South Sydney Rabbitohs (2nd) vs Manly Sea Eagles (4th) – Friday night – ANZ Stadium
Anyone who watched the last twenty minutes of the Sea Eagles/Sharks final doesn't need me to tell them that Manly are going to find this pretty tough. Clearly they won't give up without a fight, but they have the look of a seasoned heavyweight boxer whose legs aren't as fast as they used to be. This weekend they face yet another giant pack of forwards, a halfback with one of the best general kicking games in the business, a quick-thinking dummy-half runner and a fullback who could sail right through them at any moment. The Sea Eagles camp are saying all the right things, but what I saw on the field last weekend told me something entirely different. Brett Stewart returns for the Sea Eagles, but he's looking a little bit like his brother at the moment and I'm not convinced he's anywhere near match fit. This looks like a contest for 20 minutes, followed by an hour long celebration for what is sure to be a sea of red and green at the ground.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 10
Result - Sea Eagles 30 defeated Rabbitohs 20
Sydney Roosters (1st) vs Newcastle Knights (7th) – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium
I love a fairytale as much as the next sports fan, and the Knights are the fairytale team this season. They have certainly lifted to another level in the last month, and we all know Wayne Bennett can't be underestimated when it comes to getting teams up for a big game. That said, this weekend, and if they somehow found a way to win the weekend that follows, is Everest. To become Premiers this season the Knights need to win four away games in a row against the teams that finished 5th, 3rd, 1st and (probably) 2nd. It looks a task, and I think the fairytale ends on Saturday night. I called the Roosters as 2013 Premiers many weeks ago now (mind you, I wasn't the only one) and I have no reason to stop believing in them now. Keeping Manly on zero points in the first week of the finals was one of those most extraordinary defensive performances I've seen. They won't keep the Knights to zero, but they'll do more than enough to progress and give us the derby to end all derbies in the grand final.
Verdict – Roosters by 13
Result - Roosters 40 defeated Knights 14
Wally Lewis - week one finals (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
- RABBITOHS vs Sea Eagles
- ROOSTERS vs Knights
Comments
Submitted by The Thinker on
And to Kevin Rhys,
Thank you for your kinds words last weekend. I'm glad you've enjoyed it.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Ahhhhh man, not again ! Why am I always going against what you think ? Dude what's wrong with me ? Alright I'm sorry to do it you again Thinker , but my picks for this weekend are Sea Eagles and Knights to make it to grand final ( both teams to win their games with margin of 12 and under ).
The only reason why I think this is because for me finals footy is really all about momentum and for me those are two teams that have it. Rabbitohs aren't good coming off a bye ( They loss to Dragons coming off their last bye and almost loss to Titans when they came off their first bye ) and for team that's almost momentum driven I think Sea Eagles will run off the field. Roosters are different side to Bunnies and though Bye won't affect them, what will is Knights as they are also different side to one that Roosters were able to beat 13 plus in Newcastle couple of months back. That will affect them as they won't know what's hit and they could ended up hurting them as like Storm they're not best team when it comes to playing catch up footy ! Go Jr Warriors ! Beat Jr Bulldogs this week and we're into Grand Final ! Kia Kaha Boys ;-D
Submitted by Emily on
Thanks for your analysis on my rabbits thinker. It would be devestating to the team and all us fans if we missed out again. I believe in my team and hope you're right about manly being too run down. Everyone please hope to my rabbits to win. Since 1971 people have waited for this moment! It's time. South Sydney deserve a grand final. Go you good things! And I'd love Newcastle to win the other game but I think also that the fairy tale will end for them.
Submitted by cupcake on
collected my footy tipping comp winners spoils yesterday...the milky bars are on me, go the chooks!
Submitted by Psiva on
Roosters drug test wrong timing
Knights are firing
South Sydney will be facing knights for the final
Go roosters
Ps
Submitted by Guru Craig on
Souths - Who are the 2013 South Sydney Rabbitohs? They're a younger side, big in stature, hard in defense, loyal to their own, and led by Sammy Burgess, the best forward going round today. Manly, look tired, worn-out, spent...can that be true? once the fittest club in the comp...To beat Souths you need good coaching, you need smart plays, you need to match their pack and hold onto them, score out wide, The Bunnies are weak down the edges, kick them out of the game, Sths don't come out of their 20 as well as others, field position is paramount. Sths -3.5
Maguire is a good coach but his failings are technical, the footy IQ of Manly is superior, as too Melbourne. Sths beat Mel with desperation, enthusiasm and a good dose of good fortune, The Guru believes Souths will repeat that effort here, caution the spread, if Manly fade away its Bunny time.
Roosters - Wayne is carefully maneuvering his pieces, using the pawns to give his Knights the best possible chance of slaying the big Rooster. Tiny will be in town, and like all (former) Billionaires, he knows where there's smoke....some buggers is playing with matches..or the alike and WBs contract news is such smoke...winning could be more important than any of them know. WB filled his squad with older wiser players, 1-2 yrs left at best blokes...why? next year seven of the clubs biggest stars retire or leave...next years signings? that's not how WB rolls. Chooks to win by 8-10 The G thinks.
Submitted by mark ashford on
I'm with Thinker & Guru, the two best teams all year should face off in the GF. Saying that never underestimate Manly, they have one hell of a team. The Knights will worry the Chooks but youth will prevail (that from an old codger)
If your team's still alive...GOOD LUCK
Submitted by Steel Panther on
It's hard to look past the Bunnies and the Roosters this week but I (like most) thought Melbourne would account for Newcastle last weekend. And yes Johnny Ray go the Junior Warriors!!! Good luck everyone
Submitted by Rob on
I've always said this G.I. is overrated. Sure he is a biological monster. He is too fast, too strong for his size. But people saying he is the best ever? I've seen so many games when he will make one good feat like a linebreak or what have you, and the commentators especially channel 9 ones will go on talking about him being the greatest in the sport today. When in reality is in that whole game he was just a floater for 19 of the 80 mins.. Look at Lyon's performance and how he stepped up today.. That's how you measure all time greats.. Not because "oh he's so quick and so big he just plows towards anybody.. He is the greatest that ever played the sport"
Submitted by a on
Roosters and Manly who cares?
Submitted by mark ashford on
Mr Thinker, Mr Guru or anyone else....what did you think of the "accidental" elbow from Hargreaves to Mullins head? Certainly changed the momentum of the match. Didn't look accidental to me but I've never liked his extremely aggressive style.