is the minor premiership possible

[Danish]

So Melbourne's Minor Premierships of 2011 and 2016 must make the 'great' Craig Bellamy's ability to get teams up also questionable?

Somewhat, yes.

Although he has also made far more GFs than Robbo coached sides (granted half of them with illegally assembled squads).

Some coaches/squads just tend to struggle with finding an extra gear in September. After 2013 our finals performances have left a lot to be desired, wouldn't you agree?

[PeeGee]

Yeah that's my fear... we haven't been competetive against any serious contenders.

However, when people bring up consistency, we've only lost 1 more game than the storm.

Really don't want the minor premiership. It's put too much pressure on us in the recent past. If the year plays out a certain way, we could have to play Melbourne twice in Melbourne, AND THEN in the GF also. (Based on Melb being minor premiers and reaching the GF, which I think they will, and will win - they went so so close last year, and they are several levels above other teams when at their best).

I think we've had an amazing season, and I'd add that anything is possible from now till the GF for any side. Having said that I think we've been patchy all year. No real totally dominant performances other than against the eels. (errors and penalties costing us). BUT, maybe that's the way the game is headed. Momentum is so critical now (as it always has been), but now more so. You've gotta build pressure in games , and along with momentum and dominance, this is the key. So obviously errors and penalties have to be kept to a minimum, (hopefully, the refs give us a fair shake also).

Importantly, one or two players need to play out of their skin, and take games by the scruff of the neck. I'm talking Pearce, JWH, NAPA, Keary, and yes FRIEND.

Our run home will show just how good we really are remembering that Friend and Gordon will be out injured. The good thing is we do have the opportunity to peak at the right time of the year, which many teams have done in the past and taken out the premiership. GO YOU ROOSTERS.

Note....No more injuries please.

[PeeGee]

Somewhat, yes.

Although he has also made far more GFs than Robbo coached sides (granted half of them with illegally assembled squads).

Some coaches/squads just tend to struggle with finding an extra gear in September. After 2013 our finals performances have left a lot to be desired, wouldn't you agree?

2014................no idea what happened.............Friggin Soward...............not really sure how far we would have gotten anyway. SBW not at his best, rigged comp for Souffs
2015................WE WOULD HAVE WON THE GF.....critical injuries to JWH & Pearce - Expected though.....(.Melb would not win without cronk/Bromwich, nor Cronulla without Maloney/Gallen, Cows not win without Thurston, Scott, Brisbane, etc, etc..............ooh Yeah..........the SKD eff up for the ages)
2016...............Poodles, hamstrings, kids playing first grade, toups missing Jennings, Fergo 5kg underweight, more hamstrings, calfs, pecs, foot inhuries galore, referees, no goal kicker, bunker, RTS pissed us right off, the Maloney Factor/debacle

[ROC181]

Minor premierships...pffft! If we win another MP and not the GF, Robbo will be know as the MP king. GF is what counts...!

[milanja]

So Melbourne's Minor Premierships of 2011 and 2016 must make the 'great' Craig Bellamy's ability to get teams up also questionable?

bellamy has got the minor prem 5 times and got the grand final only once, then it was stripped anyway. So 0 from 5 for Bellamy.

going back 20 odd yrs

1997 mp bris gf bris
1999 mp sharks gf melb (finished 3rd)
2000 mp bris gf bris
2001 mp parra gf knights(finished 3rd)
2002 mp warriors gf roosters (fin 4th)
2003 mp panthers gf panthers
2004 mp roosters gf dogs(fin 2nd)
2005 mp parra gf tigers(fin 4th)
2006 mp melb gf bris(fin 3rd)
2007 mp melb gf melb
2008 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2009 mp dragons gf storm(fin 4th)
2010 mp dragons gf dragons
2011 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2012 mp dogs gf melb (fin 2nd)
2013 mp roosters gf roosters
2014 mp roosters gf Souths (fin 3rd)
2015 mp roosters gf cows (fin 3rd)
2016 mp melb gf sharks(fin 3rd)

so in 20 yrs the minor prem has won it 5 times

team that has finished 2nd won it 4 times

team that finished 3rd has won it 6 times

team that finished 4 has won it 3 times.

[PeeGee]

bellamy has got the minor prem 5 times and got the grand final only once, then it was stripped anyway. So 0 from 5 for Bellamy.

going back 20 odd yrs

1997 mp bris gf bris
1999 mp sharks gf melb (finished 3rd)
2000 mp bris gf bris
2001 mp parra gf knights(finished 3rd)
2002 mp warriors gf roosters (fin 4th)
2003 mp panthers gf panthers
2004 mp roosters gf dogs(fin 2nd)
2005 mp parra gf tigers(fin 4th)
2006 mp melb gf bris(fin 3rd)
2007 mp melb gf melb
2008 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2009 mp dragons gf storm(fin 4th)
2010 mp dragons gf dragons
2011 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2012 mp dogs gf melb (fin 2nd)
2013 mp roosters gf roosters
2014 mp roosters gf Souths (fin 3rd)
2015 mp roosters gf cows (fin 3rd)
2016 mp melb gf sharks(fin 3rd)

so in 20 yrs the minor prem has won it 5 times

team that has finished 2nd won it 4 times

team that finished 3rd has won it 6 times

team that finished 4 has won it 3 times.

Great info. thanks m.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Making the GF is the big thing....thats the hard part and what coaches etc. should be marked on.

[Mickie Lane]

bellamy has got the minor prem 5 times and got the grand final only once, then it was stripped anyway. So 0 from 5 for Bellamy.

going back 20 odd yrs

1997 mp bris gf bris
1999 mp sharks gf melb (finished 3rd)
2000 mp bris gf bris
2001 mp parra gf knights(finished 3rd)
2002 mp warriors gf roosters (fin 4th)
2003 mp panthers gf panthers
2004 mp roosters gf dogs(fin 2nd)
2005 mp parra gf tigers(fin 4th)
2006 mp melb gf bris(fin 3rd)
2007 mp melb gf melb
2008 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2009 mp dragons gf storm(fin 4th)
2010 mp dragons gf dragons
2011 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2012 mp dogs gf melb (fin 2nd)
2013 mp roosters gf roosters
2014 mp roosters gf Souths (fin 3rd)
2015 mp roosters gf cows (fin 3rd)
2016 mp melb gf sharks(fin 3rd)

so in 20 yrs the minor prem has won it 5 times

team that has finished 2nd won it 4 times

team that finished 3rd has won it 6 times

team that finished 4 has won it 3 times.

So 3rd is where the Roosters want to finish then?

[roosterproud]

bellamy has got the minor prem 5 times and got the grand final only once, then it was stripped anyway. So 0 from 5 for Bellamy.

going back 20 odd yrs

1997 mp bris gf bris
1999 mp sharks gf melb (finished 3rd)
2000 mp bris gf bris
2001 mp parra gf knights(finished 3rd)
2002 mp warriors gf roosters (fin 4th)
2003 mp panthers gf panthers
2004 mp roosters gf dogs(fin 2nd)
2005 mp parra gf tigers(fin 4th)
2006 mp melb gf bris(fin 3rd)
2007 mp melb gf melb
2008 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2009 mp dragons gf storm(fin 4th)
2010 mp dragons gf dragons
2011 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2012 mp dogs gf melb (fin 2nd)
2013 mp roosters gf roosters
2014 mp roosters gf Souths (fin 3rd)
2015 mp roosters gf cows (fin 3rd)
2016 mp melb gf sharks(fin 3rd)

so in 20 yrs the minor prem has won it 5 times

team that has finished 2nd won it 4 times

team that finished 3rd has won it 6 times

team that finished 4 has won it 3 times.

so, if in 20 years there have been five minor premiers who have won the big prize, that make it on average every four years. Thats this year...time to win another mp

[fletch]

the minor premiership is not something we should be worrying right now, lose on Saturday night and we probably don't make the top 4, we have a pretty tough run home.

[mightyrooster]

Somewhat, yes.

Although he has also made far more GFs than Robbo coached sides (granted half of them with illegally assembled squads).

Some coaches/squads just tend to struggle with finding an extra gear in September. After 2013 our finals performances have left a lot to be desired, wouldn't you agree?

I think MP mean nothing in the overall scheme of things. There's not much difference between finishing first, second or third and not going on to win the big one.

[Danish]

bellamy has got the minor prem 5 times and got the grand final only once, then it was stripped anyway. So 0 from 5 for Bellamy.

going back 20 odd yrs

1997 mp bris gf bris
1999 mp sharks gf melb (finished 3rd)
2000 mp bris gf bris
2001 mp parra gf knights(finished 3rd)
2002 mp warriors gf roosters (fin 4th)
2003 mp panthers gf panthers
2004 mp roosters gf dogs(fin 2nd)
2005 mp parra gf tigers(fin 4th)
2006 mp melb gf bris(fin 3rd)
2007 mp melb gf melb
2008 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2009 mp dragons gf storm(fin 4th)
2010 mp dragons gf dragons
2011 mp melb gf manly(fin 2nd)
2012 mp dogs gf melb (fin 2nd)
2013 mp roosters gf roosters
2014 mp roosters gf Souths (fin 3rd)
2015 mp roosters gf cows (fin 3rd)
2016 mp melb gf sharks(fin 3rd)

so in 20 yrs the minor prem has won it 5 times

team that has finished 2nd won it 4 times

team that finished 3rd has won it 6 times

team that finished 4 has won it 3 times.

Excellent stats.

Of the 15 teams that finished MP and then couldn't go on with it, you would imagine each and every one of them would also look back on those years as the one that got away (or in our case, the half dozen haha!)

Of our most recent MP failures, I think it could well be fair to say that Robbo had us peaking a month too early in 2014. We seemed hell bent on wrestling the MP away from Souths and Manly that year, and were then flat in week 1 against the Riff. In 2015 Robbo had likely learned some lessons, with injuries playing much more of a role in our demise (although our absolute brain fart in the 1st half against the Broncos was nothing short of a mental failure of the entire squad and coaching staff).

Other teams that got obsessed with the MP to the detriment of premierships were Dogs in 2012, Saints in 2009, Parra in 2005, and maybe the warriors in 2002. All of these teams played like gods for the regular season, but once they made the finals looked a lot more shaky. Probably because they'd been up for so long they just thought they could cruise through to the title.

Teams that win the MP then go on to take out the title are all absolute laser focused squads. Saints in 2010 were driven immensely by their failure in 2009, the Storm haven't focused on the MP in years (when they do win it, you can tell it is largely incidental to their goals), and us in 2013 were on a ****ing mission of perfection all of 2013.

[gragra]

I prefer the English Premier League perspective......the team that comes first ...has won the most games all year is the BEST team of that year ! I would rather see the roosters be minor premiers, have a stellar season beat the majority of teams score great tries.....if they lose the grand final bad luck...its just one game that happens to go pear shaped on the day.......The finals is exciting but can be unfortunate for the Best team all year.....

[Mickie Lane]

There should be 2 separate comps.
A 26 round comp with the team who has the most wins & the best for & against crowned Telsta premiers.
Then a top 8 knock out comp & the winner crowned "sponsors name" premiers.
Make them both prestigious.

[Headless Chook]

I prefer the English Premier League perspective......the team that comes first ...has won the most games all year is the BEST team of that year ! I would rather see the roosters be minor premiers, have a stellar season beat the majority of teams score great tries.....if they lose the grand final bad luck...its just one game that happens to go pear shaped on the day.......The finals is exciting but can be unfortunate for the Best team all year.....

That's a fair call if you have a full home and away season like they do in the EPL. Unfortunately we don't have that in the NRL so just because you finished minor premiers doesn't necessarily mean you were the best team all year. A lot of it can come back to your draw, particularly around SOO time.