Game 1: New England Nomads v Inverell Saints
A month ago The Drum would have sold a kidney to get on the Nomads in this. The Saints have surprised and keep building from strength to strength, and are finding goal scorers all over the park. They will kick a good score in this and the Nomads will need to be at their best to match that. The Nomads have not disappointed, but have struggled with some outs recently. They are not in prime form going into what will be a very tough finals match. Their effort last week against the Kangaroos is not a true indication of where they are at, but The Drum is concerned that they will not be cherry ripe for the Saints this week either. The defending Premiers should be happy with how they will match up against the Nomads, and if any backline can match the forward power of the students the Saints are probably it. They will take confidence out of breaking their Gunnedah hoodoo last week, and over four quarters The Drum is they will be a shade too strong for the Nomads.
The Drum: Saints by two goals.
Game 2: Narrabri Eagles v Gunnedah Bulldogs
The Eagles enter their first finals journey with a home match against the Bulldogs. Both teams are pretty light on for post season experience, and the home ground advantage for this should not be dismissed. Mark Barrow is one that has gone the distance in September, whilst playing for the Kangaroos in 2008, and with Tim Cooper in form the Dogs will know that they will have to kick a good score to win. The Drum thinks the Bulldogs are a little stiff not to be hosting this, and whilst they are capable of a kicking a winning score they have been erratic in front of the sticks at different times this year. The Bulldogs could have been anything this year, and with their strongest team still could be. But there is whispers about that they will be down on key cattle again this week. The Drum is both teams here are liable to kick in the region of twenty goals, but the Eagles will line up the stronger and finish the over the Bulldogs.
The Drum: Eagles by four goals.
Last Modified on 24/08/2011 11:52