'12 | 2nd QF | Sat 5:45pm | Storm 24-6 Rabbitohs | AAMI

[Timmah]

1. Billy Slater 2. Sisa Waqa 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Dane Nielsen 5. Anthony Quinn 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cam Smith 10. Jason Ryles 11. Sika Manu 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Bryan Norrie 16. Jaiman Lowe 17. Kevin Proctor 18. Richie Fa'aoso 19. Siosaia Vave

http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=23240

 

[Evenflow]

The key for Souths is to manage Slater , without him , Storm were average.
The Storm Cronk and C.Smith are better than Souths Reynolds and Luke, however i think GI at the back maintains a balance between both team spines.
Hoffman and Crocker balance out.
Souths advantage is Sutton, Taylor and Sam B , this strength should ensure Souths win , providing Slater is managed .

If only it were all that simple. You're relying on certain players to play below their best in Slater and others to their best or above like Sutton, Taylor and Sam B. If they play below their best which we all know they can on occasion does that mean you have no chance of winning? Or what if GI has a quiet game as well?

Facts are we can all go in with the best laid plans of negating the effect of certain players but until the game is played we dont know how it'll unfold. There's so many variables especially when it comes to finals games and what happened in past encounters and during the season means jack shit.

 

[BranVan3000]

I think if all players on both teams' are at the best it'll be a great clash. I just think Souths have more game breakers. I hope Maguire can get them all firing.

One thing I hope is it doesn't come down to some moronic ref decision

 

[BranVan3000]

And I'm just glad our halfback isn't one that suffers stage fright. Will make a big difference for us at this time of year.

 

[azza29]

S Hayne & J Robinson in control of this one. Full referee details in post 1 or at http://bit.ly/NRLteamsFWK1

Hayne? Time to put some cash on the Bunnies... I have the utmost respect for the refs but based on the Sharks game am 90% certain Hayne has an anti-Melbourne bias.

 

[AnfieldIron]

And I'm just glad our halfback isn't one that suffers stage fright. Will make a big difference for us at this time of year.

Do we really know whether Adam suffers from stage fright or not?

We haven't played on the really big stage yet. We had the massive Friday night clash against the Eagles, and he and Sutton were both pretty poor.

This is yet to be determined, in my opinion.

 

[kia ora storm]

The key for Souths is to manage Slater , without him , Storm were average.
The Storm Cronk and C.Smith are better than Souths Reynolds and Luke, however i think GI at the back maintains a balance between both team spines.
Hoffman and Crocker balance out.
Souths advantage is Sutton, Taylor and Sam B , this strength should ensure Souths win , providing Slater is managed .

Without Slater Storm are average ?...if you go in with tha mindset you will get burnt badly IMO.

Everyone is talking up the big Souths pack but this will just fire up Storm even more...you are forgetting that Storm can control the ruck effectively in most close games and this will be no different.

 

[Evenflow]

Do we really know whether Adam suffers from stage fright or not?

We haven't played on the really big stage yet. We had the massive Friday night clash against the Eagles, and he and Sutton were both pretty poor.

This is yet to be determined, in my opinion.

Was going to say pretty much the same thing myself. While he may have played in a big regular season game or 2 a final is a whole other beast, especially being your first one and down in Melbourne also. He may very well relish the atmosphere and smash it or he could just as easily go the opposite way. None of us will know either way whether he performs on the big stage until he's on it Saturday night.

Even the most ardent Rabbits fans would have to have even a tiny doubt as to whether he'll handle the occasion or not. I'm not knocking the kid, he's been great this year and a very worthy recipient of his award last night. It's just a massive responsibility for such a young bloke leading his team around the park for the first time in a final.

 

[blaza88z]

And I'm just glad our halfback isn't one that suffers stage fright. Will make a big difference for us at this time of year.

how do you know that? :lol:

 

[BranVan3000]

how do you know that? :lol:

Because he hasn't all year?

 

[BranVan3000]

Do we really know whether Adam suffers from stage fright or not?

We haven't played on the really big stage yet. We had the massive Friday night clash against the Eagles, and he and Sutton were both pretty poor.

This is yet to be determined, in my opinion.

It was the forwards who were poor in that game. Hard for any halves when the forwards are being hammered. Whole team was lethargic

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

I don't think we can ever be confident of beating Melbourne in Melbourne. Sure, we look about as good as we ever have in going down there but we are yet to ever climb that mountain.

Never a game that I would expect to win.

 

[BranVan3000]

Was going to say pretty much the same thing myself. While he may have played in a big regular season game or 2 a final is a whole other beast, especially being your first one and down in Melbourne also. He may very well relish the atmosphere and smash it or he could just as easily go the opposite way. None of us will know either way whether he performs on the big stage until he's on it Saturday night.

Even the most ardent Rabbits fans would have to have even a tiny doubt as to whether he'll handle the occasion or not. I'm not knocking the kid, he's been great this year and a very worthy recipient of his award last night. It's just a massive responsibility for such a young bloke leading his team around the park for the first time in a final.

This was exactly what was being said at the start of the year, and he has proven the nay Sayers wrong time and time again

He played in an NYC Grand Final, while not quite the same, it is in the same location on the same day so he has experienced the atmosphere at least. Probably a step above the experience of a lot of other players in our squad for mine.

 

[Evenflow]

This was exactly what was being said at the start of the year, and he has proven the nay Sayers wrong time and time again

and as i mentioned, normal home and away games can nowhere near compare to first grade finals, neither can an under 20's GF. It's much more than "not quite the same".

Besides, i also said he could very well come out and smash it. No need to get defensive, i'm just looking at it objectively from both sides unlike yourself who refuses to concede there's even a slight chance he might not handle the big occasion.

 

[blaza88z]

delusional optimism

these 2 words can only be strung together when dealing with a souffs fan

 

[azza29]

Just read NRL.com preview - here's a fun fact: of 19 games between the two teams Melbourne have won 16, including every home game. So either that's a good sign for the Storm or Souths are due for a win - I can't decide... :S

 

[BranVan3000]

delusional optimism

these 2 words can only be strung together when dealing with a souffs fan

Saying the guy who has looked calm under pressure all year will still be calm under pressure is delusional optimism?

 

[blaza88z]

Saying the guy who has looked calm under pressure all year will still be calm under pressure is delusional optimism?

I notice a trend with souffs fans, when there's a hint that they might win something it turns into ultimate confidence with no chance of anything going wrong.

It's his first year ffs, he's never played anything more then home and away.

 

[Galeforce]

Without Slater Storm are average ?...if you go in with tha mindset you will get burnt badly IMO.

Everyone is talking up the big Souths pack but this will just fire up Storm even more...you are forgetting that Storm can control the ruck effectively in most close games and this will be no different.

agree if i was running on to the field , however i did not make the side ,so i do not have to worry about my mental preperation.

as a fan , storms form was worse than average when Slater was out injured. so i thought the use of average without Slater was talking them up.

As for Souths big pack, i do not think they are that big and big in itself is not answer. Storm have J Lowe who is fairly big. Souths have a couple of forwards who are faster and just as big as your biggest , in Sam and Taylor. I think they are the key difference between the two teams.

 

[Galeforce]

Just read NRL.com preview - here's a fun fact: of 19 games between the two teams Melbourne have won 16, including every home game. So either that's a good sign for the Storm or Souths are due for a win - I can't decide... :S

Based on this Souths have little chance . Or should i say the Souths teams of the past 18 years had little chance.:shock:

If Souths are to make the GF and win it , then they will have to break a lot of hoodoos.:shock:

may as well start with beating the storm in melbourne.