NRL GRAND FINAL 2010|=| NRL Grand Final 2010 Preview
Listen to the Brand New Grand Final Preview Podcast & Watch the Video Below
Listen to the Brand New Grand Final Preview Podcast & Watch the Video Below
|=| ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONSOfficial Lineup 28/9:
Starters: D Boyd, B Morris, M Gasnier, M Cooper, J Nightingale, J Soward, B Hornby (c), N Costigan, D Young, M Weyman, B Scott, B Creagh, J Smith.
Starters: D Boyd, B Morris, M Gasnier, M Cooper, J Nightingale, J Soward, B Hornby (c), N Costigan, D Young, M Weyman, B Scott, B Creagh, J Smith.
Bench: N Fien, T Merrin, M Prior, J Saffy, N Emmett, K Stanley, J Green, L Priddis (four to be omitted).
Coach: Wayne Bennett.
VERSUS
|=| SYDNEY ROOSTERSOfficial Lineup 28/9:
Starters: A Minichiello, J Leilua, K Linnett, S Kenny-Dowall, S Perrett, T Carney, M Pearce, J Ryles, J Friend, F-P Nu'uausala, N Myles, M Aubusson, B Anasta (c).
Bench: M Kennedy, J Waerea-Hargreaves, D Conn, J Aubusson, N Kouparitsas, T Symonds, L Paea, P Graham (four to be omitted).
Coach: Brian Smith.
2010 NRL Grand FinalSunday 3/10 @ ANZ Stadium.
Referees: Tony Archer & Shayne Hayne. Video Referee: Bill Harrigan.
Touch Judges: Paul Holland & Jeff Younis.
Touch Judges: Paul Holland & Jeff Younis.
|=| See below for our Previews, Podcasts & Videos for the Grand Final in Week Four. |=|
|=| Don't miss the NRL Tweet Player of the Year Awards - they were Announced 6pm Tuesday September 7th!
Released Friday October 1st. (To Save mp3 right click/save target as this link)
Subscribe by following this link on iTunes: NOT The Footy Show on iTunes
Who Plays Who In Week Four of the 2010 NRL Finals?
|=| NRL GRAND FINAL - October 3
ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
On Sunday Afternoon October 3 - ANZ Stadium will host the 2010 Grand Final. The Dragons crushed Manly in Week 1 with an emphatic 28-0 scoreline to get a week off, then edged out the Wests Tigers 13-12 in an epic Preliminary Final. While the Roosters have been busier - they came back from the dead to beat the Tigers 19-15 in extra time in Week 1, over-ran the Panthers 34-12 in Week 2 and crushed the Titans in the 2nd half en route to a 32-6 win to get into the Grand Final.
|=| ELIMINATED TEAMS
WEEK 3: 
TITANS & TIGERS
TITANS & TIGERS
The Titans had a week off after the opening night of the Finals when they beat the Warriors 28-16, but despite having a home Preliminary Final were overrun 32-6 by the Roosters to end their season. While the Tigers had to recover from a 19-15 extra-time loss to the Roosters in Week 1, travel to Canberra to beat the Raiders 26-24 in Week 2 but were beaten 13-12 by the Dragons in the 2nd Preliminary Final.
WEEK 2: 
RAIDERS & PANTHERS
Canberra stormed home with 9 wins in 10 games (including 6 straight) before losing their home semi final with the Tigers. The Raiders missed a golden opportunity to win a competition when they didn't really have a great season but were beaten by a better team... and even if they had snuck through the season ending knee injury to Terry Campese killed that dream with 24 minutes left. The Panthers went from equal title favourites with the Dragons about 6 weeks before the Finals to also-rans after injury and poor form ruined their end of season push. Losing key players to injury in the 1st & 2nd week of the Finals saw them go 0-2 at the most important time of the year.
RAIDERS & PANTHERS
WEEK 1: 
WARRIORS & SEA EAGLES
WARRIORS & SEA EAGLES
One team had a year that exceeded expectations, the other struggled to live up to their premiership contenders tag... in the end neither could muster a victory when it really mattered.
For More of this Article click the link below... Team News & Our Predictions.
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5:00pm Sunday Afternoon @ ANZ Stadium
ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
V
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
NOT THE FOOTY SHOW GRAND FINAL Video Preview
|=| First Preview 28/9:
The Dragons are favourites and unloaded a huge amount of pressure by just getting to the Grand Final for the first time since 1999... the Roosters have returned to the big game for the first time since 2004. The big difference is in recent Premierships: the Dragons technically haven't won a premiership as the St.George-Illawarra entity formed in 1999 but even then St.George's last win was in 1979 (they did make 4 Grand Finals in 8 seasons) and the Steelers never won one (came within a game of a Grand Final in 1992). The Roosters won in 2002 and made 4 Grand Finals in 5 seasons. Having said that the only holdover from the Roosters Premiership is Anthony Minichiello, while Braith Anasta won with the Bulldogs in 2004. The Dragons have premiership winners in Darius Boyd (2006 with Brisbane) and Jeremy Smith (2007 with Melbourne) plus if he plays - Luke Priddis (2000 with Brisbane & 2003 with Penrith). The big disparity is with he Coaches. The Dragons have the Grand Final king in Wayne Bennett (6 Premierships with Brisbane & a Grand Final loss with Canberra as co-coach) vs the Roosters who have a Grand Final Bridesmaid in Brian Smith (3 Grand Final losses with St.George & Parramatta).But stats can be used to tell any story you wish... the fact remains that in 2010 the Dragons & Roosters have proven to be the best two teams in the premiership - but there can be only one crowned Premiers.
|=| Check Out The Final Preview on The NOT The Footy Show Episode 45 Grand Final Podcast - Uploaded 1/10.
|=| Key Player Matchup Articles to come on wdnicolson.blogspot.com during Grand Final Week.
|=| Tuesday's Market:
|=| Key Player Matchup Articles to come on wdnicolson.blogspot.com during Grand Final Week.
|=| Tuesday's Market:
Dragons $1.65 v Roosters $2.25. Line: Roosters +3.5
|=| Important Team News 28/9 with help from SMH:
|=| Important Team News 28/9 with help from SMH:
The St.George-Illawarra Dragons have named interchange forward Jarrod Saffy who missed their Preliminary Final win over the Tigers. Jon Green, who played the semi, has been pushed back to the four extras on the bench alongside Nick Emmett, Kyle Stanley & Luke Priddis. Michael Weyman has an ongoing groin problem but he will play barring his leg falling off.
The Sydney Roosters look like having a selection conundrum with winger Phil Graham trying to prove his fitness - Joseph Leilua has been listed on the wing but could shift back to the bench if Graham is passed fit. Bench hooker James Aubusson would then miss out on a spot in the squad. Lopini Paea, Nick Kouparitsas and Tom Symonds have been named as the extra reserves.
The NRL Tweet's Early Tip 28/9:The Dragons are favourites and deservedly so. But the Roosters are playing a great style of football that makes it hard not to root for them in this game. Still - the Dragons will enter this game fresh from beating another 'pure footballing' team in the Tigers, so stick with the Dragons but watch for the Roosters to be far more than nuisance value with their elite playmaking trio of Carney, Pearce & Anasta. At this stage... I'm leaning Dragons.
For our Final Pick - Check out the Grand Final Edition of NOT The Footy Show.
For our Final Pick - Check out the Grand Final Edition of NOT The Footy Show.
|=| NRLTweet's Prediction: DRAGONS BY 4 POINTS
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Toyota Cup Grand Final
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHSV
WARRIORS
Odds: Rabbitohs $1.90 v Warriors $1.90
Official Teams 28/9:
RABBITOHS: M Webster, J Roberts, J Vaivai, K Morgan, J Mansour, M Mundine, A Reynolds, J Starling, N Peats, F Laulu, A Ha'angana, J So'oalo, B Judd. Bench: J Shearer, J Nansen, J Tulemau, B McKinnon.
WARRIORS: G Fisi'ihi, O Slaimankhel, S Feki, S Likiliki, E Niko, C Tuimavave, S Johnson, N Areai'iti, E Taylor, M Ioane, M Robinson, B Henry, S Ikahihifo. Bench: N Seluini, C Grubb, S Lousi, D Palavi, H Chan Ting, J Palavi.
Tip: The Rabbitohs have some real talent but that Warriors team is just HUGE! Go with the big units by 6-12 points.
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NSW Cup Grand FinalCANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
V
VWINDSOR WOLVES
Odds: Bulldogs $1.40 v Wolves $2.95.
Official Teams 28/9:
Official Teams 28/9:
BULLDOGS: T Cutler, H Nanai, S Neumann, D Rauicava, J Tia-Kilifi, R Jack, J Reynolds, B Morrin, N Smith, T Browne, D Harrison, Y Gordon, D Williams. Bench: C Payne, H Ala'alota, C Ta'akimoeaka, K Lelei, B Tupou.
WOLVES: Z Watane, D Simmons, R Walker, M Mate, S Earl, M Blair, C Trindall, S Meredith, R Russell, A Sweeney, J Paulo, N Plum, J Bateman. Bench: D Tangata-Toa, J Sene-Lefao, D Laurie, B Venoga, D Penese.
Tip: That Canterbury lineup features a host of players with NRL experience but there's some serious talent in the Windsor squad... go the Wolves in a tight one.
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For fans of teams who are done in 2010... better luck next year.For fans of teams who made it to the Big Dance in 2010... Good Luck!
Who is your pick to contest the Grand Final?Because it won't be these guys in 2010...
Follow The NRL Tweet - for all your real time news & opinion on the NRL Finals.
