[el-capitano]

vs




Will Parra's magical run continue all the way to a Grand Final win, or will the ever consistant Melbourne Storm win their 2nd Grand Final out of four Grand Finals in a row?

[el-capitano]

Tony Archer and Shayne Hayne have been appointed to referee Sunday's NRL grand final, the first to use the two-referee system.

The clash between Melbourne and Parramatta at ANZ Stadium will be Archer's third straight grand final while Hayne's first grand final appearance will also be his 200th first grade match as a referee.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0929-ga4a.html

[el-capitano]

The teams have been named- both squads unchanged:

EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless, Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ben Smith, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Feleti Mateo, Joe Galuvao, Tim Mannah.

STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Greg Inglis, Dane Nielsen, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Aiden Tolman, Cameron Smith (capt), Brett White, Adam Blair, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Jeff Lima, Ryan Tandy, Scott Anderson, Wairangi Koopu (one to be omitted).

Eels coach Daniel Anderson remains hopeful captain Nathan Cayless will recover from a hamstring injury to take his place at prop.

Cayless will undergo a fitness test on Saturday which will dictate whether he will take part in the Eels first premiership tilt since 2001.

Broderick Wright remains on standby and will be called into the Parramatta team if Cayless is ruled out.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0929-gamg.html

[krudmonk]

I expect the Storm will take this. I hope for the underdog's success but also for RL in Melbourne. Either way, should be good. It's got the biggest names (Slater, Inglis, Hayne) and the best names (Cooper Cronk and Fuifui Moimoi).

[babytiger2001]

NRL Grand Final player profiles -- Sunday Herald Sun (a *.pdf file will open)

And we'll be backing the Storm here, too. Win or lose, I'm sure they will be classed as an under-achieving unit, for not having had a maximum return from four straight NRL Grand Final appearances, but it will be nice to see them win another one to go with their 2007 flag.

Regardless, Storm coach Craig Bellamy is indifferent about his team being the so-called villians for the game being played up at ANZ Stadium in Sydney's Homebush area, while Eels chief Paul Osbourne claims that the Storm's tactics do not follow "the spirit" of rugby league.

Should be fun times tonight. Enjoy!

[el-capitano]

Well I was there- I'll upload some pics tomorrow- I've got a croaky voice from yelling so much, but I"m proud of the Parra lads. Melbourne were too good- I know the ref did ******** up with his last penalty which gave Melbourne the field goal chance, but it was more Parra's bad defence which let in a few soft tries that cost us more than one bad decision.

However, considering we were second last ten weeks out from the semis- to make the Grand Final was amazing- its a shame the fairytale couldn't finish with a happy ending for those in blue and gold- but well done to the Storm. Four GF's in a row- too good on the night.

[Caesar]

Slater did not deserve the CCM.

[el-capitano]

Originally Posted by Caesar

Slater did not deserve the CCM.

Explain that one to me- how they pick these I have no idea?

[Caesar]

Originally Posted by el-capitano

Explain that one to me- how they pick these I have no idea?

Slater is flashy and marketable. Therefore if he scores a try he will win MOTM.

It's the law of the universe.

[babytiger2001]

Originally Posted by Caesar

Slater did not deserve the CCM.

Originally Posted by el-capitano

Explain that one to me- how they pick these I have no idea?

You guys in the northern states are lucky you actually saw that, and the trophy presentation.

Channel Nine in Melbourne cut away ASAP, so they could get right into the Sunday night news broadcast.

Very poor form by Nine in Melbourne.