Thursday 29 September 2011

NRL Grand Final Preview 2011 - Manly Sea Eagles v Warriors Tips Teams Predictions Late Mail Video Podcast News Odds

2011 NRL GRAND FINAL
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
24
 defeated
10
WARRIORS
MANLY-WARRINGAH ARE THE PREMIERS OF 2011 - CONGRATULATIONS MANLY. 
Manly were just too good and were prepared to keep playing footy every chance they got. That was the difference as the Warriors clammed up in the opening 60 minutes.
GAME SCORES - REVIEW COMING MONDAY OCTOBER 3
SEA EAGLES 24
Tries: Brett Stewart 30min, Daly Cherry-Evans 40min, Glenn Stewart 57min, Jamie Lyon 79min.
Goals: Jamie Lyon 3/3, Michael Robertson 1/1 Attempts.
Defeated
WARRIORS 10
Tries: Manu Vatuvei 62min, Elijah Taylor 69min.
Goals: James Maloney 1/3 Attempts.
At ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Sunday October 2, 2011. Crowd: 81,988. Referees: Ordinary.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
Tweeting from the game via The NRL Tweet. Follow notes from the Grand Final Below. 
The Match Hashtag is #nrlgf


FULL GAME PREVIEW

The best NRL Preview on the net continues during the Finals with all the info you need to make an 'informed tipping decision' or feel better about your team's chances in September.
Make sure you bookmark www.wdnicolson.com and compare your picks to the Podcast Panel's Tips all month long and make sure you grab the Podcast every Thursday. Check back on Friday for the Latest Mail as it breaks.

GRAND FINAL ODDS
28/09 Odds are courtesy of Sportingbet Australia - Line Varies.
 SEA EAGLES $1.50 v $2.60 WARRIORS 
LINE: Warriors +6.0 GAME STATS
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Check out the Grand Final Podcast below
Video Preview to come Thursday Afternoon

NOT The Footy Show Episode 88 - Hour 1
- Featuring Predicted Game Call, K Campion, R Smart, M Duncan -
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes.
Part 1 of 2. Manly v Warriors Grand Final Preview and our exclusive Grand Final Call. Special guests include former Warrior Kevin Campion talking half-time Grand Final Speeches, Ross Smart from Canterbury talking NSW Cup, Eyes tells us what he learned about League and Matt Duncan looks in depth at both squads - as they join hosts Nic McInerney and Warrick Nicolson for Part 1 of the Grand Final Show.
NOT The Footy Show Episode 88 - Hour 2
- Featuring W Sailor, A Raymond, M Tsialis + Predicitons -
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes.
Part 2 of 2. Special guests include League Superstar Wendell Sailor talking his Grand Final Moments, Andy Raymond from Fox Sports talking tactics and Big League's Maria Tsialis gives her predictions - as they join hosts DC Chapman and Warrick Nicolson for Part 2 of the Grand Final Show.
We also 'interview' Manu Vatuvei, Des Hasler, Ivan Cleary and Brett Stewart, give all our game predictions and update Fantasy League and more - in the most comprehensive look on the GF you can get.
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SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL
 SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS 
Match Info | Game Stats | 5:15pm (Local) Sunday 2 October @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney |
Referees: T Archer, M Cecchin. Touch Judges: P Holland, D Eastwood. Video Ref: R Smith, S Hampstead. TV: Channel 9 Live at 5pm Sydney Time (Full Broadcast Details)
Coming In... 
NOT The Footy Show Episode 88 
- Wendell Sailor Interview -
- Grand Final Manly v Warriors Preview September 28, 2011 -
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes.
2nd Seed SEA EAGLES
Week 3: Defeated Broncos 26-14 in 1st Preliminary Final.
Week 1: Defeated Cowboys 42-8 in 3rd Qualifying Final.
NOT The Footy Show Episode 88
 - Kevin Campion Interview -
- Grand Final Manly v Warriors Preview September 28, 2011 -
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes.
6th Seed WARRIORS
Week 3: Defeated Storm 20-12 in 2nd Preliminary Final.
Week 2: Defeated Tigers 22-20 in 1st Elimination Final.
Week 1: Lost 40-10 to Brisbane in 2nd Qualifying Final.
Head to Head Last 10...
SEA EAGLES 8 WARRIORS 2 - Manly have won the past 3 clashes - 20-10 in Round 6 at Brookvale this year, and 19-16 at Brookie and 14-6 at Mt Smart in 2010. Manly have won 6 of the last 7 going back to 2008.
Last Time In Finals: 2nd Preliminary Final in 2008 - Manly withstood the Warriors early then blew them away en route to a 32-6 victory at the SFS. Manly went on to win the premiership against Melbourne the next week.
Tuesday Team News...
MAN: B Stewart, Robertson, Lyon (c), Matai, Hopoate, Foran, Cherry-Evans, Galuvao, Ballin, Kite, Watmough, T Williams, G Stewart. Bench: Rodney, Buhrer, Mauro, Rose, Lussick, Robinson.
[Team Changes - Manly finally get Glenn Stewart (and Darcy Lussick) back from month long suspensions stemming from the Storm game in Round 25. Glenn Stewart goes right back to lock for Shane Rodney who moves to the bench and Lussick joins Rodney there. The Sea Eagles are otherwise unchanged and it appears that two of Jamie Buhrer, Vic Mauro and Trent Robinson are most likely to miss out on a bench spot come Sunday. ]
WAR: Locke, Tupou, Brown, Inu, Vatuvei, Maloney, Johnson, Sam Rapira, Heremaia, Lillyman, Mateo, Mannering (c), Luck. Bench: Hohaia, Packer, Matulino, Taylor, Steve Rapira.
[Team Changes - The Warriors have made zero changes from the team that stung the Storm 20-12 in their preliminary final last Saturday night. Expect however Feleti Mateo to start on the bench and Elijah Taylor to start the match. ]
Wednesday Game Preview...
Listen to the Podcast or watch the Video (up Thursday) for our full game preview and reasons why some of us believe Manly and others believe the Warriors will win the 2011 Grand Final.
3 Key Players for Manly:
1. Daly Cherry-Evans - Manly's best player in the Finals so far and has just got better and better during 2011... can he keep the momentum going on the biggest stage of all?
2. Kieran Foran - Could change the game at any stage, such is his ability on both sides of the ball. Needs to be the one Manly player the Warriors shut down because his touches of class can win games.
3. Glenn Stewart - Comes back from suspension and match fitness could be a concern in the heavy track. But then again he's an 80 minute player and has the ball playing ability of a five-eighth so he's a difference maker even if he'd missed the whole season.
3 Key Players for Warriors:
1. Kevin Locke - If Locke's kick returns are on song then the Warriors are a massive hope. In the wet his footwork might give the Manly forwards nightmares up the middle. My tip for the Clive Churchill after he sets up the match-tying try in the last 5 minutes.
2. Feleti Mateo - The wet cannot dissuade him from off-loading deluxe and giving Manly second phase play issues all game. Needs to start and play 80 minutes because he can beat Manly on his own if given room to move.
3. Simon Mannering - The skipper was inspirational as the Warriors found the way to beat Melbourne in the Preliminary Final and he will do everything he possibly can today to keep the Warriors in the game against Manly.
Check out the Podcast for the full range of tips.
To find out the Panel's tips and why they are tipping them - listen to the Podcast or watch the Tipping Video.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail... 
SMH and Other Late Mail 30/09 - Anthony Watmough and Tony Williams missed the Grand Final Breakfast due to illness on Thursday morning but Manly coach Des Hasler says they are certainties for Sunday. The Warriors looked relaxed at the GF Breakfast and are reportedly fully fit.
The NRL Tweet's Tip... 
WARRIORS To Win By 1 Point - 17-16 in Extra Time.
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2011 Toyota Cup Grand Final:
Referee: D Munro. Touch Judges: L Phillips, H Perenara. Video Ref: S Clark.
TV: Channel 9 and Fox Sports Live at 2pm Sydney Time.
 #1 WARRIORS v #2 COWBOYS 
GAME PREVIEW: These sides finished 1st and 2nd at the end of the regular season and the Warriors seem to hold all the advantages. When they met in Round 26 - the Cowboys took a sizeable lead into the second half then got run down 28-20 - despite losing two of their best players to injury early (Omar Slaimankhel and Carlos Tuimavave). Both those guns are back and although the Cowboys have Jason Taumalolo, Michael Parker-Walshe, Michael Morgan and pointscoring machine Kyle Feldt but they will all need to fire to get close to the Warriors - who are dripping with future NRL talent.
You have to pick the Warriors but if Taumalolo and Felise Kaufusi (who has impressed me when I've watched him play) can take the game to the Warriors up front - the Cowboys might keep it within a try late. But my tip for the Jack Gibson Medal as player of the Toyota Cup Grand Final is young giant Konrad Hurrell - the Warriors centre. As for the end result: Warriors by 8 points.
WARRIORS: O Slaimankhel, A Henry, S Feki, K Hurrell, D Collier, C Tuimavave, J Meads, L Sao, H Malu, D Tony, Sam Lousi, B Henry (c), S Ikahihifo. Bench: S Havili, G Maka, A Paasi, SS Taukeiaho, S Fotofili, M Likiliki. Coach: J Ackland.
COWBOYS: W Ulugia, K Feldt, J Koko, M Pangai, Z Santo, M Parker-Walshe, M Morgan, C Haywood, A Elisala, F Kaufusi, C McLean (c), J Taumalolo, C Grevsmuhl. Bench: N Norfod, T Elliott, D Beasley, F Veukiso, J Svendsen. Coach: K Woolf.
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2011 NSW Cup Grand Final:
Starts at 12:05pm - GAME STATS
Referee: J Stone. Touch Judges: R Daizli, N Beashel. TV: Channel 9 Live at 12pm Sydney Time.
 #1 BULLDOGS v #2 VULCANS 
GAME PREVIEW: Two NSW Cup teams dripping with NRL talent - they are the top sides from the NSW Cup and face off in a reserve grade level Grand Final that should be a quality game. The Bulldogs named a 19 man squad and 16 of those players have NRL experience, while the Vulcans have a 18 man squad featuring 10 players with NRL experience.
The Bulldogs trot out genuine NRL talent like Ben Roberts, Bryson Goodwin, Joel Romelo, Michael Hodgson and Martin Taupau, while the Vulcans have Glen Fisiiahi, Brett Seymour, Jeremy Latimore, Ukuma Ta'ai and Pita Godinet to name a few.
The Bulldogs have plenty of experience but the Vulcans might just have the edge in explosiveness, with Fisiiahi my tip to break the game open from the back. Vulcans by 2 points.
BULLDOGS: T Cutler (c), M Lett, N Smith, J Wright, B Goodwin, B Roberts, J Reynolds, T Brown, J Romelo, C Armit, J Foster, B Morrin, H Alaalatoa. Bench: S Pumipi, M Taupau, M Hodgson, J Tia-Kilifi, G Warburton, D Rauicava. Coach: J Holbrook.
VULCANS: G Fisiiahi, W Peace, S Lousi, I Penehe, N Taka, B Seymour, P Godinet (c), J Gavet, A Mara, J Latimore, U Ta'ai, M Robinson, I John. Bench: D Kingi, M Poching, T Caird, Steve Rapira, A Gelling. Coach: R Blackmore.
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FANTASY LEAGUE SCORE UPDATE
FINALS PHASE WEEK 3 LEADERBOARD (QF-EF-PF-GF)
Has been announced on the Episode 88 Podcast - grab it at the top of the page.
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2011 TIPPING TIPS:
This year not only do you get The NRL Tweet's Tips each week but the whole NOT The Footy Show team will have their picks listed by Thursday so you can back a smoky or a favourite by seeing who we all picked (or didn't pick). Truthfully there is no perfect formula but here's a vital tip to help you cope with the copious amounts of NRL Tipping Comp's
@NRLTWEET's 2011 TIPPING RECORD 
TOTAL AFTER 26 ROUNDS - 115/192 @ 59.9%
The NRL Tweet finished with 125 correct tips from 192 Games in 2010 at a strike rate of 65%.
GRAND FINAL SELECTIONS
All Tipsters need to tip with the start/line in mind. So if a team is +7.5 then if they pick the other team, that side must win by 8 points or more to get the tip correct (if it is +2.0 then the other side must win by 3 points). Starts for each game are based on Thursday's Line - as listed in the matchups at the top of the preview.
For the Grand Final - We have a bunch of categories - the LINE prediction counts as one, but all the others count as one (pick the scores 1/2 point for right score per team, 4 points for exact full time score, 2 points for exact halftime score).
Warrick Nicolson, The NRL Tweet + NTFS Host
Warriors +6.0
FT: Warriors 17-16
HT: Sea Eagles 12-6
Churchill: Kevin Locke
1st Try: Will Hopoate
Last Try: Manu Vatuvei
1st K\On: Bill Tupou
1st Pen: Jacob Lillyman
Total Pens: 7
| FINALS 3/8
| SEASON 115/192
Nic McInerney, NTFS Co-Host
Sea Eagles -6.0
FT: Sea Eagles 26-16
HT: Sea Eagles 14-6
Churchill: Kieran Foran
1st Try: Brett Stewart
Last Try: Manu Vatuvei
1st K\On: Lance Hohaia
1st Pen: Steven Matai
Total Pens: 10
| FINALS 2/8
| SEASON 134/192
Matt Duncan, 101.5 FM's SportsFever
Warriors +6.0 
FT: Warriors 21-20
HT: 10-all
Churchill: James Maloney
1st Try: Kevin Locke
Last Try: Manu Vatuvei
1st K\On: Manu Vatuvei
1st Pen: Anthony Watmough
Total Pens: 11
| FINALS 5/8
| SEASON 120/192
DC Chapman, NTFS Co-Host
Sea Eagles -6.0
FT: Sea Eagles 22-10
HT: Sea Eagles 16-6
Churchill: Glenn Stewart
1st Try: Shaun Johnson
Last Try: Manu Vatuvei
1st K\On: Anthony Watmough
1st Pen: Anthony Watmough
Total Pens: 8
| FINALS 4/8
| SEASON 127/192
Maria Tsialis, Big League Magazine
Warriors +6.0 
FT: Warriors 22-20
HT: Sea Eagles 10-8
Churchill: Simon Mannering
1st Try: Will Hopoate
Last Try: Krisnan Inu
1st K\On: Krisnan Inu
1st Pen: James Maloney
Total Pens: 8
| FINALS 1/8
| SEASON 112/192
Eyes, The Kid Who Sees All
Warriors +6.0
| FINALS 5/8
| SEASON 99/192


TIPS DONE NOW GO AND ENJOY THE GRAND FINAL!
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