Official Match Thread - Grand Final Edition - Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm

[melon....]

If he was trolling surely he'd have named Napa as half.

Can't do, napas playing 5/8

[Hollus]

Not a fan of this foxing tactic, reminds me too much of Smiffy and his mind games (Lopini Paea anyone??). It feels like we're overcomplicating things. Instead Robbo should just name the genuine replacement and move on with preparing the team for the game. And now after having caught up on the all the Slater crap (I live in the States so I'm always a day behind) I'm becoming less and less confident and Sunday is shaping up to be circa 2010 not the 2013 I was feeling on the weekend after the Souths game.

[melon....]

Not a fan of this foxing tactic, reminds me too much of Smiffy and his mind games (Lopini Paea anyone??). It feels like we're overcomplicating things. Instead Robbo should just name the genuine replacement and move on with preparing the team for the game. And now after having caught up on the all the Slater crap (I live in the States so I'm always a day behind) I'm becoming less and less confident and Sunday is shaping up to be circa 2010 not the 2013 I was feeling on the weekend after the Souths game.

have you picked up a Yankee accent yet?

[Hollus]

Nope... it’s been 3 years and I still have to repeat myself constantly. Clearly my Aussie twang runs deep!

[kakaruk]

The boys and coaches are just going quietly about their business,i have a good feeling about this game, i reckon were up for this big time.The storm have had an easy run through and we have had to fight all the way.The boys are game tough the souths forwards found that out on the weekend a defensive effort like that on sunday and we win cronk or no cronk.All the experts have forgotten about latrell wouldn't it be a sight to see latrell burst thru and head for the line the bilby comes across to put a shoulder charge on but instead cops latrells big palm right in the middle of his mush and hits the turf.The funny thing is that i reckon it just might happen on sunday.

[ROC181]

Regardless if SOS is a specialist half, I just don’t see how he’ll handle this type of game. This is way too big for him especially since he hasn’t been used during the regular season bar 1 game. He’s going to be a lamb to slaughter. Too much of a risk.

[Mickie Lane]

Im looking forward to it.
Will be at the Hotel Concord from around 1pm till around 4pm then walk through bicentennial park to the game.
I cant wait.
Go you MIGHTY ROOSTERS.

[kakaruk]

Regardless if SOS is a specialist half, I just don’t see how he’ll handle this type of game. This is way too big for him especially since he hasn’t been used during the regular season bar 1 game. He’s going to be a lamb to slaughter. Too much of a risk.

Mate its his time, he knows the structures, all year he has been with the top squad he knows our plays backwards,the broncos haven't signed him because hes dud.He will be fine they will try to run a couple of big forwards at him there will be protection there for him but hes going to get hit im backing the kid to go well.

[Lydon]

Danny Weidler asked Robbo today why Cronk was named in the No.23 number once worn by the great Michael Jordan,in which Robbo laughed and said they were just having some fun with the Jordan thing..

I believe their is a hidden message behind it,maybe Robbo letting Billy and Cameron know who is the man this Sunday!

[TDK]

It’s hardly random. I’m advocating the same starting side as last week except with O’Sullivan at half.

My worry without Cronk will be our clearing kicks. No one can kick 50-60 metres clerking kicks like Cronk. Keary has a shorter kick and Osullivan I don’t think is that great. The Storm will try and pin us down in our quarter and we will need a big kicking game to assist our forwards.

[Lauren]

This will be the first Roosters GF I'm not attending in a long time but I'm looking forward to the game. I'm ignoring all the Billy Slater/Cooper Cronk drama and hoping we can rise above and beat them. At the very least I hope it's a good game.

[Thirteen]

Andrew Wester on 954 just gave a very good indication that Cronk will play.

[Spirit of 66]

Just looking at the details of our last encounter with the Storm. I'd forgotten that we were without JWH and Joey Manu that day. They'll make a bit of a difference, I think.

[Tommy Smith]

Just looking at the details of our last encounter with the Storm. I'd forgotten that we were without JWH and Joey Manu that day. They'll make a bit of a difference, I think.

No JWH, Cordner, Manu or Aubusson. And Radley was sin binned for 10 minutes for a late hit that wasn't as bad as Tatola's. The Storm scored their only try when we were down to 12 men.

They were missing Bromwich, Kaufusi and Finucane too; but all things considered we had more improvement in us out of that game than they did.

Oh and we still would have won if Latrell didn't miss that goal almost from in front.

[bondi.boy]

Our team needs to be mind-ready for a fight...against the grapple/chicken-wing/wrestling/etc kings.
Every game they lie all over our players, flop on them, strip the ball 2/3/4 in a tackle...and stand well offside all game.
And are just allowed to!

If they attack our kickers etc like thugs...we need to do something about it...or just meekly lose.

With fair refereeing...as always we have a chance.