Braith Anasta dives in for a try: Rugby League, NRL, Week Two of Finals Series, Roosters v Penrith Panthers at SFS, Saturday September 18th, 2010. Digital image by Colin Whelan nrlphotos.com
I’ve been pouring over form searching for a winner in Sunday’s NRL grand final. It’s proving hard work. You have the team of the year up against the team of the last month, the best defence against the game’s form player, the structure of the Dragons against the chaos of the Roosters.
It’s an intriguing match-up.
However, as time has gone on, I’ve been more and more certain about one thing on Sunday: the result will come down to an individual moment, brilliance or bastardy, and that will determine the fate of all 34 players and two coaches.
It’s a cruel game but the whole culture of a club can seemingly be defined by one individual moment. Would people talk about St George’s constant “choking” in grand finals if Anthony Mundine had managed to put the ball over the line?
Individual moments can turn games. Will someone repeat Scott Sattler’s effort in 2003 or Martin Bella’s 1994?
Both teams will be nervous and that can only increase their chances of a William Zillman moment (to coin a phrase). And what happens when it goes upstairs, how confident are we the man with all the replays and camera angles isn’t going to make an absolute tit out of himself?
So the grand final could come down to a stupid off-load or a dumb penalty. Step forward Jason Ryles. Ryles has said he wants to prove to the Dragons how they were wrong to axe him. If I was a Roosters fan I’d want Jason to be going in without the feeling that he had to come up with the big play.
I’ve read lots of match previews which have said it could be hard for St George if they fall behind. I’m yet to read one which says that it will be easy for the Roosters should they fall behind. In fact, I’ll make the bold prediction that which ever team is behind with 20 minutes to go will not be entering the final quarter in their ideal position.
Yes, the Dragons play a pretty conservative brand of football. But there is rarely a better style in a grand final; it could be the Dragons have been practising for this game for the last two seasons. Let’s not kid ourselves, few teams go out to razzle dazzle in a decider.
The coaching battle will be tremendous. Wayne Bennett has done it all before but every time he takes a team to the big game he seems to come out with something special. Just look at what he achieved with the Kiwis at the World Cup.
Brian Smith on the other hand will prepare for this week with the company of a huge gorilla on his back. Smith will no doubt be dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s as he looks for that first premiership, but should his side fail it is unlikely to be due to anything he did or didn’t do – unless he has some sort of Warren Ryan influence on his team like when Ryan replaced Roach and Sironen in the 1989 grand final.
But Smith has worked wonders just to get his team to the decider. The job is already his for as long as he wants it (unless Roy Spagnolo is suddenly put in charge of the Roosters).
But who’ll win? I don’t know. Ask me with five minutes to go and I’ll tell you who might just get home.
Finally, what a weekend of sport awaits. Surely our leaders can agree to mandate that both major codes always play their grand finals on the same weekend.
The man
Guest
Choke on that! Let me hear you sing it Alfie: St George CAN play St George CAN play St George CAN play
M1tch
Guest
Monday morning at 12.10am-2.10am Public holiday for monday..good sunday of rugby league ahead ;)
Norm
Guest
Roosters by whatever it takes.
kiwi_tev
Guest
can't wait. every now and then the form horse bolts and wins, and i feel that in my bones. the roosters feel right and its going to be a triumph of guile. the traffic lights will turn blue, white and red!
Dan
Guest
Mate, it's not cliched... "Go Dragons" would be cliched, the GST thing is just plain weird and stupid.
mds1970
Roar Guru
I thought Latham was a Wests Tigers fan. But as for the Dragons Army, the "Great St George Team" banner may be a bit cliched, but I think their collection of banners held close together looks great.
Dan
Guest
You get it, but can't explain it? You're not helping M1tch :P
Gob Bluth
Guest
Great work Mitch, now I just need to track down how to get the Super league final.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Roosters by 6 Carney to win the Clive Churchill Medal
M1tch
Roar Guru
Am I the only person who gets thr GST sign? But cant explain what it means lol
Brett McKay
Guest
Mitch has beaten me to the punch, but the Fairfax OurGuide has it live around the country.... http://www.ourguide.com.au/WebPages/VIC_Melbourne_20101003.html http://www.ourguide.com.au/WebPages/WA_Perth_20101003.html http://www.ourguide.com.au/WebPages/SA_Adelaide_20101003.html http://www.ourguide.com.au/WebPages/TAS_Hobart_20101003.html
M1tch
Roar Guru
tas as well getting live where ever nine/win is picked up the game is going live nationally
M1tch
Roar Guru
perth is getting the game live at 2pm melbourne is getting game live at 5pm adelaide live at 4.30pm
Steve Kaless
Roar Guru
I second that, are you for real Jeff? Anyone else know about SA, TAS or WA?
Brett McKay
Guest
Jeff, are you serious?!?
Jeff
Guest
Unfortunately Ch 9 are not showing the game live in Melbourne. AGAIN they have ignored NRL fans.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Steve-o, Agree with you on so many points here. Going to be a very tight game I think and one that I'm sure will be in the balance with 10 to go. Can't see there being more than 7 in it at the bell. Also, 100% on the money re: Ryles. I heard that through the week and reckon the bookies would have tightened up on the Dragons. The bloke still obviously doesn't understand that it is this big statement, indisciplined approach resulting in a critical stuff up that saw him backed out from the Dragons (not to mention rep sides) in the first place. Stupid offloads and dumb penalties seem to be his stock and trade. I can't pick this one as the curse of Brian Smith applies right across the park here. Perhaps the curse can only be lifted from the Dragons by playing a Smith coached team in the GF? Perhaps this is the moment when the curse lifts from St. George and moves onto the Roosters?
Terry Kidd
Guest
Dragons will strangle the Chooks .... Chooks will be a little hyper from emotion and get their energy drained pretty quickly, then mistakes will happen and Dragons will pull away to win by 13. Final score Dragons 19 (3 tries, 3 conversions and a Soward field goal) to Chooks 6 (1 try, 1 conversion)
oikee
Guest
Neutral fan made a call, thats weird, Dragons by 1. I could not stand to see all those dragons fans go home un-happy, and Sydney will party for a extra week if the Dragons win. Come on Dragons, in Benny we trust. Whats with the go on flares at games, i seen one the other day at a St George game, gee it looked great with all the flags waving around the flare. Are they banned.
Neutral Fan
Guest
Honestly, I don't know who to choose but I go the Roosters only IF there attack heavily outweighs there defense when it comes to pointing points on the Dragons which is a hard feat to do these days (best defense in the comp). Roosters-30-24