NRL 2013 GRAND FINAL Preview and Tips

• THE LONG HARD LOOK WITH MIKE WILSON

 

NRL FINALS WEEK 4 PREVIEW

 

NRL GRAND FINAL
Roosters v Sea Eagles

Sunday, 06/10, 7:15PM, ANZ Stadium

 

Roosters: Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Aidan Guerra, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Mitchell Aubusson, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa

Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (capt), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: David Gower, Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, George Rose, James Hasson, Peta Hiku (2 to be omitted)

 

THE GRAND FINAL IS HERE!!

I’m absolutely pumped for this finale that will showcase two of 2013’s best teams on the biggest stage of them all.

The Roosters and Sea Eagles have met 3 times already this year and have played out 3 pretty close encounters that have had an average total game score of just 18 points.

The Roosters won all 3, 16-4, 18-12 and 4-0, but that doesn’t mean they’re a shoe in for the 4^th and final clash. They’re opponents showed last week why they have to be taken seriously when they defeated the highly fancied Rabbitohs to advance to the Grand Final and Coach Geoff Toovey firmly believes his side was underestimated. The Roosters Coach Trent Robinson has done a fantastic job this year and a portion of success can be attributed to the fact that he does not allow his side to take any opponent lightly.

Other exciting factors in this Grand Final that it worth looking forward to are the various individual match ups. The halves battle is where the creativity is going to stem from with the Roosters and NSW pairing of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce going head to head with QLD Rep and Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans who partners with New Zealand 5/8^th Kieran Foran. Cherry Evans holds the edge in the kicking department but I’m certainly a fan of James Maloney’s running game which is quite capable of drawing goal line defender in before he puts a support man through a hole.

The forwards packs have plenty of quality players but once again it’s the head to head battle between Anthony Watmough and Sonny Bill Williams that I’ll be cherishing.

So which team to tip in the biggest NRL event of the year? I’m going with Manly who have all the big game experience with many players in the team having been involved in premiership victories back in 2008 and 2011, not to mention a loss in 2007. Even some of the Sea Eagles veterans have contested every final series going back to and including 2005. The hype surrounding such a big day will hardly affect them. But to state the obvious they must find a way through or around the Roosters’ defence. As I noted in scores earlier in this piece, the Roosters have kept Manly to a total of just 16 points in the last 3 matchups and have incredibly kept opponents to nil in 6 different games in 2013.

Can it be done? Yes. Will they do it? Time will tell. But one thing is for sure, whichever team hoists the premierships trophy aloft after the game will have truly earned the privilege.

 

Mike’s Tip: Sea Eagles

Mike’s Suggested Bets: Sea Eagles +2.5 (Centrebet)

 

Clive Churchill Medallist:

Sea Eagles: Kieran Foran

Roosters: Sonny Bill Williams

 

First Try Scorer:

Sea Eagles: Jorge Taufua

Roosters: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

 

Thanks to all who have joined me throughout 2013 

-Mike