What an amazing coincidence:

In 2010, we had a Queensland team that had been in the competition for 4 seasons win their maiden final against the New Zealand Warriors…

And in 2026, we had a Queensland team in their 4th season in the competition win their maiden final against the New Zealand Warriors.

Amazing stuff, and on that note here’s a Simpsons scene to wrap up the events of Saturday evening at Mt Smart:

So because I’ve been out travelling all week, playing bowls in Waroona then getting on a redeye to Melbourne tonight, here’s the games:

The Roosters playing the Sharks in a final for the 3rd time in 4 years on Saturday night, as this game could mark the end of Daly Cherry-Evans’ time in the NRL, which would be an anti-climatic ending in what is his 377th First Grade game, officially the 2nd-most for any player behind Cameron Smith’s seemingly untouchable record of 430….

And in the much loved Sunday afternoon slot we have the New Zealand Warriors playing the Cinderella Newcastle Knights in a Semi Final for the second time in 4 years (2023 being the other), and on top of that the NRL decided to book out Eden Park and sold it out within a matter of 48 hours, even though the Warriors haven’t played there since 2014, and have only won there once out of 6 visits to the All Blacks’ ancestral fortress, which was that last game against the Raiders 12 years ago.

Fancy that, the Warriors can’t win at Eden Park, whereas the All Blacks haven’t lost there since 1994.

And now, the Succinct Tips for the Semi Finals:

Week One Picks: 2/4

Week One Finals Progress Score = 135/208 (64.9%)

And for the random music post of the week, September 19 is the 23rd anniversary of Slim Dusty’s passing, so here’s the timeless classic DUNCAN: