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‘Glory glory to South Sydney’ – the inner mantra of each Rabbitohs fan. I won’t further assault your ears with how long it has been since they have been on the greatest stage, but it’s been a while.
Actually it’s been a really long while. Coach Michael MacGuire was not even born and Alex Johnston was still over two decades away from being thought about.
That’s how long ago it was.
They are short-priced favourites and deservedly so, handling the Roosters and Manly en route to October fifth. Each team has a premiership window, and the glass pane is awfully close to shut in Redfern.
I count Sam Burgess as the most crucial player in the Rabbitohs side and he won’t be there next year. Their time must be now.
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The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have come from the brink of catastrophe to string three strong wins together to make their second grand final in three years.
While there is some sort of consensus that Rabbitohs will win and do well, here are five reasons why the boys from Belmore will be the first team since the NRL’s inception to win from outside the eight.
1. Experience
There are only two players in the South Sydney team to have played in the extreme pressure cooker of finals footy – Greg Inglis and Lote Tuqiri.
The Bulldogs were there in 2012 when they went down to the Melbourne Storm. A significant majority of that team remains for Sunday’s game, and that experience – especially of despair in defeat – will be invaluable.
This can be vital to a team’s performance on the biggest stage. Since 2007, only the Dragons in 2010 won a premiership without playing in a decider in the preceding five seasons.
The Bulldogs will be more comfortable with the pressures of grand final week, and I am sure will do anything to avoid stumbling at the final hurdle again.
2. Defence
It is no secret that the Bulldogs have made the decider off the back of average attacking footy, though they have shown some impressive strike in the finals so far. I am writing about them right now because they tackle like letting through a try is an offence punishable by death.
They have only conceded six tries in their three games, and half of those were from kicks.
Last week, against a gallant Panthers side and with a mid-field shuffle, they were able to hold out repeated attacking tirades – making the usually impressive Panthers look cramped, uncomfortable and poor.
If they can defend like that again points will be at a premium.
3. Forwards
A very important factor in Rabbitohs crushing defeat of their inner city rivals was their forward pack. They smashed, battered and brutalised the Roosters into a watery chicken broth.
The Roosters have an almighty pack, with forwards like Sam Moa and Sonny Bill Williams no chumps, but they have not fired this year like they did in 2013. They clearly struggled to dig down another level to throw anything but tired jabs with the Mike Tyson entity that was South Sydney.
I highly doubt the Bulldogs will suffer the same fate. The Bulldogs have the best pack in the NRL and it the most significant reason they have been such a force this season. James Graham and Aidan Tolman put in sometimes droid like stats.
T-Rex is certainly back in form and rampaging through the edges with Kangaroo bolter Josh Jackson his second row partner.
If that wasn’t enough lock Greg Eastwood is in career-best form and man mountain David Klemmer comes off the bench with a firework in his shorts 20 minutes through each half.
Finals games, like most, are decided by the big boppers and Belmore is the heartland of haymaking forwards.
4. James Graham
Few would dispute that James Graham is the best front rower in the world right now, deservedly winning the Dally M Medal for Prop of the Year.
Bupa – as he is affectionately known – has had two man-of-the-match performances in a row and was instrumental on Saturday night.
I can’t think of many players more deserving of the Finals MVP award so far. It has been well covered, so I won’t bore you with an analysis of his game, but it was impressive.
A forward who runs well over 100 metres per match, makes 40 tackles, is a leader of men, and has the deft sleight of hand to rival most first grade halves is a juggernaut.
If the Bulldogs are to win on Sunday, it will be on the back of the blonde Brit.
5. Pressure
I know I said I wouldn’t say it, but here it is. Forty-three years. I have heard that number more this past month more than I have in my entire life.
The Souths players would be hearing it too.
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