Are we witnessing NRL finals history?

For the first time since the introduction of the current AFL finals system, two sides who finished in the top four at the end of the regular season went out in straight sets.

Of course straight sets means they did not register a victory in the finals, beaten by the victors of the elimination finals in week one.

With history made in the AFL, could we be looking at the same situation occurring this weekend as Manly host the Bulldogs, while the Roosters play the Cowboys?

If Manly and the Roosters were to lose, it would remarkably see the teams that finished one and two in the regular season exit the finals at the earliest possible opportunity.

On the back of their crushing 28-4 victory over the heavily favoured Melbourne Storm, the revitalised Bulldogs will be chock full of confidence as they prepare to play a side heavily hampered by injury, and the very real possibility of at least one more star missing through suspension.

The Sea Eagles limped into the finals on the back of three losses in their last five games, including big losses to the Rabbitohs and Cowboys. They did, however, manage to stun the Panthers thanks to some last minute magic.

Incredibly, the Des Hasler-coached Bulldogs will go into next weekend’s fixture as favourites despite finishing seventh. As bad as the aforementioned form for the Eagles was, the Dogs’ form was equally as bad. They have also lost three of their past five games, and were belted by 31 points at the hands of the Broncos.

Hasler, who is no stranger to the majority of the Manly squad, will spend the next week plotting the downfall of his former side.

On the back of a monster forward pack, the Dogs’ representative halves pairing will be licking their lips at the opportunities they hope James Graham and company will provide.

Manly, who will be missing Glenn Stewart, Jamie Buhrer and Matt Ballin, just to name a few, will be hoping that both Jamie Lyon and Anthony Watmough will be available despite being placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Greg Inglis on Friday night.

If Manly are to avoid a straight sets exit, they’ll need to overcome injury, possible suspension and rumoured off-field troubles to record one of their bravest and best victories of the season. They have the players to do it, but on current form you’d be brave to bet on them.

In the other game the minor premiers and defending champions will have to hold off the red hot, in-form Cowboys, who will be looking to avenge two controversial exits in the finals in the last two seasons.

The Cowboys, whose only loss in their last nine games came via a one-point defeat to preliminary finalists the Panthers, will hold no fear as they travel to Allianz Stadium to play the Roosters.

The Roosters, who were beaten thanks to a brilliant Jamie Soward field goal just seconds before fulltime, will be looking to set up the mother of all prelim finals by ensuring the Cowboys suffer more finals pain.

As good as the Cowboys have been in recent weeks, the Roosters are minor premiers and defending premiers for a reason. They know how to win the big games, shown as recently as their victory to capture the minor premiership with a victory over fierce rivals Souths two weeks ago.

Whereas the Sea Eagles look vulnerable, the Roosters will have plenty of motivation, and almost a full squad at their disposal. Of course there are always injuries at this time of the season, however the Roosters’ medical team has done well to keep the majority of their top squad on the park.

That being said, the Cowboys do hold a 42-10 victory over their opponents this season.

History beckons as we head into the second week of the NRL finals series. I wonder what odds you would have been offered for the Roosters and Manly to go out in straight sets. It could well happen.