I am confident Canterbury will claim their ninth premiership on Sunday, but it is going to take one heck of a performance from Des Hasler’s born-again Bulldogs.
They will have to meet and beat Souths’ big and hungry pack in a clash many thought an impossibility just a few weeks ago.
The Dogs have the game to match and ultimately subdue the Rabbitohs in what could be the most physical grand final we’ve seen in more than a decade.
This game will be won and lost in the middle of the pitch.
Souths will try to impose themselves through their giant pack and challenge the Dogs to go with them. That won’t be easy – the Rabbits bludgeoned the Roosters into submission last week. One could have sworn they went out there wielding baseball bats.
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But the Canterbury boys are no strangers to mid-pitch confrontations. History shows they love a physical scrap more than most and they have the artillery to succeed.
Sammy Burgess versus James Graham! What a match-up in any game, but this is the grand final and the two Englishmen will be immensely important to their team’s chances. These guys are great mates when they represent Great Britain but on Sunday night it will be a two-man war in footy boots – neither will leave anything in the tank.
I cannot wait to see them go at it. Both players get huge minutes from their coaches, each is the spearhead of his pack. The fans will be talking about this duel for years to come.
This title decider might well see an Englishman win the coveted Clive Churchill Medal for the first time.
It is Sam’s last game for Souths, his last in rugby league for some time, and he will be primed to do whatever it takes to end the Rabbitohs’ 43-year premiership drought.
Front-rower Graham has been very good all season for the Bulldogs but he has been great in this finals series as Canterbury has powered back to form, eliminating Melbourne, Manly and Penrith in successive weeks.
Roarers will probably say I’m tipping the Dogs to win this game because I’m a former player but that is not the case. They have more attacking variety than Souths, especially through their ball-playing forwards. Secondly, they have many players with grand final experience, compared with Souths who only have Lote Tuqiri and Greg Inglis to call on for first-hand advice.
The same scenario applies to the opposing coaches Des Hasler and Michael Maguire. Hasler has trodden the grand final road many times as a player and coach, whereas ‘Madge’ has yet to experience the enormous pressure of NRL grand final week.
This won’t be an expansive game for the backs by any stretch of the imagination, but the respective kicking games by both teams will be a telling factor. Canterbury has an edge here with their Origin combination of Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds.
Nerves can play a huge part in games of such magnitude. The Dogs won’t have so many, they should be able to settle into their rhythm earlier than the opposition.
I am not writing off the Bunnies as possible champions. They are a fantastic team and richly deserve their place in the big one, but I suspect they might have to wait a little longer to realise their dreams.
On a sad note, I don’t think we’ll be seeing hookers Mick Ennis or Issac Luke play in the game of the year. Mick’s injury looks to have beaten him, whereas I cannot see Luke beating suspension for his above-the-horizontal tackle on Sonny Bill Williams last Saturday.
This game will be a beauty. Even if you don’t follow either team, do not miss a moment.
My guess? Bulldogs by 18-12.
jacksyd
Guest
LOL
steveng
Roar Rookie
With Ennis gone the Dogs have two grubs to replace him well as a matter of a fact one new one by the name of Graham who will do everything in the rucks to annoy and niggle the Rabbits and then when he will get caught he will give us that ridiculous thumbs up wink wink like he did against the Panthers and of course we’ve got veteran grub Reynolds who I’m sure won’t be just sitting back and behaving like an angel. That is the Dogs strategy and that is to slow things down niggle and annoy the opposition and through the wash put the opposition off their game. It will be interesting to see how the referees handle that side of the game because in the last game I thought that Ennis and Graham got away with allot more then it was allowable in any normal completion game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sam Burgess squeezed the life out of Will Chambers.
Slatibardfast
Guest
The best thing Souths ever did was to get the Dali Lama to wear a Souths cap, pure genius. Marketing brilliance. No other team can beat that.
Christian
Guest
When Greenberg is in control I expect all decisions in favor of the Greenberg Bulldogs. I can't keep watching this game much longer. Long live the new oz tag RL comp.
Jono
Guest
Des will make sure the doggies are ready. His comments about making sure they get off to a good start is key and dogs will be switched on with a recent GF loss fresh on their minds. Souths will crack when the pressure is on as they think this'll be a walk in the park. Can't wait!!
Sammy
Guest
As a lifetime dogs supporter I have a bad feeling about Sunday. I think Souths will punish us given the form they're in. Personally I think they'll win by 12+ but I'm hoping for a miracle *fingers crossed*
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Which Reynolds? :)
jacksyd
Guest
Yes, he did pick the roosters to win comfortably and here he is again as a self appointed NRL media guru. Now he's gone off the Rabbitohs again, he obviously thought they were lucky last week.
jacksyd
Guest
Its the roosters all over again. Heard it all last week before the game how the roosters were going to be too this and too that for Souths. What happened? The same thing thats going to happen this week, only worse.
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Biased.
robby
Guest
but he wont as the dogs will win too much pressure will be on souths to win it will get to them
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Yes. correct. its about the pressure. I expect Souths will collapse in the first 20 minutes and will not recover. If Souths keep their cool they should win it. But the young guys will fold under the pressure. Hasler is a bit of a fox i would think Ennis will be playing and be doing his niggling best. However putting Sam Burgess and Teo on report aint gonna amount to much. So those guys get a free shot. A lot depends on the fitness and injuries the Dogs are carrying. How beat up are they? Morris, Ennis, Hodkinson. Luke is a massive loss, Ennis less so. Expect Dogs to go up the middle from the ruck due to no Luke defense. then spin it to the Keary edge using the big fast mobile forwards like Tony Williams. Dogs will attempt to punch holes through the like of Keary, Api K, and A Reynolds. The two important points are Who have the most energy and who has the less pressure. As a 45 year Souths supporter heart says Souths head says Dogs. 24 all draw. Then Reynolds kicks feild goal extra time. ???
BrumbyJack
Guest
JOC I'm positive Steve tipped the Roosters to belt the Rabbitohs last week and make another GF. And I'm pretty sure Steve is the same guy that wrote just 2 weeks ago that the Roosters would go back to back. Steve, I admired you as a player, but as many Roar fans have pointed out, your bias in knowing a club and having played for them is affecting your judgement. Souths will be too fast, way too strong send too fresh for the Dogs. The only way the Dogs kept pace with Souths last time they met was because every time Souths were in a try scoring position, Mick Ennis was blatantly allowed to waste time and question each and every referee decision. If Souths had Isaac Luke, they would win by 30+. Without Isaac I'm pretty confident they will still win by 13+.
HarryT
Guest
It is all about pressure. Dogs have been flying under the radar while expectations keep mounting on the Rabbits every minute. The Gladiator, the millions of desperate fans, the NRL, Channel 9 and Mrs Burgess all demand a Rabbits victory. And who isn't thinking about that horrible 'C' word: CHOKE! In Grand Finals the most important show of strength and power is generated between the ears. Des and the Dogs are smarter and should win. Maroubra will burn down.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Hey, look on the bright side, at least they haven't tried to break peoples legs yet, unlike certain Souths players.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Of course Steve has to tip the Dogs, he isn't going to go against his employer and he could be right. I think this game will be a lot closer than many think. Both regular season games were very close, the Dogs match up well with the Bunnies. They have 10 players with GF experience and a coach going to his 5th Dance in 8 years. The Bunnies will really miss Luke, his darts from dummy half are priceless as his toughness around the ruck. Api is a handy replacement but he has been injured. Souths have to stay away from the niggle and concentrate on there game which has been very impressive these past few weeks. Interesting comment from Steve re the Dogs having more attacking options. Souths have points in them but can they win the forward battle without the best hooker ( IMO ) in the game. This has all the hallmarks of an ambush win for the Dogs however I think Souths will tough it out and get the job done.
Dracula
Guest
Is this the first time two brothers have played against one another in a Grand Final ?
Albatross
Guest
The biggest sporting occasions have a fabulous knack for making mugs of us all, including players, coaches and officials. Just a few days ago the overwhelming favourite and almost everyones tip for the AFL flag capitulated, and the underdog reminded everyone that come GF day, expectation can be a very dangerous thing indeed. The biggest problem Madge will have, is keeping a lid on things. Lets see how it pans out for him.
Gappy
Guest
What do the dogs do that if worst that other teams????? They sledge sorry that's just australian thing to do. They don't high tackle players don't lead with knee and feet they didn't introduce the chicken or the cannonball tackle they didn't start the wrestle but they are they best sledges in the game. I bet you wouldn't say that Steve Waugh or warney or any other cricket is a grub because they sledge. Get over it we don't physical hurt players we just sledge then