With Manly having disposed of South Sydney, who will win Saturday’s game between the Knights and the Roosters for the final place in the 2013 NRL grand final?
We’ve watched in awe as Wayne Bennett has coached yet another team, this time Newcastle, to a finals series.
The Knights will be looking to make their first grand final since their 2001 triumph against the record-breaking Parramatta Eels.
The Roosters, meanwhile, will be hoping for redemption for their 2010 grand final performance against the Bennett-coached Dragons. The minor-premiership winning Roosters will do their best to prove lightning doesn’t strike twice.
The match-up pits the rookie against the super-coach.
Trent Robinson may be in his debut year as head of an NRL team but you wouldn’t know it watching the Roosters.
In the coaches’ box next door is a man who continually proves he can turn any club he wants around.
Wayne Bennett has seven premierships to his name, averaging just under one every three seasons. Well guess what, this is the third season since his 2010 triumph.
Alongside Jack Gibson, he is seen as one of the greatest coaches of all time. He’s right at home in the finals.
Both Newcastle and the Roosters will field well-rounded sides. The Roosters have arguably a more star-studded line-up but Bennett’s Knights showed in their win over Melbourne it doesn’t matter who you have on your roster, in the NRL if you play as a team you will win.
Easts will no doubt be trying their best to get quality ball to Sonny Bill Williams early on. His combination with centres Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Michael Jennings has been invaluable to the Roosters’ success this season.
James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce will be expected to control the match with their kicking game, making Newcastle consistently work the ball off their own line.
The Knights showed last week, against arguably the best defensive team in the competition, they weren’t afraid to spread the ball early.
Their quick interchange of passing in the forwards caused plenty of headaches for Melbourne.
The Knights’ halves, Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts, have hit good form to the back-end of the season. Possessing terrific kicking games and control around the ruck, they too will look to pin the opposition in their own half.
At times this season it’s appeared as though the Roosters have scored at will. However, coming up against a Newcastle outfit that effectively blunted three of the best players in the game will provide a different challenge.
I tip a close match, with Newcastle winning 16-12.
But it’s the NRL. Anything is possible.
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