Whats the chances...

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

About as much chance of us going through the finals without a win.
Storm and the Roosters are the benchmark with us being a few steps above the Storm.

Canberra could possibly knock one of us out of the finals and so could of Manly before Turbo got injured.
Souths could do some damage but can't see them getting past week 2.
The other teams are just there for entertainment value.
If a team knock the Storm or us out and makes the grand final they won't win it, in fact, the record 40-nil would be in jeopardy.

The grand final day will be a repeat of 2018,

[rented tracksuit]

About as much chance of us going through the finals without a win.
Storm and the Roosters are the benchmark with us being a few steps above the Storm.

Canberra could possibly knock one of us out of the finals and so could of Manly before Turbo got injured.
Souths could do some damage but can't see them getting past week 2.
The other teams are just there for entertainment value.
If a team knock the Storm or us out and makes the grand final they won't win it, in fact, the record 40-nil would be in jeopardy.

The grand final day will be a repeat of 2018,

I hope the end result is the same anyway. Dont car who we play in the GF except for souffs. Dont want those dirty, toofless, dole bludging, diggers swilling, hot dog smugglers anywhere near the GF. You can be assured the fix will be on if they get a sniff.

[Bruce Pickett]

If we do make the GF, I hope it's the Storm or Souffs that we play - no chance of complacency then.
If we end up playing Faders or Manly, the ghost of 2003 GF may resurect.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Souths aren't good enough to make the big dance. I think they have already over achieved. Or am I missing something that others see?

[chicka]

I wouldn't mind playing Souths in the GF. It would have the potential to be a classic and the build up alone would be phenomenal. Why would anyone not want to witness an Easts vs Souths GF at least once in their life. The sun would still rise the next day should the unthinkable happen.

Canberra were the first team to chase down Melbourne giving them an 18 point start in Melbourne. I think that's relevant. I seem to remember Melbourne getting loads of early penalties and the rub of the green in the first half. There is something about Canberra this season and it would be a bit ironic should Ricky stand in our way of a double considering what happened in 2003. Ultimately though, I think we are a 10-12 point better side than them and more unpredictable with our superior strike force.

Melbourne would be a tough gig in the GF so I hope they do go out in straight sets and I said as much on here a few months ago. I think the armchair ride they have had could come back to bite them if the whistle and favouritism gets put aside and a team gets in their face early.

As for the rest....I don't think they get near what are probably the top 4 teams in the Chooks, Storm, Raiders and Souths. Mind you, if we didn't win it, I wouldn't begrudge Parra winning it and Fergo having a blinder.

[Mickie Lane]

I would love to see a Roosters v Souths GF but it ain’t gonna happen because it is going to be a Roosters v Storm GF which I would also be happy about. The best thing about last year was the Roosters beating the 3 toughest opposition teams to win the comp.

[Thirteen]

I don't want Melbourne out in straight sets cause that would mean Souths winning against them.

[Kingbilly]

Souths aren't good enough to make the big dance. I think they have already over achieved. Or am I missing something that others see?

I think Souffs ran their race against Brisbane. (same for the Broncos too) So they beat the warriors, nothing to see there. I think Manly will not achieve what they may have done with Tommy Turbo.
The Storm aren't as good as last year but it they click they can win. The Raiders are the interesting ones. There is a chance they can't play the level that they have for too many more games but they worry me

[ism22]

Of Melbourne going out in straight sets in the finals?

Im hopeful but am I dreaming or is there any chance at all?

Who would you guys rather see us play in round one, Souffs, Faiders or Beagles?

Very low IMO.

Round 1? It's a bit like last year where I was scared of all the options due to how close they all were in terms of form. End of the day I think they're all very good teams and the unfortunate reality of the current finals system is that you have to be prepared to beat all the other potential top-4 teams if you wanna go anywhere.

Preferences in order though:
- Manly without Trbo, of course (impossible isn't it though?)
- Raiders maybe? We have beaten them twice already and they're a fiddly team more than anything (strips, offloads, weirdness...etc but no sustained pressure or physicality in comparison). They are the one team that I think is a serious chance of bowing out in straight sets.
- Souffs. As much as I despise Wayne, he's got a decent roster and knows his way around the traps. His recent form hasn't been great, last year the Dragons put a cricket score on him and I think he's mostly inherited a successful team than anything else. But... Souffs are very physical and even if we win, I don't wanna play them because they have a history of doing shyte like injuring Cronk.

I don't wish injuries upon players but I want the Storm to play Souffs 1st or the Raiders 2nd. Manly are unfortunately no chance now that Trbo's injured. Pity coz they coulda done some serious damage.

[Bondicigar]

I really hope we play souths in the gf
it would be massive and the further melboure and Brisbane are away from the gf the better.

[chopstiks]

We'd beat all these lineups twice if we had to let's face it .... as long as the remaining grub lardarses don't stuff it for us. Flashbacks to that prick Jazz Tevanga.

so i hope the rumour about Teddy rested against the vermin is true.

[Johnny Tobin]

The only team I don’t want to play through finals is Souffs, for one reason Damien Cook, our defence around the ruck marker area is our achillies heel and if anyone can exploit it, it is him

I am not worried about them at all. Don't forget how Cook went when we last played them in the semis. He is nowhere near as effective in those games.

[Vasco]

I am not worried about them at all. Don't forget how Cook went when we last played them in the semis. He is nowhere near as effective in those games.

He is a better player this year and did well in SOO.

He is their big weapon and will probably carry them a long way.

I'm more worried about Souffs than Melbourne.

[Johnny Brass]

Storm have lost 4 games all year for a total of 8 points I can't see them getting rissoled on their own dung heap twice . I thought with Slater and Cronk gone they would have slipped this year but you got to hand it to Bellamy for his ability to keep producing the goods.
Im pretty confident they will beat Souths in the first week of the finals if they match up as expected.

[roosterchook]

As Trent says we play what’s before us and we aim to play our game.