All of a sudden, this year’s grand final is an exciting prospect.
Over the last couple of weeks, a Storm victory has seemed inevitable.
They’re just so much better than every other team in the competition that the finals felt like a foregone conclusion.
Keeping the Broncos scoreless on Friday night just seemed to clinch it.
This was, after all, the clash that many commentators predicted for the actual grand final.
Why, then, does the Cowboys’ incredible victory over the Roosters throw a spanner in the works?
After all, if the Storm has beaten every other team in the eight, it stands to reason they can beat North Queensland as well.
Last time these two sides met the purple army came away with a 26-8 win – and in Townsville.
That was in Round 22, and yet the Cowboys feel like a very different team now.
For one thing, Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo have finally come into their own.
For another thing, the Cows now have the three most improbable wins of the finals season behind them.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Add to that the fact that their inclusion in the finals was dependent on the Dogs beating the Dragons, and this is a fairytale finish if ever there was one.
That’s why they’re the only team that really ever stood any chance of beating Melbourne.
At this stage, Melbourne are so far ahead of the other NRL outfits in terms of talent that the only way any team could beat them is with a surge of spirit and self-belief that goes beyond what you’d normally expect of a finals season.
With three such unlikely wins, the Cowboys may now just have that surge.
Sure, the Storm may have three marquee players in Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
But being forced to hit the field without marquee players can give a team a different kind of strength.
It’s certainly forced Morgan to showcase an organisational aptitude we never even glimpsed while Johnathan Thurston was alongside him in the halves.
Spirit and self-belief may seem like vague concepts, but there’s no other way to explain how the Cows came away with such an emphatic win against the Roosters on Saturday night.
Similarly, don’t underestimate how much the Storm are sustained by their own inspirational narrative.
This is the last time that Smith, Cronk and Slater will play together.
It’s also the culmination of Slater’s long and magnificent journey back from injury.
Finally, it marks the culmination of a record-breaking finals season for both Smith and Slater.
All those factors have given the Storm a sense of entitlement heading into this grand final – and entitlement can sometimes win grand finals.
Yet with this win over the Roosters the Cowboys have cemented an inspirational narrative to rival even the Storm’s most media-saturated moments.
If Melbourne are playing for a legacy, then the Cows are playing to cement one.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
If Melbourne are playing for a future without Cronk, then the Cows are playing for an even more distant future without Thurston.
In the process, North Queensland have already captured the popular imagination.
For all the professional humility that the Storm have incorporated into their PR machine, the Cowboys are genuine underdogs – bereft of their co-captains and arguably their two most important players, they’ve won each of their three finals games on organisation, focus and pure determination.
In their own way, they’re entitled to this win as well, and the groundswell in their favour may help them get there.
One thing is for sure – at this late stage, talent alone was never going to beat the Storm.
By providing a surge of momentum that rivals Melbourne, and an inspirational groundswell that eclipses even the most lavish paeans to the Storm’s Big Three, the Cows may just be the only team that stand a chance of a decent grand final in one week’s time.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
One thing about the Cowboys is they won't beat themselves. Their ball control and power game is simple and effective. The fact they have nothing to lose also makes them dangerous. Whilst all the pressure is on Melbourne I still think they are a couple of notches above every side in the competition. They won't make the same blunders as the Sharks, Eels and Roosters that allowed the Cowboys to control the majority of possession and territory. I think Melbourne will win fairly comfortably however who am I to write off the Cowboys, they certainly believe in themselves
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
One thing about the Cowboys is they won't beat themselves. Their ball control and power game is simple and effective. The fact they have nothing to lose also makes them dangerous. Whilst all the pressure is on Melbourne I still think they are a couple of notches above every side in the competition. They won't make the same blunders as the Sharks, Eels and Roosters that allowed the Cowboys to control the majority of possession and territory. I think Melbourne will win fairly comfortably however who am I to write off the Cowboys, they certainly believe in themselves
Joshaz
Guest
Melbourne already has the legacy, but they are playing to add to that legacy and have once last party before the Big 3 reluctantly have to split up their band. The Cowboys deserve to be there, but most neutrals are acting as if they are making up the numbers. Notwithstanding the Cowboys are missing Scott and Thurston, they still have a premiership nucleus of their own from 2015, and made a preliminary last year when most expected them to have a premiership hangover like Souths before them. At one point in the season, they looked like making the top 4, but had some agonisingly close losses, particularly against the Roosters and Penrith. If the Storm win as we all expect they will, the Kings will remain Kings and will die as Kings. But if the Cowboys win, they could be on the verge of their own dynasty with 2 premierships in three years, a life after JT-Scott, and scarily, a 2018 with JT, Scott and McLean in addition to this squad. Could we see a changing of the guard from Smith, Cronk and Slater to Morgan, Taumalolo, Hess and Martin? What an intriguing game. And definitely not as one sided as everybody thinks when the Cowboys can play semi flashy football while not making any errors; have their own premiership DNA; have a coach who has beaten Bennett on grand final day; and have the two form players in the competition in Morgan and Taumalolo. This is just the way Coach Green wants it. He wants the circus around whether Scott will play, and will probably name JT just for more of it. He wants all the pressure on Melbourne. And he wants everybody to think Cronulla, Parramatta and the Roosters just all had off days, and dropped a tonne of ball (rather than his Cowboys suffocating them out of the contest with high possession, go forward and big hits in defence).
Gaz
Roar Rookie
Momentum is huge at any time but in a finals series culminating in a grand final is everything a coach can hope for. As Geoff f BS said - with plenty of self belief- added to this recipe it's a promoters dream. Storm remain the ones to beat and the Cows are the ones with all the go forward to do it. The manner in which they removed both Parramatta and Eastern Suburbs from this years finals should not be taken lightly. I'm sure Craig Bellamy and his generals will have a second look at their game plan for next Sunday after North Queenslands outstanding effort. May the best team win.
Gaz
Roar Rookie
Momentum is huge at any time but in a finals series culminating in a grand final is everything a coach can hope for. As Geoff f BS said - with plenty of self belief- added to this recipe it's a promoters dream. Storm remain the ones to beat and the Cows are the ones with all the go forward to do it. The manner in which they removed both Parramatta and Eastern Suburbs from this years finals should not be taken lightly. I'm sure Craig Bellamy and his generals will have a second look at their game plan for next Sunday after North Queenslands outstanding effort. May the best team win.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I'm not sure that anyone is saying that the Storm aren't good away from home. They have a brilliant away record this season. But they've had 4 matches in a row at home in the comfort zone of AAMI Park where they have massive home town support. In contrast the Cowboys has got into the groove and habit of winning finals in Sydney week after week and the GF will be just another day at the office for them - playing away in Sydney against a team they are not expected to defeat.
Rick K
Guest
Regarding the coming contest I think the Storm have to much fire power within the Team, don't get me wrong I supported the Cowboys all through their finals matches, and are pleased to see them make the GF if they do beat the Storm I won't be disappointed as I think they deserved to be there, but I think the Storm will win go away and win well maybe the first half will be close , but has the with the Broncos, all the Storm class will shine through in the 2nd half, they lost last year that's all the motivation they need. may the Best Team on the day win, can't wait.
All black bob
Guest
Not a tired group of players, a group match hardened finals footy players. A group of fired up winners. Cowboys in with a big chance.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Yeah - I do realise all that Anthony. I'm not questioning how well the Storm have played this year but they will be playing against a team in the GF that has momentum and plenty of self belief who aren't going to be overawed. I'd argue that the Cowboys have been in better form than the Storm in this finals series and if the Storm go in with the the attitude that they just have to turn up to win they'll lose.
Anthony
Guest
Storm won all but one away game this year, which was in Adelaide. Storm have no issue travelling.
Anthony
Guest
Storm are never the most supported team in a game outside of Victoria.
Anthony
Guest
You realise Storm made a record number of away wins this year, only losing one of their away games (in Adelaide as well, without any origin players)? Storm did not lose a single game in NSW/Canberra this year. Storm have won 10 (I think?) in a row now going into this grand final. But no, the Cowboys who scraped into the top 8 on points differential are in better form. Sure.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
The difference is the Cowboys have amazing self belief and won't roll over like a lot of sides have playing the Storm in recent weeks. Plus the Storm won't be playing at home with an adoring crowd and the support of the refs. They will be playing in Sydney where 90% of the crowd will be supporting the Cowboys who have become used to winning on the road. There is no doubt that the Storm will be favourites - they deserve to be - but its going to be a cracking GF and the Cowboys will be right in it for the full 80 minutes.
AGordon
Guest
The first 35 minutes of the Storm game Friday night was horrible. Intense - absolutely, but the mistakes made by both sides were pretty bad. Slater dropping bombs, missed tackles passes from Smith and others that went along the ground or forward, etc. My point is, if they do anything similar in GF, the Cowboys will not let them get away with it the way the Broncos did. They will cash in with points. I also wonder how they ill go away from home? It seems clear from other posts, the Cowboys are likely to have more support as underdogs. This could be a factor going into the last 20 minutes of the game, if it's close.
realist
Guest
The same has been said about a number teams......they have what it takes to beat the Storm & guess what? The Storm have given all teams a reality check & will do the same to the Cowboys! With Thurston & Scott they may have a chance but this Storm team will have learnt a lesson from last year!
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
Yeah though I wonder if the momentum will just keep them going now...
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
Yeah and I think that's part of what gives the Cows that X factor. The Storm are used to being a point of consensus - they're used to everyone getting behind them by virtue of their talent (even their detractors, at some level), which makes a big difference to self-belief. All of a sudden, though, North Queensland have become a rallying point for most NRL fans - that could make a difference.
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
Yeah exactly, that's it.
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
True, the Storm still have room to improve. But who knows what the Cowboys can do now? Don't get me wrong, I reckon the Storm are still the favourites - it just doesn't feel quite so inevitable.
Peter Phelps
Guest
I love all this "the storm are not playing well" yet here they are in the GF having just stuffed the Broncos 30:0. Well here is news for you, if the storm are not playing well and they suddenly click in the GF then the Cowboys are stuffed. If they don't suddenly click well on past performances the Cowboys are still stuffed. All I am saying is that the Cowboys will have picked a load of niggling injuries and bruises, the travel will be telling on them and sure they have the adrenaline from what they have achieved but a fast paced frenetic GF could just see that load coming home to roost.