Time has come for my Finals preview and prediction and here we go
This i did at the start of the year but as you can see if you look up the thread,my predictions didn't all come true to say the least
Bulldogs - More hype than a new Ferrari and the biggest whiner of a coach in the history of the NRL (Or atleast this was the opinion during his time at Manly for ALL opposition NRL fans),They might have the speed and front row but unfortunately for them the fairytale was written without a last page where everything was set right,going head to head with their coaches former club in the first mouthwatering encounter of this years finals series they will exit in straight sets due to inexperience in big games (See Choking) and a fiery encounter set to make some sore bodies way to sore to back up next year,not this year for the kebab fueled crowd from Belmore
Melbourne - Have that under the radar thing about them this year,how in the blue **** does second get forgotten when potential grand finals are spoken of,they arent the Storm they used to be but their forward pack has had starch added in the shape of Ryles this year and he is in the running for buy of the year in my opinion but to me he simply misses the gong for that award,the big 3 are always constant threats but do they have the outside backs to match it? Question cannot yet be answered
Souths - These chaps are actually alright this year but i believe that they are in the top 4 prematurely (Like what many of their supporters do things,prematurely),yes they have the forwards and most of the backs but their halfback other than being clear rookie of the year has only had a single Try Assist this year from NRL STATS and also i still do not rate Sutton as a good half,he should be wearing a 13 jersey
Manly - The current premiers with a star studded line-up just hitting top gear at the right time of the year,the form is irrisistable when they are in the mood to put points on the board but is the second half indicitive of a fade out or are they simply preserving their bodies for when the game is on the line and for the finals series,my answer is they are taking the foot off the gas and with good reason,they came back against Brisbane and Auckland in clashes this year for last minute victories,is it a fade out? No way and my favourites to go back to back
Cowboys - My dark horses for the premiership and with good reason,Thurston is finding his feet out one pass wider and Bowen is back to his annoying best,they have a pack to mix it up with the biggest and best of them and any time you take a microsleep they will take a 6 pointer,thanks guys!!! They may not be the form team of the competition but they are a formidible force in this final series
Raiders - They do have a good forward pack but the halves are a worry,they are very reminicent of the Parramatta team of 2009,which unfortunatly for the Raiders did not end up in a victory,sure they could re-write history but in my opinion they have very little chance of doing so,the front row rotation is up with the best in the world but the form says "We're stuffed",im drawing a big black line through the chances of Canberra
Sharks - They have Gallen,they have Carney,they have their fullback back from injury.....and Robson would be the third best player in their 25,no disrespect meant to Robson but he isnt a highly skilled player and this team is worthy of the same black line that i just moments ago gave the Raiders,perhaps next year but i do not think so
Broncos - Just no,they have limped into september with more issues than a korean built car and they have Wallace as a sole playmaker,sure they might have a part-way decent hooker but i don't see Petero's career advancing into week 2 or 3 of the finals series
Week one predictions
Manly beating the dogs in a physical encounter
Melbourne,they are playing souths after all
Toss of a coin,but im leaning towards the Raiders
Cowboys in a canter
Week 2 predictions
Cowboys thrashing the Bulldogs
Souths beating the Raiders
Week 3 predictions
Manly belting Souths
Melbourne holding North Queensland out
Grand Final
Manly belting Melbourne into submission
Scoreline 36-12
Clive Churchill - Brett Stewart
This i did at the start of the year but as you can see if you look up the thread,my predictions didn't all come true to say the least
Bulldogs - More hype than a new Ferrari and the biggest whiner of a coach in the history of the NRL (Or atleast this was the opinion during his time at Manly for ALL opposition NRL fans),They might have the speed and front row but unfortunately for them the fairytale was written without a last page where everything was set right,going head to head with their coaches former club in the first mouthwatering encounter of this years finals series they will exit in straight sets due to inexperience in big games (See Choking) and a fiery encounter set to make some sore bodies way to sore to back up next year,not this year for the kebab fueled crowd from Belmore
Melbourne - Have that under the radar thing about them this year,how in the blue **** does second get forgotten when potential grand finals are spoken of,they arent the Storm they used to be but their forward pack has had starch added in the shape of Ryles this year and he is in the running for buy of the year in my opinion but to me he simply misses the gong for that award,the big 3 are always constant threats but do they have the outside backs to match it? Question cannot yet be answered
Souths - These chaps are actually alright this year but i believe that they are in the top 4 prematurely (Like what many of their supporters do things,prematurely),yes they have the forwards and most of the backs but their halfback other than being clear rookie of the year has only had a single Try Assist this year from NRL STATS and also i still do not rate Sutton as a good half,he should be wearing a 13 jersey
Manly - The current premiers with a star studded line-up just hitting top gear at the right time of the year,the form is irrisistable when they are in the mood to put points on the board but is the second half indicitive of a fade out or are they simply preserving their bodies for when the game is on the line and for the finals series,my answer is they are taking the foot off the gas and with good reason,they came back against Brisbane and Auckland in clashes this year for last minute victories,is it a fade out? No way and my favourites to go back to back
Cowboys - My dark horses for the premiership and with good reason,Thurston is finding his feet out one pass wider and Bowen is back to his annoying best,they have a pack to mix it up with the biggest and best of them and any time you take a microsleep they will take a 6 pointer,thanks guys!!! They may not be the form team of the competition but they are a formidible force in this final series
Raiders - They do have a good forward pack but the halves are a worry,they are very reminicent of the Parramatta team of 2009,which unfortunatly for the Raiders did not end up in a victory,sure they could re-write history but in my opinion they have very little chance of doing so,the front row rotation is up with the best in the world but the form says "We're stuffed",im drawing a big black line through the chances of Canberra
Sharks - They have Gallen,they have Carney,they have their fullback back from injury.....and Robson would be the third best player in their 25,no disrespect meant to Robson but he isnt a highly skilled player and this team is worthy of the same black line that i just moments ago gave the Raiders,perhaps next year but i do not think so
Broncos - Just no,they have limped into september with more issues than a korean built car and they have Wallace as a sole playmaker,sure they might have a part-way decent hooker but i don't see Petero's career advancing into week 2 or 3 of the finals series
Week one predictions
Manly beating the dogs in a physical encounter
Melbourne,they are playing souths after all
Toss of a coin,but im leaning towards the Raiders
Cowboys in a canter
Week 2 predictions
Cowboys thrashing the Bulldogs
Souths beating the Raiders
Week 3 predictions
Manly belting Souths
Melbourne holding North Queensland out
Grand Final
Manly belting Melbourne into submission
Scoreline 36-12
Clive Churchill - Brett Stewart
