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We had the grand final rematch in Round 4, when Manly beat the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Tonight we get the grand final preview at Brookvale Oval.
The Sea Eagles and Roosters look the two teams most likely to be last standing this season, the same as they finished last season.
They could well meet earlier in the finals series, but we can’t be sure about that so it’s best to treat tonight’s highly anticipated clash as the last time they will knock the stuffing out of each other before the big end-of-season games.
And knock the stuffing out of each other they will. It’s going to be a torrid, physical encounter.
At the start of the season I tipped the Roosters to make it back-to-back premierships and you can’t jump off mid-season. I’m happy to stick anyway, but I’m tipping the Sea Eagles to win tonight. Mainly because the game is at Brookie.
I love the way the Sea Eagles rise to the occasion for big games at their home ground. They’ve done it so many times it’s only natural to expect them to do it again. Manly have a tremendous record against the Roosters at this ground as well.
I’m concerned about the fact both Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough are missing from the Sea Eagles’ forward pack against a Roosters six that looks so big and mean it’s frightening on paper, let alone on the field. But I’m backing the Manly players who will be out there in place of them to come through.
Manly won’t be looking to their forwards to do anything too outrageous with the ball on this occasion. They will be there to at least break square in the battle up front. If they can do that, then Manly’s champion halves pairing of Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans will make sure the team’s three-quarters, who are in great form, and fullback Brett Stewart get enough opportunities to make an impact.
Last year, it was the Sea Eagles’ right-side attack that was the more dominant. This year, it’s their left-side attack. Left centre Steve Matai is high on the NRL competition list for both line-breaks made and tries scored.
The Roosters are still giving away far too many penalties as well, which is a major threat to their chances of winning on the road against a team the statistics say is very disciplined.
Manly lost all four games they played against the Roosters last season. But in that Round 4 clash this season they won 8-0. On that occasion, the Roosters were without Sonny Bill Williams and the Sea Eagles were minus Brett Stewart and Jorge Taufua, all of whom are playing tonight. Watmough and Glenn Stewart both played for the Sea Eagles, although Stewart only lasted 19 minutes before being forced off injured.
State of Origin’s long tentacles have had an effect on this match. Watmough is out suspended as a result of an incident in Origin 2, while Michael Jennings is out for the Roosters because of an injury sustained in the same game. But we can at least be thankful tonight’s game wasn’t scheduled in a round immediately before an Origin game, in which case more players would have been missing, or immediately after one, when star players would have been forced to back up quickly.
The fourth-placed Roosters have won four in a row and are building up to top form. That’s a very good sign, as long as they are able to recapture and then improve on their form of last season.
The top-of-the-table Sea Eagles have won their last two games. Immediately before that they threw in a shocker against Brisbane, something they have had a frustrating habit of doing in recent years.
But that isn’t a risk of happening tonight. This is a huge game and the Sea Eagles will be right up for it. So will the Roosters.
The home-ground advantage is so often a critical factor. It should make the difference in this game. Narrowly.
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