Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles
The most heated rivalry of the last decade and what a
story it has been. Not only have the regular season meetings been fierce and
sometimes violent; but Melbourne and Manly have met a number of times in the
finals and each meeting seemed to make them hate each other even more. They
bring this perfectly evolved animosity to your first Preliminary Final on
Friday night and both clubs are in familiar territory. Won't be hesitant. Won't
shy away from the occasion. They've been here before.
This time last year, the Storm were beaten by the
Warriors and at the time, it seemed like their blueprint for winning had been
completely destroyed. Their attack was starved of possession, their defence
out- smarted and their pants pulled down. Manly, by contrast, were playing the
role of bully against a Broncos team without Darren Lockyer and here they are 12 months
later, one win away from the GF. Another big game for two powerhouse clubs.
And what a game it will be. A furious opening 20 minutes
will have you begging for more and when the forwards settle down and the brains
of each operation takes over, it will be Cooper Cronk who leads the way. Cronk
was the Leagueunlimited player of the year and on the back of an amazing season,
he proves the difference again here. But the Australian halfback won't be alone
in delivering the spectacular.
The home side have been waiting for this moment for a
long, long time and Craig Bellamy will have them pulsating with rage and high
on angry pills. The mighty Eagles will have their premiership winning forward
pack at the ready and with the return of Steve Matai, could break a record for
players on report in the opening exchanges. In the end, Melbourne are a better
team than 12 months ago and they prove it in front of an adoring home crowd.
My tip: Melbourne 14-12
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs v South Sydney
Rabbitohs
Through all the changes our code has been through, Sydney
rivalries are still the most beloved by NRL fans. These two famous clubs have
met on 144 occasions and their two meetings this year have been as good as any
of them. Round 6; where Greg Inglis denied the 'Dogs attack by repeatedly
bringing the ball out of his own in goal when he had no right to do so. Then, round
13; when Ben Barba saved the game for his team with a try saver in the dying
moments.
The stakes are just a little higher this time. At kick-off
their will be the roar of 70 odd thousand heaving souls and 34 footy players
who won't give a flying frisbee about the past, only the next 80 minutes of a
desperate future. Souths have come so far this season; it’s not hard to see a
bright future for a once struggling club, no matter what the result this
weekend. It has been an impressive turnaround led by GI, a few Souths juniors
and a monstrous forward pack.
The Bulldogs have had a similar turnaround. A season of
turmoil in 2011 and now, a Minor Premiership. They have a great balance of
youth and experience, a great balance of style and substance, a great balance
of mongrel and control and finally, a coach that knows exactly how to fill the
trophy cabinet. The Bulldogs have been the best team for most of 2012 and
perhaps, that is their only weak point.
To take advantage of any over confidence in the Dogs, the
Rabbitohs will be looking to settle their nerves early and force the favourites
on the back foot. Adam Reynolds' kicking game will need to be just a brilliant
as last week if they are to do this but he might be spending more time kicking
out of his own half. The Bulldogs forward pack will be the difference in this
one. Led by Aidan Tolman, they outwork the Bunnies and defend their way to
victory.
My tip: Canterbury 18-12
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