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The 2018 finals series may shape as the closest in recent history but there is far more to it than that.
Each club has its own story. They are the storylines you typically ready the week after they have tasted premiership glory – of title droughts, injured players and history being made.
But this time, I’m bringing them to you in advance.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters have claimed three minor premierships and one second-place finish in the last five years. Yet they only have one grand final victory to show for it.
While the club seems to have no problems performing in the regular season, it’s a different story in September. The tricolours have made it to four preliminary finals but failed to take the final step having only progressed through to the final week on one occasion.
The Roosters may consistently be finishing at the top of the pack, but it means little if they don’t take advantage of it. After all, no one remembers who is knocked out of the competition one game short.
After a busy off-season spent purchasing genuine game breakers in Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco, it is clear that the 2013 Premiers are serious about their title intentions in 2018.
Another year of waiting will leave fans impatient.
Melbourne Storm
Much-maligned for their wrestling tactics, the Storm have rarely been the popular choice in the race for the premiership. Perhaps this has even more to do with the fact that we envy their consistent success under masterful coach Craig Bellamy.
This year is different. They may still be the king of the ruck, but there are several reasons to get on board the Bellamy bandwagon.
The first and most obvious is that a premiership would be a fitting farewell for club legends Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman. We’ve said goodbye to Johnathan Thurston, whose decorated career ended with back-to-back wins over the Eels and Titans.
Yet disappointment still lingers, that one of the greatest of our game wasn’t given the fairytale he deserved.
Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to send one of the league’s best off with a premiership. He’s played over 300 first grade games, represented Queensland 31 times and donned the green and gold on 30 occasions.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
And he’s just as good a bloke off the field, dedicating his time to being an ambassador for the Starlight Foundation.
Meanwhile, Ryan Hoffman has been labelled by Bellamy as the ‘greatest clubman’ he has ever coached. A big honour considering the quality that the Melbourne squad has been built around.
He has achieved seriously impressive feats, playing 319 first-grade games, representing his country on six occasions and donning the sky blue jersey 14 times.
Two absolute legends of our game. And wouldn’t it be a just reward for the pair if they were to hoist the Provan-Summons trophy up into the air on Grand Final day.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Trent Robinson was the first rookie coach to guide an NRL team to a premiership when the Roosters won the title in 2013. Since then, the 41-year old has mentored the Tricolours to three first-place finishes and has established himself as one of the league’s premier coaches.
The way he is going, South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold could be following a similar path. After premiership glory in 2014, the Rabbitohs failed to sustain any real success, finishing in 12th position in both 2016 and 2017.
Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds were lacking creativity and the Burgess brothers struggled for consistency.
2018, however, has seen Seibold unlock the best out of the South Sydney roster. Walker and Reynolds have rediscovered their collective spark with the footy while the Burgi, and George in particular, have provided the Cardinal and Mrtyle with the firepower up front that has been missing in the past two years.
(AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
Even veteran John Sutton appears to have taken his game to another level. The players definitely deserve credit but Seibold has quickly transformed the side into premiership contenders once more.
It’s an incredible story worthy of a happy ending.
Cronulla Sharks
Another one of the sport’s genuine good guys leaving at the end of the year is Cronulla veteran Luke Lewis.
The two-time premiership winner made his debut at the foot of the mountains at 2001 and has played over 300 games ever since.
He forms part of an experienced forward pack with an average age of 29 years. And they have combined for over 1900 first grade games.
In a year where we have celebrated the promising next generation of stars coming through, wouldn’t it be a refreshing change to get behind a Sharks pack led by 37-year-old skipper Paul Gallen, who is proving that age is no obstacle to success?
Penrith Panthers
The Panthers are the complete opposite to the men from the Shire. They epitomise the youthful exuberance that we’ve come to see this year from the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Jesse Ramien and even Scott Drinkwater on the weekend last week.
And the majority of the young kids running around in the liquorice all-sorts are products of the club’s proud junior development system. In fact, 80% of their current top 30 players are local juniors.
And their caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo? Well, he’s just 33 years old.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Christian Crichton, Kaide Ellis, Wayde Egan and Jack Hetherington have all made their club debuts this year.
It is a testament to their supreme depth that the Panthers’ reserve grade side has now booked its spot in the preliminary finals, despite a growing injury toll in the top grade.
This is a sporting organisation that doesn’t buy success – it works hard to develop it. And that’s certainly something you can get behind.
Ironically enough, one player the club did buy shapes as their most important in the coming weeks – James Maloney. And who doesn’t love Jimmy?
The competition’s biggest larrikin who will make history if he leads the Panthers to the big dance. No player in premiership history has played four grand finals at four different clubs.
And yet the 32-year-old playmaker has a serious chance of being the first.
Brisbane Broncos
Wayne Bennett’s future as Broncos coach has been under intense media speculation all year, with club officials understood to want the 68-year old gone at the end of the year.
And if Bennett is happy enough to leave the Red Hill wouldn’t it be perfect if he walked out after leading the club to their seventh premiership under his control.
With a coaching record of around 62 per cent from over 800 games, Bennett has established himself as the smartest coach in rugby league history. And yet, for some reason, the Broncos want to get rid of him and risk a possible player exodus if he does depart.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Fullback Darius Boyd is a certainty to pack up his bags if that scenario plays out.
But until then, the champion coach has yet another chance to add to his extensive list of coaching accolades. And another premiership would certainly make things interesting.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
Branded chokers during the 2018 regular season, crashing out in the first week of the finals would do little in freeing Paul McGregor’s side of that ill-fated tag.
While the Dragons look far from premiership contenders, it would be quite the turnaround if they went all the way.
Seeing much-maligned halfback Ben Hunt redeem himself would certainly be one of the stories of the year. The 28-year has been made the scapegoat for both Queensland and St. George’s woes this year and to his credit has handled it with class.
The fact that he hasn’t shied away from media opportunities speaks volumes to his character. But you can still tell that his confidence is shot.
And a premiership would be the perfect cure.
New Zealand Warriors
What a story this would be. Qualifying for their first finals series since 2011, the New Zealanders would already be celebrating across the ditch as their side looks to claim their first-ever premiership.
Fairytale finishes have been vogue in the rugby league world recently, with the Sharks, Cowboys and Rabbitohs all breaking premiership droughts within the past four years.
The Warriors have been the competition’s perennial underachievers for too long. Premiership success is just what is needed to promote rugby league in a nation where union is the main religion.
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