Thank you god! The finals are here and it is now the best time of the year to be a footy fan.
While I have found the season to be about two weeks too long I am very excited for Friday night and for the finals to finally kick off.
One of the most incredible things about this season is the closeness. I have never seen a ladder like this with the top four all finishing on 34 points and the bottom four on 32.
This is an incredible result after 25 rounds and shows who ever does manage to win this year will have truly earned it.
Every game will be played on a razor’s edge and even a slight blip will result in a loss, so every player will need to be at their peak and performing.
Having said this there are certain players from each team who will be the key to their success.
The following players are the keys to their team’s chances of winning this year’s comp.
Storm
Perhaps the easiest choice across all of the finalists. Cameron Smith is the heart, the soul and the key in the Storm’s pursuit of going back to back.
I have missed many of the greats, only remembering football from the late 90s onwards, but Smith is the most influential footballer I have ever seen.
His adaptation this year in playing a lot more of first receiver with Cooper Cronk moving on has been very interesting to watch. While I am unsure if this plays into his strengths it has shown he is still the key to the Storm and their chances.
Rabbitohs
Much like the Storm, the key to the Rabbitohs’ chances is their dummy half.
Damien Cook would walk away with the most improved player award if it existed this year, he has been incredible playing off the back of the forwards and causing havoc to opposition defences.
The Rabbits have been praised for playing ‘eyes up’ football, the key to this is Cook, Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds are able to play and attack certain weakness that have been caused by the speed of Cook.
Is Cook the fastest 9 in history? I can’t remember a 9 with his speed.
The Bunnies’ Damien Cook (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Panthers
I have not been able to buy into the Panthers all year but here they are a chance. The key to their campaign is James Maloney.
The man is a two-time premiership winner, however this year in defence he has been awful.
While his weakness in defence has been known for a long time this year seems different. I watched him closely with the Roosters and he would be bumped off numerous times in a game but the point was he got his body in the way and allowed time for other defenders to scramble and clean up around him.
This year however it seems Maloney is failing to get his body there and is now making the wrong read.
For the Panthers to go anywhere their defence needs to be better and their weakest link has to improve greatly. The attack should work but can they keep out anyone?
Warriors
In 2011 Maloney played for the Warriors and it was the last time they made the finals.
It has been a long time between drinks for the Warriors and for them to be any chance this year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is going to have to be massive.
RTS is a machine. He is able to start the set of six generally by beating or half beating the first defender off a kick.
He also causes huge headaches for defences when forming perhaps the most deadly 1 and 7 combination in the NRL. Forcing defenders to always pay attention him frees up Shaun Johnson.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is favourite for the Dally M (AAP Image/David Rowland)
Sydney Roosters
I have loved the Roosters since 1997 when the Gold Coast Chargers were kicked out of the comp and Brad Fittler had one of the biggest left foot steps in NRL history.
The key to this final run for me is Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The Roosters suffered two losses to the Raiders and the Broncos after JWH went down with a busted rib.
While the Roosters had the best defence in the league I truly believe the key to this is the intensity that JWH brings to the pack. He seems to fire up the likes of Vic Radley, Boyd Cordner and Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
If JWH is able to overcome the Sharks pack this weekend I think the Roosters will earn the week off. He truly failed in the prelim last year and I hope his ready to bring it this finals series.
Sharks
Is there a more finals team than the Sharks? They are gritty, mean, tough, aggressive and a little bit crazy.
This is why I think the man who has just a little more class is the key. Valentine Holmes has proven me wrong before. I did not understand why you would move the best winger in the world into the number 1 shirt when you had other quality options in Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan but to finish the year Holmes has been incredible.
If it was not for Tedesco I think he would be the Australian fullback, his speed balance and ability to always be in the right place makes him the key to the Sharks and their final chances.
Valentine Holmes of the Sharks. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Brisbane Broncos
Another year another finals run for the Brisbane Broncos. They have finished the year on fire and are a very real chance of going all the way.
For this to happen I believe their key is Darius Boyd.
Boyd while not a dynamic ball runner like Holmes, Tedesco or RTS brings a number of other skills to his team.
His ability to set a defence up is second to only Billy Slater. He pushes and manipulates a defence in an incredible manner.
Perhaps Boyd’s best skill is his ability to give the final ball for a try. I don’t think there is a better number one in the comp in giving the final ball on such a regular basis.
With question marks still being raised about the Broncos halves, this skill of Boyd’s will be key to the Broncos run.
St George Illawarra Dragons
If I could feel sorry for a team it would maybe be the Dragons. After looking unbeatable to start the year they now look like the easy beats of the finals.
For this prediction to be proven false everyone needs to stand up, but one player who needs it more then most is Ben Hunt.
Ben Hunt of the Dragons (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
In one moment against the Bulldogs it looked like he had given up when he booted the ball dead from 35 out. The play was incredible and concerning. Hunt is on huge money and the Dragons need him to provide when it really matters.
If he fails to fire again he will fall under even more pressure and may just see his coach lose his job.
Here we go! I am keen for kick off on Friday and good luck to the Roosters, other teams I don’t care how badly it ends for you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Great analysis Albo I agree Widdop is key for the Dragons but they’ll be hoping that the injury break has freshened him up. He was struggling for a while before he was injured. I think they need their forwards firing. JDB playing on one leg, Sims only interested in bashing halves (and getting done), Graham looking old and tired, Vaughan out and Frizell still looking powerful - for his one run per half and fruitless chase.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I would analyse the key players through some specific strengths & weaknesses of each team to identify a player that I think could maintain this strength or minimise the weaknesses. Storm - Lacking Forward domination - Asofa-Solomona is their key for mine, if he can get back on the field. Cameron Munster the key in attack to create from nothing. Souths - Strength is based around Cook from dummy half and quick play the balls - Cam Murray between the 20 & 60 minute marks with plenty of hit ups and quick play the balls sees Souths always dominate this period. Panthers - have a poor back 3 particularly in defence & under the high ball - Key player who must lift them is Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who must be safe under the high ball and give the Panthers metres to start their sets. Warriors - Offer little without Isaac Luke dominating the ruck and getting the go forward that the likes of Johnson & RTS can work off- So Luke is the key for mine, closely followed by Johnson/ Green kicking game to Fusitua! Roosters - Their back 3 are a key strength in getting their sets going and scoring plenty of tries, but the pack still needs to hold their own if not dominate and for mine Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is key here. If he fires the whole pack fires. Sharks - Tough grinding team that will always be in the fight, but Andrew Fifita is their X factor player. If he is on , he gives the Sharks a new dimension of attack, that opens up play for their whole spine. Broncos - A young enthusiastic pack that is flying and giving the halves & fullback go forward. Key for me is Milford in both attack & defence. He must remain in control especially his kicking game. Dragons - Haven't been travelling well in recent weeks particularly since Vaughn & Widdop have been missing. Key for them is Widdop and hoping his shoulder is good enough to get through a finals series. He is the only one capable of lifting the rest of this team including Hunt.
Jacks
Roar Guru
I am fine with Johnson being called the key player, I understand the reasoning 100%. Smith for me is the key, The Storm without Smith really struggle when he is off or injured
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair point. All three are confidence players and if any of them has an off day, the rest of the side can easily follow. When they're all on, though....
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Hard to argue with most of those. With the Warriors, I think you know what you are going to get with RTS. When you look at his numbers in wins and losses, there are plenty of examples where he played well and they still lost. So I would say, by a nose, Johnson is the key. 6 try assists through line break assists in the last 4 weeks. You know what you will get from Green with the kicking game, so if Johnson can apply the creative spark - that is huge. Similarly with the Storm, I think you pretty much know what you are going to get with Smith. Slater has been trying almost too hard of late. I think the Storm struggle to win against Souths if Slater doesn't have a big game. Like the call on JWH.
Jacks
Roar Guru
I could have done the halves for nearly every team but it would have been boring. I do think Boyd is key though, his got the experience and resume that stands up to anyone. His ability to set a defence and ball playing is going to be key.
Jacks
Roar Guru
Finals are the best time of the year, wish they were being talked about instead of a very boring story at the top of this site. Burgess times 3 are definitely going to be key and if someone is able to contain them South's will struggle. In my opinion RTS is the key for the warriors for 2 reasons, 1 his ability at the start of a set he just gets the ball rolling and puts them in a good position by making 200 odd metres, secondly him out the back takes just so much pressure off of Johnson.
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree with most of your thoughts Jacks but with the Broncos, I still think their halves are the key players. If they turn up and have a blinder, my Dragons are toast. If however, they don't, we're a chance for sure.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I know what you mean about this time of year. I don’t have a dog in the fight but am pumped. Even my usual go to next teams - the Knights and the Cowboys aren’t there! Great picks. I’d consider Sam Burgess. He’s been a bit quiet lately by his high standards - maybe injured maybe saving himself for the semis. But he’s the spiritual leader of the Souths pack and they’ll feed off his big hits and big runs. I think you know what you’ll get with RTS and he’ll go close to the Dally M this year but I think Johnson is the man. If the Warriors are to go deep they need him to light up. Boyd is an interesting fella. Whenever he’s being written off he kicks a gear. Even a few Broncs fans were ripping in earlier in the year. He’s starting to slide into some good form and reasonably under the radar.