Graham Lowe: Good thrashing breaks all the rules

Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi is in the most dynamic form of his career. Photo / Getty Images

It is quite obvious the Broncos and the Eels have not been following the anti-smacking debate over here in New Zealand.

As far as they are concerned when a team needs a flogging, they give it one.

Because last weekend the Titans and Dragons were both on the end of a smacking that was very public, humiliating and for many, very painful.

Rugby across the Ditch also got a smack, with dismal viewing figures for the free-to-air broadcast of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test.

Last Saturday's test in Wellington drew just 289,000 free-to-air viewers in Australia while the Broncos stomping all over the Dragons drew 1.03 million.

To make matters worse for the Australian Rugby Union, 931,000 had watched the Eels win the night before.

The humiliating 27-2 punishment dished out by the Eels to the Titans was a statement and even more importantly a lesson on how to make everyone listen (maybe even other codes).

The ball is faster than the man. And using the ball also creates an entertainment factor that is second to none.

Parramatta make great use of the ball and are also playing the most entertaining type of game.

Why do you think the television numbers are so high?

It was impossible for me not to compare the All Blacks-Wallabies test match to the Broncos-Dragons game that followed.

Like all Kiwis I was pleased the All Blacks beat Australia, but was it good to watch? Maybe if you like watching a 1934 Austin 7 trying to get up Albany Hill you'd be entertained by it.

I have the utmost respect for our national game, but let's be fair dinkum: At the moment it is just too slow, lacks skill and has lost its way.

The Eels certainly aren't lost and in fact are well on the way to the grand final next week. But blocking the road for them tonight sit the Bulldogs who guard a reputation of toughness that is second to none.

The momentum the Eels have gathered is very impressive and reflects a great set of man-management skills.

After a spell at St Helens, their coach Daniel Anderson is now a cup football expert and the sudden death environment he and his team have been operating in for the past few weeks has brought out the very best in him.

It is obvious his players are enjoying every moment and their confidence is allowing them to play sensational footy. But against the Bulldogs this week they face a very different team to the Dragons of last weekend.

The Dogs will produce a physical barrage of intensity that will certainly challenge the Eels forwards. I'm expecting a titanic clash between these fierce rivals.

Anderson has found the right button to push with Fuifui Moimoi. The explosive Eels prop is in the most dynamic form of his career.

But the Dogs coach Kevin Moore has shown he's pretty good at firing up his own forwards.

I'd guess the Bulldogs pack will make this a very personal confrontation between themselves and the Nathan Cayless-led Eels forwards.

The MacIntyre system has produced a brand of football that would be way beyond the wildest dreams of NRL boss David Gallop. It is simply brilliant.

Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne has commanded centrestage in the semifinals so far. But I think tonight the edge-of-the-seat moments could come from the forwards. The Dogs pack will simply refuse to go away and will guard what ball they get with ferocity. This is the Eels biggest challenge.

And the Dogs' up-and-in defence is bound to force errors in the Eels attack.

Whatever happens, the anticipated record crowd at ANZ Stadium will get their money's worth.

Then tomorrow night in Melbourne's Etihad Stadium it gets even better. The Storm have a definite advantage playing in Melbourne, but what it transfers to on the field is anyone's guess.

I tend to think the winner of next week's grand final will come from this game.

But who knows? The cream is rising to the top. The performance last week by the Broncos against the Dragons was complete in every way.

However, they have paid a huge price for it. The broken ankle their halfback Peter Wallace sustained in the last moments of their win could have derailed their hopes this year. But I don't think so.

Darren Lockyer is the key and always has been to the Broncos. He is playing injured, but he is still the most influential player in the NRL. Lockyer delivers when it is really needed. But it's their tough-as-teak frontrower Dave Taylor who I think could really cause the Storm their biggest headache.

Not only is he hard to stop he has great hands as well.

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak has Taylor playing a game that is very difficult to defend against. Because he shifts from running one off the ruck to three wide and it is out there he is unstoppable.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will be well aware of this, but I doubt there is much he can do except to minimise the times Taylor is able to get the ball.

If the Storm don't shut down his supply, Taylor will be the difference between the two teams.

Losing their influential halfback will have been very disappointing for the Broncos camp. But as the Dogs did in their win against the Knights in the first round of the semis, they will rely on the spirit of the team.

And right now that spirit is strong. They didn't just beat the Dragons last week; they smashed them with an intensity that took Wayne Bennett's men totally by surprise.

Maybe this could be the focus of the Broncos' gameplan tomorrow night.

I have a question mark over the Storm forwards who rely heavily on playing slow-down footy in defence.

The Broncos will not allow this to happen. They have a forward pack that do not turn the other cheek.

And - quite oblivious to New Zealand's smacking debate - the Broncos may well punish the Storm with a painful lesson they will never forget.

WHAT: NRL Preliminary Final 1
WHO: Bulldogs v Eels
WHERE: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
WHEN: 9.45pm tonight

WHAT: NRL Preliminary Final 2
WHO: Storm v Broncos
WHERE: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
WHEN: 9.45pm tomorrow night

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