Melbourne Storm will consider anything bar winning the Telstra Premiership in 2007 as a failure. The red hot Storm deserve the title and are playing better football than any other team in the finals race.
Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are key to the Storm attack that has looked electric. Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman and Brett White have amicably led the forward pack in both attack and hard hitting defence.
With the grand final now only three weekends away who will the Storm be facing? Manly, New Zealand or North Queensland, provided they knock off the winner of Parramatta and Canterbury.
This week: Parramatta v. Canterbury.
Judging by both games last weekend it could go either way. A Bulldogs outfit with Sonny Bill Williams looks menacing giving the Dogs more go forward and brutal defence. The likes of Ben Roberts and his outside men need to do more against a backline led by Jarryd Hayne, Kri Inu and Timana Tahu.
On paper it should probably be the Dogs and I think they will come into their own come this weekend. Either way it will be a cracker of a game.
North Queensland v. New Zealand
New Zealand need to find something if they are any hope of knocking off the boys from Townsville. Wade McKinnon will have to be scintillating but needs support from under performing halves Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli. The likes of Lauiki need to feed off Steve Price and Ruben Wiki if the Warriors are to be any hope.
The Cowboys look too strong especially if Matty Bowen and Jonathan Thurston are given an inch. Their forward pack although is seriously depleted with Carl Webb looking to be on the outer. This could be their weakness and something New Zealand should target: up the middle.
In summary I am picking Canterbury and North Queensland which will take us to:
- Melbourne v Bulldogs
- Manly v North Queensland
Let’s see what happens after this week before I get too far ahead of myself... but here is my early prediction: Melbourne v Manly grand final...
