Last weekend’s game of the round very much delivered (much to my chagrin). The stage is set for another tasty morsel, while other matchups offer some intrigue as well (though perhaps you do have to squint).
GAME OF THE ROUND
A third home & away clash between our ladder leaders, with the minor premiership all but decided with a MaherShalalHashBaz victory.
Threat Level Midnight’s upset victory over the Roughnecks last week means MSHB have one hand firmly gripped on the minor premiership.
For the Roughnecks, a loss would draw them level on wins with the third placed Devils (I’m assuming victory against the Soldiers is a foregone conclusion, even with their outs). The Roughnecks enjoy a sizeable points advantage, and their remaining fixtures wouldn’t invoke too much concern about a further loss during the home & away, so they’re probably not at threat of losing their top two spot. But it’d be closer than they’d like.
The Roughnecks will be hitting the start of the round hard, with two of their best players, and one of their form players, taking the field Thursday night. Speaking of form players, MSHB will have one on Thursday in Bradley Hill, who has had an astonishing three weeks. They’ll also have a bevy of Cats on the pine, looking for loop opportunities.
Come Saturday morning, the Roughnecks will likely have had 7 players take the field, the MSHBs just 3 (plus the loops). MSHB will come back with a vengeance on Saturday night, with potentially 9 players. They’ll be hoping Collingwood and Brisbane dominate the footy. The Roughnecks might have 3 Blues, making Collingwood v Carlton a case of MSHB v Roughnecks.
The round will close with some heavy hitters on both sides. MSHB will have Merrett and Callaghan in the final game of the round, and potentially Wright if he doesn’t get pulled. The Roughnecks will have Whitfield, as well as Durham and Redman, a duo who couldn’t get it done for them in round 18’s final game. A chance at redemption for the pair of Bombers?
Key Outs
MSHB: Sinclair, Cameron, Georgiades
Roughnecks: McInerney, Flanders, Laird, Thomas
Last time these two met
The Roughnecks tied the season ledger with a 203-point victory in their round 10 clash. The Roughnecks got monster scores from Grundy and Smith, supported with centuries by a now injured duo in McInernery and Flanders. MaherShalalHashBaz were lead on the day by their own walking wounded in Jack Sinclair. Brad Hill scored a paltry 44, which tends to be what he scores in individual quarters of late.
DangerGawn votes
| Brodie Grundy |  | 167 |
| Bailey Smith | | 157 |
| Jack Sinclair |  | 115 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
Overlooking the Defenestrators this weekend, think we can about stick a fork in them for season 2026.
Te Puke Pukekos handled business against the team in pink last weekend, maintaining their wins buffer over the Sparkles and Midnight in the process.
That was key, because that’s what’s keeping them in 4th and not 6th, which is where they’ll be if those two clubs can draw level with them on wins.
Both those two would be expecting wins this weekend, which keeps the pressure on. Ladder positions suggest Pukekos should deal with the Chiefs, and with the Soldiers on deck the following week, they’d fancy their chances to get to 13 wins.
The Chiefs are spluttering a little towards the finishing line, having not broken the 1700-point barrier since round 13 (with a 1701). They’ve got some great players in rock solid form, but the depth is being tested and is found wanting more often than not.
Despite the uninspired form line, I can envision a world where the Chiefs give their opponents a shake. Some of their best players in Oliver, Ginnivan and D’Ambrosio have favourable matchups. If Miers comes back into the side, they’ll have four Cats take the field on Thursday night – a perfect opportunity to start the round strong and give their opponent something to chase.
And finally, Pukekos might be feeling the squeeze from a couple of absences. English might miss again, or play and score poorly as he has for much of the season. Noble is likely out, and it’s unclear if some of their other existing outs are likely to return.
Te Puke will go in favourites, and deservedly so. But if they get off to a slow start, the Chiefs might sniff an opening.
Key Outs
Chiefs: De Koning, Lalor? Watson?
Pukekos: English?, Noble, Battle, Budarick, Sanders?
Last time these two met
Was an entertaining contest, with Pukekos winning by 118 points.
Pukekos almost hit 1900 points despite having 3 scores under 50. 3 scorers over 120 will help counterbalance that though, with Harley Reid leading the way with a 136. A sign of things to come?
DangerGawn votes
| Nick Blakey |  | 146 |
| Harley Reid |  | 136 |
| Oliver Florent | | 127 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
The Devils banked the win, but it was otherwise a pretty torrid weekend for the team two wins clear in third. With Butters and Amon joining Rozee on the sideline, Horne-Francis getting himself suspended, Short a late out, Ross concussed, and Jack Viney presumed dead, the depth is starting to be tested.
They’re firmly ensconced in third, and have the Soldiers on deck this weekend. It would take a real disaster to slip from third, but it feels like they might have to tough out the next few weeks and hope to get some bodies back before the finals kickoff.
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