PF: New England Nomads v Inverell Saints
These two meet again for the second time in three weeks, and while their last encounter didn't quite live up to the billing The Drum is that this game will be a cracker. With the Kangaroos looking a touch above, this match might even be the best of the year. There is plenty to like about the Saints, who have built and built into a strong unit through the season. They did have a sense of that Bart Cummings timing about them, until the hiccup a fortnight ago against this week's opponents at this week's venue. Their form at the course might turn you off, but they did create enough in that game to have their chance. If they are not so wasteful this week with their ventures into the scoring zone, they are likely to give the Nomads a shake. Nick Baird is a sensible and considered coach, and his team are well experienced at finals football. Jono Elphick and Matt Harrison will have their back six well organised, and The Drum is the Saints have the best equipped backline in the League to hush the powerful green forward line. Stewart Walker is back and has been in form, young Hamish Bird has stepped up as a cunning forward rover, and as a team the Saints have been tracking well. They will be tough at the ball, especially around the centre of the park, and no easy beats for a spot in their fifth straight grand final. The Nomads, on the other hand, didn't really give a squeak last week against the Kangaroos. What The Drum thinks would be most disappointing to coach Brendan Meehan was their lack of intensity for such a big game. The risk for the Nomads here is if the Saints really come at them in the first ten minutes, and any dent that might give to their confidence. If the Nomads can silent their head noises they should be favoured to win the match. Whitby and Richards were not well serviced last week and remain dangerous, but the real disappointment for The Drum last week was Hamish Ross. He was seen as the key to the Nomads taking it to the Kangaroos, but was kept quiet and there might be a question mark on his true fitness. In his key position, he remains the gateway to the Nomads attack and if he can get on top Richards and Whitby will be right in the mix. The query on the fitness of Gav Nelson is also a concern, as he adds the adamantium skeleton to their Wolverine and might leave the Nomads with a slightly soft belly if absent. The students have not played in a grand final since 2006. The Saints have not missed one from them on. This match is a balance between a very good team with limited true finals experience, and a good team with finals winning in their blood. Given recent form, The Drum is slightly reticent to nominate a winner so as to avoid placing an unfair handicap on either side. But The Drum is nothing if not courageous, and doesn't expect two weeks of complacency from the Nomads.
The Drum: Nomads by three goals.
Last Modified on 09/09/2011 09:40