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Andrew Moore | 21/07/08 | 0
VIDEO - Best NRL team to watch? Canberra
The Canberra Raiders are my favourite team to watch in the National Rugby League.
I know I’m meant to be unbiased, and would like to think I always have been, but this Raiders team actually keeps me glued to the screen – or own my feet if I happen to be commentating one of their games.
Yesterday for example, I was sitting in the office preparing my Sunday night sports show, but when Canberra scored first to lead 6-0 I said ‘here they go’ and watched the rest of the game.
They crushed the Sydney Roosters 34-12 in wet and cold conditions in the nation’s capital.
When the Raiders score, they tend to score tries in clumps, and they ran in two tries just before half time to lead 18-0 and basically seal a sensational win.
Joel Monaghan was magnificent, there was a great kicking game from Todd Carney and Terry Campese, and the Raiders forwards made mince meat out of the much revered Roosters pack.
Willie Mason was supposed to come out breathing fire after being named the sport’s most overrated player by his anonymous peers. Well he would have barely crushed a grape yesterday.
The Raiders are now only one point out of the top eight. They host and should beat the Gold Coast next Saturday, and I really hope they go on to make the finals.
The Wests Tigers ended a worrying slump on Sunday with a 36-12 thrashing of South Sydney. The most impressive aspect of the win was the Tigers’ defence – absolutely brilliant yesterday – and the fact Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall bounced back to form.
That should give the Tigers some confidence, after ending a four-game losing streak.
Penrith is another good, exciting young team to watch. They proved far too good for the Gold Coast on Saturday to remain in the top eight.
Cronulla bounced back to beat Newcastle by three points in a typical Sharks performance, while the Warriors flogged the Bulldogs – as they should have done with Sonny Bill Williams missing from the Dogs team.
On Friday night, Brisbane comfortably beat a dreadful North Queensland team and Manly again showed what a class act it is, with a 28-10 win over Parramatta.
I just don’t think the Eels are a very good team. They’re not under achieving, they just aren’t a finals team.
So tonight, Melbourne is at home to St George Illawarra, and you just can’t tip against the Storm at Olympic Park, can you.
Willie Mason was supposed to come out breathing fire after being named the sport’s most overrated player... He would have barely crushed a grape yesterday.
Andrew Moore
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