What about this NRL finals series so far? I love how all the “experts” put forth their case for who’s going to win each week, as if they know who will get up and why. I reckon they’re all guessing.

We’ve seen the Penrith Panthers upset the Roosters in Week 1. I was at that game, and I thought Jamie Soward was on another level. It’s as if he already knew the result before kick off.

I’ve never seen a player who has had self-confessed confidence issues in the past be so cool calm and collected at such crucial moments. Remember that field goal?

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Beau Ryan and I have been doing the ground announcing at the games and it has been incredible. To witness these games whilst being so close to the action is spine tingling.

We flew down to AAMI for the ‘Dogs against the Storm. We were both backing the Storm before we arrived, but then we saw the Doggies run out for warm up. Melbourne had an ‘all knowing, just another day’s work’ look about them as they went about their work.

The Dogs looked violent in demeanour. After they took to the field for warm up, Beau and I looked at each other and started to wonder if we’d tipped the wrong team. Didn’t we what.

The first 20 minutes was akin to some of the action in The Patriot. Talk about an ambush! The big three and the rest of the Storm had zero answers.

Also, I’d like to chat briefly about how Mitchell Pearce has handled himself this season, especially after not being selected for Origin, and watching them finally win whilst not being a part of it. It’s as if this was the best thing to happen to him. His eyes look different. A quiet confidence and an almost silent determination that says to me he has only grown from this years experiences. He’s one of the reasons I’ve tipped the Roosters to go back to back.

After hanging on the way they did against the Cowboys, I can’t see them letting that happen again. But hey… look at the monster they face on Friday!



The Doggies stole victory from a battered and war torn Sea Eagles outfit in Golden Point. True to their history, Manly made it hard, but a poor start saw them bow out in a nail biting finish.

Canterbury face a very well oiled machine in Penrith on Saturday. The Doggies have a momentum that reminds me of our Parramatta squad in ’09. It’s going to be an absolute cracker.

Now… the Bunnies are fresh from a week off, and in today’s game, I think it’s a massive bonus. Players have had time to heal and freshen up. Knowing Coach Maguire, he would’t have exactly let them rest too comfortably. What a match up this is going to be, with perhaps the two strongest sides on paper going at it.

It’s tough for me to tip against the two teams I have, as it’d be no surprise if any of the remaining sides went on to win a grand final. But I think it’ll be a Roosters vs Panthers grand final.

I wouldn’t be putting my house on it though.

Good luck legends, and I’ll see you at the game.