So it’s Grand Final time and yet again we have two teams that everybody loves to hate. The whingers from south of the border versus the silvertails from the Northern Beaches. But what Melbourne and Manly lack in likeability, they have made up for in their sheer brilliance throughout the year, and not to mention a fierce rivalry that should make for an absolute cracker of a decider.
This year’s rematch is filled with plenty of intriguing subplots and snippets of history, befitting of rugby league’s centenary decider. Melbourne has a chance to achieve a true rarity in the today’s game by claiming back-to-back premierships. In this modern era of salary caps and European rugby, keeping a star team together for more than a couple of years is a near impossibility. What this has taught us is that any great side, no matter how talented, only ever has a small window of opportunity to mark their place in history. And one need only to look at previous seasons to see just how difficult consecutive premierships can be.
In the early part of this decade the Roosters sat atop the NRL table for several years. side. However despite making three consecutive Grand Final’s from 2002-2004, they were unable to achieve back-to-back success, finishing 2003 and 2004 with disappointment.
Similarly in the mid-nineties Manly was the dominant side in the competition, and despite entering three consecutive Grand Final’s as favourites, they only have one premiership to show for their era of success.
In fact if we don’t count the split competition in 1997, in order find back-to-back premiers one has to go back as far as 1993, to when Brisbane defeated St George in the decider.
And then we come to Melbourne. Few would argue that the Storm has been the most consistent side in the competition for the past three years. They took out last year’s decider with ease and were robbed at the eleventh hour by Brisbane the year before. However with the rest of the league closing the gap, and with several key players including Israel Folau and Mick Crocker set to leave the club at the end of this year, Melbourne’s glory days could be coming to an end. But they have one last chance to make history on Sunday, by becoming only the second team in the past 20 years to successfully defend their title. It would certainly be quite a legacy, and would ensure the Storm are remembered as the dominant team of this decade.
Manly on the other hand have their own piece of history to contend with. The adage that you must lost a grand final before you win one seemed to be confirmed by Melbourne last year. The question now is whether Manly can overcome the big game pressure, and indeed the favourites tag, to claim their first title since 1996. The timing seems right for the Sea Eagles. They won it in ’87 and again in ’96. Now in ’08 they are at their peak again. I don’t think they will ever get a better opportunity to win the premiership.
So there you have it. Both sides have it all to play for. Both are looking to to etch their names into the history books. Will Cameron Smith and the Storm have the last laugh? Can the Eagles send Beaver out a winner? Can Orford silence his critics once and for all? The possibilities are endless but one thing I am sure of, it is going to be an historic 80 minutes.
PS:
For those of you that, like me, enjoy basking in the misery of Manly fans, here’s a reminder of what happened the last time Manly entered a Grand Final as favourites. Enjoy the game on Sunday.
This year’s rematch is filled with plenty of intriguing subplots and snippets of history, befitting of rugby league’s centenary decider. Melbourne has a chance to achieve a true rarity in the today’s game by claiming back-to-back premierships. In this modern era of salary caps and European rugby, keeping a star team together for more than a couple of years is a near impossibility. What this has taught us is that any great side, no matter how talented, only ever has a small window of opportunity to mark their place in history. And one need only to look at previous seasons to see just how difficult consecutive premierships can be.
In the early part of this decade the Roosters sat atop the NRL table for several years. side. However despite making three consecutive Grand Final’s from 2002-2004, they were unable to achieve back-to-back success, finishing 2003 and 2004 with disappointment.
Similarly in the mid-nineties Manly was the dominant side in the competition, and despite entering three consecutive Grand Final’s as favourites, they only have one premiership to show for their era of success.
In fact if we don’t count the split competition in 1997, in order find back-to-back premiers one has to go back as far as 1993, to when Brisbane defeated St George in the decider.
And then we come to Melbourne. Few would argue that the Storm has been the most consistent side in the competition for the past three years. They took out last year’s decider with ease and were robbed at the eleventh hour by Brisbane the year before. However with the rest of the league closing the gap, and with several key players including Israel Folau and Mick Crocker set to leave the club at the end of this year, Melbourne’s glory days could be coming to an end. But they have one last chance to make history on Sunday, by becoming only the second team in the past 20 years to successfully defend their title. It would certainly be quite a legacy, and would ensure the Storm are remembered as the dominant team of this decade.
Manly on the other hand have their own piece of history to contend with. The adage that you must lost a grand final before you win one seemed to be confirmed by Melbourne last year. The question now is whether Manly can overcome the big game pressure, and indeed the favourites tag, to claim their first title since 1996. The timing seems right for the Sea Eagles. They won it in ’87 and again in ’96. Now in ’08 they are at their peak again. I don’t think they will ever get a better opportunity to win the premiership.
So there you have it. Both sides have it all to play for. Both are looking to to etch their names into the history books. Will Cameron Smith and the Storm have the last laugh? Can the Eagles send Beaver out a winner? Can Orford silence his critics once and for all? The possibilities are endless but one thing I am sure of, it is going to be an historic 80 minutes.
PS:
For those of you that, like me, enjoy basking in the misery of Manly fans, here’s a reminder of what happened the last time Manly entered a Grand Final as favourites. Enjoy the game on Sunday.
1 comment:
I have to agree Perko! it'll be a cracker but Manly might just sneak it!
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