NRL Finals Week 3 Preview
Rabbitohs vs Roosters
Matchup - Isaac Luke vs Jake Friend. Friend's been rushed back in to this Roosters side despite a serious health scare which shows just how useful he is for the Chooks. Luke's the best dummy half runner in the comp and whether he and his forwards can get on the front foot will be huge for the Bunnies.
Dylan Walker/Kirisome Auva'a vs Michael Jennings/Shaun Kenny-Dowall. All these centres have come in to some fine form at the right time of the season and all offer a threat which means that whoever can do a job on their opposition will go a long way to helping their team win.
Key Men - By his own standards, Greg Inglis has been kinda quiet in the finals and his general excellence will obviously be huge for the Bunnies. If I had to narrow it down, I'd say his running game in the attacking zone is the key. He can either make a break and set someone up, or because of his size he can get super easy quick play the balls and give his halves a bit more time.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. JWH definitely isn't in the liability category like a few other NRL players but he does have a tendency to let things get to him. He's also shown the opposite many times so he's gotta channel the right level of aggression and smarts to ruffle the fur of the Bunnies big boys.
Keep An Eye On - Who's got the biggest balls? Who's going to step up when it matters? Which play maker is going to take it upon himself to change the game? Yup it's finals footy baby.
Verdict - I like the Bunnies but I don't like their depth while the Chooks have every base covered. I've got a feeling about G.I. tho ... Rabbitohs.
Panthers vs Bulldogs
Matchup - Forward packs. I started off like hmm this guy vs that guy, but it would have been rude to be too specific. This is simply a case of a big enough, but skillful, mobile and nifty forward vs a big, aggressive and skillful forward pack. Brent Kite, Sam McKendry, Nigel Plum and Jeremy Latimore did a great job against the Roosters and they'll have to be on point against this Doggies pack.
I'm gonna keep in broad and say the two bench's will also be a great matchup. The Panthers look a bit light with Latimore and Ben Murdoch-Masila the only big boppers but they do have greater mobility and footwork in Lewis Brown and Adam Docker. The Dogs simply have reinforcements - Frank Pritchard, Dave Klemmer, Dale Finucan and Reni Maitua so expect them to bring the pain on their rotations.
Key Men - Matt Moylan and Jamie Soward will be put under severe pressure, that's what happens when you play well. The Panthers don't quite have a Plan B, so Moylan and Soward will have to find a way to influence the game despite being on the back foot and with Michael Ennis constantly in their face.
Speaking of Ennis, the Panthers look like the perfect side for he and Josh Reynolds to have a field day. Sure the Panthers won't be intimidated, but they won't have experienced a shit storm like they're going to.
Keep An Eye On - Umm, besides a Panthers player blowing his top and landing one right on Reynolds' snozzer I'll be watching to see how the younger guys for the Panthers go on the big stage. The Panther success is in part due to the great young talent they have, but for them to progress they can't have no possums in the headlights. The Doggies know what this is all about, Reynolds and Hodkinson won Origin so this will be meat and vege for them.
Verdict - It's really hard to go past the Doggies with their team and the way they play but you just get a feeling about the Panthers. I'd rather sit on the fence, but that's not my job so get up you Panthers!