1. Jets fans = amazing
There’s no doubting the Newtown faithful. Even without a chance at qualifying for the finals, they continued to turn out in their droves – right to the very end in their last match of 2015 against the Bears at Henson. And the fans were rewarded too, with the home side recording a 30-22 win against finals-bound North Sydney. Well done to all who turned out across 2015 – your support is appreciated.
2. History repeating
Hard to believe it but in VB NSW Cup Finals Week One four sides take on exactly the same team they faced in the final week of the regular season. In what will be a case of déjà vu, both Mounties and Warriors and Manly and Newcastle clash for the second time in a week. Mounties and the Sea Eagles claimed the cookies in Round 25 – it will be interesting to see how the games unfold when there’s so much more at stake this weekend.
3. Closest. Season. Ever.
There was, remarkably, just one for-and-against point that separated first and second in this year’s VB NSW Cup competition. Mounties, Wyong and Penrith all finished the season on 36 points – but Mounties finished on top with a points differential of 160, just one point (that's right - aka a field goal) better than the Roos and 56 points better than the Panthers. What a comp - you can't get much closer than that! Well done, Mounties.
4. Anyone’s game
If we were betting men, we would not place any money on the outcome of the VB NSW Cup. It’s just too close to call. All the finalists possess genuine game-breakers – and they can and will change the course of a match in the blink of an eye. Last year’s VB NSW Cup Finals Series was the tale of the veterans, the likes of Matt Hilder and Kevin Kingston. This year, though, it’s all about the next generation – and what an exciting lot they are proving to be.
5. Stacey’s got it going on
Congratulations to Warriors VB NSW Cup coach Stacey Jones, whose team has qualified for the finals in his first year at the helm. If his Holden Cup coaching career (one season in charge – one competition) is anything to go by, his side will be hard to handle in this year’s finals.
