At the top of today’s column, I will stick my neck out and predict we are heading for a Roosters-Bulldogs grand final.
Both teams squeezed home by a solitary point last weekend and in doing so convinced me they have the structures in place and the mental toughness to claim their respective grand final qualifiers.
The Roosters gave their supporters palpitations by squandering a 30-point lead against the plucky Cowboys, but when they had to knuckle down and find a way to win, they did the necessary job.
I have written on The Roar before that when Trent Robinson’s men get it right in attack and defence, they are the best team in the NRL.
Arch-rivals Souths will certainly provide a stern test on Friday night but I expect the defending premiers to rise to the challenge and win a highly physical battle by six points.
Roosters star hooker Jake Friend will be back near his best after returning last week from serious injury. They will also welcome back the hard-hitting Dylan Napa from suspension.
In this game, veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello will become the most-capped player in the club’s long history and you can bet his Roosters’ teammates will find something special to ensure he finishes his great career on grand final day.
Souths have made their third straight preliminary final, and despite what they are saying there is phenomenal pressure on the Rabbitohs to win this one and reach the title decider.
I do not regard them as chokers – Madge Maguire has moulded them into a very formidable combination – but this game carries loads of extra pressure when one considers what has happened to Souths at this point in successive seasons.
This shapes as another gripping finals contest with big names producing heroics all over the park, but big game experience is well and truly favouring the Roosters. I think they’ll find a way to build a lead and have the smarts to lock Souths out in the last desperate minutes.
The Bulldogs have powered back to their best form with stirring wins over finals specialists Melbourne and Manly in successive weeks.
At the right end of the season, they are showing the desire, technique and mental toughness needed to go all the way and I think they’ll snuff out the exciting challenge mounted by the Panthers.
All of Canterbury’s big guns enter this game in top form and I think they’ll grind Penrith out of the contest with their powerhouse forwards setting the platform.
James Graham was incredible again last weekend and looms large as the key man on Saturday. (He looks a good thing to captain the team when Mick Ennis moves to Cronulla next year).
I have loved Penrith’s brilliant surge to the comp’s penultimate round but I feel their best years are ahead and that they will be overpowered by the Bulldogs on Saturday.
This game won’t be won on sentiment or omens but those who are into stats might be interested to know that Canterbury made the grand final in 1984, 1994 and 2004. The 2014 grand final? Well, we’ll just have to wait a few days to see what eventuates. I’m predicting Canterbury by 10.
Next Monday night, the annual Dally M awards will be presented at Star City Casino. Here are my early guesses for the major awards.
Team of the Year
Jarryd Hayne, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Jamie Lyon, Semi Radradra, Johnathan Thurston, Ben Hunt, Sam Burgess, Josh Jackson, Boyd Cordner, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, James Graham.
Player of the Year – Johnathan Thurston
Rookie of the Year – Alex Johnston
Coach of the Year – Ivan Cleary
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Wrong again, why do you even bother to write this stuff.
Squirrel
Guest
Agree souths v easts 50/50 . Whoever wins this will win gf by 20
Tom G
Guest
Insult Manly fans and that's fair game, insult an illiterate and that's out of bounds evidently.. just for the record you were the one to introduce a personal insult by slagging off at Manly fans. My post was about an appalling exploitation of a rule and the leniency shown to a player for a deliberate foul.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Hrmm, didn't realise Docker would be back, but still don't think they'll be putting out more hurt than the Souths or Chooks big blokes.
Benny
Guest
Youve got to be kidding me...the mission just got tougher
Muzz
Guest
Cummins is one of the refs for the Roosters v Bunnies clash.This surprises me as he's been poor this season.He hasn't been anywhere near a Roosters game since the round 4 debacle(check roosters round 4 pressor). He was also spotted at Souths training not so long ago. http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2014/9/video-photos-referee-spotted-at-south-sydney-rabbitohs-training/
The eye
Guest
That right,Ken ? Are you taking money on the game ?
The eye
Guest
Alex,watch Docker and Plum closely..they hurt..
Chicken Wing Bunnies
Guest
Chapter 44 of the Book of Chokes to be written Friday night. Puts the Book of Feuds to shame.
The Barry
Guest
They also lost in 74 to extend that streak.
Stu
Guest
I thought everyone not living in Sydney had tuned out
dubblebubble
Guest
They won in '95.
The Barry
Guest
Don't listen to the TAB...listen to Ken...
The eye
Guest
Qld TAB giving the Panthers 3.5 start right now...
fiver
Guest
If the Bulldogs make the grand final, they will have made it: 1984 win 1994 loss 2004 win 2014 loss?
cedric
Guest
good call, I'd say the same, so it will more than likely be Bunnies and Penrith. Cause I've written Penrith off for weeks. In fact last year I won our tipping comp, this year, well it certainly wasn't me. I dunno what the winners were on, maybe they just threw darts at the picks? In any cased I got a seat there and I must be like a demi god cause Gordy said, with great gusto, about some of the cowboys supporters travel 300kms. Well I'm doing over 2000 and my team didn't even make it!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that like a demi god or just sad?
The Barry
Guest
I can imagine watching a team win premierships and make GFs would be hard for a souths fan to take.
The Barry
Guest
Agree. Dogs are definitely underdogs.
The Barry
Guest
Dogs have copped a tonne of adversity this year. They led the comp for 6 weeks earlier on the season. They lost their captain to a long term injury in rnd 4. They were the only team to play 2013's top four twice each this season. Only played this years bottom 3 once each. Had both playmakers called up to origin out of the blue...unexpected so no contingency plan. Had 8 regular first graders out for extended periods after origin. Pritchard, Browne, Perrett, Reynolds, Morris, Stanley, Klemmer, Tolman. People that say they've been ordinary all year have very short attention spans.
The Barry
Guest
Very little correct in that whole analysis.