The Manly Sea Eagles are in a better position than last season to claim this year’s Premiership. Des Hasler’s men are primed now to give League legend Steve Menzies the farewell he deserves.
Many Sydney NRL fans will be hoping for an all Sydney final after the last two Premierships went interstate.
Cronulla Sharks Vs Melbourne Storm
The Storm should never be discounted. They boast match winners all over the park and are a team that can turn around inconsistency in the blink of an eye.
But one feels their fear factor is losing its potency. Melbourne will play without their captain Cameron Smith and have internationals Ryan Hoffman and Jeremy Smith on the sidelines nursing injury and suspension respectively.
If that was not enough of a turn off for Storm fans, Melbourne’s opponents in the Sharks have found form at the right time of the season.
Their attacking flair has increased tenfold. The men from the shire average 29 points since round 24 this season compared to just 11 points earlier in the year.
The loss of Brett Seymour though will hurt this trend. He has taken a lot of pressure off Brett Kimmorley, which has allowed the former Australian halfback to display true form.
Despite Seymour’s loss, Cronulla have responded well to adversity dealing with the Greg Bird incident with relative ease.
Their form during that period did not slack off and thus have won 12 of their past 15 games.
If any team is in turmoil it’s the Storm.
They have a shocking record at the SFS losing 10 of the last 12 matches there. Melbourne’s record against the Sharks isn’t so flash either, winning just two of the five previous clashes.
Indeed it was Cronulla of all teams that beat the Storm first up at Olympic Park in round two this year.
The Storm though could take comfort in the fact the Sharks also have a troubled record at the SFS, winning just two of their last eight matches there as well.
Although this game as the makings of a close affair, the Sharks no doubt have the inside running in knocking the Storm off their Premiership perch.
Tip – Sharks by 2
Manly Sea Eagles Vs New Zealand Warriors
Two in form teams and two in form legends in Menzies and Wiki hoping for the dream send off in league’s centenary year.
Yep, this clash has the makings of a Hollywood epic and if all goes to script, the Sea Eagles will be the ones scraping through to the Grand Final next week.
But try telling that to the New Zealand Warriors.
They are the form side of this competition and have the ally that counts in finals football – momentum.
They have won 10 of their past 12 matches to find themselves one game away from the most unlikely of Grand Final births.
Standing in their way though is a Sea Eagles side that shows no mercy. Under Des Hasler, they have developed a winning mentality that was non-existent in the early part of the new millennium.
Now they find themselves on the verge of consecutive grand final appearances after falling short in the 2007 decider.
No doubt the Warriors will have to wrestle some demons when they confront Manly on Saturday.
The Kiwi side has lost six of their last eight matches against the men from Brookvale including a 52-6 thumping in round three this season.
Indeed these mental scars could inspire the Warriors into action against a side who has a terrific record at the SFS, winning eight of their last eleven finals matches there.
The Warriors though also boost a tremendous record down at Moore Park, winning seven from their last eight matches at the ground.
Although Lance Hohaia’s form has warranted a starting position in the Warriors backline, the return of Wade McKinnon makes the New Zealanders even more potent.
On form, he is the most dangerous support player in the NRL. If the likes of Steve Price and Ruben Wiki dominate upfront, look for McKinnon to tear up some turf in the middle of the park.
But if you want a true game breaker, Jerome Ropati looks like the man most likely to deliver.
It was him that made the Witt try possible against the Storm two weeks ago when he fended off Israel Folau and offloaded to Vatuvei to seal history.
No doubt he could have a say again.
Tip – Manly by 4
The Roosters five-eighth copped a knock from Lindsay Collins.
Tomorrow morning we’ll see Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Uysk dispute the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world in the heat of Saudi Arabia, and…
The Sharks skipper was stopped in his tracks by the smaller man!
The Sharks fullback scored a try in the opening minute of the game, before costing his side one just before halftime as the Roosters…
The Roosters centre was not square at marker as his Sharks opponent took off short side for the try line.
"He's a winner, his side's on top of the table - where's Parra?"
