You can’t say North Queensland have got no chance of beating Melbourne in the grand final, but they don’t look to have a big one. So what is their best bet?
A great team performance would be good enough to at least make it interesting, but they need more than that if they are to genuinely hope to win.
Michael Morgan has to produce close enough to a ten-out-of-ten performance.
Even that might still not be enough against this fantastic Storm side, but at least it would create the possibility of an upset.
The Cowboys have been excellent throughout the finals, but there has been an element of the opposition making a significant contribution to their own demise in each of their three games.
Cronulla should have beaten them four times, but the problems that had dogged them all season – poor discipline, high mistake rate, failure to take advantage of opportunities – ultimately brought them undone. The Sharks completed at just 60 per cent, made 17 errors and conceded 11 penalties.
Parramatta made 13 errors against North Queensland and their lack of finals experience against a Cowboys team with plenty of survivors from the line-up that won the premiership just two years ago hit home. The Eels made too many poor choices.
Sydney Roosters? Well, it was the sort of performance their fans would have been dreading as a possibility and just hoping didn’t materialise. Drifting in and out of the game, 68 per cent completion rate, 13 errors.
The Roosters ran second to runaway minor premiers the Storm in the regular season, but the results right across the finals series have just confirmed what most people thought – that outside of the Storm there wasn’t a lot between the rest of the teams in the top eight.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby-league” name=”League”]
The Cowboys have gone on a splendid post-season run and it has taken them all the way to the grand final. They have remained committed and concentrated hard for the 80 minutes each time they have played.
They refuse to go away, but that won’t be enough against Melbourne because there is no way the Storm will beat themselves.
Craig Bellamy’s men are a better side now than the one that narrowly lost last year’s grand final to Cronulla in a game that went down to the final play, which wasn’t completed until after the siren.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Billy Slater is back at fullback and in great form. Cameron Munster is in the position that suits him best, five-eighth, and has also graduated to become a State of Origin player, as has reserve forward Tim Glasby. Big Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a tremendous addition to the bench.
Melbourne are hot favourites. Their superstar players – not just Slater, but hooker Cameron Smith and halfback Cooper Cronk – are all in superb touch. They have been such a dominant force this season it will be considered a massive opportunity lost if they don’t win against a team that is minus superstar halfback Johnathan Thurston and champion prop Matt Scott.
That sort of pressure could bring a team undone if they were susceptible to it, but the Storm aren’t that sort of team.
If the Cowboys are going to win, they’re going to have to do it all themselves and at least one of their players will have to produce an extraordinary performance.
Some might say Jason Taumalolo could be that main man, but, really, it has to be Morgan. He has become the team’s chief architect, the main influence in the absence of Thurston. He’s the one who can make huge plays happen.
Morgan has risen to new heights recently and was outstanding against the Roosters, but this will be the biggest challenge of his career so far.
Dean C
Guest
It's only the media and some fans from other clubs who believe that Melbourne Storm have this game in the bag. If anyone thinks that The Cowboys can't win this game, then in my opinion they are a bit stupid. Paul Green has his team nicely tuned after three hard games in just as many weeks. If they were a muscle car, they would be roaring on all eight cylinders heading up the home straight and looking the goods. As a Storm fan, I can only hope that the muscle car runs out of gas just before the finish line. If The Cowboys get up and win the game, just say I won't at all be surprised. A funny thing happened in Melbourne today. Top rating radio station 3AW announced that they will be for the first time broadcasting the game live into Melbourne. This is a very big deal as 3AW have always been known as the top rating AFL station & the only time they have mentioned rugby league before this, is to rubbish the game. The Melbourne Storm keep getting bigger, better exposure to the parochial Melbourne sports nuts. Take a bow everyone who works in the front office at Melbourne Storm. The noise continues to get louder. The fans need to take a bow also. Every year, the fan base is getting noticeably larger. Even when the team (our team) were playing for no points a few years ago, the fans (us) continued to pay for the tickets to watch our team play. If I sound like a proud Melbourne Storm fan, yep, I put my hand in the air. On Sunday, May the best team on the day win. Go Storm -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Griffo
Guest
If Morgan shoots the lights out the Cowboys will win. What you're talking about is an ultra dominant performance from a halfback and when that happens their side rarely loses
Rob
Guest
Without being rude you wrote off all but the Storm, Sharks and Rooster being contenders to make the GFat the start of the finals. The Cowboys were no chance. Before Origin 2 you said Queensland was no chance. You said the Raiders would win the 2017 Premiership. I'm pretty sure you wrote Australia would lose 5-0 in the last Test series against India in your cricket predictions. I have notice a patern to your articles and I certainly hope it cotinues on Sunday Night. On behalf of myself and my fellow Cowboy supports, thank you Mr Prichard for your prediction.
Ross
Guest
The Cows can win if they keep backing up and eliminating one on ones. Gav Cooper has a huge job covering Te Maire Martin as Kaufusi runs at him with Slater and Cronk just waiting for the offload. Its basically the same job Cooper has done year in year out next to Thurston as the traffic rolls at him. If he switches off, or gets injured, Storm will score at least twice down that channel. Hess, Bolton and big JT need to stay alert in the middle in case Cronk switches back to the middle instead. Remember the last time these two teams played, the Cows lost Cooper and Winterstein in the first 7 minutes, and Coen Hess ended up playing centre. All the play then went at that edge, and Storm touched them up. The Cowboys are much, much stronger now. I'm tipping a very close game.
Albo
Guest
I can't see the Cowboys being any chance of upsetting the Storm, unless the Storm put in one of their rare shockers ? The Cowboys have been brave and consistent in the finals run and they have been able to capitalise on the poor performances of their three finals opponents to date. The Cowboys have numerous players carrying injuries and I just can't see the Storm being able to hold out the fully fit and well managed Storm outfit. I think it could be an ugly blow out !
Rob
Guest
No we prefer coming home with a wet sail. Or should I say a truck that moves like a rally car called "Taumalolo".
Rob
Guest
Would I be dreaming if I thought Morgan was kicking as good as Cronk or game managing and showing the ice composure of Smith at the moment. Could l also believe he poses an X factor about him equal to Billy right now. I also see a lot of a young JT in T. Martin also. He is certainly alot quicker than the old Fox.
The Barry
Roar Guru
When I was a kid I played with someone who went on to be a first grade halfback and played well over 150 first grade games. He was a halfback from when we were six years old onwards. One of my kids play footy now in u7s and no one has a position. Everyone has a go at everyone ery position. I wonder if that's the same in Queensland? The only other thing I can think of is that all the Queensland guys you mentioned have distinct styles whereas look at NSW halfbacks around and a lot have this same sort of safety first, low risk cookie cutter style. The individuality is obviously coached out of them at some stage. When and why?
Rob
Guest
I think the Cowboys have come along way in the last month. They may have got home in golden point against the Sharks but their composure at the back end was dare I say it " Storm Like". Then you could say they were in control against both the Eels and Roosters. The margins could have been bigger in my opinion. Then you have the Storm winning at home in the last 3 minutes against an Eels. A team that had won 7 straight. The Storm only beat the Rooster by 3 points which had Sydney supporters predicting them to beat the Storm in the GF. The Storm put 30 on the Broncos but the Eels put 58 on them a few weeks earlier? The last time the Cowboys played the Storm Hess was playing outside centre and they finished the game with 1 bloke in ice on the bench. Keep writing this Cowboys team off . I love it.
ElHombre
Guest
It's interesting that the main culprits who are saying The Storm can't lose are the media and fans of other teams. I haven't read anything from people involved with The Storm, or their supporters, proclaiming that The Storm are going to win. It's just my opinion, but anyone who says The Cowboys can't win is a fool. They have been playing tough football for the last three weeks and Paul Green has got them fine tuned and they are running on all eight cylinders. As a Storm fan, naturally I'm hoping for the win. But, if The Cowboys win, I will not be surprised. Let's hope for a good game regardless. Sunday in Melbourne is going to be an historic day thanks to the Storm. 3AW, a top rating radio station is found a live broadcast of the Grand Final. 3AW is traditionally an AFL station and have always until now put the boot into anything NRL. Congratulations to one and all at The Melbourne Storm. Congratulations to the Storm's fans, who even supported the team when they were playing for no points a few years ago. And the Storm fan base is gradually getting bigger, with AFL fans adopting The Storm as their second team. Melbourne Storm can only get bigger and hopefully get more successful. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Dean
Guest
It's interesting that it's mainly the media coming out with statements along the line of Storm being unbeatable. I havent heard anyone linked to Melbourne Storm stating that they are going to win on Sunday. The majority of fans from other teams have been saying that the Melbourne Storm are going to win. Anyone who says the Cowboys can't win is a fool. The Cowboys have won three tough games in as many weeks and are now finally tuned and running on all eight cylinders. As a Storm fan, I believe we can have a wee bit of confidence, but that's about all. If the Cowboys were to win, I would not be surprised. You know the Melbourne Storm have finally been embraced by the wider sporting community here when 3AW, a top rating radio station in Melbourne, is going to for the first time roadcast an NRL Grand Final. There's no doubt if the Storm weren't playing on Sunday, there would be no broadcast. A big tick to everyone involved in the running of the Melbourne Storm Football Club. And a big tick to the supporters who keep turning up.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Oh yeah - Hunt! So potentially SEVEN better halfbacks than NSW first option? Geez... I wonder what happens in NSW footy to stop the development of talented playmakers?
Dean
Guest
Its interesting that the push for the Storm being next to unbeatable is media driven. Plus, fans from other teams have been saying it also. Yes, the Storm have had an excellent season so far by anyone's standards, but, the Cowboys have already knocked off three other teams that they were meant to lose to. I haven't read any articles where someone from the Storm has said theyre going to win the Grand Final. Nor any of the Storm fans. As Storm fans we can take a pinch of confidence going into the game, but thats about all really. This Cowboys team is no longer running on emotion only. With three tough games in as many weeks, it looks like Paul Green has now got the fine tuning spot on and they are running on eight cylinders. Anyone who writes the Cowboys off is a fool. The city of Melbourne is finally taking the Storm seriously. For the first time the NRL Grand Final is being broadcast live on 3AW radio. An AFL station who for years have rubbished all things NRL. 3AW is one of the top rating radio stations in the State's capital. When they are devoting time to broadcast any Storm game, you know that the Melbourne Storm are being taken seriously by all sports fans here. Finally.
bbt
Guest
As a Storm fan, I am hoping for a Storm victory. But I hope that it is a tight contest. For the Cows to win, they will have to lead at half time - and by a decent margin. Storm are the masters at running teams down in the 2nd half.
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
I think the grand final will be an absolute cracker. There is a lot of talk about how good Morgan and Taumalolo are going but really, it's been a pretty simple formula for the Cowboys: very few errors, kick well, then be patient. It's probably the basic plan for all teams, but the Cowboys are executing it better than every team they've played thus far in the finals. Melbourne will be a different beast. But, I think this is going to go right down to the wire. Logic says Melbourne, but, there's a little voice in the back of my head repeating, "But, you never know..."
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Morgan has been in superlative form the past 6 or so weeks to steer the Cowboys to where they are now. Is the author merely saying that Morgan's form cannot dip in the final? Having said that, he is due for a lapse. Any "mistakes" so far have been kicks in attack which have resulted in the opposition running the length of the field to score. He is playing as well as Cronk/Smith. No one can ask more of him.
Al
Guest
Or at 9, for that matter.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's sickening. The tactic of waiting for the Queensland stars to retire might have to be put on hold for another 10 years. You've left out Hunt from your list. I know you're talking halfbacks but it's not much better at 6 - add in Milford and Munster.
The Barry
Roar Guru
No pressure
Andrew
Guest
The Cows three Finals matches have seen them with a -6 error ratio per match. That is opponents have made 45 errors in the three finals matches to the Cowboys 27. In fairness some of them are forced errors, but in the Storms two Finals they have averaged 7.5 errors. So are we saying the Cowboys will only make one or two errors on GF day? Not likely. But again, Steve Bradbury had an uncomplicated plan. He stayed out of trouble, earned his spot in the final dance and stuck to an uncomplicated plan and came out a victor. The Cowboys stuck to a plan and let the Dragons, Sharks, Eels and Roosters go crashing out but will the Storm beat themselves the way Bradbury's opponents did? it's hard to see it happening.