As the both footy codes become ever closer to reaching the summit, the cream is starting to rise to the top.
The NRL has seen the Sydney roosters hit form at the right time of the season. As I have written previously, the struggles they have had this year in comparison to last have them set to go back-to-back. Rather than cruise through they have had to work hard and look for answers, the questions asked are now seemingly being answered. Their halves, and in particular Mitchell Pearce, are playing with more time and with that comes better decision making at the end of their plays and sets. This is best illustrated by the fact they are leading the way in terms of repeat sets over the past month.
Whilst we sometimes say otherwise, the halves are the most important players in any team. They make a bad set good with a precise kicking finish at the end of the set and put the opposition to the sword on the back of ruck speed. They prod and probe to unlock defences, which are more and more in big games, winning the battle with the attack.
That then for me makes it easier to tell when a half is out of form. He feels rushed, kicks are seemingly never being hit from the sweet spot and inevitably decision making becomes hard work. You only have to look back to the middle of the year, in particular to see that this was definitely the case for Mitchell Pearce.
I think it says a lot a about his character that he too would have known this and went looking for answers. I think the result of this desire to seek help was shown last night where he played with poise, control and time, ultimately transpiring into a 5-star performance.
Despite Monday night’s less than impressive victory over potential wooden spooners, I still think the North Queensland Cowboys will have a major say at the back end of September. The game the other night was the best thing that could have happened to them. With more talk being about how they could win the premiership, an easy victory could have meant them getting ahead of themselves. Instead as that game showed, unless you prepare well, look for continual improvement and do the little things well and correctly, then any team in this competition can beat the other.
That in itself says that we are about to become part of a journey over the next 5 weeks that will throw up unlikely heroes, villains and an uncertainty like never before. To those who suggest the salary cap isn't working need only look at the table going into the last round to realise that competitiveness across the majority of the teams is unrivalled by anything before it or any other code. Sure there are things which need to be looked at, with the main one being unable to play u/20 players because of a full salary cap. I think that all homegrown U/20's players should be exempt from the cap. I wouldn't say all u/20's players being exempt, as that would open the door for ridiculous prices being paid by rival, more financial clubs, to recruit the game’s elite youngsters. Clubs need to be rewarded for developing their own talent.
Cheers until next week,
Andrew