This is tricky. My team is not in the grand-final this year (again) and, like most people, I normally adopt a team for the game to make it a bit more interesting. I usually choose the team I hate the least.
However, this year I have a problem: I hate both teams.
I’ve hated the Roosters and Manly for almost as long as I’ve followed rugby league.
My list of hated teams changes from year to year based on certain factors, for example this year Brisbane rose up the list due to their continued circumventing of the player negotiations rules and Melbourne has been a team on the rise due to their preferential treatment by the referees.
But Manly and the Roosters are always on the list, permanently etched in the top two spots.
All this is not to say the grand-final won’t be a great game. It will be and I can’t wait to watch it. But I need a team to follow so I can feel that sense of investment and engagement.
My struggle has been so difficult that I have drawn up a pros and cons list. The pros were extremely difficult to think of and the cons were so easy I had to separate them into sub-categories.
Here it is so far:
Pros
The Roosters are a great defensive team, which has to be admired. They also have a progressive and seemingly intelligent coach. They have been very consistent this year and deserve to be in the big game. Also, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is an exciting player and I really like his name.
The Sea Eagles play with determination and passion, which was no more evident than in last Friday’s game. They have earned their spot in the GF. You also have to love George Rose for being able to play professional sport despite being undeniably fat.
Cons – supporters
The Roosters’ supporters are a wishy-washy, soulless mob who have turned up this year due to the signing of Sonny Bill Williams and will be nowhere to be seen next year when that mercenary returns to rugby.
The Sea Eagles’ supporters are an arrogant and dislikable group of bitter whingers who won’t travel to watch their team – thank goodness.
Cons – the club
The Roosters bought their 2013 team. How they could afford to purchase Sonny Bill, James Maloney, Michael Jennings and Luke O’Donnell in the one off-season astounds me. It’s almost like they are not subject to the same salary cap as everyone else.
The Sea Eagles have long been the dirtiest team in the NRL. They fight and scratch and bend the rules with amazing consistency – and are proud of it.
Cons – the players
The Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce is without doubt the least talented player ever to play Origin. The fact that he has played so many Origins is a complete mystery to every league fan.
He is soft and skill-less and, worst of all, everyone knows it. I blame him for at least 20% of NSW’s losses over the term of his Blues career.
The Sea Eagles’ Brett Stewart is talented but is there a more dislikable player in the league? Yes: Glen Stewart.
Glen Stewart is so dislikable that for a brief period he made me cheer for Adam Blair. Adam Blair!
Cons – other factors
The Roosters personify what is wrong with the NRL. This is largely because they build their team from the hard work of clubs that develop juniors and suck the loyalty out of the game.
They are also responsible for Freddy Fittler, whose moronic commentary stands out even at Channel Nine, where they invented moronic commentary.
Even though he now claims to be a Panther, Phil Gould will always be a Rooster at heart. Nuff said.
The Sea Eagles’ Geoff Toovey is remarkable for the amount of whinging he’s crammed into his short coaching career. He makes Ricky Stuart sound like Gandhi. Add the Manly Board and the whole place becomes a sook factory.
Let’s not go into the club’s history of producing players like John Hopoate, Cliff Lyons and Ian Roberts.
Conclusion
My conclusion is that I still don’t know who to go for. Is it possible to watch a game and not lean slightly towards one team? I don’t think so.
I need some help here. Suggestions?
Bee bee
Guest
Yes we are all jealous of you lucky Roosters and Sea Birds. Of course we are jealous you bird brains. You are in GF and we are not. My local team may never get there. Sorry GC Titans but reality is a bee hatch. So bask in our jealousy and may our players feel such jealous rage that they actually make the 8 next year. (GF is a bit of a stretch.) Good luck birdies may you have a good match and mAy the feathers fly. Cock a doodle SQWARK.
Brian
Guest
Yea you're totally right yanek other clubs are just jealous of our ability to sign stars. We are playing 100% by the rules (as far as everyone knows so far anyway) so don't whinge
Renegade
Guest
Yeah fair point and you're right....disregard my comment ;) haha
eagleJack
Guest
If the GF doesn't crack 80,000 then the NRL only have themselves to blame with the pricing of tickets. We haven't had a crowd below 80k since 2006. It has nothing to do with so called small supporter bases. Manly v Warriors still got a crowd of 81,988 in 2011.
eagleJack
Guest
Firstly the decade begins in 2004. In that time Manly have only missed the finals series once (2004) with 9 consecutive appearances. 4 Grand Finals for 2 premierships (possibly 3). The Roosters will be playing in their 3rd Grand Final. But in the past decade they have also missed the finals 6 times including a wooden spoon ( as well as a 13th and 14th). That automatically takes them out of any talk of "best" team in a decade.
Yanek
Guest
Before I comment I think I should say that I am a roosters fan. I just want to defend the roosters a bit by firstly saying that out of the last four teams (roosters, manly, newcastle and souths) that roosters have the highest amount of juniors in their starting 17 with over 60% But true, yes we have the most juniors but our most "important" players if you will (sbw, jm, mj) are imports and are undoubtably key to our success in 2013 whether we win the gf or not. What I want to know however is why that is such an issue? It is the same rules for every club and if it was so easy to "buy" a premiership then everyone would. Truth is is that its not that simple. In nick politis we have arguably the best recruiter in the nrl and have no problems "upstairs" like clubs eg. Dragons, tigers, canberra and eels who were unsuccessful in their 2013 campaigns. Is it jealousy that roosters can draw in such big names but your team cant that forces you to hate us? I dont think thats fair and if you truly believe signing players is unethical and unfair then I think thats ridiculous cause all clubs TRY to do it (look no further than parramatta and israel folau). Some teams are just better at it than others and sorry if your team is one of the others. Recruiting is just as much a part of the game as playing it.
Renegade
Guest
It was sold out in June.... the tickets available are the 30,000 that arrogant Souths supporters have returned because they thought the bunnies would be there.... turns out they weren't good enough. That being said, the roosters and manly have two of the smallest supporter bases in the comp however im sure 80,000 will still be there on Sunday.
Marco
Guest
Still tickets available! Unbelievable. You don't have to resort to eBay. The NRL are still trying to offload theirs.
Dan
Guest
Past five years perhaps, but not the last 10. Where were the eagles from 2003 through to 2007? And before you say they made the GF, making the final alone doesn't make you dominant, otherwise the Roosters would have a better claim to be the best side of the past decade - particularly if they win this weekend. That would give them 2 Premierships and 5 grand final appearances. Manly's claim as the best side of the past decade is only a little better than the bulldogs (2 premiership appearances for 1 title) and is helped by Melbourne's scandal which does fairly take them out of the running (though only partially given their resurgence and victory last year).
Marco
Guest
Can't stand channel 9. Don't like either team. Anyone notice the channel 9 ads for the GF plug Ricky Martin and Jessica malboy so much it makes the game seem secondary. I may watch it but am certainly not excited about the GF.
eagleJack
Guest
Irrespective of the result Manly can already lay claim as being the best team of the past decade. With only the Storm posing a threat to the title. But unfortunately for their club and its fans a few rogue administrators tarnished some of their achievements.
Naive
Guest
I missed the point here. Ian Roberts was the most graceful ball playing forward of his time. Cliffy? Classy five-eighth, in the Lewis era to boot. Hoppa? not even worth a mention - maybe as a Sire.
Alex Kiefer
Roar Rookie
After he knocked out poor old bedsy last week channel 9 must have been screaming down the video refs line to not put him on report.
Alex Kiefer
Roar Rookie
And if they lose he'll call for a full investigation.... Once again it looks like you can't win in this grand final unless you're teams in it.
Alex Kiefer
Roar Rookie
You'd think the NRL are the scalpers judging by their ticket prices...
V.O.R.
Guest
I heard yesterday that Tamou can't even get citizenship in Australia....not sure if that is true.
scribble
Guest
what about hoppa, you didn't defend him?
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
loved the article. i had a similar thing I've done. I tossed a coin.
seanmaguire
Roar Rookie
Roy and HG are doing a simulcast on ABC newsradio 630 on the am dial. Should be a lot more entertaining than Rabs and Goulds drivel.
Dan
Guest
Yes true, but if Manly win we'll be subject to the endless BS from Toovey about how Manly are the best team of the decade...