Real talk, us Roosters fans aren’t used to this underdog role.
The bookies aren’t giving us a chance, and neither are you Storm fans, but that suits us just fine, we’ll take home-field advantage and an upset over the NRL’s love-child any day.
What’s that? Billy Slater is back?
Even better, no excuses when we send Bill packing with a Grand Final loss as he prepares for life on the golf course.
We might be without a healthy Cooper Cronk this weekend, but we’re the Minor Premiers for a reason. They say defence wins championships, and that’s all we know. So if we can hold a team like the Rabbits to just four-points, let’s just say we’ll be needing a little extra room in our trophy cabinet.
Best Bet: Roosters To Win @ $2.20
Round 16 down in Adelaide wasn’t our game, and it was crushing to lose by a point. Us Sydney fans took a lot away from that one though, in particular how easy it is to run all over your defence and explode for big plays.
Blake Ferguson was the man of the match for us, running for 201 meters. Matt Ikuvalu also scored our lone try of the game, two names you Storm fans are likely to overlook this weekend in Sydney.
That game was incredibly defensive, and we’re expecting the same again on Sunday. We forced you guys into 14 errors last time we met, but that was before Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco entered their prime. If you’re expecting us to struggle on the scoreboard without Cronk, think again – those two guys plus Ferguson on the wing are as good as they come.
First Try Scorer: Blake Ferguson @ $10.00
The Dally M Winger of the Year is averaging 197.9 running meters per-game this season, and while our boy has one-eye on his first Premiership trophy, he’s also on the verge of becoming only the third player to break the 5000 meter mark this season.
Ten years in the league is a long time, and us Roosters fans will have to adjust to life without Fergo as he heads to Parramatta next season. Fortunately, he’s the most likely try scorer on Sunday, and in case you one-eyed Storm fans haven’t been paying attention, Ferguson is all about quick plays inside the opponents zone to catch them off guard.
Just to add even more interest to Fergo’s final game in Tri-Colours, his Kangaroos snub should add some extra motivation to prove selectors wrong this weekend. Melbourne, you won’t like Ferguson when he’s angry.
Anytime Try Scorer: James Tedesco @ $2.65
This is handy odds, and after opposing fullback Billy Slater has copped the headlines all week long, it’s given Jimmy plenty of time to focus on having a big performance.
Tedesco won’t be too focused on Slater this weekend, but he will be focused on topping off his boyhood dream. Wearing No.1 has been something our main man has dreamed of since he was a boy, and a try in the Grand Final would more or less make this fairy-tale complete.
Clive Churchill: Latrell Mitchell @ $17.00
Mitty was fantastic for the Blues during Origin, and he’s in for another big battle against Will Chambers this weekend.
In case Storm fans haven’t noticed, there’s a bit of an age difference between the two stars though, and Mitchell’s athleticism should be on full display in the middle of our defence.
Better yet, the Dally M Team of the Year snub has Mitchell playing with a chip on his shoulder, which if you ask us, makes him a force to be reckoned with.
Mitchell has scored multiple tries on four separate occasions this year, so beats us why he was shunned on Tuesday night. Still, a Grand Final win is what Latrell wants the most, and the Clive Churchill Medal could easily come with it.