Week two of the finals sees two clashes that are slightly unexpected, after the Storm stumbled against the Raiders last week and the Sea Eagles defyied the odds against the Sharks. The Raiders and Roosters await the winners of these two clashes as the 2019 decider nears.
Good luck with your tips.
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Rabbitohs vs. Sea Eagles
Storm vs. Eels
Friday, September 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. Alex Johnston 3. James Roberts 4. Dane Gagai 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Liam Knight 11. John Sutton 12. Sam Burgess 13. Cameron Murray 14. George Burgess 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Tevita Tatola 17. Ethan Lowe 18. Jaydn Su'A 19. Dean Britt 20. Corey Allan 21. Kyle Turner
Sea Eagles: 1. Brendan Elliot 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Dylan Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Corey Waddell 12. Jack Gosiewski 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Manase Fainu 15. Haumole Olakauatu 16. Sean Keppie 17. Lloyd Perrett 18. Lachlan Croker 19. Tevita Funa 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Tony Williams
Verdict: The Rabbitohs were missing Sam Burgess last week and super coach Wayne Bennett shifted the backline around a bit, neither of which helped them as they faced the red-hot Roosters at the SCG. The Sea Eagles withstood an early Sharks onslaught to win comfortably at Brookvale Oval. The Bunnies welcome back Sam Burgess, but the Sea Eagles welcome back Martin Taupau, the two arguably cancelling each other out. Bennett will have some tricks up his sleeve, but he is up against the wily Des Hasler in what looms as a real coaching battle. The two previous clashes between these teams have both been decided by a single point, with each team winning one a piece.It promises to be a close one yet again, with the Rabbitohs having a slight edge in class.
Tip: Rabbitohs
TAB odds: Rabbitohs $1.45 (-6.5 $1.90) Sea Eagles $2.80 (+6.5 $1.90)
Saturday, September 21
Melbourne Storm vs. Parramatta Eels, AAMI Park, 7:50pm (AEST)
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Max King 17. Joe Stimson 18. Curtis Scott 19. Tino Faasuamaleaui 20. Tom Eisenhuth 21. Brodie Croft
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Kane Evans 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Manu Ma'u 13. Nathan Brown 14. Brad Takairangi 15. Daniel Alvaro 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Marata Niukore 18. Ray Stone 19. Jaeman Salmon 20. Peni Terepo 21. Josh Hoffman
Verdict: The minor premiers Storm were upset last week by the bustling Raiders, while the Eels were simply sublime against the awful Broncos. The Storm just don't lose back-to-back games. let alone two finals in a row. These two teams only met once and that was during Magic Round in Brisbane where the Storm smashed the Eels 64-10. Coach Craig Bellamy is sure to have a plan to combat the much-improved Eels who seem to thrive on momentum. If the Storm can stop them early and put some points of the board the Eels will find it hard to win in Melbourne.
Tip: Storm