Quarter-finalists Found
Six of the eight teams who made the finals last year have made their way back again this year. The two differences, the Roosters will play knock-out football as will the Tigers. Making way for them is the Broncos and Panthers.
The first game of the day saw the Dragons beat the Eels. It didn’t matter though as the Sea Eagles lost to the Knights meaning the Eels qualified first and the Knights second in the Rangitoto Pool. There are rumours circulating that the Dragons have invited the public to join them in their court-session this afternoon at an unnamed pub in the CBD.
In the Waiheke Pool South Sydney looked very professional and far too hard-out in their dispatch of the Storm. They qualified top as the first unbeaten team of pool play. The defending champion Cowboys beat a very under-strength Panthers team and scraped through to the quarters as they did last season. But as we learned last season, you just need to make it to the knock-out stage to give yourself a chance.
The Warriors put the shits up their home crowd and event organisers when then lost to the Raiders last night, however they managed to give the Tigers a 14-point towel up. The Titans smashed the Raiders meaning the Tigers qualified top of the Hunua Pool with the Warriors second.
In the Piha Pool the qualifiers were already known as both the Sharkies and Chooks had two wins. They played this morning for top honours of the pool with the Sharks getting the job done and becoming only the second unbeaten team of the tourney. The Broncos and Bulldogs wrapped up pool play, but no one gives a shit as both teams had already mentally clocked out of the comp overnight.
What happens now? Well here is the quarterfinal draw below.
Quarterfinal 1 – Eels vs Cowboys
Quarterfinal 2 – Knights vs Rabbitohs
Quarterfinal 3 – Tigers vs Roosters
Quarterfinal 4 – Warriors vs Sharks
Semifinal 1 – Winner QF1 vs Winner QF 2
Semifinal 2 – Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4
Grandfinal