroyed in the game tonight.

Foran and Tommy Turbo completely MIA. DCE only slightly better. Morgan Harper directly responsible for about 3 tries himself.

It was a fairly clinical Storm performance (who might have lost Brandon Smith for the season with a facial fracture), but Manly did themselves no favours at all.

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Captain Ibis

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I feel for Harper, he seems like a good lad and tries his heart out.. lucky they get another game to redeem themselves to some degree
 
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I feel for Harper, he seems like a good lad and tries his heart out.. lucky they get another game to redeem themselves to some degree
Meanwhile Reimis Smith for Storm barely saw the ball.

Harper had a shocker, but all players have them. That said Manly either play really well, or simply don't turn up. There's no middle ground with them.

Two decent games today coming up.
 

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Meanwhile Reimis Smith for Storm barely saw the ball.

Harper had a shocker, but all players have them. That said Manly either play really well, or simply don't turn up. There's no middle ground with them.

Two decent games today coming up.

I don't think it helped that Manly tried to go around the Storm from the get go.. it is a tactic that has had some success but felt they needed to take a leaf out if Parra's book and ambush them.

I think Penrith will win comfortably but who knows.. I actually like Easts to beat Titans and also Manly
 
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Well Titans fell over (albeit one of Roosters tries should have been a Titans penalty), and Roosters struggled to get onside all game.

Then the Panthers choke against Souths. Both teams I wanted to win lost LOL.

Panthers have 3 primary reasons they lost tonight:
1. Staines was woeful. Naden should have been in there.
2. Ivan Cleary fucks up giving TPJ 18 minutes in first half, and then brings him on 78th minute in second half.
3. Ivan Cleary and Jarome Luai once again fail at being big game players. Both rarely sighted tonight.

So now Roosters and Souths (two teams I really dislike) are through.

Also means no chance of a Storm vs Panthers Grand Final.
 

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The biggest problem is that the Panthers forwards didn't play well, nor did To'o, but credit for Souths for shutting them down. Also I thought Souths did really well by targeting the weak/ or inexperienced links of Penrith - Staines, Momorivski.. even Burton got exposed once or twice in defence
 
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Updated Finals Series, and it's all poo poo.

Manly/Roosters/Souths - Going into Grand Final
vs
Storm/Panthers/Knights or Eels - Joining them.

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The biggest problem is that the Panthers forwards didn't play well, nor did To'o, but credit for Souths for shutting them down. Also I thought Souths did really well by targeting the weak/ or inexperienced links of Penrith - Staines, Momorivski.. even Burton got exposed once or twice in defence
Their bench rotation was shithouse. Spencer Leniu (one of their best attacking weapons) plays 12 minutes. TPJ plays 23 minutes. Leniu makes as many metres in 12 minutes, as Eisenhuth did in 33.

Almost felt like Ivan had his favourite players he'd promised long stints too, and it backfired badly. I suspect Staines getting dropped next game. He's fast but that's it.
 

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Well Titans fell over (albeit one of Roosters tries should have been a Titans penalty), and Roosters struggled to get onside all game.

Then the Panthers choke against Souths. Both teams I wanted to win lost LOL.

Panthers have 3 primary reasons they lost tonight:
1. Staines was woeful. Naden should have been in there.
2. Ivan Cleary fucks up giving TPJ 18 minutes in first half, and then brings him on 78th minute in second half.
3. Ivan Cleary and Jarome Luai once again fail at being big game players. Both rarely sighted tonight.

So now Roosters and Souths (two teams I really dislike) are through.

Also means no chance of a Storm vs Panthers Grand Final.
Ivan is a flop full stop.
 

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Yeah Ivan's decision making is questionable and is going to prove costly again.. not sure what he has against Naden but given how good he was last year there is no way a Bennett or Bellamy don't persist with him.. I also think not resting players last week while all the other teams did proved to be the wrong decision as Panthers looked tired.

The worst thing about Souths winning is that they have pretty much handed Melbourne the premiership on a platter.
 
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Yeah Ivan's decision making is questionable and is going to prove costly again.. not sure what he has against Naden but given how good he was last year there is no way a Bennett or Bellamy don't persist with him.. I also think not resting players last week while all the other teams did proved to be the wrong decision as Panthers looked tired.

The worst thing about Souths winning is that they have pretty much handed Melbourne the premiership on a platter.
Maybe Naden isn't in the NRL bubble?

Looking into it, Eels have beaten Storm TWICE this year, and Panthers once. Souths got absolutely belted by them.

So there is some hope yet. Problem is Panthers beat Eels twice (once by 1 point and another they thrashed them - but in fairness it was Parras NSW Cup side).
 

Captain Ibis

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Maybe Naden isn't in the NRL bubble?

Looking into it, Eels have beaten Storm TWICE this year, and Panthers once. Souths got absolutely belted by them.

So there is some hope yet. Problem is Panthers beat Eels twice (once by 1 point and another they thrashed them - but in fairness it was Parras NSW Cup side).
Nah Naden was at the game and I think may have even been 18th man.. Ivan is just obsessed with the "Forbs Ferrari".. even Panthers fans are finally admitting that Brent is the better option.

I can't see Manly or Roosters beating Souths after they bash each other so it's going to need Bennett's best if it is a Souths Storm gf.

As a Dogs fan I shouldn't say it, but I'd be happy for Parra to do something just to make it interesting.. sick of the same old teams.
 
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Knights are outta there LOL.

Manly vs Roosters - honestly it's a lose lose for me, but Manly I reckon can beat Souffs.
Parra vs Panthers - Panthers will destroy Parra if they play like they did today.

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Captain Ibis

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Parra weren't their best but definitely the better team.. Newcastle only seemed to get into Parra's 20 off the back of penalties and/or set restarts. If Parra can play like they did against Melbourne I think they can beat Penrith but that's a tall order. Penrith got exposed really badly by Souths so I can't see them beating Melbourne in the prelim if they win next week.

I've got the Roosters over Manly, feel like their experience will get them through and then of course they'll go down to Souths
 
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You know... I wouldn't mind a Manly vs Panthers grand final. Never happened before either.
 
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