PRICHARD: Broncos to beat Cowboys in classic NRL grand final

Winning one Grand Final is hard enough. Why would anyone expect two or more in a row in the current age? In my view, the World Club Series/Challenge excuse is just that.

Mate I said your halves are superior because of him I then went on to say milf is better than Morgan so obviously I think Thurston is better by some way. Then I said that hunt outplayed him in week 1 which is hardly debatable considering the result. Don't disagree that strongly with the forwards but I think our front is very strong considering our defensive tactics. Yep Reed misses two tackles last week on a centre twice as good as what you blokes have. He is usually solid defensively and is better than oneill in the centres easily Quite the opposite. Macca isnt flash Granville is. He is great running out of half but he is not as solid an all round hooker as macca. Coote has been great and I said I agreed they have differing strengths. And what rep spot has coote got or will ever have. A duck egg is what.

I agree that the Bronc's made the astute decision to hang on to Mc Cullough . I just reckon we got the better player. Just my opinion.. It's true that there are loads of side stories yet to come and it's only Tuesday.

Definitely agree with you that this GF is the best thing for the game this year; the two top sides all year battling it out for glory of taking the trophy back up north. It might even be the beginning of the end of all the wrestle in the game, and more power to it if that's true. I'm definitely barracking the Cowboys; their fairytale deserves a happy ending. Thurston especially deserves to take out a premiership before he goes. It would be great for the Townsville area; and any grand final that Hodges loses is always a benefit to the game :P On another note, did you enjoy your stay in our neck of the woods, the Hunter?

I must admit I didn't realise the QLD Comp was such a big deal, that crowd was huge! And plenty of future test players running around too, they should have merged with the NSWRL and thinned out the chumps from both comps! I assume this ignorance of the quality of the Bris comp from down South is part of the whole hate thing you guys have for us? Prize-Man that's more like it, you are obviously a one-eyed Broncos supporter.

Granville was electric in his limited opportunities last year. I was sour we lost him, but glad the Cowboys picked him up. However I think the Broncos decision to stick with McCullough was a no brainer. I think we can agree on one thing, this will be one of many interesting side stories. These two have been all over each over in their match ups this year. If you didn't see Hunt outplay JT you were watching the game with one eye at best. I highly doubt he will repeat that feat, but he keeps on surprising.

Give it a rest. I didn't conveniently leave Hodges out, I actually have him as one of my personal faves. But there's a strong chance he won't even be there or if he is it'll be with another injury. So it's for that reason he didn't get a mention. Yes Granville had a couple of runs off the bench during Anthony Griffins reign. Wow. Hardly a glowing endorsement for how far he's come in twelve months. Of course I saw the game. Like I'd comment if I hadn't.

Can't help but notice that you conveniently left out Hodges again. He's from Nth Qld you know. Don't hate the bloke cause he's awesome. Isn't this Granvilles second year? Didn't he play for the Broncos last year? But they let him go as McCullough was establishing himself as a quality 80min hooker. Nice comparison of Granville and Smith btw. I personally wouldn't put them both "into the same sentence." And what's so hard to hear about Hunt outplaying Thurston in Week 1 of the finals? It was a cracking game, you should've seen it.

don't forget Gary Belcher, Peter Jackson, Bobby Linder, Gene Miles, Greg Dowling .... all State of Origin players

I can't wait for Sunday. Driven down from Brisbane Via a few days in the Hunter . The all QLD final is the dream but even better than that is the way these teams play Rugby League. This is the game I love and these two teams play the game the way it was meant to be played. I am of course on the Cows , Thurston deserves the prize. He has given the game and NQ supporters more than they could have hoped for since he came North. For him and for everyone in the north this must surely be the time the premiership finally travels beyond the Tropic of Capricorn. It has been foretold.

Broncos to win - who knew?! ;)

Buddy all I've got for you is that you should be a Queensland and Australia selector. If you can honestly put Ben Hunt and Johnathon Thurston into the same sentence and say Ben Hunt was better than JT on one debatable occasion I can't talk with you. Okay we'll whittle them down. I noticed you're happy with my forwards assessment? Michael Morgan's major attributes are his size and speed plus he's got a kicking game can tackle can also playmake also has a high workrate. Then you have the milf. Jack reed. Ha. Don't make me laugh. Ferguson used him as a doormat the other night. Or didn't you see those leaky points? Darn where's a plumber when you need one. Righto whos next. Oh yes the wing. Okay I'll trade you one Corey Oates for one Justin O'Neil. And I'll trump your Jordan Kahu with one Antonio Winterstein. You reckon that your mc cullough is pretty flash huh? He's a plonker. Jake Granville is in his first season of nrl and his biggest issue is he can't yet play 80 minutes. Give him a bit of time, he's still young. He manned up on the Australian captain the other night and didn't shame himself. Kostjasyn is doing tag team stuff and it's working. I'd rather have thirty minutes either side of kickoff with Granville darting out of dummy half as well as jack russel defence than 80 minutes of mediocrity from your bloke. I didn't really want to do the fullback one. But here goes. Darius, by his own admission is a bit lazy. Don't get me wrong he's got a cemented spot in the Queensland team, but as what? A winger. Coote on the other hand offers an incredibly safe pair of hands under the high ball. The courage to take the first hitup, good last man defence, and no tatts. What's not to love.

When was the last time the GF consisted of two teams with first year coaches?

My view is that it is a bit of both. We have had 18 teams go over this century and none have won the GF that year and only 3 have made the GF. These are all top teams and not Wooden Spooners so it is a factor. The fact is the teams have to "go to the well" before the season starts and then maintain that for 26 rounds plus finals. It is a big ask and no one has done it. The fact that the Broncos have a 50/50 chance is a tribute to their physios to keep them up.

i'm sorry but if hodgo plays our outside backs are far superior. who cancels out hodges? Oates is a huge plus and better than any of your wingers and kahu is just as good. hodges is better than both your centres put together and neither linnet or oneill are better than reed. Halves are slightly superior only because of jt and hunt outplayed him in week 1 and had an absolute cracker against the roosters. Morgan doesn't have the ability to make plays by himself he is only good when he gets good service running his outline which is basically his only play. Milf can do anything from anywhere and is one of the premier tackle breakers in the nrl. Granville looks better than he is and is isn't as good a defender as Macca. Agree re fullbacks, differing strengths but i firmly believe that in a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 situation in either attack or defence Boyd is the best player in the comp. His organisation while defending the line is also the best in the comp. Cootes kicking and playmaking is super handy for the cows and i get the feeling he plays more like a 5/8 in attack then morgan does who as mentioned above makes all his plays running round the back then backing his pace.

Don't hear that sentiment much. Usually when two QLD teams play it is I hope my team beats you but as long as a QLD team wins then all is good in the rugby league world.

I am a Qlder and i'm with you G. i was going for the storm on the weekend simply because i would rather lose to melbourne than the cowboys. As a broncos supporter they are our arch-rivals and our derby match. no way do i want them to win. I don't understand this as much as you even though my whole family wouldn't mind the cowboys winning.

Well I guess that's where we disagree G. If the Bronc's don't have another level they will get beaten. Since their last meeting the Cowbies have ramped up their game. Admittedly one was only against the sharkies (joking) but they were cruising along at the top of their game and with a strong team. Obviously against the Storm it was as full strength as it gets, and they were made to look a bit ordinary. Not forgetting it was only a few weeks earlier that Melbourne dusted an under strength NQ side. That's what's giving me confidence.

I choose the Dark Side. At least it will be an interesting ride before it's all over.

I'm split. Heart obviously says Broncos but I have no clue who wins this. This could well be the first GF that gies to Golden Point. Both sides are dead equal. Both fullbacks are outstanding, it's hard to say who is better. Same goes for the outside backs and halves. Both teams have the two best halves partnerships in the game, JT and Hunt the two best HB's in the world and Morgan and Milf the two best five-eighths in the world. The current two best best props in the world (Blair vs. Scott), although when it comes to size the Cwos have a slight edge. The hookers are equal, as is the second row. Parker is a better player than Taumalolo, but the Cows have a better bench. I don't know who wins, all I know is this will be the best GF in a long time.