2014 NRL Finals Week 1 Preview
Four Games. Eight Teams. Two Eliminations.
On Friday night the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles face off against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Five weeks ago these teams met up on Friday Night Football, with the Rabbitohs winning 23-4. Import Sam Burgess was the stand out performance moving the ball 231 metres and scoring a cheeky try. Normally a lot can change in 5 weeks, but this week we’ll be sticking with the Bunnies. They are simply bigger and stronger than the Eagles. Young-gun Alex Johnston is still crushing it for the Rabbitohs and I’m looking forward to seeing him get across the line on Friday night. Having spent a day in Manly this week I can safely say there was a vibe in the air, the locals aren't overlast year’s devastating Grand Final loss and they want the shield back at Brookvale. It won’t be easy though, as the Eagles will not go down without a fight.
The other game in Sydney is the Sydney Roosters Vs Penrith Panthers. It’s been 20 years since an NRL team won back-to-back premierships, and that’s the only thing on the Rooster minds. They went back to back with the minor premiership last week and are looking strong this week. Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello plays his 300th NRL game on Saturday night, and with his pending retirement at the end of the season, the boys will be looking to send him off with a bang. Sonny Bill Williams needs no introduction. He's a gun and he's ready to explode. Expect big things for ‘SBW’ in this game. The Panthers are coming off a strong win against the Warriors last week. As has been the case for most of this season, the Panthers are still suffering from a devastatingly long injury list, but surprisingly it hasn't seemed to matter with youngsters like 19 year old Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring a couple of tries last week making the most of his debut season.
The Queensland Derby is on this weekend as the Brisbane Broncos travel up north to face the North Queensland Cowboys. This is the first of the elimination finals for 2014. At home the Cowboys are very very tough to beat as was clear by their victory over the Sea Eagles last week. Matt Scott is the in-form player for the Cowboys. He has been crushing it for the last month. Last week alone he moved the ball 191 metres. Johnathon Thurston and Robert Lui made short work of Manly last week and will be eager to do the same to Brisbane. The Broncos lost to the Storm last week, Andrew McCullough who has clocked up over 1000 tackles this season, had a rare off week, which aided in the Broncos failure to contain the Storm. Josh Hoffman has been declared unfit and will sit this one out, Also missing are Jack Reed and David Stagg both out with season ending injuries. The Broncos appearance in the finals came down to the last minute, with losses by the Warriors and Eels last week securing them a spot in the eight.
Storm Coach Craig Bellamy has been featured heavily in the news this week. From taking his team across the street to AFL team Collingwood’s training facility, to whether or not Captain Cameron Smith will suit up for the second elimination final when Melbourne Storm takes on the Canterbury - Bankstown Bulldogs. Whether Cam Smith plays or not, the Storm are in fantastic form. Ryan Hoffman played superbly last week - 136 metres, 32 tackles and line break that resulted in a try. Billy Slater and Will Chambers will be looking to tear up the Bulldogs defence. As for the Bulldogs, last week they squandered a 18-0 first half lead to go down to the gold coast 19-18. They move the ball well but struggle in defence. This one should fall in Storms favour.
2014 NRL Finals – Week 1 Best Betting Tips
South Sydney Rabbitohs to win by 1-12 - $2.75 at Luxbet**
Sydney Roosters to win by 13+ - $2.05 at Luxbet***
North Queensland Cowboys at the line (-7.5) - $1.90 at Luxbet ***
Melbourne Storm 1-12 - $2.90 at Luxbet **
