After a very well played and at times controversial first round of the NRL Finals we are left with the Roosters and Rabbitohs having a well-deserved week off while Sharks, Knights, Eagles and Storm get to fight it out for qualifying spots in the preliminaries.
I’m writing this more to open up the debate about who you think will power through to take on Easts and Souths, and to also give my opinion on who will get up.
First up we have the Sea Eagles taking on the Sharks on Friday night with the winner facing up against Rabbitohs.
Both teams are looking great and the game could really go either way depending on who decides to turn up on the night.
With Carney looking more likely to not play this in itself could be a huge blow for the Sharks, but with the likes of Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Michael Gordon they are still the team to beat.
Even more so now with that win over Cowboys, they will want to show that they are the better team and deserve to be here.
Meanwhile, we have a Manly side that played arguable the toughest game of the year, and while they did not win they still looked incredible on the field.
But even with the return of Brett Stewart, the rest of the team will still be hurting.
I believe that Manly definitely has more than a chance of beating the Sharks but it will be hard.
I feel that Sharks will pull through on the backs of their big forwards and pull another close win.
Next up on Saturday night we have Melbourne and Newcastle both contending to take on the Roosters.
While Storm always remains ‘the team to beat’, they have looked sluggish the last few weeks.
That game against the Rabbitohs last Friday to me looked less like the Rabbitohs playing amazing football and more like Storm failing to turn up.
And now they have to try and put together a win against a Knights team that is looking great and has all the momentum after dominating the Bulldogs all over the park.
I think it will be very hard to Melbourne to go home with a win, even if they are playing the game at home.
Anyway I know that a lot of you will disagree with me and my tips but I really believe this is the last games that Manly and Storm will play this year.
I’m looking forward to hearing the debate begin below.
Dylan
Roar Pro
you were almost entirely correct there
Sau
Guest
You are only good as your last game, Melbourne cannot rest on their Laurels. If they do they will be punished. Master coach Wayne Bennet reckons that the Knights are playing for themselves again which does not bode well for the Storms if you ask me. Knights by 10 points.
Adog charles
Guest
Up the storm 2012 premiers now for 2013 trophy
D41145
Guest
Even thow knights and sharks have been in great form i believe that storm and manly are going to come away with a win and they are the better teams. The grand finals i strongly believe will be Melbourne storms and the south sydney rabbitos and coming to s great, hopefully the storms can end the year with a great win UP THE STORMS !!!
Dylan
Roar Pro
Well I guess we have to look forward to the weekend and see Maldron. Either way their going to be some great games
Fran_Gipani
Guest
Renegade: totally agree with your first paragraph. Lets hope the game is reffed well and the best team wins on THAT day :) Should be a roarer.
Roarsome
Guest
Souths haven't really impressed recently so i'm tipping Manly to make the GF. The Storm are tired and the week off will help the Roosters so i'm tipping them. So a Roosters v Manly GF with the Chooks to win the big one.
Fran_Gipani
Guest
* Manly all the way ! *
Renegade
Guest
It all depends on whether Carney is fit for Cronulla, at full strength the sharks are hard to beat and can beat Manly. The best backline in the comp versus the best forward pack - what a blockbuster. For the Sharks to win, they need to win the forwards battle which i think they can do. The game plan has to be just charge through the middle make the yards and really lift the intensity in defence to keep Manly in their own half for the best part of the game. Nullify the backline by dominating the forwards battle. No doubt i think the Sharks can do that however they will need to match the intensity and line speed that the manly side possess..... no side in the comp has been able to match them in this department and if the Cronulla pack can manage to do that they will go a long way towards winning. The manly forward pack were in a brutal battle on Saturday night and will find the going tough in towards the end, the Sharks have to be relentless and really stick it to them from kick off. I'll wait until the teams are announced before predicting a winner in the friday night game. Moving onto Saturday night. Yes i think the Knights can get the Storm.... they were very impressive of Sunday however beating the bulldogs is completely different to beating the Storm in Melbourne. It's probably the hardest task in the NRL however the storm do look vulnerable. I probably still have to tip the Storm in this one though.
Morfs
Guest
Melbourne looked sluggish on Friday, aye, but as Marldon said, they managed to make a game of it in the end. Poor execution early on is what cost them. Widdop will be better for the game under his belt. He looked decent, if a bit rusty, last week, but his combo with Cronk should be back in full swing. The return of Widdop also takes a bit of responsibility in attack away from Slater, who I feel had to work that bit harder when finch was playing, as the structures were slightly different to allow for Finch's style of play. If the weather is right, and Storm can execute, I'd expect a decent score at home on Saturday. If the game gets into the grind, well, both sides have proven their ability this year, but I'd still tip my team to win at home & earn a prelim final against the Chooks. Manly v Sharks, well, I think I'll cheer Manly, and would expect them to win, but it could be close.
Marldon
Guest
You might be right. Strangely enough given their poor record this last few weeks, I can see Melbourne going back to back this year. I think Manly are doing it tough and a second hard physical game will take it out of them. I agree, Souths would beat them. Roosters is a hard one, they are playing very well.
maximillian
Guest
Its still hard to say as the top 4 are all good but the 2 best sides on the weekend were Manly & the Roosters IMO. Defence wins titles so I think these 2 will meet again in the GF with the Roosters winning. Pearce to win the Clive Churchill & he will make the Oz WC squad & play for NSW next year. :)
The eye
Guest
Manly will end up playing Souths and lose...roosters will play the storm and lose....GF Souths will play the storm and win !
Marldon
Guest
Completely wrong. Manly had a hard game last week and will be nursing a lot of bumps and bruises. But they are fighters and they played extremely well against the Roosters. The sharks only won against the cowboys because of a refereeing blunder. That is unlikely to happen again and with the added vigilance, you can expect this to be more of a level playing field. Whether Carney plays or not, we are likely to see Manly put an end to this Shire nightmare. The Knights played very well against a lacklustre Bulldogs side, they deserved their win but I cannot see them getting such an easy ride against the Storm. Sure the storm have been poor lately particularly in the opening 20 minutes but following that they have made a fight of it. The game against the rabbits could have been very different if Slater's try had been given. I expect Bellamy to have put a rocket up the storm boys this week which when coupled with a game in front of their own fans is going produce a very different Melbourne Storm to that we have seen recently. You write the Storm off at your peril and unfortunately Newcastle are going to be on the recieving end of their finals backlash. Manly and Storm to show their finals credentials yet again and send the pretenders packing.
Brett
Guest
Up the Knights!!!