Can the Sydney Roosters win the Grand Final again this year?

[adamkungl]

Grand finals are more about memorable moments and the wider narrative. The only people who are going to say, "Actually, the second half of the 2015 was dour and stodgy" are us rugby league nerds. Most people are just going to remember the highlight moments. Rugby league are meant to be watched once and whatever sticks in the (collective) memory is going to define whether or not games are classics or whatever.

Fair and valid point. But as a Rugby League nerd I'll still take 16

 

[morley101]

I was very impressed by the Melbourne Storm yesterday. Manly didn't even play particularly bad they just were beaten senseless by Melbourne and cop a 34 point loss. Didn't even seem like Melbourne were struggling.

Admittedly I might be biased but I think the grand final this year will be Melbourne Vs Roosters. A full Melbourne team at their best vs a full Roosters team at their best would be a great sight to see. Who would win? I think the backlines are pretty equal, Melbourne have the better halves and spine but Roosters have better forwards.

We'll have a better idea at the end of this round. If Roosters smash Manly like Melbourne did then maybe they can knock Melbourne off. If it's back and forth with Manly (Like I think it will be) with the Roosters winning by six it'd show that Melbourne are head and shoulders above everyone else.

Manly's defensive line was so slow, they hardly moved and gave the Storm so much space. and time.

It was only Storm's mistakes that kept the score tight in the first half.

 

[Danny-Boy]

The Roosters are odds on to add yet another Grand Final loss to the resume in the NRL era. The Storm just can't be beat this year.

2000
2003
2004
2010
2017

Still, 7 Grand Final appearances in 20 years will be a massive effort by the club.

 

[footy75]

Storm, Roosters or Sharks

 

[Pedge1971]

Lean pickings. Sharks for mine....

 

[Life's Good]

Storm well in front at the moment so cant see them missing a GF spot. They will play either the Sharks or Roosters.
The Sharks have the game to take it away from them(can play expansive or tough and have proven game breakers(Bird, Fafita & Graham). Roosters are a chance but will need to play their best game to stand a chance.

 

[adamkungl]

Storm well in front at the moment so cant see them missing a GF spot. They will play either the Sharks or Roosters.
The Sharks have the game to take it away from them(can play expansive or tough and have proven game breakers(Bird, Fafita & Graham). Roosters are a chance but will need to play their best game to stand a chance.

I just don't see us having the backbone for it. The losses against Sharks and Warriors were pure dross that still stand out.
Maybe when Cordner Friend and Gordon return we can put it together but I'm not seeing it right now.

Could say the same for Cronulla re: their loss to the Titans.

Sadly I think 2nd and 3rd are closer to the rest of the pack than they are the Storm. The gap is huge.

 

[POPEYE]

It's all well and good to debate form and other contingencies in the lead up to the gf, even the finals are a lottery. To declare which team is going to win the gf is as f**king dumb as declaring the winner the best team of the year just because they won it

If the Dragons stay in the 8 there is a chance McCrone might not only get to drink from the cup but accidently win the CCM . . . that would be a pisstaker's delight, a 'Premiers' for the year that keeps on giving

 

[carcharias]

Sharks a well off what they were last year
Probably get done by the raiders on Sat.
...and they are going even worse than the sharks.

Storm should win.

Roosters would get themselves penalised out of the game if they make it.

Maybe Parra fluke it to the GF like last time - same result though.

 

[POPEYE]

You don't care about The Shield, neither does the NRL because if they did they'd promote it as a separate comp to the cup finals/gf and make a quid out of it like the DM's, so it doesn't matter a tuppenny f**k where the Sharks finish as long as they make the top 4

 

[footy75]

I
If the Dragons stay in the 8 there is a chance McCrone might not only get to drink from the cup but accidently win the CCM . . .g

yeah...nah

 

[Life's Good]

I just don't see us having the backbone for it. The losses against Sharks and Warriors were pure dross that still stand out.
Maybe when Cordner Friend and Gordon return we can put it together but I'm not seeing it right now.

Could say the same for Cronulla re: their loss to the Titans.

Sadly I think 2nd and 3rd are closer to the rest of the pack than they are the Storm. The gap is huge.

The one thing against the Storm is their recent finals record(from 2011 onwards). Whilst they have a habit of streaking away in the regular season they have a habit of stumbling come the finals - teams lift vs. them and perform out of their skin. This is why I give Sharks/Roosters a chance.

 

[POPEYE]

The one thing against the Storm is their recent finals record(from 2011 onwards). Whilst they have a habit of streaking away in the regular season they have a habit of stumbling come the finals - teams lift vs. them and perform out of their skin. This is why I give Sharks/Roosters a chance.

Origin euphoria to blame for that, had NSW won the series the Sharks attention span might suffer, the Roosters not so much

 

[Life's Good]

Origin euphoria to blame for that, had NSW won the series the Sharks attention span might suffer, the Roosters not so much

Thats it?? I was hoping for a spiel about the importance of the shield/trophy/first past the post.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Everybody knows that the Storm is winning the comp,just give them the trophy now

 

[Pedge1971]

You don't care about The Shield, neither does the NRL because if they did they'd promote it as a separate comp to the cup finals/gf and make a quid out of it like the DM's, so it doesn't matter a tuppenny f**k where the Sharks finish as long as they make the top 4

I think you know you are about the only person on here who cares about the minor premiership.

I don't necessarily agree with your view that the minor premiers should be treated more importantly than the premiers for 3 reasons:

- rep game disruption.
- imbalances in the draw and;
- ability to win big finals under pressure should count at least alongside consistemcy across the home and away rounds.

I think the home and away rounds should pretty clearly deliver the best 4 teams to fight it out. The bottom 4 of the 8 are typically fodder.

I know u aren't here to listen to other peoples opinions and all that other stuff u ramble on with but for what it's worth that is mine......

 

[POPEYE]

Thats it?? I was hoping for a spiel about the importance of the shield/trophy/first past the post.

Don't tell anyone but I reckon gf day is the best day of the RL year, regardless of the fact I reckon winning The Shield is much more difficult

Say The Shield was decided first with the required amount of ballyhoo in the same way the DM's are highlighted, the top four teams of it then play for the cup, then Origin was played using players in full season good form . . . Origin players wouldn't 'coast' in the early part of the regular season or be 'satisfied' by just having played/won Origin.

Each step of the season should be a quantum leap, not just horses for courses . . . you wanted a spiel

 

[RockWheel]

Surely winning the premiership is harder than winning the minor premiership. Most teams don't give a shit about the minor premiership for a start, including the teams who probably going to win it this year.

 

[POPEYE]

Surely winning the premiership is harder than winning the minor premiership. Most teams don't give a shit about the minor premiership for a start, including the teams who probably going to win it this year.

Yes you're right, why make a big deal of winning The Shield, why not hinge the whole season on one game of footy where luck usually plays a bigger part than talent . . . why not let all the teams, not just half of them, play for the cup . . . do away with The Shield altogether

I'm only picketing because I want the RL season to have more bling, more bang for the buck . . . I don't like mediocrity than can be avoided

 

[moffla]

Surely winning the premiership is harder than winning the minor premiership. Most teams don't give a shit about the minor premiership for a start, including the teams who probably going to win it this year.

I don't know about that.
Don't get me wrong, I'd take the premiership any day, but finishing top after 26 rounds is harder than winning 3 finals games on the trot