Summary
Now that was draining. The Lions were perhaps a little unlucky to lose to the Giants, and in the process exit the AFL finals race, but they can look to the future with great enthusiasm, with or without Luke Hodge. There was no such luck needed by Manly to brush aside Cronulla in the NRL and send Paul Gallen into retirement on a losing note. But the result of the day belongs to Canberra, who ventured south and came away with a win over the Storm. Best of all, there’s more footy to come before this season is done.
Haven’t had enough sport tonight, though? Good. You’ve come to the right place. The fifth Ashes Test is happening right now, so do me a solid and yourself a favour by checking out our liveblog. Goodnight to all and to all a good night.
AFL: Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) lost to GWS Giants 12.11 (83)
That really could have gone either way. These two teams traded blows (sometimes literally) from the outset but it’s the Giants who keep their season alive, booking a preliminary final date against Collingwood. The Lions go out in straight sets, heartbroken, but with their heads held high. They will be a fearsome outfit in 2020.
AFL: Q4: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) vs GWS Giants 12.11 (83) – little Brent Daniels kicks a big goal to put the Giants back in front. Cracking contest. It’s almost unfortunate one team will be losing.
AFL: Q4: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) vs GWS Giants 11.11 (77) – that imaginary Gabba roof gets another workover as Allen Christensen kicks truly to put the Lions in front. I think this is what they call a big finish.
NRL: Manly 28-16 Cronulla
The Sharks outscore the Sea Eagles in the second half. But that’s as good as it gets for Cronulla, who are now free to book their holidays and who haven’t won at Manly’s home ground since Brett Kimmorley was knee-high to a grasshopper. Which is probably some time ago. Manly, however, can leave Trivago well alone, must keep on playing and next face South Sydney. They might even get some players back for that. Good, good win considering their personnel issues.
But the last word goes to Paul Gallen. What can you say about a legend who has absolutely busted his gut and fulfilled every little bit of his God-given talent in the professional game for two decades? Is thanks a good place to start?
"Thanks for the past 20 years Cronulla" 👏- Paul Gallen #NRLManlySharks
— FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) September 14, 2019
WATCH 📺 LIVE on Fox League 502 pic.twitter.com/Dxrl2KbUPf
AFL: Q4: 17 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 10.11 (70) vs GWS Giants 10.11 (71) – the Lions fans roar with an early last-quarter goal and a poster to Eric Hipwood levelling the scores. I can’t watch. At least I managed an update without mentioning Charlie Cameron. Oh bugger.
AFL: 3QT: Brisbane Lions 9.9 (63) vs GWS Giants 10.10 (70) – and late in the term, Charlie Cameron raises the (non-existent) roof at the Gabba with a goal from a tight angle. If you know who’s going to win from here, you’re a better tipster than I am. Although considering I came something like 150,000th in the AFL tipping competition this season, that is nothing to beat your chest over. Cameron does seem the man of the moment. I certainly can’t update this blog without mentioning him. There are a few others out there, but it wouldn’t surprise if he is pivotal to the outcome of this stonking contest.
AFL: Q3: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 8.9 (57) vs GWS Giants 10.8 (68) – the Lions are enjoying their share of the play but efficiency, and now inaccuracy in front of goal, is again dogging them. But step forward Daniel McStay, who shrugs a tackle, turns and snaps truly to keep this final well and truly alive.
AFL: HT: Brisbane Lions 7.4 (46) vs GWS Giants 9.4 (58) – five goals to two in that quarter for the Giants. But the Lions are still very much in this if they can improve their efficiency inside-50 and in general play. Plenty of talk about the Giants’ rough treatment of Charlie Cameron, who suffered an elbow knock in the first term but is running around like a headless chook. Against the spirit of footy or not? What say you wise lot?
"You’ve been warned."
— FOX FOOTY (@FOXFOOTY) September 14, 2019
AFL umpire intervenes after Adam Kennedy's treatment of Charlie Cameron during #AFLLionsGiants: https://t.co/jvSfUSrf7n #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/pqV4iPj7dj
NRL: HT: Manly 18-4 Cronulla – a try to Bronson Xerri has reduced the deficit for the Sharks. But they have it all to do to stay alive in this finals race. If Cronulla manage to do so, it’ll be their first win at, um, Lottoland since 2008, and just their sixth on the road against Manly in 52 whopping years. Remarkable.
MelbourneTown says: Not since Greg Williams has there been a footballer as good as Toby Greene as dirty as Toby Greene.
I say: I know what you mean, MT. Love him or hate him, you just can’t take your eyes off him. Blimey, the AFL even made up a rule because of old mate Toby.
AFL: Q2: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 7.4 (46) vs GWS Giants 8.4 (52) – a long bomb from a suitably ecstatic Zac Williams, followed by a major to Jeremy Cameron, has restored a little breathing space for the Giants. At the other end of the ground, GWS defenders are targeting poor Charlie Cameron’s sore elbow in a display of tasteless niggle that takes one’s mind back to a young Nick Riewoldt getting roughed up. Or is that just smart footy?
And just as I’m about to hit publish, Cam Rayner pops up and boots one for the Lions. The pitfalls of live updates. Still, the sentiments remain. A bit of breathing space for the Giants and all that. Just a bit.
Meanwhile, in a country far, far away, in a sport using a ball that doesn’t require inflating, England are slowly but surely building their lead in their bid to draw (but still not get) the Ashes. Don’t believe me? Then believe Adam Collins.
NRL: 20 mins: Manly 18-0 Cronulla – there’s plenty of time to go but thus far the Sea Eagles are making a mockery of their injury/suspension woes ... and Cronulla’s confidence about actually winning a game on the northern beaches. Tries to Apisai Koroisau, Moses Suli and Brad Parker have the home side in the box seat to advance to the second week of the finals.
Ball 🙌#NRLManlySharks #ManlyForever pic.twitter.com/mJi96lwiAh
— Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) September 14, 2019
AFL: QT: Brisbane Lions 5.2 (32) vs GWS Giants 4.2 (26) – top of the evening, sports fans. First of all, vielen dank to Richard Parkin (who’s just informed me he intends to regather his senses after that ripper of an NRL final by going to an artisan bread market). Secondly, it’s all happening at the Gabba. The Giants were going like the clappers early on, kicking four quick goals, but the Lions have hit back hard to more than restore parity in what really was a quarter of two halves. Is that an eighth? Dunno. Charlie Cameron spent some time off with what looked a nasty elbow injury, but he is back on and kicking goals. Thirdly, please contribute to this jamboree by popping a few words in the comments section below, and/or by getting in touch on email or tweet @scott_heinrich
Charlie Cameron in a lot of pain. Hope he's okay 🙏#AFLLionsGiants pic.twitter.com/rOMoGHRanu
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 14, 2019
So a frenetic finish to the second qualifying final in the NRL - I’d love to stick around and chat some more about that, but it’s over to Scott Heinrich to pick up what’s going on in the AFL.
We’re off to Brisbane where the Lions are taking on the Giants and it’s been a bright start to the visitors in the second AFL semi-final.
Thanks for your company - i’ll see you back here tomorrow, on Sportwatch!
Full-time: Melbourne 10-12 Canberra
It’s bounced back behind the four chasers!! It’s an awful bounce, and Canberra collect and run into touch.
What a dramatic ending. What a game. What scenes! You couldn’t have more excitement than that!
They’re through to the penultimate game, the Raiders - and the Storm will have to go the long way. They’re now on the other side of the draw - and they’re on a collision course with the Roosters.
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80 min: We’ve got one final roll of the dice - the siren has sounded, but there’s a high shot and a penalty and Storm kick to touch. They put up the midfield bomb - there’s a host in purple racing through - but how’s it going to bounce - this all hangs on the bounce ...
79 min: Storm with the quick restart - they’ll look for Vunivalu on the edge - he climbs high the Melbourne winger - would you believe it! He’s reclaimed the ball - but the touchy’s flagged to say the Fijian put a hand in touch.
The crowd are livid - the replays show - the winger was in the field of play. It’s an awful call - they’ve been robbed here, the Storm!
Canberra scrum feed. You can hear the boos from AAMI Park in the nation’s capital.
Try! Melbourne 10-12 Canberra (Batemen)
77 min: Oh my, oh my, oh my! It’s a hit from Dumais Lui that dislodges the ball from Addo-Carr as he brings it out from his own line. It falls fortuitously into a green shirt, and Bateman as easy as you like under the posts! Can you believe this - right at the death and it’s under the post with a kick to come!
Watch this - and how’s the flick pass inside from Leilua.
Outta nowhere!
— NRL (@NRL) September 14, 2019
Bateman with the heartbreaker 😯#NRLStormRaiders#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3DRsQaD6Qe
Croker from dead in front with the conversion attempt - he took an age to line it up, but he absolutely couldn’t miss that from dead in front. He adds the extras and Canberra are in front!
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75 min: It’s a scratchy six to start, but they finish with the grubber. Well waited from Hodgson and Papenhuyzen is forced to collect but can’t get out. Line drop out - six again, Canberra!
74 min: This is tough defence from Storm - and having done the tough stuff, they’ve handed Canberra an easy six! They chanced their arm, the Raiders - it went to ground, and rather than dive on it, Melbourne have given up a tiny knock on! BIG OPPORTUNITY.
72 min: Ouch. Hodgson is down - and he’s clutching at the ribs. Hopefully nothing serious there, he’s copped a fair whack. That is the problem with these qualifying finals - knowing both teams remain alive at FT sometimes there’s a temptation to put some hits on. It was fair from Kaufusi, but he’s not happy, the Canberra hooker.
70 min: Clever play from Hughes, who rolls a good kick in-goal. Simonsen turns to collect, but he’s caught by the Storm defence. Line drop out, Raiders - Storm get a look at six again!
68 min: This is suddenly end-to-end stuff. Hughes runs on the last and is pulled down 10m out from the Raiders’ line. It’s still anyone’s game - Canberra have really lifted the last 10-15 minutes, and this one is just there for the taking. Who wants to blow it right open?
66 min: How’s this for synchronicity - Canberra go up the other end, and it’s a penalty - against the Raiders - for obstruction! Literally the same play that just went against the Storm, the duck back inside from the ball runner, and his teammate from the previous tackle infringes the defensive line. Comedy capers in what’s been otherwise a high-intensity, high-skill game.
64 min: Oh my. Storm now with a big chance, and it’s a clumsy penalty give away - Chambers I think it was has inadvertently taken out a defender 10m from the line, and they’ve butchered a big opportunity.
A close up of Bellamy in the box and he’s raging! F-Bombs raining like daggers. He’s fuming at his team’s inability to make that count!
62 min: Ooohh - so unlucky, Canberra! They spread it wide, they had the numbers, Addo-Carr rushed on Niko-Klokstad who is forced into the bat-pass - but it drifts forward en route to his teammate! No try! What terrific thinking from the Storm winger - if he’d hung back he couldn’t have stopped the two-on-one. But he forces the error - and the Storm line remains intact.
60 min: A deep kick from Smith and Canberra need to bring it out from their own line. There’s a ball to ground! Ooph, penalty against Storm - big let off, Raiders. Now they start with better field position. Let’s see what they can fashion.
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58 min: They chance it and head for the corner - it’s Simonsen looking for the corner but whack! He’s absolutely hammered into touch by Vunivalu! What a try-saving final tackle, his teammates rush to congratulate him.
56 min: This is better from Raiders - Sezer rolls the kick into the in-goal, Munster does brilliantly to clean up, but three or four in green swarm and prevent the return into field. Six again from the line out - a chance for some sustained possession, Canberra.
53 min: It’s a nondescript six from Canberra that finishes with a mid-field bomb, easily defused. And now they’re back on the back foot. Storm with the wind in their sails.
Now it’s a kick to the corner for a flying Vunivalu - who almost grounds - but Nicoll-Klokstad is there to see him into touch! A near thing.
Penalty! Melbourne 10-6 Canberra
48 min: It’s a purple-patch, literally, for the Storm. It’s a terrific kick, regathered by the flying Addo-Carr, and as Melbourne are pulled down 5m short of the line Croker hang on too long in the tackle and gives away another easy penalty.
Some shout that could have been a professional foul and a sin-binning, so on that front Canberra are lucky.
They need to take some deep breaths and get back to what they were doing first half - it’s been a horror first ten minutes: have they even had the ball yet?
Penalty! Melbourne 8-6 Canberra
45 min: Ach. Silly from Hodgson, who throws out an arm after Papenhuyzen kicks and he’s caught the Storm fullback across the chops. Penalty.
Ricky Stuart must be tearing his hair out - all the solid work over the first forty, the grinding tackles, and then the easiest two point gift you’ll ever see! And Smith says, yes please and duly kicks it.
Try! Melbourne 6-6 Canberra (Vunivalu)
Hughes goes to the corner with the bomb and it’s the flying Fijian - too big a leap for Simonsen, and after 40 minutes of battering, they’re back level, with a shot to come. Remarkable start for the Storm.
Smith from the touchline, he strikes it just to the left of the uprights - is it bending.. not enough! No extras.
Suliasi Vunivalu flies high ✈️#NRLStormRaiders 6-all #TelstraPremiership #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/IHceYHOLBE
— NRL (@NRL) September 14, 2019
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Second half!
And we’re back! Melbourne with it ball in hand - and they’ve earned an early penalty. A good start and an opportunity to wipe that poor first half from the memory.
So. A brief pause for respite - your thoughts on that pulsating first forty?
Where did all Canberra’s dominance originate from, and where can the Storm find a way back into this one? Fire us an email or tweet to ennoble your fellow readers.
Half-time: Melbourne 2-6 Canberra
And with just seconds left Cameron Smith slots his 100th kick of the season, to cut the margin to just four. How are they still within cooee here, the minor premiers?!
A terrific half from the Raiders - the only frustration that they couldn’t put a 10+ points lead on the scoreboard. Expect a spray from Craig Bellamy - his side just haven’t been at the races tonight.
Updated
40 min: They run it wide, the Storm, with just seconds left in the half - and Sezer is called offside! A huge set of six for the Storm: they’ve been completely on the back foot all half, but they’re starring at a gilt-edged opportunity to go into the sheds level.
Updated
38 min: From nowhere it’s a one-on-one strip from Brandon Smith, and it’s Storm on the attack! They go to the air at the end of the set, but it’s a tepid close to the six and Canberra defuse.
35 min: They’re rattled, the Storm. It’s now a penalty against Olam for roughing up Rapana after the tackle was effected.
Miss! Would you believe it - from the other side, Croker’s missed again! What a double let off for the Storm. He didn’t look confident lining it up, and Melbourne restart from the 20m drop out.
32 min: It’s a tackle without the ball from Vunivalu and Canberra are awarded a penalty and take a shot at the sticks!
Miss. He was the man collected in the Vunivalu tackle, Croker, and maybe the head wasn’t 100% clear - he’s absolutely duffed that effort. It wasn’t a gimme, but he’s hit that badly.
31 min: Sezer kicks to the corner, but it’s rolled just inside the in-goal zone - a first blot on his copy book. And to update, Nic Cotric’s night is over. His nose is absolutely mangled. It’s a horrorshow.
28 min: Wowee-wow. Sezer is absolutely running the show out there! He kicks to the edges and Jordan Rapana crosses in the corner and the Raiders celebrate. A try is awarded but we go upstairs. No try! He was inside the ten, and it’s been chalked off for offside!
Sheesh. How is this still a one-try game? They’re hanging tough, the Storm. The Raiders are all over them - but on the scoreboard, they survive.
25 min: Wighton looks for the little chip-grubber (neither on the ground nor properly in the air) and it’s landed right on the chest of Hughes, who scampers out from his own line! Big let off - they went very close there, Canberra but couldn’t get points on the board.
And now a penalty for Storm - three Raiders in a big tackle and the ball-runners’ gone above the horizontal. Penalty, Storm - dangerous play.
23 min: And it’s big Josh Papali’i now off the bench for the Raiders - what momentum can he lend his side?
A terrific banana kick back inside from Sezer on the last and as Papenhuyzen looks to shepherd it out it brushes the fullback’s chest! Six again, Canberra.
20 min: Ay, ay, ay. A nasty break in play - Nic Cotric has copped an inadvertent boot to the nose whilst diving to effect a tackle. You don’t want to see a slow-mo replay - that’s absolutely awful. Excuse me while I go vom in a pot-plant somewhere.
Of all people, guess who comes in to replace him - it’s Joey Leilua - now officially 100% firework-in-eye free!
20 min: Ach! More bruising defence from Canberra - but they’ve got off the hook, the Storm. Hughes elected to run on the last, but couldn’t find a gap and then they threw some loose passes. The Raiders almost burst through, but there’s a micro knock-on in there somewhere, so it’s Storm’s again.
16 min: There’s some brutal defence going in here - the Raiders are working hard to pin the Storm on their own line, but a concern now! Simonsen puts it down - did he drop it cold? No, Munster’s been stung for an attempted one-on-one strip. Ball back with Canberra.
13 min: Now it’s Melbourne who go the sky - and it’s spilled! The Storm regather and get six again, Nelson Asofa-Solomona reckons he’s over the line - he stretches out ... no! It’s a double movement - no try, and turnover! Big let off, Raiders.
10 min: Hughes goes to the sky on the final play, and the bomb is regathered by the Storm fullback Papenhuyzen, but he puts it on the toe, and it rolls just too heavy.
At the other end, it’s Papenhuyzen who’s tested with the high ball - and he spills it! But we come back for a penalty, the fullback was taken out, illegally, whilst in the air. Melbourne ball.
7 min: Wowee. They’ve had less than 20% of the pill over the start to this one, the Storm - right on the back foot, and what a blistering start from the Raiders! A pressure relieving penalty to the home side, and Smith takes time to settle the nerves before kicking to touch.
The veteran hooker looks for the little grubber, but it’s well anticipated and Canberra survive the six.
Try! Melbourne 0-6 Canberra (Simonsen)
Would you believe it! He wasn’t even in the starting line up for Canberra until a firework spark got in the eyes of Joseph Leilua pre-game - but he’s come in and crossed for first blood. Bailey Simonsen! Remarkable.
A great ball from Wighton creates the cutout, and Croker does well to convert from the sideline. Here we go!
Simonsson makes the most of his opportunity 👌 First points Raiders!#NRLStormRaiders 0-6#NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/V4GaRvBLf2
— NRL (@NRL) September 14, 2019
Updated
2 min: A tricky bounce off the Storm bomb which evades Croker before Cotric brings it back with a jinking run.
An early penalty for Canberra and they kick to touch - what can they make now from 20m out. Still heavy contact in these tackles, they will look to probe left - but the Storm look to muscle up.
Kick off!
The veteran boot of Cam Smith get us underway and it’s the Raiders - minus Leilua who’s headed down the shoot and won’t start in the centres - who bring it out. A steady six and now it’s Melbourne’s chance to bring out from their own line.
A moment’s tribute pre-game to Danny Frawley. Impeccably observed by the crowd. A sombre respite, but we’ve got early consternation for the Raiders: Joseph Leilua can’t make it onto the pitch after possibly taking a remnant of fireworks to the eye before kickoff!
What are the odds of this - a bizarre pre-game injury. The Raiders trying to see if they can get their man out onto the field, but a slight delay from the expected kickoff time. Madness.
It’s good weather down in Melbourne - not arguably a boost to the home side who are more than adept of doing it in the wet. They have to be favourites, you’d imagine - but Canberra have won their last five games on the road, so they’ll fancy their chances as well.
Craig Bellamy v Ricky Stuart. Two of the most experienced coaches kicking round. Let’s see how this one unfolds, as Cameron Smith leads his chargers out onto the pitch.
But! Without further ado, let’s turn our attention to AAMI Park where we’re not a thousand miles away from first whistle.
Some team news: no changes for the Storm as “shoulder watch” gives the all clear for Cameron Munster to slot back in at five-eighth with the flying Josh Addo-Carr also returning. For the Raiders, Ricky Stuart has handed Dunamis Lui a start with Josh Papali’i bumped to the bench for a no-doubt explosive introduction at some stage. Hudson Young is suspended for eye gouging and Ryan Sutton also misses out.
Some news from the AFL as well - where it’s bad for Geelong and Tom Hawkins:
Can’t even punch a bloke to the floor off the ball and leave him prone anymore. It’s political correctness gone mad.
Like Arsene Wenger come penalty time at Highbury though, I’ll confess “I did not see the incident” so can’t pass too much judgement. Hawkins and the Cats will have a chance to appeal before Friday’s blockbuster preliminary final against Richmond.
Before we deep dive into the NRL finals though here’s an excellent write up from my colleague Kieran Pender about that heartwrenching double-overtime loss for the Boomers at the Basketball World Cup:
Oh cruel fates, on such small margins etc.
If you caught any of the tournament there was some simply sublime stuff from the Boomers, not least hard-fought wins against highly-rated opposition like Lithuania (World No 6) and France (World No 3). Not bad for a team nominally outside the world’s top ten teams.
That FIBA ranking will no doubt change after this result - keep an eye out for our liveblog tomorrow as the Boomers try to pick themselves up for the bronze-medal match against the USA-slayers, France.
Afternoon/evening/morning all! The best to you from wherever you’re following our coverage today. Are you a deep sea fisherman testing the limits of the Telstra 5G network by popping on from the remotest corner of the southern ocean to follow your beloved Raiders? Or a field worker in West Africa who found an old Melbourne Storm jersey in a $2 shop once and now you’re hooked for life?
Drop us an email or tweet to join the coverage today -we’d love to hear from you: tips, quips or just if you want to give a shoutout to a fellow fan who you know will be UP for this one.
Confession time: as a child in about 1989 I had a bit of a soft spot for the Raiders - John “Chicka” Ferguson and all that. I curiously became a Panthers fan about 1991 with Brandy and the young Adolf coming through. How shameless are kids at just picking winners?
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Preamble
It’s a weekend in September, which can only mean one thing - footy finals. Things kicked off with a bang last night as the Roosters underlined their form as strong contenders to go back-to-back NRL premiers - today we find out just where their biggest rivals, the Melbourne Storm, are at.
Standing in their way are the Canberra Raiders - no easy beats. In fact they’re the team that handed the Storm their biggest regulation season loss (albeit by just four), while the Storm conversely handed the Raiders their biggest loss back in round two. Tasty.
That’s our feature match first up therefore on Sportwatch today - then we’ll have AFL finals action as Brisbane play host to GWS Giants, the first of the NRL elimination finals as Manly and Cronulla lock horns, and later on: day three of the final Ashes Test action.
Plenty to look forward to so draw the curtains, walk the dog and rush back here for a SESSION.
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