DRAGONZ said:
Don't think anybody is expecting that.
Melbourne should stroll through to win the Minor Premiership.
What people are expecting is that Melbourne will crumble in the Finals, because many think it will be too hard for the Storm to win two huge matches against strong opposition in Sydney.
Melbourne will definitely hope that they don't meet the Bulldogs during the Finals, because I don't think they've ever come within about 20 points of the Dogs during September.
Broncos still have heaps of players to get back, I think.
Dragons still have Luke Bailey, Trent Barrett, Colin Best, Wes Naiqama, Ashton Sims, Shaun Timmins, Danny Wicks, and Dean Young still to come back in time for the Finals.
Dunno about any other team's injuries .. perhaps other contenders have players out too.
Yeah, no doubt that when finals come around, anyone in the top 8 is in with a chance. Bulldogs are looking red hot at the moment, especially with Ben Roberts and Nate Myles doing what they are doing. AND, theres always Sonny Bill to add into that. Without predicting too much at this point in time (finals a re still a way off and injuries happen), I think that if both teams are at full strength and they meet in the finals (which im predicting they will) then I think we are in for a close match.
As for the "two matches against strong opposition", again I dont think we should be pre-empting anything just yet. Storm are 4 points clear on the top for a reason. A few other teams are finding form, and I think Melbourne has dropped a bit in recent weeks, and its been their defence which has held them to the wins, but definately we havent seen the high scoring wins which Melbourne has known of past. Watch this space when we get Slater back into good form (which he has gone some way to show last week) and Greg Inglis joins back in the starting side.
Granted, head-to-head, the Bulldogs have more wins against the Storm in the finals over the years, although the Bulldogs sides of past are a lot different to the current side.
Broncos have Casey McGuire, Karmichael Hunt, Tame Tupou, Justin Hodges (to name the big names) and a few others coming back from either suspension or injury, so there is some potential for Broncos to improve through these guys when they are back in the squad.
Ashton sims and Shaun Timmins will add to the Dragons hopes, although the Dragons are notorious for somewhat "choking" in the finals and bowing out prematurely, and no doubt come finals time, that will be playing on their minds.
Before last weekends result, I thought the Knights would have needed consideration although getting thrashed by the Eels would be a huge dent to the team mentally, and something about Newcastle suggests they wont be a factor in the 2006 final series.
Even so, the finals are still a good 8 weeks away, so anything can happen between now and then.