South Sydney is looking to end a 43 year premiership drought but has to get past a rejuvenated Canterbury to do so.
The Rabbitohs had a comprehensive win against the Sydney Roosters last week. The scoreboard read 32-22 at the final siren, but it was more telling than the 10 point margin suggests. Having come out with an emphatic 12-0 start, the Roosters saw their lead quickly disintegrate as the Bunnies piled on 32 unanswered points, before a couple of late tries helped salvage a respectable score line for Sydney.
Canterbury, on the other hand, had to fend off a persistent Penrith, and it was a telling defensive effort in the dying stages of the match, to win 18-12 and qualify for its second grand final in three years.
Fairfax NRL analyst Michael Carayannis said despite early nerves the Rabbitohs win was telling.
“When the Roosters got on top you’re thinking ‘oh no, Souths has sort of faltered again, but Souths regrouped and did well and aside from the first eight minutes they bashed the Roosters out of the game and didn’t look like losing.”
Canterbury, coached by the premiership winning Des Hasler, has grand final experience up its sleeve, having played off in the 2012 decider to eventual winner Melbourne Storm, but Carayannis doesn’t think it will be a deciding factor on the day.
“It helps knowing what to expect throughout the week, it’s very different to any week that these guys experience during the season. I don’t think it’s going to have an impact on grand final day in that sense, but you can lose a grand final by being caught in the build up.”
“South Sydney has got a good balance of young guys that aren’t scarred by the past and older gamers that have played in some big games before, so I think they’ll be fine as long as they don’t get caught up in the emotion of it.”
The Bunnies have fallen at the preliminary finals stage in their past two campaigns, which is culminated by a four-decade long drought, that has starved both club and fans. But Carayannis believes Souths shook the choking monkey off its back last week, with the emphatic win over the Roosters.
“If there’s going to be any doubt creeping into their minds it would have happened last week, when they conceded two quick tries against the Roosters and you would have thought ‘OK, yep, the dark thoughts would have come into play’, but they overcame that and showed that they are pretty resilient.”
The sides share the spoils in two very close encounters this year, and will be without key playmakers. The Bulldogs, unless blessed by a miracle, will be without captain Michael Ennis, who is sidelined with a foot injury. Whilst the Rabbitohs will be ruing the loss of Issac Luke through suspension, but have the likes of Apisai Koroisau to take his place.
Carayannis believes the premiership decider is likely to be won or lost on both sides’ forwards.
“That’s where both teams’ strengths lie, in their big men and a lot of pressure will come down to the halves, the six and seven especially without a recognised hooker in there for both sides, so whichever pack can take advantage and whichever half can kick well and finish off at the back end of sets will go a long way to winning it.”
Key players to watch out for are the likes of Souths fullback Greg Inglis, and the battle of the Brits – Sam Burgess and James Graham.
Carayannis picked Souths by 10.
The NRL grand final will be played on Sunday 5 October at 7.15 pm at Olympic Park, Parramatta, NSW.
