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An alternate view: Bond - Consistent throughout 2023. Lacking in finals footie experience and stepped outside of their lane. Easts - The REAL stars of 2023. Kept all others honest with an almost traditional brand of club footie. Souths - Exciting and dynamic. Building their own brand of club...

A lot of now-familiar names played in that tournament.

Journos tend to be objective, and I do not at all pretend to be such. The 2023 Bond Universty Bullsharks - and minor premiers - were beaten fair and square by a supremely talented and experienced Brothers outfit more attuned and adequately reinforced to undertake a well-deserved run to the Grand...

Bond's issue doesn't appear to be in the forwards, but Canham's all-round abilities will be missed . The front 8 had a stellar game against Wests with solid tackles, turnovers and a good scrum...it appeared to be the backline that faltered and wavered at times. The link-ups on attack were...

I hate to say it, but I agree. I've never been a Creighton fan, but that was a champagne performance from him on Sunday. So good.

As an ex-referee, I was scratching my head at the awarding of Wests second try and missing some clear knock ons. BUT....that is rugby = and having said that, Wests weathered pressure, staved off a Bond comeback and managed to rattle the Bullsharks enough to EARN their win. The feeling of both...

Ditto. Pilz and Kennedy the difference for Easts - Campbell and the back three the difference for Bond....and by back three, I mean 6,7 and 8. Easts have pedigree and will power, Bond have the drive and determination evolved from a well-played comp...to date.

The context is lost on most, mate. The handle, more than anything, should have been the main giveaway.

Two words - Kohan Herbert.

After sealing GPS' fate and seeing off a strong challenge from Souths to finish as minor prems by 9 points, the Bullsharks are looking to go best out of three for the season against a strong and solid Wests outfit this weekend. Even though the Bullsharks have dropped only two games all season...

There's a list? UQ have been less underdog and more U-boat this season. Whilst I might appear to advocate for Bond, I advocate more for heads up end to end, and last gasp effort rugby - which Bond has consistently delivered this season. They give the fans something more than run-of-the-mill...

Absolutely agree. Bond has depth, but Easts and Brothers have GREAT depth. Whilst Bond appear to be the darlings of the 2023 season, Easts are a team that has for the past few seasons, shown heart, talent and depth across the board. They are the template/exemplar for other clubs to follow.

Just a heads up rugby fan and underdog advocate balancing the GPS/Wests/Brothers ledger

You analyse, postulate, hypothesise - and wish all you like for your offsides and cynical play calls - but the fact is that the W went to Bond on Saturday - and again on 13 previous Saturdays. That doesn't happen in a vacuum - and luck will only get you so far. You still have to work hard for...

Got any facts to back that up? Or is shooting from the lip with male cow faeces your forte?

The fact is that the talent at Bond 'filtered up' - filling the shoes of rep and injured players for most of the season. So well that the club was on top of the ladder and had dropped only two games when they returned. Having players rotate up the ranks certainly affected reserve and 3rd grade...

Wow! So the fact that most of Bond's reserve grade - and some 3rd grade - who stepped up when Bond's rep players were on duty - smacks of 'no depth'? When Bond's rep players came back, the club was on top of the ladder. They went on to take out the minor premiership dropping only two games all...

A scan of the players shows that development, depth, relationships, retention and partnerships - rather than recruitment - appear to be the formula for Bond in 2023. The ability to play well and nab unlikely wins when key players were on Super Rugby duty shows that development and depth figure...

This aged well... Going into finals as minor prems - and only two losses - is about as good a prep as you could hope for. Of course, there is still Souths to play this weekend....but one can pretty much, with evidence in support - call Bond scintillating, agile, diverse - and able to soak up...