By ANDREW VOSS
RUGBY League can be such a cruel game. And, at what you call the business end of the season, the pain inflicted is even more so.
Take former Catalans star Zeb Taia and how things unfolded for him last Friday night. This has had a sensational year back in the NRL for the Gold Coast.
The Titans have been one the real surprise packets after many of us had them winning the wooden spoon in pre-season forecasts. And so to the club’s biggest night, having earned a finals berth. Their opponent was ‘big brother’ Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium before a crowd of almost 44,000.
And sadly for Zeb, his night ended before it even started as he was ruled out at warm up. He’d played in all 24 of their games during the season, only to lose his spot for the sudden death game.
The Titans went on to lose in a game where they could not buy a close call from the match officials. So for Zeb Tale and the Titans, the season is over.
In Canberra the next night, Josh Halgson was putting on a clinic for his team as they looked bound for a week’s rest and position themselves just one win a way from a grand final.
You will not find an NRL fan in Australia who will argue if Hodgson wins the Dally M medal in two weeks time for player of the season. And again on Saturday night he was sensational – until…
Three minutes into the second half, the legs of his teammate Aidan Sezer collected Josh’s in an unfortunate accident as both were attempting to make a cover tackle.
Hodgson was left writhing in agony, and would be carried from the field, not to return. The extent of the injury will dictate what happens to the Raiders from here. With a miraculous recovery from his lower leg problem, Canberra is still a chance.
Without Hadgson … I can’t see Canberra winning the competition. How cruel – one second of a game. A total accident, it can inflict such damage.
All the sides went into their respective games with grand plans, and for some those plans went out the window early.
Not only did the Titans lose Taia in warm-up, their halfback Ash Taylor was gone by half time.
Cronulla captain Paul Gallen pulled out of the Sharks side the day before the game due to a back injury, and then seven minutes into their contest with Canberra, the replacement captain Wade Graham was knocked out of the game.
And previous to the on-field action from the weekend, the fickle nature of the sport was highlighted with the early retirement of Jack Reed.
Jack has been a terrific player. He was a bit of a late bloomer who can boast a stint with Silsden in Yorkshire on his way to a first grade debut with Brisbane.
He achieved plenty in his short career, but also copped plenty of shoulder injuries … and they have taken their tragic toll.
He would have had dreams of a start in the play-offs this year with the Broncos; a spot in the England squad for the Four Nations, and then hopefully a World Cup campaign.
But those dreams are over, and Jack must plan now for the next stage of his life minus on-field duties in rugby league.
I know there are plenty worse off, but that’s still a shame.
It’s just another example of the fact that the fairytale finish is afforded to but a few.
So who wins now in the NRL?
We started the weekend with eight sides and now that number is six.
And they all have some solid credentials going into the remaining games that are all sudden death.
The Broncos have set up a rematch from last year’s grand final against North Queensland, but this one will be played at the Cowboys’ home ground in Townsville.
Meantime, Canberra have home advantage against the precocious Penrith Panthers who are starting to remind me of the young Wests Tigers side that won the NRL premiership in 2005. Maybe someone should ask Pat Richards for a comparison.
Sitting in wait having earned the week off are the Melbourne Storm and the
Cronulla Sharks.
As a result of the weekend games there is one less Englishman in the finals
series with James Graham’s Bulldog recording a fourth straight loss to how out.
It’s a really disappointing end to what at times looked like being a great campaign for the Dogs.
Only Zak Hardaker, Hodgson and Eliott Whitehead remain in the mix and their sides will be opponents on Saturday night, Australian time.
It’s a sensational race to the finish, with my leaning towards the winner coming from the Storm side of the draw now, as they will play either Penrith or Canberra in two weeks time.
We endured a weekend of controversy (as always), tension, injuries, and some amazing play.
It really is a wonderful time of rugby league on both side of the world.
Just ask the Leigh fans!
Have a great week.
Giddy Up!
