The 2017 NRL grand final is this Sunday. Will the Cowboys continue their momentum and cause one of the greatest upsets or will the Storm earn the victory they have proved to deserve all season. We take a look at the big games in our NRL Grand Final Preview and Betting Tips below.
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys (Sunday 7.15pm AEST)
The Storm head into the grand final as clear favourites and for strong reason. They have been the bench mark all year and lead the competition from round eight. They have lost only four games all year, and two of those were when they weren’t at full strength. They will take to the field on Sunday without a change after their 30-0 domination over the Brisbane Broncos in the preliminary final. Despite the scoreline, the Storm were far from their best. However, it’s scary to think of their capabilities if they play at their full potential on Sunday.
The Storm were on the backfoot early and it wasn’t until the final two minutes of the opening half that they hit the front on the scoreboard. Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk kept control of the contest though and they helped manufacture a second half dominance with the help of the rest of their spine Billy Slater and Cameron Munster. The Storm has a great backline with speed to burn outwide and their forward pack has laid a terrific platform for them all year, it’s hard to find a fault in their line up.
Meanwhile the Cowboys found form at the perfect time of the year. The side was preparing for Mad Monday but the Dragons’ surprise loss to the Bulldogs in the final regular season game of the year saw the Cowboys hold onto eighth position on the ladder. Three wins later against the fifth, fourth and second placed sides has landed them in Sunday’s decider.
Michael Morgan and Jason Tuamalolo have been the difference for the side. The Cowboys are without their two co-captains in Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott and they were all but ruled out of being competitive. However, the side is one win away from glory and Morgan and Tuamalolo have lead from the front and orchestrated it all. Tuamalolo has been near impossible to handle while Morgan has hit career best form. Morgan credits Cooper Cronk, his halfback opponent for this Sunday, for showing him the ropes during Anzac Day Test earlier this year. Morgan has hit new levels since then but we are predicting the master (Cronk) to hand another lesson to his student (Morgan) on Sunday.
Cronk is playing his 322nd and final game for the Storm, meanwhile Billy Slater is yet to announce whether he will play on next year and there is no way the Storm will allow them to finish their careers on a loss. The Storm’s club have been the benchmark with the rest of the NRL club’s striving to repeat the ‘big three’ of Cronk, Slater and Smith. We are predicting a nervous start to the contest but once the Storm are on top, they will run riot in the second half.
TIP: Storm at the margin (13+) – $2.10 at Sportsbet
As mentioned above, it’s Cronk’s final game in the Storm colours and it could be his final game in the NRL. The league loves a feel good story and there isn’t one better than sending out a legend of the game as a champion. Cronk will lead his side to victory, play a big hand in controlling the game and setting up attacking plays and it will result in an easy decision for selectors to make in giving him the Clive Churchill Medal.
TIP: Cooper Cronk to win Clive Churchill Medal – $5.50 at William Hill
We are predicting the Storm to open the try scoring market and we can’t go passed the fox, Josh Addo-Carr. The flyer has crossed for the opening try in the past two games for the Storm and he has proved to live up to the big moment. We are backing him to make it three from three in Sunday’s decider.
TIP: Josh Addo-Carr first try scorer – $7.00 at Sportsbet
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