As the Cowboys travel south to play the Melbourne Storm this Saturday night, one question stands above and beyond in my mind; can the Cowboys repeat their incredible performance of last weekend?
The Cowboys were absolutely incredible in their mauling of the Sharks. It was close to the perfect performance.
Don’t get me wrong, the Sharks hardly set the world on fire in Townsville, but it’s worth remembering they are a side who beat the Cowboys twice, the Bunnies twice, and the Roosters twice in 2015.
As bad as the Sharks were, I believe it was mainly due to the fact the Cowboys simply didn’t allow them to find a groove, and instead did an absolute number on their visitors.
Johnathan Thurston was at his attacking best, with the ridiculous between the legs pass summing up the ease in which he led his side around.
Michael Morgan had arguably his best game of the season. At times it looked as though he was covered in spiders, the Sharks just didn’t want to touch him.
Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville found plenty of space and easily outplayed their opposites in Gordon and Ennis.
Matt Scott, Jason Taumalolo and James Tamou led a Cowboys pack that absolutely monstered the very highly rated Sharks pack.
To sum up, there wasn’t a single Cowboys player who didn’t play well. They put it all together and destroyed the Sharks.
39-nil probably didn’t do their dominance justice, and that is saying something in a semi-final.
Despite the lopsided score line, the dominance, the destruction, it all counts for absolutely naught heading into the clash with the Storm.
They’re going to have to produce something similar to beat the Storm, and there are genuine questions as to whether they are capable of doing so.
With all due respect to the Sharks, this Storm side is a different beast altogether.
Jeff Robson is an honest first grader, but he is not Cooper Cronk. Likewise Ennis has had a brilliant season, but Cam Smith is a possible future immortal.
Throw in the likes of the inform Will Chambers, Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor, and the Storm are capable of beating any side on their day.
Although I’d expect there to be some genuine support in Melbourne for the Cowboys, the Storm won’t be facing the caldron-like atmosphere that helped unsettle the Sharks.
I don’t care how experienced you are, it’s impossible not to take notice of 20,000 fans screaming for your blood so to speak.
It’s also impossible not to be driven on by those 20,000 fans who want nothing more than to see you emerge victorious, like the Cowboys were.
Home ground advantage isn’t everything, but the Cowboys have a HORRIBLE record in Victoria. They’ve only won twice in eleven attempts.
Less than a month ago, in round 25, the Storm beat the Cowboys 14-6 despite the fact the Cowboys had plenty to play for.
I’m certainly not saying the Cowboys can’t beat Melbourne. If Thurston fires, they can beat anyone, on any day, in any circumstance.
What I am saying though, is if they’re going to beat the Storm, they’re going to have to play better than they did last Saturday night in their demolition of the Sharks.
Whether or not they can do that? That is the million dollar question.
The Storm certainly aren’t likely to assist them in the way the Sharks did.
Looking at the stats from last weekend, the Cowboys completed under 80% of their sets, and Thurston missed three conversions.
Perhaps they haven’t yet played their “Grand Final” performance.
Sharks to swim on
Despite the way they were unceremoniously dumped from the finals, the Sharks are in a great place heading into 2016.
Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes have given the club’s long suffering fans something to be genuinely excited about, while the club has managed to keep the large majority of their squad together.
The club’s trump card is the signing of James Maloney, who will add an attacking flair to the club that it has not seen since Todd Carney’s time at the club.
With all due respect to Carney, Maloney is a far more consistent player, and does not bring with him the off-field worries, and is arguably the club’s best signing in many years.
Local junior Chad Townsend will also join the club, giving the club a brand new, and extremely talented halves pairing.
Townsend tailed off at the end of the season, as did the majority of the Warriors squad, but he did start the season with some serious fire.
Young Jack Rogers has a long way to go, but his performances since his debut for the Sharks Holden Cup team, will add to the fans excitement.
Jacob Gagan should also be back on board, which should present Shane Flanagan with a nice selection headache.
Jack Bird’s probably shift to the centres also creates genuine competition in the centres, which is something I can’t remember the Sharks enjoying for many years.
39-0 is not a nice way to bow out, but they will enter 2016 with a stronger squad, and are now operating under one of sport’s best administrators in Lyall Gorman.
I won’t use the massively over quoted “porch light” analogy, but exciting times are ahead in the Shire.
Dog’s loss is Newcastle’s gain
Although he did not have the greatest of seasons, I can’t help but wonder if he Dogs have let the wrong half go in allowing Trent Hodkinson to sign with Newcastle.
Moses Mbye is a genuine talent, but I see his game as filling more of a five-eighth role.
Josh Reynolds is an enigma. He can tear a side to shreds, or he his ill-discipline can cost his side competition points.
They’re one of the most exciting halves combinations in the competition, but they really missed Hodkinson’s ability to lead the side around against the Roosters.
The Knights were poor in 2015, but their season highlight was signing Hodkinson.
Will the Dogs rue letting Hodkinson go, or will Mbye and Reynolds lead them back to the promise land?
Only time will tell.
