Round 17 Talking Points: More Origin-impacted results shake up finals chase – and are you enjoying being at games?

State of Origin leaves its mark once again, helping some teams pinch a critical two points but also leaving others with no excuses. Here come your talking points.

Tough wins, surprising losses

Post-game coverage from Penrith was all about how the Panthers were without their Origin players, but it needs to be pointed out their conquerors North Queensland were missing their share of stars (with two players sin-binned into the bargain) – and once again managed to get the job done.

The 16-6 result was the Cowboys’ fifth win in six games, which has lifted them back into the top eight ahead of three straight home games and a bye. Those home games are against Manly, Canterbury and Cronulla, no easy feat. But Todd Payten’s men are working their way through a torrid Origin period better than most.

Credit also to the Dragons, who got past the Dolphins 26-6 and ended the round in eighth place after a tough, gritty wrestle. Melbourne wheeled out their reserve team and still squeaked past a spirited but error-riddled Raiders team 16-6. The Storm are two games clear on top, if you can believe that.

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Newcastle and the Warriors took their chances in key wins over Parramatta and Brisbane respectively, and favourable results mean finals are still a live possibility. Eels fans would be frustrated with how the game went but the Knights were value for the win.

We must point out Canterbury’s golden point win over the third-placed Cronulla, who yet again face questions of credibility. Cameron Ciraldo’s team is sitting fifth, in good form and with a run of games ahead that they can win. Friday night’s spectacle wasn’t the greatest exhibition of rugby league but low-scoring arm-wrestles are what finals play is all about and I’ve got the Bulldogs playing finals now.

We’ve got an interesting season in the works as we approach the business end. Positions fifth to 14th are separated by two wins and there’s a stack of games coming with those teams playing each other. Two months’ worth of games left to run, and plenty to play for.

Talking points needs your help

I’ve been to games in different states this year and have noticed a few things about the in-stadium experience, the first which really stood out at State of Origin game two on Wednesday.

It’s an ‘event’ game so I expected the usual: in-game music, ‘make sum noyeeeez’ blather, you know the stuff. But the ground announcer came booming over the MCG speakers during every other set, asking the crowd to chant Queensland or New South Wales when either had the ball. The crowd was massive and were up and about, being noisy throughout even with the game playing out like it did. It didn’t need forced hype.

I’ve made my peace with music pumping during every spare second, that’s the way of the world now. But on Wednesday night the music thumped over the top of Ash Klein’s mic every time he spoke to the bunker, meaning no one at the ground had a clue what was going on.

At Melbourne games the Storm turn the music off so you can hear the ref, Canberra usually do and so did the Roosters at their home game I was at. Maybe it was an Origin once-off but I want to check which is where you come in, dear readers.

What’s the stadium experience for you with your team? Can you hear the ref when you need to? When’s the last time you saw some actual game statistics shown on the scoreboard at any time? Is anything missing that would make your time at a game better?

Good games this week

We’re back to a full slate of games, which is always nice.

Thursday night kicks us off with a pretty interesting one, Parramatta and South Sydney. The Bunnies off a bye, the Eels from a game they will have thought they could have won.

Friday night’s pub game is Cronulla and the Gold Coast playing in Coffs Harbour rather than the Sharks’ construction site. The Titans are also coming back from a bye week and Cronulla need the win to keep the Roosters off their back.

Primetime Friday is Brisbane and Penrith in Brisbane, which should excite us but is not, to be frank. Penrith have already slaughtered the Broncos once this year (34-12 in Round 3) and while both teams will have their complement of Origin players back, the Broncos are in all sorts.

Payne Haas. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Saturday’s triple header runs like this: Canterbury and new Zealand in an intriguing one, then Wests Tigers host Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval in a predictable one, and the night is capped by Manly heading to Townsville to play the Cowboys in a genuine four-point contest.

Sunday has two games which could be quiet entertainers. The Roosters and Dragons go at it first at Allianz Stadium, then it’s another four-pointer as Newcastle head to Canberra seeking to pile more angst onto the home team.

The Dolphins have the bye and a handy two points after this weekend’s disappointment.

Round 17’s random thoughts

– Women’s State of Origin game three capped a remarkable set of ratings for the series, with the decider boasting an average audience of 1.074 million people and total reach of 2.282 million. Online streaming numbers were massive on 9Now with 174,000 more tuning in – that’s the most people ever streaming a women’s rugby league match. Great stuff.
– Some unfair flack headed Nicho Hynes’ way after he missed a golden point field goal on Friday, giving the Bulldogs – and the keyboard warriors – a chance they happily grabbed onto.
– For those who think a standalone Perth team is unsustainable, check these numbers from Melbourne reported over the weekend. Average crowds over 20,000, record memberships, boosted participation… and Western Australia already has a good local rugby league competition to build on.
– Compare the pair: the week of hysteria, gnashing of teeth and ‘think of the children’ swooning after Latrell Mitchell swore in a post-game interview back in Round 2, and the response to Newcastle debutant Will Pryce dropping f-bombs on Saturday after the Knights’ win.

What caught your eye this weekend, Roarers?

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