NRL Grand Final 2014 Preview: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs

 South Sydney Rabbitohs meet the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, October 5 

The South Sydney Rabbitohs meet the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, October 5 in the first NRL preliminary final. The match kicks off at 7.15pm (AEDT)

South Sydney hooker Issac Luke will miss Sunday's decider after he was found guilty of a grade one dangerous throw on Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. 

He joins Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith and Roosters stalwart Luke Ricketson as players who have missed grand finals through suspension in the modern era. Apisai Koroisau, who filled in for Luke when he was sidelined with a shoulder injury mid-season is expected to come into the starting side. 

Ben Te'o has been elevated to the run-on side for Kyle Turner who'll start on the bench. Beau Champion (wrist) is the only Souths player missing through injury. 

The Bunnies backed up their 40-24 qualifying final win over Manly with a convincing 32-22 victory over reigning champs the Sydney Roosters to qualify for their first grand final since 1971. They trailed 12-0 early but piled on 32-unanswered points before the Chooks scored two late consolation tries.

Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis was named at hooker on Tuesday but has all-but ruled himself out after suffering two fractures in his left foot against Penrith last Saturday. 

Five-eighth Josh Reynolds filled in at dummy-half against the Panthers when Ennis went down. However, Moses Mbye and Reni Maitua more likelye options at hooker while youngster Damien Cook filled in at hooker during Origin this season when Ennis shifted to half-back. 

The Bulldogs are missing Sam Kasiano (ankle), Pat O'Hanlon (ankle), Chase Stanley (shoulder), Jacob Loko (knee) and Lloyd Perrett (ankle). Des Hasler's Dogs lost six of their last eight regular season games and were given no hope of doing anything in the finals by most pundits. 

But they thumped the Storm 28-4 in the elimination final, edged Manly 18-17 in golden point and held off Penrith 18-12 to make their second grand final appearance in three years.

Reason To Watch

Sam Burgess v James Graham. The big Englishmen are the two premier forwards in the NRL. They both show a blatant disregard for their own bodies and have a mean streak but are also highly skilful. While they insist they don't seek each other out when these two clubs meet, you could be forgiven for thinking there's a magnetic attraction between the two because wherever one goes the other is there to greet them.

Reason To Turn Away 

Forty-three years is a long time. They handled the pressure last week but the Bunnies still have a massive mental hurdle to overcome and there'll be a lot of buttock clenching going on in the Burrow if the Bunnies fall behind again this week. 

And if you're a Dogs fan and Josh Reynolds plays dummy-half and repeats some of the shocking passes he dished up against the Panthers it might be time to go and turn a steak or head to the fridge for another cordial.

Say What ... 

"Just to play in the grand final's going to be great but to play against James who's a close friend and great competitor, it's going to be a great experience and I'm sure after the final whistle one of us will have a smile on the face and the other probably not. But we'll shake hands and I'm sure we'll get stuck in on the weekend," - Sam Burgess on his battle with fellow Englishman James Graham.

"To be honest, I need a miracle mate. I'm pretty disappointed at this stage so just going to do what I can and see how it all pans out to be honest," – Michael Ennis on the prospect of missing the NRL decider through injury.

Final Word 

The Rabbitohs carry the burden of 43 years without a premiership on their shoulders while the Bulldogs are trying to become the first team to win the grand final from outside the top four since the inception of the NRL in 1998. 

They split their two regular-season meetings, with both games not decided until the final minutes. Trent Hodkinson kicked a 78th minute field goal in Round 7 to give the Dogs a 15-14 win, while the Bunnies scored nine points in the final seven minutes to win 21-14 in Round 25. 

The likely loss of Ennis and Luke's suspension weakens both sides but the Bunnies are better equipped to cover Luke's loss. The Dogs have the edge in experience having played in the 2012 decider but the toll of three brutal finals fixtures in a row could hurt them in the final quarter. 

Michael Maguire's men won't have things all their own way but we agree with the bookies who are tipping South Sydney to end 43 years of misery on Sunday. Rabbitohs by 10.

Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Kirisome Auva'a, Lote Tuqiri, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Dave Tyrrell, Ben Te'o, John Sutton (c), Sam Burgess.
Interchange: Jason Clark, Kyle Turner, Chris McQueen, Thomas Burgess, Ben Lowe, Luke Burgess, Bryson Goodwin (three to be omitted).

Bulldogs: Sam Perrett, Corey Thompson, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Mitch Brown, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (c), James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Greg Eastwood.
Interchange: Tim Browne, Dale Finucane, David Klemmer, Frank Pritchard, Moses Mbye, Reni Maitua (two to be omitted). 

South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters Preliminary Final Should be a Classic

Roosters v Souths

All season most people would've expected these two teams to be squaring off against each other in the premiership decider on grand final day. 

Here it is, a week earlier than expected, but no less important. South Sydney were extremely impressive in their semi-final demolition of Manly in week one of the finals. "Powerful" is the word that keeps coming to mind. 

This huge, mobile forward pack just steamrolled their way upfield and had the result beyond doubt very early in proceedings. 

I have been super impressed with young Rabbitohs centres Kirisome Auva'a and Dylan Walker. Wow! Can't these two lads run the ball. 

They are very dangerous indeed. Once the forwards have cancelled each other out, it may come down to their battle with Roosters pair Michael Jennings and Shaun Kenny-Dowall to decide a winner. They also have the big guy, Greg Inglis, at the back who could bust the game open at any time. 

This club has been around the money for a couple of years now so the players have finals experience and they know what's at stake. 

They will leave nothing in the tank in search of victory. Similarly, the Roosters boast a forward pack that can dominate the best around on their day. Sonny Bill Williams turned last year's grand final on its head with a brilliant second-half display. He is due. 

Courageous hooker Jake Friend will be all the better for his game last weekend. Halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney have come solid at the right time of the year as well. I am expecting a spirited defence of the title they won almost twelve months ago.

I really can't separate these two teams. I sense the Roosters have more tries in them; however, I have great regard for what Inglis might produce on this big stage. This will come down to a field goal either way.

Bulldogs v Panthers
Melbourne and Manly have been two of the most dominant finals teams in the NRL over the past decade. Over the past fortnight, however, the Bulldogs - with scintillating performances - have blown away both these sides. That's outstanding form leading into a preliminary final. 

Coach Des Hasler is a master of the big game. The Dogs, as a club, are certainly no stranger to finals football either and the spike in their intensity once they hit play-off time has been there for all to see. They have been impeccable. The Bulldogs forwards have owned the advantage line in both their semi-final outings. Their unique style of chain-passing among the big boys to create space for the halves and outside backs down the edges has been very effective.

The Panthers have been tremendous. What a gutsy bunch they have become. They play the team game with every individual contributing what they can to the common cause. The one thing we do know about this team is that they will keep coming and they will never give up. 

This is a new experience for the vast majority of their players so their start to the game will be very important indeed. The Bulldogs smashed both the Storm and the Sea Eagles in the first half of those games and will be looking to do a similar job on the inexperienced Panthers. 

If the Panthers can withstand the early blitz and settle down into their own rhythm, they will give a good account of themselves. C'mon Panthers.

Sydney teams, take a bow

The last four left standing in the NRL premiership race are all Sydney teams. Actually, it's five Sydney teams left standing if we include the Sea Eagles, who will officially finish in fifth position after their narrow loss to the Bulldogs last Saturday night. 

That in itself is an extraordinary performance for all these clubs. In an age where so many of the interstate teams have huge geographical and corporate advantages over the Sydney-based teams, it is testimony to management and the resilience of these older traditional clubs that they have been able to maintain their competitiveness in the congested market in this city. It's not getting any easier either. 

The cost of running a professional rugby league program is increasing all the time. Sydney-based clubs will need added corporate and member support if they are all to survive into the future. So regardless of who wins this weekend, the 2014 grand final will be the fifth all-Sydney grand final of the NRL era. 

The previous four featured the Sydney Roosters. In 2003, it was the Roosters v Penrith. In 2004, we saw the Roosters v Bulldogs; 2010 - Dragons v Roosters; and last year it was the Roosters v Manly. Will the fifth follow that pattern?

We need to be far more proactive

The rule which enabled Canterbury to regain possession in the 73rd minute of their match against Manly after a Josh Reynolds' kick struck referee Gerard Sutton is anachronistic and will surely be changed in the off-season. I know it's an obscure rule and is rarely required, but every time it has happened, we have asked for changes. 

None have been forthcoming. In bygone years, packing a scrum and giving the feed to the team in their oppositions half was not a guarantee of possession for either side. 

However, the days of competitive scrums are long gone and it is such a shame that it took such an incident in a crucial moment of a sudden-death final for the league community to realise we had a rule that could be so unfair. I have written in this column previously about another anachronistic rule which prevents interchanges at scrums. 

One day a team will lose a match because an injured played couldn't be replaced at a scrum and the team is either reduced to 12 men or that injured player is unable to be effective. These are just two examples of rules not appropriate in today's game but left untouched by our administrators due to apathy and a lack of foresight. 

We shouldn't have to wait for instances like we had last Saturday for such antiquated rules to be placed under scrutiny. The game has to be far more proactive.

State cup grand finals

Minor premiers Penrith will meet Newcastle in the NSW Cup grand final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The Panthers will go into the match with 12 players unavailable due to injuries among their extended senior squad but have overcome a number of obstacles already this season to lose just four matches and win both of their finals matches. 

However, the Knights will provide the Panthers with their sternest test to date having also won both of their finals matches comfortably and boosting a team full of players with NRL experience. A significant number of the Panthers team were members of last year's winning Holden Cup team and have a unique opportunity to win a second title in a different competition in successive years. 

The successful club will not just win the coveted premiership cup but will represent NSW in the national final on NRL grand final day against the Queensland champions. The Queensland Cup grand final will be held at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, featuring minor premiers Northern Pride from Cairns, one of the Cowboys feeder clubs, and last year's runners-up Easts Tigers, from Brisbane, featuring several Melbourne Storm contracted players. The two teams met a fortnight ago, the Pride won 8-7.

A word on the beaten sides

At this time of year all attention goes to the winning teams. I just feel that the performances of the Cowboys and Sea Eagles last weekend deserve recognition. Both were absolutely mighty in defeat and contributed to one of the best weekends of finals action I can ever remember. 

I don't know what happened to the Cowboys in the first 30 minutes of their clash with the Roosters, but I will say that no other team in the NRL could've mounted a comeback of those proportions against the defending premiers. It was simply stunning. They were so unlucky not to win. 

On the back of some real disappointments in the finals in the past two seasons it must feel like the world is against them, but I sense this will only make them stronger next season. I see good things ahead for the North Queensland team.

I have so much admiration for Manly. Their core group of senior players have been so good for so long. Despite the injuries and suspensions which weakened their side for the semi-final, they produced another whole-hearted effort. I hope the stories of unrest and disharmony are untrue. 

It would be a terrible shame if these guys didn't remain close friends for the rest of their days. It's been a very special era in the club's history. Well done.

Article by Phil Gould 
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Grand Final Week Schedule - NRL Footy Finals

The Telstra Premiership Grand Final Lunch replaces the traditional Grand Final Breakfast for the first time. The lunch will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and is attended by the Telstra Premiership Grand Final teams, club officials, NRL guests, sponsor and commercial partners and media.

Thursday, October 3: NRL Grand Final Fan Day and Teams Presentation, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (10am-2pm family activities; 3-5.30pm team presentation and activities on stage);

NRL Grand Final Members Party, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Haymarket (5-7pm); and
Channel Nine Grand Final Footy Show, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Haymarket (7.30-9.30pm)

Prior to and following the official NRL Grand Final Teams Lunch, the day is devoted to Rugby League fans and members with three exciting events.

Skills clinics, family-friendly activities, will be part of the FREE NRL Grand Final Fan Day at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. The teams will be presented on stage between 3.15-4pm.
The NRL Grand Final Members Party at the Sydney Entertainment Centre is an invite-only event for NRL Club members.

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.com.au for Channel Nine’s Grand Final Footy Show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre from 7.30-9.30pm which will feature members of the Grand Final teams in their final appearance before Sunday’s Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

Friday, October 4: Grand Final Fun Day (MUST REGISER), Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park (10am-3pm)

Up to 800 young fans will get a taste of an NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day when they experience all the excitement and atmosphere of Rugby League’s biggest day of the year.

2013 AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year, Doltone House, Hyde Park (7pm for 7.30pm start)

The Country Rugby League celebrates its night of nights with the announcement of the AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year.

Saturday, October 5: Kangaroos Reunion Lunch, SCG (12-4pm)
Reunion of past and present Kangaroos players attending along with Kiwi Internationals in Australia.
Grand Final Fan Site, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (3-7pm)
Autograph signing and FREE special live performance by Jessica Mauboy and guests (3-4.30pm – autograph signing; 4.30-7pm – live performances).
Sunday, October 6: 2013 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day, ANZ Stadium (from 11am)

Grand Final Day is the culmination of an exciting week of events and a season of amazing Rugby League with over 80,000 fans attending ANZ Stadium to be part of the biggest game of the year.
The Grand Final Precinct will feature Rugby League skills clinics, entertainment, competitions, prizes, giveaways and One Community Ambassadors.

International artist Ricky Martin will headline the Grand Final Entertainment which will also feature a tribute to retiring players and Jessica Mauboy performing the national anthem.

More than 3million viewers across metropolitan and regional Australia are expected to tune into the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on Channel Nine.

11.00am  -   Gates Open – Telstra Grand Final Precinct
1.30pm  -   Gates Open – ANZ Stadium
1.50pm  -   Kick-off - VB NSW Cup Grand Final
3.55pm  -   Kick-off - Holden Cup Grand Final
6.53pm  -   Pre-match Entertainment   

• Presentation to Retiring Players
• Ricky Martin Performs
• National Anthem – Jessica Mauboy

7.18pm  - Kick-off - NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final

Grand Final Fan Site/ Live Site, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (3.30-9.30pm)


The Grand Final Day fun continues from mid-afternoon as Tumbalong Park becomes a live site where a big screen will broadcast all of the action live from ANZ Stadium with the screening of the 2013 Telstra Premiership Grand Final. The live broadcast will start at 3.55pm with the Holden Cup Grand Final.

New Zealanders Flock to Sydney for Grand Final

The Destination NSW New Zealand office has reported record enquiries about flights, accommodation and tickets for Sunday’s Telstra Premiership NRL Grand Final between the Vodafone New Zealand Warriors and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

There has been a significant increase in the number of interstate and international visitors attending this year’s Grand Final. Current ticket sales indicate that we may see a 40 per cent increase in the number of non-NSW visitors attending compared with last year.

Air New Zealand Group General Manger Australasia, Bruce Parton, said the airline has put on extra services to accommodate the last minute rush, with thousands of Kiwi’s keen to watch their home grown heroes play in their second NRL Grand Final match.

“We’ve added two 747 return services – one sold out in an hour on Sunday and when the other went on sale this week, it was gone in six minutes.

“We’ve also added some additional A320 services either side of game day and upgraded a number of flights to larger 777-200 aircraft in order to cater for as many fans as possible,” Mr Parton said.

Last year the Grand Final generated more than $15 million in new money for the State with over 20,000 interstate and overseas visitors coming to Sydney for the iconic Australian event. Destination NSW has worked hard to grow this opportunity with its NRL partners.

(Source: Destination NSW)