Jack Clifton from SWR Sports 99.9 brings you this week’s Intrust Super Premiership Finals Preview
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP FINALS WEEK 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Penrith Panthers 28 Canterbury Bulldogs 18
Mounties 21 New Zealand Warriors 20
Wyong Roos 18 Wests Magpies 14
St George-Illawarra Dragons 28 Newtown Jets 26
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP FINALS WEEK 2 PREVIEW
The Intrust Super Premiership Finals continue to rumble on as we advance to week 2 of the playoffs. Unfortunately for both Western Suburbs and the New Zealand warriors their journey has come to an end after defeats in their respective elimination finals.
ELIMINATION FINAL 1: NEWTOWN JETS VS MOUNTIES
The Jets were minutes away from a Preliminary Final place before a Pat Herbert try took away that advantage in a 28-26 win for the Dragons. Now the Jets find themselves in sudden death footy and their 3rd placed finish means nothing. Standing in front of them is a Mounties side that stopped its 5-game slide last week with a heart stopping one point win over the Warriors.
The Jets on paper should win this one with a menacing forward pack and a serviceable backline including former NRL start Aaron Gray. However Finals footy never runs by the book and Mounties have confidence and experience in finals to get the job done. Look for Tyler Cornish to again have a big influence as well as Makahesi Makatoa in the back-row.
ELIMINATION FINAL 2: CANTERBURY BULLDOGS VS WYONG ROOS
This should be a cracker folks. Both these sides have lots of points in them and are stacked with potential as well as a few former first graders.
Canterbury looked down and out in patches against the Minor Premiers Penrith Panthers last week but roared back to within two points at the back end of the match. A late try to Will Burns sealed the Dogs fate and they now have do or die footy in front of them. They have the talent to match it with any side in the NSW Intrust Super Premiership but need to cull their defensive lapses which hurt it last week.
Wyong won’t be an easy prospect either. Despite finishing 8th, they have now eliminated a more fancied Wests side in extra time no less and confidence will be brimming. With Wyong ending it’s partnership with the Roosters, this could be the last time we see the Central Coast based side in the NSW Intrust Super Premiership. Look out for Mitch Cornish and Sean O’Sullivan to again run the show on the back of a dominant forward pack led by Frank Paul-Nuuasala and Eloni Vunakece. This match is my pick of the weekend.
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