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Great rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters face off in the first preliminary final for the right to become the first team through to the 2014 NRL Grand Final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm AEST.
One of the most anticipated preliminary finals in recent memory sees the Rabbitohs and Roosters go head to head for the third time this season.
The Rabbitohs kicked off the new season with a strong win over the Roosters back in Round 1 but Sydney got one back on their great rivals, earning a victory that enabled Trent Robinson’s men to claim back to back minor premierships.
Now the stage is set for an enthralling contest that could prove to be the last for several NRL superstars.
The careers of high profile players Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Burgess and Anthony Minichiello could all end tonight should their respective teams lose this evening.
With this in mind, expect the preceding players to give it their all in front of over 60,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.
The pressure is certainly on South Sydney to deliver after two poor preliminary final defeats over the last two seasons.
The Rabbitohs were convincingly beaten by the Bulldogs in 2012 and then suffered a painful defeat to Manly at this stage last season despite leading 14 nil early in the contest.
If the Roosters manage to start quickly, doubts could yet again creep into the minds of Rabbitohs fans and players alike.
For either team to win tonight, a complete 80 minute effort is required. The Roosters nearly suffered an agonizing defeat to the Cowboys last week despite leading 30 nil in the first half.
Sydney took their foot off the pedal and were punished severely as a result. They can ill-afford to drop their intensity against a Rabbitohs side desperate to make an overdue grand final appearance.
With both teams fairly evenly matched, the fate of tonight’s final rests on which team is able to maintain a strong intensity for sustained periods.
The Roosters are close to unstoppable when they get momentum behind them, but they have made a habit of falling away this season.
Playing in front of a large hostile crowd, however, could very well see the Roosters peak against the Rabbitohs.
In a great contest, the Roosters should rise to the occasion and make consecutive grand final appearances.
Tip: Roosters by 8