Well, I'm torn between the two.

It would be great to have the fairy tale come true & the 8th team beat the red hot favs.  The support for the Cows in FNQ just has to be seen to be believed.  There's more fanaticism anywhere north of Rocky than with the Rabbitos mob.

But then for the big three to go out winners on their last game together is justly deserved.  Of course I have a bit of residual annoyance at Bellyache for leaving the Broncs & Benny all those years ago to go to Ribot's new team .. The Storm. So that pushes me just a bit towards the Cows as does the unkind way they treated the Broncs at their last meeting.  But I may get a little bit of solace if they do the same to the Cows.

I'm certain that irrespective of the outcome this is one RL game that I won't be deleting from my HDD (as I always do when we loose).

Just to have no Sydney based Team in the GF is enough for a Queenslander (wannabe or not) ..  LOL

I hope the Storm get flogged or failing that, lose on an incorrect refereeing decision. Whilst I admit that Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are probably two of the best players I have seen, they are both cheap shot merchants. Smith and his chicken wing trained mates slow the play the ball down and risk injury to the opposition. Melbourne were the first to employ wrestling coaches and unfortunately, although they have brilliant players, don't play in the spirit of the game. Smith is continually refereeing games and is always in the referees ear.

Slater, whilst one of the best fullbacks in history is unfortunately a real cheap shot merchant. The knees in the back of tackled players, the milking of penalties, the indignant displays each time he is tackled is not called for. In the past, his antics would have been taken care of by the opposing forwards but in today's game with all the cameras and scrutiny of the game, a discreet punch or stiff arm in retribution is no longer acceptable.

The Storm got off lightly with their salary cap breaches. Those players must have known when they were given boats and cars that all was not kosher. I have no real reason to support the Cowboys although I did live in North Qld for a few years. What I like about them is that they don't whinge when they get dudded, they don't give up and they play in the right spirit. Add to that they hate everything in Qld south of Rocky and look after their fans.

Bring it on, and send those chicken wing, salary cap cheating, cheap shot, whinging Storm back to Melbourne with dented pride and sore ribs.

Gday...

       Don't hold back DMaxer   tell us how ya really feel.  

Cheers - John

Thanks for that Rocky. I try to do my best. Even though I dislike Manly with a passion and think Parramatta are pretty ordinary, both of them were dudded out of a premiership by these cheats. I hope they get flogged. Sorry, I think I have already said that a few times.

No Gene needed.

Well done Melbourne Storm a great win by a great team.

Well done to the Cowboys as well, you never gave up all night, true worriors.  

I had no idea who won or what was the score but by Dougwes post it sounds like the Storm may have got up. Just reading Ron-Ds previous comments re. Cronk, Slater, Smith & JT there is no doubt that they are all great players and have often been the difference between winning and losing. To suggest that these guys are the Queensland or Storm team is an insult to the other players who go out there and give them the opportunity to do their thing. Last time I counted there were 13 players on the field and a few more waiting on the bench, everyone of them having to do their job in order to win or maybe you think that they are so good they don't need the other guys. Don't worry Cowboys supporters there is no shame in finishing second this time next year people probably won't even remember who played the previous years grand final (unless it was their side). So tell me what was the score...we heard Richmond won yesterday fairly easily.

Any one with common sense would know those players can usually and do make the difference ,they are in a league of there own,would the cowboys suffered that huge loss tonight with those guys in the team ,if you think that it's stupidity at the highest level BB..

Sorry Ron-D I'm not disagreeing on the talent of these players I pointed out that champion players need a champion team around them otherwise it would be easy to just shut them down.. Obviously losing star players like this would weaken any side but that is when the best sides stand up.  JT sat on the sidelines since originIII yet the Cowboys still made the grand final because the other players found a way to keep winning without him. A team is not 3 talented individuals playing with 13 passengers it is 17 guys playing together as a unit..Who knows what would have happened if JT had played maybe he Cowboys would have lost by more, then again maybe they could have won - one thing is for sure nobody is ever going to know.

Over the years NSW has continually underestimated the strength of Queensland in games when their star players have been out and that includes the ones that you have mentioned. The lesser rated players always seem to stand up and get them over the line, that is what makes them the champion side that they are.  

Here are BB

Richmond 108-60

Storm 34-6

They were the best side all year and deserved to win. If there is any consolation for me, it is knowing they are taking the trophy and their grinning faces back to a city where the majority couldn't care less.

My apologies BB my comment was a bit over the top,could not agree more DMaxer a team of that quality is wasted on a state that the majority of its population only enjoys aerial ping pong  not our great game,cooper,billy ,cameron,move to nsw or Queensland where you would be appreciated by people that love rugby league...

Gday...

AWWWW .... I dunno 'bout that Ron ...... 

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/melbourne-storm-set-sights-on-becoming-biggest-club-in-the-nrl-25k-members-20170928-gyr2jt.html

http://leagueunlimited.com/news/29340-2017-nrl-club-membership-tracker/

Cheers - John

Well what a let down.

I only raised my voice once & that was to cheer the Cows try.

Even Gus's crappy commentary couldn't raise a response ...  not even a 'there gone' 'you could throw a blanket over them' sort of comment could stir me.

Having said that, yet another Melbourne Master Class.  They deserved the title & NQ should be proud of their great effort to get to the GF.

BTW I stumbled onto a soccer match the other day, & before I could flip it over I got a bit tied up in the game.

I never watch soccer but love field hockey that has many similarities, particularly WRT tactics/positional play.

The skill & tactics of the players was amazing & certainly made it a great spectacle.  If only they could follow hockey & fix the offside rules ... and perhaps get rid of their corrupt FIFA Officials, they might just have a great game.

macka17 wrote:

---

Hey Cupie.
The name may have been "Melbourne".
But the bulk of, and ALL the good players in there were Queenslanders and Outside Vict origin.

So Basically.
It WAS... an ALL Queensland finals again. With the Bronc's beating Cows early and them coming back in ahead of them again.

Regarding Hockey.
My first wife and the three kids (1 x f 2 x m)
All Played A grade . with daughter Playing State (SA in the '70's)

The best. probably most aggressive (apart from Rugby\Union)
field game in this country.

I was a runner. Did laps of field all day.
But never used a stick. (They hurt)

Back at State finals one yr.
2 day session.
I did laps of oval. (4 pitches). ALL day in training.
for both days
How???. said some that didn't know me.

Simple. Get body in gear. Go sailing for a coupla days. then dock the boat
and go ashore again.

You do a lot of deep thinking when running.
apart from feeling\controlling your body.

Don't think, It don't hurt. Much. I loved it.

Was in same club as Allan Fox. and David Standeven.
1 and 2 times winners of Melb Sydney run in '70's\80's.
I trained with them but NOT competitive minded.
Just fun.
Around 80 miles a week on av.

A small group of us,Alice to rock, then up Rock on X'Mas day morn.
was my limit in this country.

Mountain running in Sth Africa and Tanzanier with English (Tanz born) girl friend.
Tiny little blonde girl. Became a VET
Little B could outrun me on the peaks (Lighter body)

Did cross country\Distance in UK Prior to.

Dist running is about the BEST. Individual sport in the world. along with deep water sailing.
And a GOOD woman.

---

 You FIGJAMing again Macka?  

Aussie Paul. 

No need to apologise Ron I wasn't offended by anything that you said you made some valid points. Thanks Dougwe for letting me know the score I was trying to read between the lines to get an idea of how close the game was.

"They deserved the title & NQ should be proud of their great effort to get to the GF."

Well said Cupie I don't support either The Hunter Mariners sorry Storm or the Cowboys but I agree with your sentiment.

Macka sometimes you amaze me with the things that you write but at least you are always entertaining.