How will the Bulldogs salary cap scandal affect the Sharks in 2002?

Cronulla WILL get a home semi final as a result of this.. It is not the most ideal way in which to get one, but we'll take it... As a result, we are likely to play the hapless Roosters twice in a row at Toyota Park..

All year, I have said that the Bulldogs are not a serious chance at the premiership.. I just didn't think they had the right mix of players.. Clearly, they were playing as one magnificent unit.. but a lot of it was on the back of pure luck... Their best players have been their sensational wingers (El Masri and Utai).. which doesn't say much for a club with finals aspirations.. I think with O'Meley back, they get some good forward momentum.. but all in all, their pack can be handled quite easily by any of the top sides in a finals environment.. Overall, they have peaked way too early, and there is no way they can improve on how they have been playing...

But that matters for naught, as it seems imminent that they will take no part in the finals series.. This, I find, a real shame because of... ONE/ there will always be that question of, "what if the Doggies were in the finals series in 2002?".. and... TWO/ I will not be able to prove my theories correct that they are not a very good football team...

The implications of this scandal are far and wide... Cronulla has the best chance since '99 to lift their maiden championship trophy.. but the season will always be tainted by this incident... It may be looked at in the same way the year 1997 is looked at (Super League year)... Not only that, there are serious question marks over how the "penalty" should be handled.. Do all teams who have lost to the Doggies get their points back? What about the teams due to play them in the next 3 weeks, starting with Canberra? Just what is the real "fair" punishment that the NRL can dish out?

Let's just hope that we can get past this in a real hurry.. Come September, finals footy rules... I feel sorry for the Doggies fans, but hey.. this is what happens when you support a club like Canterbury...