Grand Final – Rabbitohs vs Bulldogs
Overview
Well, here we are, the Grand Final. It has taken 30 weeks of football to get here, but we finally made it. The last two teams standing are the Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs. Both have a rich history when it comes to winning competitions, although the Dogs success being a little more relative to this century than the Bunnies.
For the Bunnies it has been 43 long years of waiting which during that time they were booted from the premiership. The Dogs on the other hand contested the 2012 decider but went down to a strong Melbourne Storm team. Both teams will be hungry for this win and you can almost guarantee they will do anything that is required to get it.
The Bunnies last week dispatched the Roosters is style. Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess were the two key men here and will likely be again this weekend. The Dogs, well they got passed a tiring Panthers team 18 – 12. They have rallied as a team from 7th spot, but without the inspirational grub Mick Ennis they will need to dig extra deep to get the bone on Sunday.
Players to watch
Greg Inglis – He is the obvious one to be watching. Having been in three illegitimate Grand Finals in his career he has the most experience in the Souths team. He won the Clive Churchill medal in 2007 for the best on the field and is a $4.00 favourite to become the first player to win it a second time at a different club.
James Graham – The fiery Pom is reportedly filling in for close-mate Ed Sheeran pre-game and will then join his team mates as they enter the battlefield. Graham has been a stand-out in the Dogs team this year playing beyond battered most games. His playmaking abilities make him one to watch whenever the ball is near. If the Dogs get up and win, expect Graham to be receiving the Clive Churchill Medal.
Result and score prediction
43 Years is a long time to wait. The re-building of Souths has taken almost a quarter of that time and they have now become one of the most dominant teams in the NRL. If they do not win this Sunday, there will almost certainly be a riot across Sydney. Russell Crowe will have to get back into character and the Gladiator will need to try to restore order. Unless of course it is him leading the charge to Belmore.
The Dogs have been involved in ten Grand Finals since Souths last and have even won six of those ten. Des Hasler has been involved in five of the past eight Grand Finals so they cannot be written off at any time. The loss of Michael Ennis is huge and swings the win back in Souths favour. While they too will be without their number one number nine, Luke’s replacement Apisai Koroisau is ready to go.
With all that being said, Souths will be too strong this weekend. Their time is now. They will win and restore some balance back in Sydney as a dominant NRL team. Bunnies 32 – 22.
Most likely to have an appointment booked at the local jewellers
With both Isaac Luke and Michael Ennis having to sit this one out you can put your house on the fact that they would have booked a time to meet their favourite counter-fit jeweller. If their respective teams get up for the win on Sunday both players will be without a premiership ring which they both obviously deserve.
Be quick, steal one of your team-mates when he is passed out in a drunken state late in the evening, head to the jeweller, get a copy made and give your mates one back. No one knows! The only questions is, which one do you give back to your team-mate?
Most likely to go out with a bang
For Ben Te’o, this is his last NRL game before heading to France to play rugby. After having a bone-crunching game last week against the Roosters, he will be certain to continue on the same war path.
In all likelihood Te’o could be booked multiple times for difference aggressive offences and never be suspended again, in the NRL at least. Shoulder charges, head-high tackles and maybe even a verbal spray or two. This could be very exciting to watch!