Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. NRLCEO Glory… lasts forever.
Holy hole-riddled team, Batman!
20-something blokes out through Origin, and six clubs with the bye. If your team is like mine, it has more holes than Dale Kerrigan’s backyard at 3 Highview Cresent, Coolaroo.
“But Crystal Ballboy,” I hear you say, “Aren’t you supposed to be able to predict the future? Shouldn’t you have seen this coming?”
Yes. I can predict the future, you smart arse.
As soon as I finished my draft, and had a look at the draw, I was able to accurately predict that I’d be on a weekend kayaking trip in scenic Shit Creek National Park, sans paddle.
Sometimes you just gotta say “screw it” and let the current take you where it wants.
Other times, you have to scramble like a madman when teams are announced on Tuesday, trying to plug the gaps in your squad. The F5 button and I have become close friends this week.
However, my F5 button has a twin sister, and one of the lads in my league enjoys playing with her a little more than me. So I unfortunately missed out on a few blokes who could’ve made my team look a little less like a who’s who of the NSW Cup.
This is the time of year when you wish you had’ve recruited a squad full of Poms and Kiwis, and not the Fijians, Tongans, and Samoans who suddenly have all been awarded Australian citizenship.
But not to get too ‘Pauline’ on you, I must admit that when the boys do well for NSW, I cheer just as hard as if they were actually born somewhere in NSW – like Kempsey.
The players always seem to rate Origin as the pinnacle of League, and I have to admit, that there are few more occasions than Origin when I get more passionate for a team. Sure there hasn’t been much to get passionate over for the last, oh eight years or so, but it runs deep.
My Nan was a passionate Blues supporter. She was all of about 5 foot nothing of love and joy and home-cooked tenderness. But, by God, my young ears were shocked and delighted when the foul language would pour out from her over “those mongrel [expletive deleted] Queensland players,” come Origin time. Me and my brothers would look at each other with surprised looks of amazement and laugh ourselves silly.
There is a fine line between passionate and hateful. Nan seemed to wander over the line into hateful territory at times, and it was hilarious because it was so out of character for her. But if she taught me nothing else, it’s that its ok to hate people for three days of the year – as long as they’re Queenslanders.
Anyway, back to The Replacements and the games at hand…
The Bulldogs have called up Reni Maitua and Moses Mbye to replace ‘the Great Blue Hope’ halves pairing of Hodkinson and Reynolds. Whether or not they can score NRLCEO points is questionable, but they should fair solidly for the Dogs. Morris is deftly replaced in the backs by Lafai, and if any of The Replacements is likely to score, I say it’s him.
Tupou and Jennings will be missed this week, but not by as much as the Dogs halves. The Roosters have filled these spots easily, and with Pearce and Maloney set to atone for their omissions, should win the game. Look to Sonny Bill to be the big scorer in this match, and if you have Bulldog forwards – play them! There are workhorse tries on offer here.
Do the Titans have any rep players? How can you tell? Their side looks average at the best of times, yet they still sit in the Top 8. Dave Taylor will be fuming that he was not picked by Big Mal in the Maroons, and he will do his best to tear the Warriors apart. Despite Matty Srama being on the bench again, he will still get himself some points. Also, not since the dodgy Stallone remake, has there been a better time to Get Carter. Paul Carter will become a NRLCEO champion and I foresee that he will become a dependable week-in-week-out workhorse machine.
How do you predict what the Warriors will do? I know I’m meant to be able to predict the future, but it’s the friggin Warriors. Who the hell knows what team will show up. The bludgers that get beat by 50, or the team that lays the 50 point smack down on the opposition.
Coin flip: Warriors to put the hurt on. Play their backs if you have any. Johnson to rack up a double figure kicking tally.
Remember when Brisbane really suffered because all of Queensland’s Origin stars played for the Broncs? It’s not really like that anymore. Looking at their team list for this week, its hard to spot who’s missing in Origin. FYI it’s Hodges, Gillett and Parker, and honestly I predict that they’ll only miss Parker’s kicking boot.
Peering into the Crystal Steeden, Wests will miss Farah and Woods much much more, and will get beaten.
The Cowboys will miss Tamou, Thurston, Tate and Scott, and that coupled with the less than tropical Canberran temperatures this time of year will be enough for the yellow-bellied Green Machine to get the points. The Raiders backs will run riot this game, and will give the Green Army some false hope for their season’s chances. Still, they’ll get the two points, and that’s good enough.
You know how I know NSW wont win on Wednesday? Their captain is club captain of the team running dead last. Yeah I know I said I’m a passionate Blues fan and I love them boys and Gal is amongst the best of them. But as hopeful as I am, I’ve also consulted the Crystal Steeden. NSW win the series next year. We lose 2-1 this year.
Winning becomes habit as much as losing does. Unfortunately for Cronulla (and Newcastle at the moment) they are stuck in a losing rut. However… With Souths missing Te’o, McQueen, and Inglis, there is a fair chance the boys in blue can beat the Bunnies.
Arona and Vave will stand up for the Sharkies and get workhorse tries, and Mr 300, John Morris will go damn close if he doesn’t grab one as well.
Nathan Merritt who is The Replacement for Inglis (and one-time Blues winger) could have a big match. He hasn’t seen much first grade this year, and could shine. He’s worth picking up for more than just plugging gaps. The dude’s scored over 150 tries in his career, so it’s not exactly a gamble!
There it is ladies and gents. Round 11.
P.S. LET’S GO BLUES!
The Crystal Ballboy
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