Legends of League – run home preview
There’s just two rounds to go until the 2016 Legends of League Finals so it’s time to see who’s looking the goods.
No NRLCEO title is ever a formality and there’s plenty of work to do for all coaches in the run to the finals. Whether your team sits in finals contention or not, each team still has a role to play – as the hunter or the hunted! Furthermore, injuries, poor form, captain selection and team rotation is very important in these closing rounds – where you finish on the ladder really influences how deep your team can go in the finals under the 5 team finals format.
Of course, each competition winner will be invited into the prestigious Champions League. With wins so important yet so elusive, here’s where each competition is at in the 2016 NRLCEO Legends of League Tournament.
Champion’s League
The race for the minor premiership is hotting up with Injury Brigade (28) just holding top spot over Soup-a-Stars (26). The latter hit the defending title holders, You Know It Gurus for over a 100 on the weekend and are in some stunning form. Averaging 60 points per game, the Stars look to be the team to beat just two weeks out from the post season.
The ever consistent Team Enormous (24) have almost secured their place in the 2017 Champion’s League and one more win will guarantee them a top 4 finish and automatic re-entry next year. In fourth position, the Gurus are not guaranteed of a finals place, especially with Cook’s Crushers (20) and Bundy Bears (19) breathing down their neck! 2014 champions, The Clyde Frowgs (17) will need everything to go right and winning six straight games is the only scenario Coach Mad Dog is contemplating right now – an unlikely but mathematically possible situation…
2013 Champion, Briggsy’s Dentites has had a bludger of a campaign and is wallowing in self-pity, in lowly ninth position.
Wally Lewis Competition
Can anyone halt the Roswell Aliens’ charge to their maiden Wally Lewis title after they have easily secured the minor premiership? Averaging a whopping 65 points per game, and sitting on 34 competition points, Coach Fletcher has every right to be tweeting his praises for his squad – his team are easily ranked #1 in NRLCEO Power Rankings. His nearest competitor, Aussiepistons (28) is desperate to make a game of this and averaging 60 points per game – surely a contender. Multi-Wally winner, the Gurus (25) will still fancy their chances while they average 63 points per game and sit in third.
In fourth postion, Cook’s Crusher’s (22) seem to be a little off the pace in scoring potential while Alex Chan (22) seem to be paying the price for a hot and cold season.
Andrew Johns Competition
Word on the street is ‘The Commish’ (Fire Breathing Ferrets) has set his sights on this campaign after the rest of his teams have put in forgettable seasons. Coach JB’s crew are in second place and sit just a win behind the Spider Pigs (24) who have a hugely inferior differential to the Ferrets if they get level again. The Fighting Mongooses also sit on 22 points but would need two solid regular season wins to have a chance of the minor premiership.
Sitting in fourth place, Soup-a-Stars (20) could miss the finals with their coach looking at higher honours in the Champion’s League. Team Team with Marcho blogger and regular Moneyball Podcast host Hell Boy (20), Incudans (20) and Spider-Nation.com (18) will all be looking to cause an upset or two over the next two weeks in order to secure a finals position.
Overall, this is the Commish’s to lose – he’s averaging an impressive 64 points per gameand with no other team getting his love, this is it for JB…
Clive Churchill Competition
This is another tight competition with just one win separating each team as we go down the ladder. Currently in top spot and seeking a bye in the first week of the finals is Multiple Scoregasms (25). They are averaging a solid 59 points per game and on form are likely to secure the minor premiership. In second, SemiisloveManuislife (23) is a contender but lack the required punch in attack to be the title favourite. Suspects RLFC (22) and Fencing with Fensom (20) both average 55+ while Magic Dyke (20) sit in 5th and will be looking to plug a few holes in their defence if they are to feature deep in the post season.
With the top five not quite set, there is no doubt that the elephant in the room is the team that sits in sixth – Team Blitzkrieg hit a ton last weekend and are averaging a competition high 64 points. Is it possible for the ‘competition favourites’ to not even make the finals? Time will tell with the final two regular season games oh so important for TB. If Blitzkrieg miss the finals, there will be a collective sigh of relief from the rest…
Arthur Beetson Competition
The battle for minor premier is a cracker in this one with Team Enormous (28) holding a slender 2 point advantage. Deadly Deathclaws (26) are their stalker and average just 1ppg less, while Sydney Superb Parrots (24) sit a further win behind in 3rd and can’t finish worse than that. In 4th place, the resurgence of Bucca Bulldogs (20) is on and averaging 56ppg means a return to the Champions League is not out of the question for this one time champion. In a nomination for ‘most intriguing team name’, ISIS Dildo Flags (19) are looking to fend off the Coorparoo Cocks (18) for the final finals spot.
Interesting Stat: Any of the top 6 could win this competition as each team is averaging between 54-57ppg.
Allan Langer Competition
This competition is always a tight affair with plenty of rivalry among the returning coaches. Historically, the Dentites and EMUS are always hard to beat and both feature in top five once again. However, a change in name has seen a change in fortune with Emus on the Menu currently leading a group of three at the top of the ladder. Only a superior points differential (+31) sees them above the Dentites (+7) and Bungendore Tigers (-67).
In fourth place and by no means out of the minor premiership race, Old Bar Maggots (22, +101) could very well creep through and take the title from under the noses of the top three.
In fifth, the Wallalong EMUS (20, -20) won’t be happy with their campaign and look likely for the elimination final in the first week – if they can stay above the Fantasy Kings (18, -6).
Overall, what a cracking competition as per usual. If you’re looking to join a high quality, high stakes public competition next season, this could be the one. It’s always worth the price of admission!
Mal Meninga Competition
The top three in this completion have streaked away with each coach being a familiar to the NRLCEO Legends of League format. On top, Sheriff’s Legends (28) sit a win clear of The Wendells and Happy Trails. Each have secured two bites of the final cherry with Perth Bengals (20) looking likely for a finals berth. Despite sitting in 5th, the Coro Beach Boys (18) could finish as high as fourth and as low as seventh – such is the tightness of the bottom of the ladder. Bundy Bears (18) are definitely not out of it but their poor differential (-107) has to be a concern. Eskimo Bros (16) are not completely out of finals contention but will need two solid wins if they are to snatch fifth.
Overall, it’s a tough call between the top three. Anyone on their day could win it but getting top spot is a major incentive with a bye in the finals week one.
Mig
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