NRL FW3
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By Stephen Gallagher
FRIDAY: Storm (2) V Sharks (5) – AAMI Park – 22.00NZT
This is juicier than a Golden Circle Golden Pash. That drink is elite and this clash is elite.
You’ve got Melbourne ready to roll, fresh off a week off and looking to secure a second straight grand final.
They play a Sharks side who are playing so fearlessly, and are in some really good form. It’s great to see them sticking it to the media and their opposition. They don’t care who they play; you can tell they have the belief.
Melbourne haven’t exactly played the perfect season, but this is their bread and butter. Finals footy.
They have a very experienced spine that have to fire. Grant leading the way from dummy half. Hughes dictating the attack. Munster adding his flair, and Papenhuyzen finishing with speed.
It’s the forwards that are punching well and truly above their weight for Cronulla. Despite losing Cam McInnes to an ACL six weeks ago, they’re in red hot form. Their bench rotation is making a massive difference and they have a great mix of physicality and grit.
Cronulla went down and beat Melbourne in Melbourne last year. They beat them in Cronulla this year. They want to give it to them again.
TIP: Sharks 1-12
SUNDAY: Broncos (4) V Panthers (7) – Suncorp Stadium – 18.05NZT
Holy hecka. Reckon the Broncos have PTSD from the 23GF? Coming up against the team that broke their hearts?
Brisbane will be ready. They have to be. It’s now or never. They are in their premiership window for sure.
The addition of Mam and Reynolds is a huge boost, but losing Billy Walters through injury and Patrick Carrigan (suspension) is going to be noticeable.
With Walsh playing as their main character over the last couple weeks, the Broncos attack looks so much better. How will this go when he has to go back to playing second fiddle?
Penrith’s first half last week was probably the best first half you could play. It was a pure rugby league clinic.
They are all fit. They look great. They look scary. Somehow they look even better than they did last year!
There are not enough superlatives in the world to sum up just how impressive the Panthers are. I think they have Brisbane’s number.
TIP: Panthers 1-12
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