NRL Grand Final Preview and Prediction - Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys @ ANZ Stadium
2017 NRL Grand Final
Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys @ ANZ Stadium
Preview – It’s David versus Goliath in the NRL Grand Final this Sunday as the 8th placed Cowboys ride into town to take on the unbackable favourites, in the Minor Premiers, Melbourne Storm. Not many in the Rugby League world could have envisaged the seemingly battered and broken Cowboys surging into the Grand Final after they limped into 8th place, winning just 1 of their final 6 regular season games. The Cowboys have proved not only the fairytale story of the finals, but the road warriors, winning in Sydney in three consecutive weeks against the Sharks, Eels and Roosters. Whilst their victories over the Sharks and Eels were considered upsets, their victory over the Roosters was a huge boilover in the eyes of many, as they steamrolled their way into the decider with a deserved 29-16 triumph.
The Storm have taken a far simpler path to the decider winning both games at AAMI Park in the finals, as they disposed of disappointing Broncos’ side last week 30-0. The Storm were far from their clinical and ruthless selves in the first half, however they still went into the break 8-0 up despite making a number of fundamental errors. Having won 20 games and lost just 4 games this season, they head to ANZ Stadium as overwhelming favourites to add another chapter in the Club’s short but proud history.
History - The Cowboys will be looking to hit Melbourne where it hurts by stunning them in the big one, despite losing both games to them this season. The sides clashed in Round 15 during the middle of the Origin period, with both sides missing key players. However the game was a classic Golden Point game with the Storm getting home 23-22 courtesy of a Brodie Croft field goal. They then clashed in Round 22 in an at times spiteful and scrappy game at 1300 Smiles Stadium, with the Storm running out 26-8 winners. These two Clubs are regular finals’ combatants, having met in the past two finals’ series, with the Storm winning 14-10 in Week 1 of the finals at AAMI Park last season. However, the Cowboys won the Preliminary Final in 2015 at the same venue, crushing the Storm on their way to winning the Premiership.
Melbourne Storm Scouting Report - No surprises to see Melbourne unchanged from the side that swept aside the Broncos at home last week. With Cooper Cronk leaving the Storm at the end of the season, and Billy Slater’s immediate future under a cloud, this will be the last time the "Big 3" play together, and what a combination they have been over the years. Whilst Slater, Cronk and recent Dally M Medal Winner and Captain Cameron Smith continue to perform at a high level, the Storm have had many unsung heroes this season. Cameron Munster has elevated his game to the next level, while both Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo Carr have both proved excitement machines on the flanks.
North Queensland Cowboys’ Scouting Report - The Cowboys are also unchanged from their Preliminary Final 17 which upset the Roosters last Saturday night. The only real conjecture was whether representative prop Matt Scott would make a dramatic return after missing nearly the whole of the season with a knee injury. Scott had apparently made himself available; however Paul Green made the big call to stick with the team that has served him well in the past few weeks. Michael Morgan has elevated himself as one of the premier players in the competition in the past few weeks and, if he dominates here on the game’s biggest stage, he can set himself up for a huge new contract offer.
Verdict - Storm by 16-26
I think Melbourne are going to save their best for last and dominate this game from near start to finish. I know the Cowboys have been outstanding the past few weeks, however they have come up against sides that have in some ways beaten themselves. That might sound disrespectable; however all I'm surmising is that doing what the Cowboys have been doing to date, won't be good enough to beat this Storm side. I think Melbourne, with the burning desire to overturn last year’s narrow Grand Final loss, and a quality side all over the paddock, could be about to put in a memorable performance here to see off Cooper Cronk and perhaps Billy Slater. I think the Cowboys will try and play a high percentage, one out style of football until they enter the opposition 20, and hope that Morgan and the in-form Te Maire Martin can weave some magic. The last two Grand Finals have been epics. However, with this being 1st against 8th, I’m predicting a pretty comfortable win for the Storm here. It would not surprise me if they hold the Cowboys to one try for the match and really run away with the game in the second half, in what will cap off a magical season.