This year the top two defensive teams, the Sydney Roosters and the Melbourne Storm, tumbled out of premiership contention in the semi-finals.
The last time this happened coincidentally involved the North Queensland Cowboys in their 2005 grand final loss to Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers.
This year’s grand finalists are still formidable defensive teams, the Brisbane Broncos are ranked third, while the Cowboys are fifth.
So what does this mean? Well for one expected some entertaining, no holds barred footy this weekend.
Both teams can play the arm wrestle if they are forced to, but they would much rather chance their arm.
The Cowboys scored the second most points this season, while the Broncos were just behind at fourth.
I’m expecting Anthony Milford to create havoc in broken field. I’m expecting Johnathan Thurston to utilise his magnificent show-and-go. I’m expecting old dog Justin Hodges to leave someone grasping a thin air with a big don’t argue in their face and I’m expecting Jake Granville to make break from dummy half showing more speed than an hooker has the right to.
And what does this mean for the bigger picture of the NRL? To me it shows there is a slight swing back to free flowing, attack orientated football.
It’s a promising sign given the NRL will be reducing the number of interchanges from 10 to 8 next year.
For the last decade the NRL has been dominated by the defensive teams, the masters of the grind and the wrestle.
While some people may enjoy the defensive battle of modern day league games, I’m yet to find an NRL highlight’s video dedicated to wrestling in the ruck or a ‘Best 5 hit-ups and a kick sets of the NRL’ on YouTube.
As for the grand final result? My heart says Cowboys but my mind says Broncos. Wayne Bennett just doesn’t lose grand finals. He’s got a seven from seven record. Will he make it eight from eight?
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