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Preview of NRL Finals week one.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12
QUALIFYING FINAL
2-Manly v 3-South Sydney at Allianz Stadium, 7.55pm
Head-to-head: Sea Eagles 77 Rabbitohs 69 Drawn 2
2014 Meetings: Round 2 – Sea Eagles 14 bt Rabbitohs 12 at Central Coast Stadium, Round 22 – Rabbitohs 23 bt Sea Eagles 4 at the SCG
Tab Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $1.42 Sea Eagles $2.95
FootyTAB: Sea Eagles +7.5
The Sea Eagles are having their annual sulk about being forced to play a home final away from Brookvale amidst a backdrop of infighting. The player unrest recently caused coach Geoff Toovey to accuse his squad of lacking focus. Manly looked a shoe-in to win the minor premiership four weeks ago, but have lost form at the worst possible time. Injuries to Matt Ballin, Jamie Buhrer and Brenton Lawrence in addition to star fullback Brett Stewart hit them hard in last week’s loss to North Queensland. Stewart and Lawrence are back to face a Souths side that finished strongly in last week’s 22-18 defeat to the Sydney Roosters. Adam Reynolds returns from suspension and the Rabbitohs forwards will remember destroying the Manly pack when these sides met in July.
Key: Manly’s already vulnerable pack will be severely weakened and with Sam Burgess in career-best form, Souths may have too much for the September specialists. But only a fool would totally write off this Manly side.
Tip: Souths
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13
QUALIFYING FINAL
1-Sydney Roosters v 4-Penrith at Allianz Stadium, 5.55pm
Head-to-head: Roosters 54 Panthers 32 Drawn 2
Last meeting: Round 19 – Roosters 32 bt Panthers 12 at Allianz Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Roosters $1.22 Panthers $4.40
FootyTab: Panthers +11.5
The reigning premiers looked in ominous form for the first 70 minutes against South Sydney last week before clocking off in the final 10 to win 22-18. They’ve timed their run to perfection under the guidance of Trent Robinson, who is aiming to become the first man to win back-to-back grand finals in his first two seasons as a head coach. However, they will be without the suspended Dylan Napa and Aiden Guerra plus the injured Jake Friend for the visit of an impressive Penrith side. The Panthers have surprised everyone by remaining in the top four for the whole year and once again have been written off in the build-up to this game. But with young fullback Matt Moylan already a superstar, Jamie Soward playing the best football of his career and the outstanding hooker James Segeyaro, they have the talent to spring yet another surprise. Ivan Cleary took an unfancied Warriors side to the big dance in 2011 and is quietly confident of creating an upset.
Key: Segeyaro has developed into one of the most creative hookers in the NRL and with the Roosters forced into playing Mitch Aubusson in the unfamiliar dummy-half role, the Panthers are sure to try and test him.
Tip: Roosters
1ST ELIMINATION FINAL
5-North Queensland v 8-Brisbane at 1300 Smiles Stadium, 7.55pm
Head-to-head: Brisbane 27 North Queensland 8, Drawn 3
2014 Meetings: Round 2 Brisbane 16 bt Cowboys 12 at Suncorp Stadium, Round 9 Cowboys 27 bt Brisbane 14 at 1300 Smiles Stadium.
Tab Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.30 Broncos $3.10
FootyTab: Broncos:+7.5
The Broncos scraped into the eight after Parramatta and the Warriors failed to win last weekend but were more than respectable in defeat to Melbourne at AAMI Park. They go into this game with a nothing-to-lose attitude with all the pressure on the in-form Cowboys to make the most of a first finals clash in Townsville since 2007. The experience of Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker will be crucial with the Cowboys boasting a top-class pack. Cowboys superstar Johnathan Thurston has won everything in the game but has said a premiership with the Cowboys would top the list. A sell-out crowd is expected from one of the most disparate supporter bases in the NRL – many of who travel up to five or six hours to watch their team play – and love nothing more than seeing them give it to the Broncos.
Key: Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt has won rave reviews for his play this year but question marks remain over his big-game temperament. This is the stage to prove the doubters wrong.
Tip: Cowboys
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14
ELIMINATION FINAL
6-Melbourne v 7-Canterbury at AAMI Park, 4.10pm
Head-to-head: Bulldogs 17 Storm 16 Drawn 1
2014 Meetings: Round 4 Bulldogs 40 bt Storm 12 at nib Stadium, Round 18 Bulldogs 6 bt Storm 4 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Storm $1.30 Bulldogs $3.60
FootyTab: Bulldogs +9.5
Two of the great coaching minds of the modern era in Des Hasler and Craig Bellamy renew their long rivalry in a mouth-watering clash at AAMI Park. Hasler’s side have slumped alarmingly in recent weeks and let an 18-0 lead slip to lose to a hopelessly out of form Gold Coast side last Sunday. The Bulldogs coach was in feisty mood this week when questioned about his side’s shocking completion rates but goes into the game having beaten the Storm twice this year. The fitness of Cameron Smith is a worry for the hosts who are embarking on their 11th finals series in 12 years.
Key: The Bulldogs have struggled to hold on to the ball in recent weeks. If they are to have any chance of winning this game then have to improve.
Tip: Storm
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