It’s that time of year folks. Friday/Saturday nights with the footy on in the background are over. So are quiet nights in with the footy. There’s only one more Sunday where we can enjoy the great game. What a game we have to celebrate the NRL season. Two of the toughest teams of 2013. The two most lethal attacking teams of 2013. Two teams who have graced our TV screens this year with a combination of gritty defence and sublime offence. This really is one of the best Grand Final line ups there’s been in a while.

Both clubs have class scattered throughout and have clearly emerged as the two toughest teams of 2013. Manly face a tough challenge. Their last encounter against the Roosters was a torrid battle and they haven’t had much rest throughout their finals campaign. Their forwards will play a massive role against a Roosters pack who have intimidated all their opposition this season. The loss of Richie Fa’aoso will be huge, bigger than expected as I don’t think the props in contention to replace him (James Hasson and David Gower) will have the same oomph the Fa’aoso does. They’ll cart the ball up and make their tackles, but won’t be able to dent the line and genuinely fight the fire from the Roosters with their own. A lot of the burden will fall on the shoulders of Brent Kite and Brenton Lawrence. Lawrence has been fantastic this season as his pace ensures that he is hitting the defensive line with plenty of force. This is where Manly have the ability to match the Roosters upfront. Look for Lawrence to be running on some sharp angles to ensure that the Roosters big boys are having to make back to back efforts. Anthony Watmough will do his bit, running these angles but also doing what he does best, giving a bit of niggle in the play the ball. It’s all been a bit too easy for the Roosters so far, so expect Manly, lead by Watmough, to really test what the Chooks are made of.

The biggest advantage that the Sea Eagles have, is in their backline. There are no weak links, no one to target and each player is a threat. Both Manly’s wingers are better than their opposition. Yes Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is fantastic, but I’d take Jorge Taufua and David Williams over him any day. Tuivasa-Sheck will go to different level as fullback next season. Taufua showed what a powerful mofo he is last week. Nobody stopped him in his tracks. He was always making metres after being tackled as is a handful to handle.

Much like Manly’s wingers, their centres Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai are better than Michael Jennings and Shaun Kenny Dowall. Should the Manly forwards hold their own in the middle of the field, expect Lyon and Matai to get plenty of early ball, getting one on one with Jennings and SKD. Both Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans will play a key role in not only threatening with their running games but distributing the ball to their outside men, early.

Lastly there are the Stewart bros. Despite DCE and Foran’s sensational ability, both Glenn and Brett Stewart will be the key. Brett adds so much, his pace, his instincts as well as his ball playing will ensure that the Roosters are doing plenty of homework on how to limit his impact. Glenn Stewart’s creative ability will be the key. He’ll do his core roles as a second rower, but as we saw last week, his ability to create for others is where Manly have a point of difference. He can kick, he can pass and he can obviously run so what do you focus on? You just have to do your best and react to what he does, but as he and Brett have a creepy sixth sense you’ll have to have some pretty nifty reactions.

The Roosters have been fantastic all season. Not many teams have come close to their attacking ability and defensive fortitude, but can they go one further? They have a group of players who haven't really tasted success. Where the Roosters can dominate is in the forwards. When you need forwards that just run hard and straight the Roosters have them without much thought for anything else, the Roosters have them in Jared Waera-Hargreaves and Sam Moa. When you need those rangey forwards who run good lines - the Roosters have them in Aidan Guerra and Mitch Aubusson. This will only be enhanced if Boyd Cordner is deemed fit to play, which I imagine he will be. Their forward pack also has the ability to offload and generate second phase play. This will be vital as Manly are a very well organised defensive team and if the Roosters can get them scrambling, the Sea Eagles might have clipped wings. Combine this with forwards who can put on a bit of footwork at the line and generate quick play the balls and you have a recipe for success. If that isn't enough, they have SBW and all his freakishness. This group of big, tough, skillful men will decide the game as if they get any sort of physical advantage, expect them to ram it home.

The Roosters are blessed with some of the game's best young players and in Tuivasa-Sheck, they have someone who will become one of the best fullbacks ever. He's wasted on the week, so expect him to take plenty of hit ups and dummy half runs as his step is magical, allowing him to catch defenders off balance and get quick play the balls. Anthony Minichiello must provide a spark. He needs to get his hands on the ball and run at tired defenders (there'll be plenty in Manly jerseys) and distribute the ball to the many weapons that the Roosters have. In SKD and Jennings, the Roosters have two players who can easily turn the game in their favour. They both have a tendency to be a bit hot and cold so Coach Robinson will be hoping they can step up on the big stage and impact the game. That will be the catch cry for the Rooster's back line, step up. There's plenty of talent but this talent needs to be there on the biggest stage of them all... not just through the regular season.

Speaking of stepping up, here we have two fellas, in Mitchell Pierce and James Maloney, who have everything going for them but throughout their careers, haven't been able to experience winning on the biggest stage. You all know how they play... tough, niggly, yet they still have all the skills and run with the ball and into holes exceptionally well. It's all been said before, especially over Origin. They didn't step up then and were crucified for it. Can they step up now? Can they grab the bull by the horns and dominate a footy game? Can they out perform two players coached by Andrew Johns? I'm not sure. I hope for their sake they can. Because if they can, the Roosters will win.

All the shit talking aside, Manly <12