BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

FLAW IN FINALS SYSTEM THAT HELPS 4TH PLACED EELS

The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos clash on Friday night in the first match of the 2017 NRL Finals at Allianz Stadium with so much more than a direct passage to Week Three on the line.

Despite the Roosters and Broncos finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, a loss on Friday will send them to the Melbourne Storm’s side of the draw and a perilous trip to AAMI Park to face the Storm in the preliminary final assuming they win in Week Two.

The Eels, who finished below the Roosters and Broncos, wouldn’t see the Storm again until the Grand Final if they were to lose this Saturday.

Why should the 4th placed team have an easier run in the playoffs?

You might as well finish lower to stay clear of Melbourne.

Why finish 2nd or 3rd when you can run 4th?

MOYLAN EXIT WORST POSSIBLE TIMING FOR PANTHERS

Penrith captain Matt Moylan has been given leave by the club as he sorts through some personal issues.

Welfare should always be a priority but what a time to lose one of your best players.

Panthers General Manager Phil Gould doesn’t think Moylan will be back this season.

“I doubt it. We’ll be guided by the counsellor on that,” Gould said.

“Sometimes these things only take a few days, sometimes they take a long time. I don’t think it’s overly major but we have noticed some things that have been out of character from Matt over the last month or so.”

Reports this week suggested Moylan was unhappy at Penrith and wanted out.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

BRING BACK REAL SCRUMS

Recently we’ve seen a number of teams use the short line drop out with mixed success. While it’s great and brings another dimension to the game, clubs should consider how they can use the scrum as an attacking weapon rather just a meeting point for opposition forward packs to have a chat with each other.

Why aren’t packs pushing in more scrums?

Here we have professional rugby league athletes, never been fitter, yet they can’t push in a scrum?

GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT

We feel really sorry for those that were expecting the NRL to announce The Angels and The Choirboys instead of American hip hop superstar Macklemore as the NRL Grand Final entertainment.

Macklemore’s hit song ‘Thrift Shop’ has over 1 billion views on YouTube.

Maybe we can get The Angels next year, huh?

PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDED TOMORROW

Our annual Player of the Year award, known as the Steele Sports Medal in 2017, will be announced tomorrow night from 8pm on Twitter. Naming rights for the award is also available for 2018. Contact [email protected] for more information.

RADIO

I’ll be calling the Inrust Super Premiership semi-final on Sunday between Canterbury and Illawarra from 5pm on steelesports.com.au.

You can also join me Friday night at 10pm for Friday Night Lights – also on steelesports.com.au.

@woodward_curtis