I just saw the movie on DVD, having not seen it at the cinema and whilst I didn't have high expectations I was still expecting it to be good, especially after all the publicity.

I am a mad league fan but am yet to see a good Australian movie about the great game.

The first problem with the film was Matt Nable. Nable is first to admit he was an average footballer but he also an average writer and actor thus killing any chance this movie had to succeed.

Many have compared Nable effort as writer and lead actor in a sporting movie to Stallone in Rocky, the difference was Stallone surrounded himself with very good actors which made him look good. Nable has surrounded himself with other ex footballers and bad Australian actors, calling on Johns, a comedic talent, to take one of the most dramatic roles in the film. The pillow down the shirt just looked bad and given that Nable and Johns played around the same time, its hard to believe Johns as the coach, a player yes but not the coach

The list of cameos just added further confusion. Was Tommy Raudonikis playing himself? Raudonikis was still playing in the early 80s, for Newtown no less, and in this he's an old bloke on the board of directors.

Throwing in the likes of Raelee Hill who has never convinced me in any performance she has ever done just makes it worse. The only exception was John Jarrett, I don't think he overplayed his hand at all, he was by far and away the best.

Onto the script which was terrible. The plot had a lot of potential but not everyone yells and curses every minute of the day at any football club. Any footage I see from those days typically shows men who are all of few words. The only difference was they then remained silent as opposed to these characters who just repeat themselves over and over.

I felt no sympathy towards the main character Grub who rants and raves about loyalty and mateship but can't seem to see the problem in unlawfully smashing his brother with a blatenly late high shot. It may have been the way it was back then but that doesn't mean you have to be proud of it. And after spending the whole film fighting the entire world, he comes round within minutes. I don't believe it.

I think the other problem was that I thought the film was actually a dramatisation about the Newtown Jets final season in the top grade which came in 1983. That to me would have been a much a much better back drop, taking the focus away from the lead actor and sharing the load whilst still delivering the message of how the game has changed with commercialisation.

The only thing I did like was the editing. A little bit Guy Ritchie-esque I thought, but it captured the action brilliantly and the freeze frames on actors at the end of certain scenes was good as well.

Overall a very average film, which means I am still waiting for a good movie about rugby league.

Watching the Final Winter took me back to when i used to see Souths & Newtown play when Rugby League was still very much a working mans game.

It had everything that i wanted to see in a film that basically showed the heart & soul of the game that i love & the era that i grew up in.

All the scenes were down to earth, realistic & true to life, the characters were honest, the pub scenes authentic & the dressing shed scenarios exactly how it is on game day.

I loved every minute of it & i just hope that a soundtrack of the film is released as well. Congratulations to everyone involved with the film.

Loved this film. It was actually a bit of a chick flick which was a bonus. Refreshing to see new Aussie talent on the big screen.

This film is remarkably ordinary. The opening is effective, but the dialogue is so mundane that within a short period I was wondering what this film is about. It is "underlit" which only highlights the obvious budget restraints. I thought that the final scenes were nothing short of lame as the main character manages to redeem himself, by turning his life around, in the space of a song! My friend and I were the only audience in the screening I saw and I can now see why.

I didn't expect much from this low budget film, but I was charmed. It's surprisingly touching and the on-field action is up there with the classic "This Sporting Life". Great to see cigarettes back in the half time shed.

b grade movie with e grade actors who should have stuck with football and not the camera... very badly produced

I've been there and it hails to some of the tales and events to what football was about. Sure, Johns' pregnant overlay was somewhat out of character. However, the Australian bloke during these times were drinkers and had a pub history. Family was an extra responsibility in a social lifestyle that revolved around workmates and sport. Sport provided a physical relief in being brutual, tough and showing loyality to mates that elsewhere could be seen as a street brawl. Where a spear tackle was common and the ground was hard and dusty.

For first time actors and crew, a credit to their performance. The storyline was thin but it endured to provide a snapshot of our culture. If you consider soccer fans that do most of their anger management off the field, these guys were finding ways, dirty or otherwise ,to release pain in a sporting manner.

I would be happy to see it again as it brings memory back to my years of football and also a closer look at the Australian way of life. A football era that exposed the requirement for a mental shift and challenges to cultural attitudes that asked players, coaches, referees and management to go to the next level. It took the professional league (NRL) many a long year in reshaping the game to what we call football today. Enjoy.

This has got to be the MOST boring film ever, too much swearing and yes, I know its football, but come on.

Matty Johns looks ridiculous with his fake beer gut. This is the year 2007 can't you come up with a life-like beer gut?

Very poor acting indeed, walked out after 45 mins, just couldn't take it anymore.

let me start by saying that I am NOT a rugby fan.

So when i was given a chance to see this at a pre-release screening, i was less than excited.

Let me now say how wrong i was - this is a powerful film about human weakness, love, mismanaged pride and all the Big Themes.

It's really well acted (even by Matty Johns!) and I was incredibly impressed by how tightly constructed and appealing it was. By the end, i felt like I'd been taken on a real emotional journey - and had really connected with the characters, even Tough Guy Grub, the main actor.

This is a great film - go see it and see how good Australian films can be!

After a strong opening scene which effectively shows the harsh brutality of a rugby league match, the remaining 80 minutes of "The Final Winter" settles down to interminable talk and mild moments of relationship drama. Setting the film over the course of a week was a major miscalculation. The main characters are far more interesting on the field than off, but apart from the opening scene there is no league action at all. Matthew Nable has one expression for all occasions and Matthew Johns does a reasonable job despite having to wear a pregnancy vest. Nathaniel Dean is one of Australia's most over-rated actors, retreating to a pursed-lipped scowl whenever he can. When even John Jarrett seems ham-fisted you know the script isn't giving the actors much to work with.

The worst thing about this actionless drama is it will make other filmmakers even less inclined to make films about our sports - if Rugby League were an American sport there would be a hundred films about it.

If you are interested in what Rugby League once was, for better or worse you should see this film. If you grew up during this period you should see this film if for nothing else only to see how many vivid and varied memories come flooding back to you during the screening. Above all if you have any interest in what it is to be an Australian Man whether it be an sportstman or a family man you should see this film.