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NRL Finals Footy

Mardo28 September 2011 - Mardo Gray, Rugby League Correspondent

The NRL Finals series has come down to two teams; the frequent finals visitor, the Manly Sea-Eagles, and the Rebuilding New Zealand Warriors. Manly are the favourites, being more consistent over the course of the year, but the Warriors, who have not made a Grand Final since 2002, are peaking at the right time in the season.

Manly-Warringah, traditionally a very wealthy club, is probably the least-liked in the NRL competition, and many people are expected to support the New Zealand club who have never won a major premiership, simply on the hope that the Sea-Eagles don’t win. A win for the Warriors would also do a great deal for international and New Zealand rugby league, especially in a Rugby Union World Cup year. The Grand Final is on October 3rd, and I hope to find a sports bar somewhere in New Zealand that will show the match as I will be in Dunedin watching Italy defeat Ireland to help the Wallabies top their pool. (fingers crossed).


In other Rugby League news, the retiring legend, Darren Lockyer, has been denied a fairy-tale finish with his Queensland Broncos after suffering a cheek fracture which required the insertion of titanium plates. While he tried to be match fit, common sense, with the threat of a loss of eye-sight persuaded him to watch from the sidelines as his side lost to Manly. He hopes to be fit for a farewell game on Australian Soil when Australia plays New Zealand in Newcastle on October 16, as a warm up before both teams fly to Great Britain to take on Wales and England in the Four Nations tournament.

Finally, the Prime Ministers XIII, coached by Mal Meninga, defeated the PNG Kumuls in their annual clash, 36-22. The PNGRL side has been regaining its strength over the past few years thanks to these clashes, which are hotly anticipated by the locals, and even more hotly contested by the fans trying to get into the stadiums. 15,000 in a sportsground meant for 2000, and police trying to hold back more outside.  Once again I can only beg someone to film these matches and make them available to the wider Rugby League loving public worldwide.

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