The Crown Casino Risk’s long history looks to add another page this weekend, with a perfect 50/50 split of Premier League and Division Two sides entering this year in pursuit of points. Will one of the ‘also rans’ such as Port Macquarie or Wanganui score an upset victory? Or will Liverpool, desperate for points, be able to scrape in? Wellington have competed in every Crown Casino Risk tournament without victory, and will be hoping to break their hoodoo in this year’s tournament.

In the opening game of the tournament, fans were treated to an unexpectedly exciting game which saw Liverpool and Port Adelaide locked at 24 all after eighty minutes of play. The first twenty minutes of extra time failed to produce a score, before Liverpool surged into the semi finals with two late tries, winning 36-24.
Liverpool: Paul Atchison, Gus McCrae, Abderazak Elhabuki, Michael Goirgas, and Daniel Bell. March 8/9
Port Adelaide: Jerrie Muller, Sonny Nickle, and Michael Hodgson 2.
HT Score: Liverpool 18-10
Penalties: 10 all
Completion Rates: Liverpool 73% Port Adelaide 67%
Possession: Port Adelaide 52%
PoM Points: Paul Atchison 3, Michael Hodgson 2, and Scott Geddes 1.

Wanganui have produced the first upset of the 2004/2005 Crown Casino Risk tournament, eliminating the Coffs Harbour Wyrms from the tournament with a nail-bitting 14-12 victory. The Wyrms had a chance to level things when Brian Carney scored late, but the conversion missed and the Tuataras held on to progress to a semi final clash against either Redlands or Sydney.
Coffs Harbour: Brian Carney and Cameron Davis. Tune 0/1. Miller 2/3
Wanganui: David Woods and Veramu Dikidikilati. Cooper ¾
HT Score: Coffs Harbour 8-0
Penalties: Coffs Harbour 9-6
Completion Rates: Coffs Harbour 64% Wanganui 67%
Possession: Coffs Harbour 56%
PoM Points: Brian Carney 3, David Woods 2, and Robert Iliassov 1.

The Wellington Cougars have shown why they’re tournament favourites once again this year, absolutely embarrassing a desperate Melbourne side, 42-16. It was well and truly over by halftime, with the Cougars having raced in five first half tries (including three in the first twelve minutes) and a 32-6 lead. Whilst Melbourne scored two late tries in the second half, they went home dejected following the huge loss.
Melbourne: Brett Stapleton, Terry Newton, and James Harrison. Maquina 2/3
Wellington: Keiron Cunningham, Danny Orr, Sean Long, Gordon D’Arcy 2, and Paul Rauhihi 2. Long ½. Sinfield 6/6
HT Score: Wellington 32-6
Penalties: Wellington 9-7
Completion Rates: Melbourne 66% Wellington 63%
Possession: Wellington 56%
PoM Points: Kevan Mealamu 3, Sean Long 2, and Danny Orr 1.

Sydney have made an effortless transition into a semi final clash with Wanganui, accounting for Redlands in fine style today, with a 28-8 win. RSC callup Oliver Magne was inspirational in lock forward, whilst Ben Kennedy was an unexpected feature in five eighth alongside Craig Gower.
Sydney: Steve Kefu, Steven Price, Jason Ryles, Ben Kennedy, and Oliver Magne. Gower 4/5
Redlands: Dennis Moran and Nick Graham. Young 0/2
HT Score: Sydney 24-4
Penalties: Sydney 10-3
Completion Rates: Sydney 77% Redlands 75%
Possession: Sydney 55%
PoM Points: Oliver Magne 3, Ben Kennedy 2, and Craig Gower 1.

SEMI FINALS
Gordon D’Arcy’s fine form for the Wellington Cougars continued in the side’s semi final clash against Liverpool, the Tamworth City loan scoring his second double of the tournament as Wellington progressed to the final with a big 30-6 win over the Rockets. The Cougars and Rockets were quite evenly matched in the first half, but in the second half Wellington’s class shone through as they set up a finals appearance and guaranteed themselves at least two points from the tournament.
Wellington: Gordon D’Arcy 2, Sean Long, Kevan Mealamu, and Keiron Cunningham. Sinfield 5/6
Liverpool: Gus McCrae. March 1/1
HT Score: Wellington 14-6
Penalties: Wellington 11-5
Completion Rates: Wellington 79% Liverpool 53%
Possession: Wellington 58%
PoM Points: Kevin Sinfield 3, Keiron Cunningham 2, and Gordon D’Arcy 1.

Hearts in Sydney were beating extra fast in the side’s semi final clash with unheralded Wanganui. With only six minutes remaining, an unlikely field goal from Ben Kennedy lifted the Oilers to a 27-26 lead, before a late Craig Gower penalty goal sealed a 29-26 victory for the Oilers. Whilst fans and players were ecstatic about making the final, they were full of respect for a courageous Wanganui side.
Wanganui: Matthew Cooper, William Mugeyi, Melody Wafawanaka, and Herman Lefaele. Cooper 5/5
Sydney: Gavin Lester 2, Chris Jack, Jason Ryles, and Oliver Magne. Gower 4/7. Kennedy 1 fg.
HT Score: Sydney 20-18
Penalties: Sydney 11-5
Completion Rates: Wanganui 43% Sydney 83%
Possession: Sydney 59%
PoM Points: Oliver Magne 3, Matthew Cooper 2, and Craig Gower 1.

Third Place Playoff
The battle for third place, featuring two Division Two underdogs, proved to be a fairly one-sided affair, with Liverpool putting their Wellington demolition behind them to score a powerful 38-12 win over the luckless Wanganui Tuataras. The win sees Liverpool collect one point and prize money from the tournament, whilst Paul Atchison’s form in the tournament has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Wanganui: David Woods and Jun Kanazewa. Cooper 2/2
Liverpool: Paul Atchison, Michael Goirgas, Paul March, Nathan Sykes, Lawrence Dallaglio, Cedric Debrosse, and Steve Molloy. March 5/7
HT Score: Liverpool 16-6
Penalties: Liverpool 7-4
Completion Rates: Wanganui 60% Liverpool 66%
Possession: Liverpool 57%
PoM Points: Paul Atchison 3, Gus McCrae 2, and Melody Wafanawaka 1.

Crown Casino Risk Final
The final saw second placed Wellington taking on a Sydney Oilers’ side in dire needs of points if they’re to be a chance in the finals. The Cougars form has been nothing short of ominous, racking up a total of seventy two points to twenty two in their two qualifying matches. The Oilers, however, scraped into the final on the back of a thrilling victory over Wanganui. Would the Oilers’ tight qualification give them a big game edge?

The first try of the final went to Steve Kefu in the sixteenth minute, when the level headed centre ran it on the last tackle to take advantage of some weak marker defence from the Cougars. The Oilers’ lack of a top level goal kicker showed early on, with Gower’s conversion missing well to the side. The Oilers went in again shortly before the break, this time it was Ben Kennedy rampaging his way to the line after a powerful Jason Ryles bust. Once again Gower failed to convert, meaning Sydney would hold a tenuous 8-0 lead at the halftime break.

HALFTIME: Sydney 8 lead Wellington 0

Wellington looked to have gotten off to the ideal second half start when Timana Tahu was put in over the corner by a deft Sean Long kick. Cougars’ fans were outraged when referee Paul Simpkins called it back for an offside. Things continued to go Sydney’s way when, moments later, the Cougars were reduced to twelve when David Kidwell was given ten in the bin for a blatant rake on Steve Kefu as the Oilers looked to be developing real momentum. Not long after, Gavin Lester was able to cross out wide to lift his side to a 12-0 lead. Again, Craig Gower proved unequal to the task, and the Cougars were left with a glimmer of hope.

That glimmer became little more than a flicker minutes later, when Craig Gower scored and converted his own effort to lift the Oilers to a rather impressive 18-0 lead. The Cougars still had twenty five minutes in which to come back, but the big Oilers’ lead would make it tough for them. A knock-on from the kick off presented Wellington with their first try, Danny Orr chasing his own grubber to score, with Sinfield converting. The crowd got behind Wellington as the clock ticked on, but ultimately the Oilers’ defence and big start proved decisive, and the Oilers took the three points and the prize money with an 18-6 victory.

Sydney: Gavin Lester, Ben Kennedy, Steve Kefu, and Craig Gower. Gower ¼
Wellington: Danny Orr. Sinfield 1/1
HT Score: Sydney 8-0
Penalties: Sydney 7-4
Completion Rates: Wellington 66% Sydney 72%
Possession: Sydney 54%
PoM Points: Gavin Lester 3, Amos Roberts 2, and Ben Kennedy 1.

Can someone explain what the Crown Casino Risk is exactly?

Having just taken over Redlands the team was already entered and I aint got a clue what it is.

basically its a mini knockout thats run during 1 week of the year where 8 teams can forfeit their round match to enter and have the chance to win prizemoney and up to 3 points in the competition......

Yeah, it's an annual knock-out tournament. By forfeiting your round twenty clash, you go into the competition. Entry costs $75,000 of club finances, and the prize money is split between those who finish first, second, and third.

First place also gets three points, second gets two, and third takes home one.

bloody hell thats the 2nd time in two years i could have got a free ride. but i had to live upto wellington's tradition of been in the tournament

Haha, who were you drawn to play in the regular season?

hahaha well done roger, u continued the tradition of making sure wellington lose in the CCR. i beat them in the 1st round 2 yrs ago and in the final last year (even tho they flog me every other time lol)

sydney, last season i was to play either shanghai or geelong. at least this time i gained 75k and the two points and without any major injuries.

Ah, cool. I was trying to figure out why I had less teams in PL receiving that bye than I'd expected. That would explain it, lol.