UV2RL Grand Final
Has your team been eliminated for 2014? Would you rather watch a replay of last week’s Raiders vs Tigers game than be forced to cheer for one of the sides that did make your comp’s Grand Final?
Then you need to get amongst the action of the UV2RL. You’ve read about our draft, you’ve read and heard snippets about the league through the course of the year. Now it’s time to see who will take out the title; so which side are you on, Team Mean Machine or Team Ram?
TALE OF THE TAPE
|
MEAN MACHINE |
VS |
RAMS |
|
1st |
Ladder Position |
2nd |
|
18 |
Wins |
16 |
|
4 |
Losses |
6 |
|
1059 |
Points For (Regular Season) |
1097 |
|
3 (2011, 2012, 2013) |
Premierships |
1 (2007) |
HISTORY
2014:
Major Semi Final: Mean Machine; 71-56
Round 18: Mean Machine: 52-41
Round 7: Rams 48-43
2014 has largely been a carbon copy of 2013 for these two teams. Like last year, at the end of the regular season the Mean Machine finished first and the Rams second. Like last year both teams had the first week off before going head to head in the Major Semi Final. Both this season and last, the Machines emerged triumphant. Like last season, the Rams then won their Grand Final Qualifier to get a second crack at the minor premiers.
The only difference between this season and last is this year was the first time that the Rams actually scored a win against the Mean Machine. Prior to that, Castle Hill had never beaten the Meanies. It had become a source of frustration for the Rams hierarchy given that over the years just about every other team had beaten the Mean Machine powerhouse, even if it was when they were depleted during Origin. The victory in round 7 was a monkey off the Rams’ back but with the Machines grabbing the victories in their other two encounters, it didn’t count for all that much.
INJURIES
If there is one area the Rams have an advantage, it’s in the sick bay. The Machines’ campaign was dealt a massive blow with Shaun Fensom, Elijah Taylor and Bryce Cartwright all getting injured just weeks out of from the NRLCEO finals. The Rams on the other hand only have one injury concern which has come this week via Jake Friend. Friend has been exceptional this year and is a major loss with just one game to play. A bigger concern is a number of players the Rams have sitting in reserve grade. Adam Quinlan, David Faraimo and Dane Nielsen were all dropped around the same time as the trade deadline came into effect. None of those players would probably have made the team this week but a lack of depth has made the Rams’ finals campaign more difficult than it should have been.
FORWARDS
Both teams pride themselves on their forward packs. The UV2RL does not include line breaks and line break assists which therefore places a greater importance on workhorse tries and both have some of the best in the business. Farah vs Smith, McGuire vs Parker, Sims vs Scott. Not having Fensom, Taylor or Friend takes away from some of the lustre of this forward battle but if anything it probably adds a bit of uncertainty ie interest. The Mean Machine only grabbed Tim Robinson on Tuesday, will he get a workhorse for the third week in a row? Will Leeson Ah Mau continue his good run in recent times? Will Curtis Sironen justify his place in the forwards ahead of players like Tim Mannah and Glenn Hall? Will Robbie Rochow repay the faith the Rams have shown in him week in, week out, and get back to being the workhorse we know he can be?
BACKS
This game will feature 7 of the top 15 try scorers for 2014. The Rams might have the two leading try scorers in Semi Radradra and Jarryd Hayne but the Mean Machine have the other five in Hiku, Johnston, Mansour, Milford and Hurrell. However when you take into account try assists both sides, 1-5 plus the bench backs, score a combined 22 points on average.
PLAYMAKERS
This was where the Mean Machine won the match two weeks ago. Milford and Barba combined for 26 points in round 24 which completely snuffed out the Rams hopes. The 12 points from ‘The Milf’ wasn’t surprising given he was playing the ASADA depleted Sharks but Barba’s 14 points from 3 tries and a try assist came entirely from his arse (especially considering he back it up last week with a duck egg). Pearce and Mullen were thoroughly outplayed in that game but were pivotal in the Rams victory last week. Mullen produced points in a game where Hayne and Radradra went missing whilst Pearce’s heavy involvement in the Roosters match offset the goal kicking from James Maloney who was playing for the Rams opposition.
KICKERS
Having a gun goal kicker doesn’t guarantee a victory but it sure helps. Both teams have capable goal kickers but what’s interesting is that this week they go head to head in this fantasy match and in the NRL as well. Cameron Smith has the advantage having kicked 58 goals to Corey Parker’s 47. He also has the benefit of being on his home track not to mention the ongoing issue of Parker’s game time and the split of the kicking duties between himself and Ben Hunt.
THE VERDICT
The NRLCEO website predictor gives it to the Rams by 56-47. But even in fantasy football the game is not played on paper. It doesn’t take into account the fact that Robbie Farah’s average of 8 points a game is skewed by the outstanding 6 weeks he had at the start of the season. Since Origin he’s averaged 5 points a game. It doesn’t take into account that Tim Robinson may have a season average of 2 points per game but all his points have come in the last two weeks where he’s averaged 6 points a game. There are loads of factors it doesn’t take into account, some that would sway the Machines way, some the Rams.
Ultimately the Mean Machine have to be favourites, regardless of what the computer says. They have won the minor premiership 4 years in a row. They have won the Grand Final 3 years in a row and are gunning for a fourth. But most importantly, they’re playing me. And I never win. Except that one time which was a fluke.
Geoff Adams
Latest posts by Geoff Adams (see all)
- 2018 Workhorse Watch Awards - September 3, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 24 - August 29, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 23 - August 22, 2018
