And then there were two.
The 2018 NRL premiership season has reached its decider, with Melbourne Storm set to take the field for the third successive year, this time tackling the Sydney Roosters. The Storm are looking to be the first back-to-back premiers since the Brisbane Broncos achieved the feat in 1992-93, while the Roosters are looking for their first title since the 2013 season.
The hottest topic this week has been which key players won't be available. Storm fullback Billy Slater somehow managed to convince the judiciary that he didn't hit Sosaia Feki with a shoulder charge, and he'll take his place at the back of the Storm for one last hurrah.
Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk has been battling a serious shoulder injury all week and the latest reports have him taking his place in the starting side. He will test his shoulder against team mates before Sunday and a final decision will be made. If he does manage to play, he will be well short of 100 percent, but even short of his best he could still be a big asset for the Roosters.
Regardless of who runs onto ANZ Stadium on Sunday, this is set to be a tough battle between two teams who have been at the top of their game for most of the season.
Sunday, September 30
Melbourne Storm vs. Sydney Roosters, ANZ Stadium, 7:20pm (AEST)
Storm: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Felise Kaufusi,12. Joe Stimson, 13. Dale Finucane Reserves: 14. Kenneath Bromwich, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Brandon Smith, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 18. Ryan Hoffman, 19. Jahrome Hughes, 20. Sam Kasiano, 21. Cheyse Blair
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Mitchell Aubusson, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Isaac Liu, 13. Victor Radley Reserves: 14. Dylan Napa, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Paul Momirovski, 17. Ryan Matterson, 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Nat Butcher 20. Sean O'Sullivan, 23. Cooper Cronk
Verdict: Melbourne Storm received an enormous boost when the judiciary cleared Billy Slater of his shoulder charge after a marathon deliberation. Slater is their most lethal attacking weapon and his presence in and around the ruck also makes Cameron Munster more dangerous. Cooper Cronk has been named among the reserves for the Roosters and has been working all week to mend his shoulder. If he doesn't start, the Roosters lose the driving force behind their premiership run.
In the forwards the Roosters welcome back Dylan Napa, who will make a huge difference to their go-forward. In the backs Latrell Mitchell returns, freshened up after a stint on the sidelines. The return of these two key players mean the Roosters are a better team than the one that beat the Rabbitohs last week, remembering that Cronk was a passenger for a large part of that game. If the Roosters can maintain their incredible defence throughout the grand final, they could win this with or without Cronk.
Tip: Roosters
TAB odds: Storm $1.68 (-2.5 $1.90) Roosters $2.25 (+2.5 $1.90)