Rugby League

Grand Final Turning Points

Grand Final Turning Points

• Will Evans
Grand finals swing on big calls, heroic plays and crucial mistakes. Ahead of Sunday’s NRL Grand Final showdown between Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, we’re reliving the great grand final turning points.  Without these trajectory-changing moments, the following deciders could have turned out very differently.   Did Darcy call held? (1963)   The SCG, resembling a quagmire, played host to one of the most controversial deciders of all time as a record 69,860-strong crowd witnessed what would become known as the ‘Mudbath’ Grand Final.   Western Suburbs was denied a seemingly fair try late in the first half by referee Darcy Lawler, but…
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2025 NRL Grand Final Preview

2025 NRL Grand Final Preview page

• Will Evans
Melbourne Storm have ground their opponents down in trademark style during the NRL post-season, while Brisbane Broncos have produced a pair of comebacks that rank among the most special in finals history.   If styles make fights, the 2025 NRL Grand Final shapes as a classic – with little between the combatants and fierce rivals. The Storm are searching for their fourth title in 14 seasons, while the Broncos are out to end a 19-year premiership drought.   Read on for our complete NRL Grand Final 2025 preview, tips and best bets! Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos Sunday 5th October 6:30 PM…
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The Top 10 NRL Grand Finals

The Top 10 NRL Grand Finals

• James Caughlin
The Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos will face off in the 28th NRL Grand Final this weekend as both teams seek to finish their season by raising the Provan-Summons Trophy. In the spirit of nostalgia we have gone back through the archives to find our top 10 Grand Finals of the NRL era. Read on to see which game lands where in our Top 10 NRL Grand Finals. NUMBER 10 – 1998: Broncos (38) def. Bulldogs (12) The first decider under the newly reunited NRL banner was contested by the lone Super League champions Brisbane and the red hot Bulldogs,…
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5 Lessons Learned - NRL Preliminary Finals

5 Lessons Learned - NRL Preliminary Finals

• Will Evans
NRL Preliminary Final weekend delivered in spades, courtesy of an absorbing Friday night battle in Melbourne and an unforgettable, dynasty-halting barnburner in Brisbane.   The Storm and Broncos will battle it out for the Provan-Summons Trophy on Sunday night after navigating the week off and halting the September momentum of the Sharks and Panthers, respectively.   Cometh the hour  For 75 minutes, Penrith expertly shut down Brisbane dangerman Reece Walsh – cutting down his time with the ball, sweating on his passes and suffocating his support runners on both edges.   After racking up six tries and eight try assists on the Broncos’…
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Greatest Individual Preliminary Finals Performances

Greatest Individual Preliminary Finals Performances

• Will Evans
Ahead of a pair of NRL preliminary final blockbusters, we’re looking at the finest individual displays on the penultimate weekend of the season.   Les Cowie (1956)  Among the most prolific tryscoring forwards of his era, South Sydney’s Les ‘Chicka’ Cowie produced one the most notable individual displays in a losing effort in finals history.   Balmain won an absolute classic 36-33, with Souths’ tally the highest ever in a first grade match by a losing team and still a finals record.   Former Test lock Cowie scored four tries for the Rabbitohs, which equalled the finals record at the time and remains…
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2025 NRL Preliminary Finals Preview

2025 NRL Preliminary Finals Preview page

• Will Evans
The 2025 NRL preliminary finals recreate two epic grand final match-ups of the past decade.    Melbourne Storm host Cronulla Sharks on Friday night, while Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers square off in a Suncorp Stadium blockbuster on Sunday afternoon.   Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Friday 26th September 7:50 PM (AAMI Park) Tip:  Back Storm / Over 41.5 – Winner / Total Points Double @ $2.35  Melbourne Storm are win one away from their 11th grand final in 20 seasons, welcoming in-form dark horses Cronulla Sharks to AAMI Park.   Navigating another injury setback to marquee No.7 Jahrome Hughes, the second-placed Storm…
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5 Lessons Learned - NRL Finals Week 2

5 Lessons Learned - NRL Finals Week 2

• Will Evans
A pair of NRL semifinal blockbusters petered out as contests, with both featuring 20-point margins – but leaving no shortage of talking points in the most wide open premiership race in years.   The Raiders  and Bulldogs created unwanted history as both top-four losers bowed out in straight sets in this finals format for the first time since 1996, while No.7s at opposite ends of the malignment scale steered their teams to rousing victories.   Big-time Hynes sparks Sharks  Nicho Hynes’ perceived penchant for going missing in big games since his 2022 Dally M Medal success has gone hand in hand with…
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2025 NRL Semi-Finals Preview

2025 NRL Semi-Finals Preview page

• Will Evans
On the back of an epic weekend of qualifying and elimination finals, the scene is set for two massive sudden-death semis in week two of the 2025 NRL finals on Saturday and Sunday.   Will the Raiders and Bulldogs bounce back from top-four defeats to grab a preliminary berth, or will the Sharks and Panthers keep their roll going?   Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks Saturday 20th September 7:50 PM (GIO Stadium) Tip: Back the Raiders to Win by 1-12 Points @ $2.85 After going down in heart-breaking golden point fashion last Sunday, minor premiers Canberra Raiders regroup with a second bite…
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Unheralded Premiership-Winning No. 7s

Unheralded Premiership-Winning No. 7s

• Will Evans
Possessing a top-notch halfback is usually a prerequisite for winning a premiership; few teams in the mandatory grand final era have taken out the title without a representative-quality No.7.    But premiership favourites Melbourne Storm have entrusted Jonah Pezet with the linchpin role for the 2025 finals, making just his 18th NRL appearance (and only his second in the starting line-up this season) in their qualifying final win over Canterbury Bulldogs.   The slick 22-year-old playmaker will join the hallowed ranks of unheralded grand final-winning halfbacks in he helps steer the Storm to the title.   Ray Mason (South Sydney)  Rabbitohs half Mason…
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