NRL - Round Twenty Five Preview

Every year, every sport says farewell to its ageing champions. Rugby league is no different this year with some notable names making their exit. It makes you feel old when sporting heroes hang up the boots as you remember them as young kids finding their feet. Rugby league is a game that takes it toll more than any other and some of the battle weary legends look a distant memory from the young vibrant kids they were when they first started playing the game.

Steve Menzies was around when the dinosaurs walked the earth and he just always seemed to be able to play the game forever. "Beaver" was a tireless second rower that has been around Brookvale for nearly twenty years. He was great in defence but made a name for himself by always backing up and racking up more tries than any forward ever has in the game. The Manly faithful will shed a tear when he plays his last game.

Other notables include Danny Buderas. The Newcastle, NSW and Australian rake was one of the games best and outside of Steve Walters the best I have ever seen. He was tough in defence and his darting runs out of dummy half left defences on the back foot time and time again.

Rubben Wiki (Raiders, Warriors and NZ) was one of the true work horses of the competition. When he started all those years ago for the invincible Green Machine he was a pacey centre who ran off Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley. In his later years he moved into the forwards and was an inspiration to New Zealand for both the National and Warriors team. Brett Hodgeson (Parramatta, Wests Tigers, NSW) was also another tough player who always looked too small and frail to play the game. Who could forget when Gorden Tallis picked him up like a rag doll in the State of Origin years ago? It memories like these that will last in every fan of rugby league.

On a brighter note there are still many chances for teams to make the final 8. Every game involves teams battling for positions. Parramatta take on St George which looms as a classic encounter with two teams who are showing great late season form battling it out for a finals birth. Parramatta faces their biggest test but on recent form they are capable of turning it on enough to get over the Dragons. Another fascinating encounter sees the Warriors hosting the Panthers. Both sides must win to have any chance to make the finals and the Warriors should account for Penrith but the Panthers are the sort of side that can win the games they should lose.

Sportsbet.com.au has all the rugby league action covered and offers a wide array of betting options.

• 
• 
• Email to a friend
• Print