Semi Finals - How the teams can lose.

Finally the semi final series is upon us. The deadwood is gone. Teams like Waratah, Southern Beaches, Singleton and Nelson Bay can no longer be written about in scorn because they have become even more irrelevant to the NHRU competition. Five teams are left. All teams have beaten a team in the five. It makes for an interesting series.

Instead of concentrating this article on where the finals series can be won, we must look at where the teams can lose out. Each team knows its opponents danger men. Has each team covered its own weaknesses? Maybe, maybe not. The hornet, however, has been studying these teams, and has found out exactly where they can lose the premiership for the '09 season.

Wanderers
The two blues have been the stand out team of the season. I'm not here to focus on that.Their biggest problem is that they are all pretty much focused on their end of season trip to San Fransisco. The rumour is that Aaron Thompson has organised this in the hope they lose the Grand Final. He of all people, know that a trip to the latex capital of the world, will take some players minds off the job and onto another. Thompson has arranged this so he can secure the coaching position for next year, in front of coach Beckett. This plan may misfire for him. If Wanderers do lose because of this outside distraction, I don't think they will look at another mediocre halfback coaching their first team next year. Everyone is thinking Sherwood's, it is unfortunate though that the sherwoods will be thinking of their 'Merry' Men.

Merewether Carlton
If only Theo's was still open in Llewellyn St. He could fix any breakdown. After blooding 152 players in first grade this year Merewether Carlton has become quite inconsistent at the breakdown. This is where they will lose the game. This is probably the only fault in their game at the moment. It is a credit to them, to be where they are as they have turned the ball over more times than the 600+ points they have put on the board.

Hamilton
The only thing keeping them in the top 3 was Blubba Coleman's coaching. They will not win a line out this weekend as the current South African hooker apparently hates playing on the same ground as the blacks. This will put them on an uphill battle to win their remaining games. While most teams frequent hip spots after the games like King St or Fanny's, the Hamilton forwards find themselves getting knocked back by 40 year olds at the exchange, they are that old. Their style of 10 man Rugby, while outdated, has got them this far. It got them close in 2007, It won it for them in '08, it might get them to 4th this year.

University
They want to come second so there's not much point commenting.

Maitland
This side still sits on the cusp of mediocrity. Yes they have 3 time Anderson medal winner Adam Perkins. He has been a standout in a bad team for a long time. Why isn't there a simple top 4?The referees must really know a lot about Rugby. Especially Al Quaterman. Who incidentally, will probably take it upon himself to change most of the finals matches anyway. Apparently he loves a fairytale, lets hope he referees second grade again. Back to Maitland though, thier backs are to slow to compete with the top two sides and this will see them lose. Convincingly. Again, why isn't there a top 4?

Feel free to express your opinions on how the series will pan out!!