Andrew Moore | 29/09/08 | 0
It’s taken us 30 long weeks to get here, but in the end, it will be the two best teams in the NRL fighting it out for the premiership on grand final day next Sunday.
Melbourne v Manly – Mark 2.
Last year it was the Storm who won convincingly. Manly players were embarrassed by what happened, but they’re back to make amends.
The Storm were just magnificent back on Friday night, considering they were without Cameron Smith, Jeremy Smith and Ryan Hoffman, and considering they really do appear as if they’re playing on fumes.
Unfortunately their sensational 28-0 win over Cronulla was completely overshadowed by the astonishing and rather dumb attack on the judiciary and basically the whole process by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy in relation to the Smith suspension.
What we should have been talking about was one of the gutsiest wins I’ve ever seen from a Storm team, and the magnificent leadership of halfback Cooper Cronk – who was also far and away the best player on the field.
Instead, it was all about the Bellamy and Brian Waldron outburst, along with the strong retort from Cronulla’s coach Ricky Stuart.
Manly on Saturday night was brilliant, looking very sharp during its 32-6 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors, who were hopelessly outclassed.
The Sea Eagles looked so quick with everything they did, and deserve favouritism for the grand final. They scored some wonderful tries, and their defence, like Melbourne, is absolutely superb and great to watch.
Fairytales are rare in sport, but there will be one next weekend, for either Manly legend Steve Menzies – who will be lining up for his 349th and last first-grade game – or for Melbourne’s wily veteran Matt Geyer.
Few could deny that either of them deserve to bow out of the NRL as a premiership winner.
I’ll leave my tip for later in the week, but I do warn people not to be silly enough to write off the Storm just yet.
What we should have been talking about was one of the gutsiest wins I’ve ever seen from a Storm team, instead, it was all about the Bellamy and Brian Waldron outburst...
Andrew Moore
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