September 17th 2008 13:48
It was evident after week one that no team is certain of winning the premiership. I believe unless you are a diehard fan of Manly or Brisbane most of us thought Melbourne would cruise into week three and then cruise into the grand final and perhaps again cruise to back to back premierships. Well how things can change the Warriors showed us all that a bit of self belief and who knows what can happen.
It all began Friday night with the most physical game of Rugby League I have seen all year! It was an absolute bash em up contest from minute one. The two former Bulldogs were out to muscle their way through the Bronsos pack I speak of Mark O'Meley and Nate Myles they did a good job early but it wasn't long before the Brisbane boys got on top. They were able to match the Roosters forwards and their superior speed was too much for the boys from Bondi.
The two Saturday matches were lob sided affairs the first game the Sharks were simply too good for a very dissapointing Canberra team who can be forgiven for what can only be described as a terrible year for injuries. But what an effort for the Raiders and if it wasn't for Sundays massive upset would still be there to fight another week. Congratulations must go to coach of the year Neil Henry and his team most predicted a wooden spoon, but instead finished sixth and deserved it too.
The second game on Saturday night I actually attended with a couple of mates who are Manly tragics. I have to say great crowd, great send off for Beaver Menzies, but what a dull game. The Dragons were awful and I don't know what to say about Manly the opposition did not test them. I think Manly's defence is incredible they are a great team and deserve to be where they are but I doubt they can win the comp I really do.
Sunday the Warriors were great but has Melbourne played much worse? I doubt it they were not good and I think it was just what they needed, they will toughen up from that and I now believe they are even more of a certainty to win the comp then they were last Sunday morning.
Summing up week one The Broncos and New Zealand were the most impressive where Cronulla and Manly did what they had to do. I see the Warriors being too good for the Roosters and Melbourne doing a job on the Broncos who now must also deal with off field distractions.
While enjoying the Canterbury cheergirls at half time of the footy yesterday I got into a debate with my mate as to who is the best team we have seen in the moern era. Firstly I do want to clarify my friend and I are just under 30 so we decided that late 80's was the cut off point, that way we were able to include the Canberra Raiders team who won their first premiership in 1989.
This topic is almost a case of where do you start! The 89' Canberra team all became superstars but at the time they won they were all young and full of potential. These guys then went on to win the comp the following year but were they the best I doubt it. Penrith won in 1991 although a fairytale for outgoing legend Royce Simmons they were not the best I am sure of that.
The 1992 and 1993 Brisbane Broncos' teams were exceptional they had the likes of Allan Langer, Steve Renough, Michael Hancock, Willie Carne, The Walters brothers Kerrod and Kevin the likes of Gee and Lazuras it is names like that and the way they won both premierships that gives them the credentials to possibly be the best. In 1994 the Canberra Raiders were dynamite they simply blew Canterbury off the park in the decider and it was the big fella Mal Meninga who went out in style and it was at this stage that the young Raiders of 89 and 90 were now at their brilliant best. With class all over the park and led by halves Laurie Daley and Ricky stuart they still are regarded as pure class.
In 1995 my beloved Bulldogs won in dramatic fashion going the last two months undefeated but many say their opponents that year Manly were the best, and perhaps they were winning the comp in 1996.
The 1997 year was the Super League war and ARL champions Newcastle and Super League champions Brisbane were both great teams but not the best. In 1998 the Broncos beat a gallant Canterbury side and were simply ruthless but like the 1999 Melbourne team who won there maiden comp both teams were great but not entitled to be the best. In 2000 the Broncos again won and it was a Joey Johns led Newcastle who claimed the title in 2001, but I have to say they were not the best.
It was perhaps the wooden spooners of 2002 who can claim fame to being the best of the modern era. Of course I am talking about the Bulldogs who were stripped of all their competition points for being over the salary cap. The record books will show the Roosters as premiers but the Bulldogs were the team of 02' at one stage winning 17 straight games!
In 2003 the Roosters did win the competition and were outstanding the whole year but it was the Bulldogs who gained revenge in 2004 with a game made up of pure intimidation. The Canterbury pack of 2004 is perhaps the greatest we have ever seen. Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Reni Matua, Steven Price, Mark O'Meley and Roy Asotasi simply barged there way up field and didn't back off an inch.
In 2005 the Wests Tigers showed a brilliant attacking game as they played with pure speed to simply run around their opponents week in and week out. In 2006 the Brisbanne Broncos were winners but it was the Melbourne Storm who were the team of the year and they showed this to be the case when they simply destroyed Manly to claim the 2007 grand final. Ths Storm team were simply remarkable with a mix of strength, speed and class that was the catalyst to a great year. So who were the best? I like anyone else will give my opinion but it is simply only that opinion. For what it is worth I have rated my top five.
1. The 1992 and 1993 Brisbane Broncos
2. The 2002 (wooden spooners) The Bulldogs
3. The 2004 Bulldogs
4. The 1994 Canberra Raiders
5. The 2006 and 2007 Melbourne Storm.
I had the priviledge yesterday of being at ANZ stadium, Homebush to see the end of an era at the Canterbury Bulldogs. As a supporter of the Bulldogs for the best part of 20 years I have certainly seen the good times but as many league supporters would be aware this club has endured some extremely rough times as well. Yesterday we farewelled one of the clubs true legends ,coach Steve Folkes.
Folkesy as he is known to most has been in charge of the first greade team since 1998, in his maiden year he took the team to a grand final only to be stopped at the final hurdle by the Brisbane Broncos. While Folkes has been in charge the Bulldogs have made endless semi final series with the 2004 grand final victory over the Roosters being the highlight. In his playing career which dates back to the early 1980's Folkesy won grand finals in 1984, 1985 and again in 1988.
His recored and dedication to the Bulldogs goes back nearly 30 years and for that I believe he is the greatest Bulldog of all time. His service to the club is second to none and his legacy will live on at Canterbury. This year has been what can only be discribed as a year to foget at the Bulldogs. With only one round remaining it looks likely that the Bulldogs will take home the much dreaded wooden spoon, only an unlikely victory over the semi-final bound Canberra Raiders next weekend will change that.
What made me most proud yesterday was the respect shown by the Canterbury supporters. Unfortunately we only managed just under 8,000 people to the game yesterday but after the game was what really stood out for me. Steve Folkes and long time player Corey Hughes who will leave at the end of the year to play a final season at the Cronulla Sharks, were given a chance to say goodbye. Where I sit on the members side with all the other devoted Bulldogs season ticket holders I can say not one person left. There would have been 3,000 of us who stayed back after the game to show just what Folkesy and Corey have meant to this great club.
It was evident in the voices of these two club legends that neither wanted to leave, Folkes has been told the club is looking in another direction and his brother in law Kevin Moore will be at the helm in 2009. As for Hughes well he is just another victim of the salaray cap and will play his final season at the Sharks. But it was in their speeches that both echoed the dissapointment of the 2008 season but praised the supporters, those in particular who turn up each week to support the team. It is afterall the only way to gauge who a great supporter is when they support the team in the tough times, and that simply makes the good times so much more enjoyable.
To Folkesy and Corey thanks for the memories and on behalf of all Canterbury Bulldogs supporters you will be both remembered as tough men who gave their all for this great club.
Comments (1)
Add Comments