Finals Week 1
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 36 d. Canberra Raiders 10

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Sharks roll on with win over the Raiders
Sun September 14, 2008
Source: www.sharks.com.au

In holding the rampant Canberra Raiders to just 10 points while running in seven tries of their own, the Sharks have scored a convincing 36-10 victory over the Canberra Raiders in week one of the NRL Finals.

The Sharks were impressive in attack and again ruthless in defence as they marched on to week three of the finals and a match up with the Brisbane Broncos or Melbourne Storm.

While trying not to get carried away with the victory, Sharks coach Ricky Stuart was understandably pleased with the manner in which his team had disposed of the dangerous Raiders side and was looking forward to the coming weeks.

"For a team who supposedly can't attack, we did pretty well tonight," Stuart said. "We scored some good tries. We're continuing to improve and I'm pleased with the way we're playing."

The match began well for the Sharks with the first 10 minutes of the match all going their way, two tries from winger Misi Taulapapa putting them 10-0 in front.

The first four pointer came from a Brett Kimmorley cross kick, which was fumbled by Canberra winger Marshall Chalk, with Taulapapa jumping on the scraps for the opening score of the night.

Taulapapa was in the game again when a well worked back line move saw him dive over centimetres from the corner post after receiving the last pass from Brett Kearney.

After weathering the storm in the next period of the game with the possession going all in favour of the Raiders, it was that man Taulapapa again in the action, diving over in almost the exact same spot to his previous try after a magic Paul Gallen off-load.

Luke Covell's conversion attempt cannoned off the upright, but it was all the Sharks at 14-0 in front with three minutes to go to the break.

The Sharks had one last chance to add to their lead after an error from Raiders fullback David Milne but the last pass went to ground and they would have to be content with a 14 point advantage after the first 40-minutes.

Just when they thought they were in control of the contest, the second stanza began in the worst possible fashion for the Sharks when Canberra skipper Alan Tongue made a line break and following a succession of passes, Marshall Chalk of the Raiders would plant the ball down in the south-eastern corner of Toyota Stadium for his teams first points.

Terry Campese was wide with his conversion attempt but the Sharks faithful had to be a little bit nervous as the Raiders had clawed back some of the lead at 14-4 behind.

The large contingent of Sharks fans needn't have worried however, when during the next set of six tackles the Sharks went back on the attack, Brett Seymour dummying his way through the Raiders defensive line to score the Sharks fourth try of the night. Despite the fact that Covell was wide with his kick at goal the Sharks were out in front by 18-4.

The Sharks then added to that lead when Covell scored one his now trademark tries, claiming the four points after winning a battle for the ball against Joel Monaghan, the pair competing for a Seymour cross field kick which came loose from Monaghan and bounced around in the in goal area.

Covell converted his own try and the game was as good as over with the Sharks ahead 24-4 with about half an hour of game time remaining.

The Raiders made the score more respectable after a Colin Best try and Terry Campese conversion, before two late Sharks tries, one to Ben Pomeroy after a determined run and another to Brett Kearney running onto an inside pass from Seymour, to put an exclamation mark on an impressive Sharks win.

Other than a bad head cut suffered by Isaac De Gois and a corked thigh to Pomeroy, the Sharks came through the match without any major injury concerns ahead of their likely clash with the Roosters next weekend.

While Kimmorley was justifiably rewarded with the Channel 9 man-of-the-match award, he had plenty of willing helpers on the night, with Seymour again in good form, Taulapapa outstanding on the wing and Luke Douglas and Ben Ross strong in the forwards.

Minute by minute scoring

3 mins - Misi Taulapapa try, Luke Covell goal - Sharks 6-0
11 mins - Misi Taulapapa try- Sharks 10-0
36 mins - Misi Taulapapa try - Sharks 14-0
half time
41 mins - Marshall Chalk try - Sharks 14-4
44 mins - Brett Seymour try - Sharks 18-4
52 mins - Luke Covell try, Luke Covell goal - Sharks 24-4
68 mins - Colin Best try, Terry Campese goal - Sharks 24-10
73 mins - Ben Pomeroy try, Luke Covell goal - Sharks 30-10
78 mins - Brett Kearney try, Brett Kimmorley goal - Sharks 36-10

SHARKS 36
Misi Taulapapa 3, Brett Seymour, Luke Covell, Ben Pomeroy, Brett Kearney tries, Luke Covell 3, Brett Kimmorley goals
beat
RAIDERS 10
Marshall Chalk, Colin Best tries, Terry Campese goal

Crowd - 18,252

Report Source: www.sharks.com.au


'A Footy Fanatic's Guide to Week 1 of the Finals'
Tue September 9, 2008
Get set for some serious fireworks this weekend as week 1 of the NRL finals kicks off in the league's 100th year. This year also marks the 10th year of the McIntyre finals system in the NRL. If the referees allow for free flowing attacking footy we should hopefully the team with the highest skill level with football in hand win the decider in early October. Here is a quick run down on the first weekend's games:

4 v 5 Roosters v Brisbane

Analysis: On Friday Night we see a classic match up, the Roosters still crowing after a 10-0 win over the Dragons will take on a Broncos side who seem very quietly confident about their prospects. I've got a feeling this match will show us if either of these sides are serious title contenders. We have not seen an extra time finals match since 1998, but this game is a real chance of going the distance. Brisbane looks to have a little more in reserve at the moment and will be favourites to win.

Key Stats: In the last 9 years this match has been won 6 times by the 4th ranked team and just 3 times by the 5th ranked team. Neither the Roosters or Broncos have a fantastic record in week 1 of the McIntyre finals system, with the Broncos having a 2/9 record, while the Roosters having won just 3 from 6 games in week 1 of the finals. These teams have met in finals three times since the inception of the NRL, with the Broncos holding a slender 2-1 lead. The 4 v 5 match to open the finals series is traditionally a tight and see sawing encounter.

Best Bets: With the tightness and pressure of the situation look for a fluctuating result with a Roosters/Broncos half/full double. Take the Broncos 1-12, and don't be surprised if it is a Darren Lockyer field goal that separates the sides.


3 v 6 Sharks v Canberra

Analysis: This match is a tipster's nightmare, with the worst attacking team in the comp and the best attacking in the comp taking on each other. In defence of the Sharks their offence has improved over the past month, and have put a few sides to the sword. The Raiders have been scintillating with the footy and if they get a roll they could be hard to stop. If any match this week was going to be decided by the interpretation of the referee than this is it. If we see a dewy night characterised by slow play the balls, a short ten and in your face defence, than the Sharks will shut the Raiders out. However if the match is open and the referee allows some quicker movement around the ruck, the Raiders have the attack to penetrate the Sharkies tough nut defence.

Key Stats: This match has seen its share of upsets over the past nine years of the McIntyre system. The current tally actually stands at 5-4 in favour of team number 6. This match has traditionally been decided by a large margin, especially when team number 6 gets up. This match could follow the trend with the Raiders winning the majority of their matches 13+ this year. The Sharks and Raiders last met in a finals match in Super League in 1997, with two meetings resulting in two Sharks victories. Again both sides have relatively poor records in the first week of the finals under the McIntyre system with the Sharks running at 2/5 and the Raiders 1/5.

Best Bets: If the Raiders win they will do it 13+, while if the Sharks get the cash look for a 1-12 result.


2 v 7 Manly v Dragons

Analysis: This match looks set to be an absolute beauty. This year The Dragons have found the steel that's been missing from their belly over the last 5 seasons, while Manly are aiming for back to back Grand Finals. Danger signs are all pointing at the home side with the Eagles running into some patchy form over the last month. And while the Dragons have been far from brilliant themselves, they have nothing to lose. The key for the Dragons will be putting in a performance of controlled aggression and getting into Manly's face much like they did with their last encounter with the Storm. The Eagles will know that if they can keep their heads, play some footy and stay with the Dragons until halftime they have enough strike power to roll through to week 3.

Key Stats: This match has been won 5 times by team 2, and 4 times by team 7. In fact position 2 on the ladder was once known as the 'death seat' but three wins in a row from team 2 in 05, 06, and 07 have ensured that the hoodoo is starting to wear off. Amazingly these two sides have only ever met once in an NRL finals series with the Dragons completing a comprehensive victory in 2006. Their last meeting prior to that in a finals series was in the 1996 grand final. Manly have won just 1/3 finals matches in week 1 of the McIntyre system, while the Dragons have the best record out of any side with 5 wins from 6 games. The Dragons traditionally fire up for the big games and having 8 out of their past 9 against the Eagles they will fancy their chances.

Best Bets: This match is a real chance of an upset. Take the Dragons 1-12 for best value or the total match points to be above 50. If you're a Manly fan you will get best value from a Manly 13+ result and either Beaver or Brett Stewart to score the first or last try.


1 v 8 Melbourne v Warriors

Analysis: Can the Warriors do the impossible? That is the question on everybody's lips. I win here for the Warriors would most certainly open the finals series right up. Expect a spiteful encounter with the Warriors still seething over the Storm's delaying tactics in round 1. This match will not be one to watch if your into attacking football, I can see it being a real grind, especially for he first 60 minutes. Both sides will be physical, but it's whether the Warriors fitness can stand up that will decide the fate of the game. Melbourne will be hard to stop considering they have perfected the art of making four man gang tackles and then timing their release perfectly so that one player at a time peels off. They have also gone back to the Chris Anderson days with the ball by planting the footy on the turf and barely standing up straight when they play the ball themselves, trying for quick play the balls.

Key Stats: Team number 8 has never won this match, and unfortunately it doesn't look like changing in 2008. In terms of injuries, Melbourne has been the first team to evade the premier's curse in a decade, with no serious absences to date. The Storm have won 5/7 games in week 1 of the finals, while the Warriors have a 2/4 record. All the stats point to the Storm, who have won 4 out of their last 5 finals matches, while the Warriors have lost their last three in a row.

Best Bets: The Storm will be short priced in this one, but perhaps value could be earnt from a draw/Storm or Warriors/Storm half full double. Also look for a dull game resulting in a lowly total match points spread of 21-30 or 31-40.

Tue September 9, 2008
• Sharks team for Raiders semi final
  
Tue September 9, 2008
• Chalk back for Raiders
  

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