Grand final predictions: Warriors have their say
Stacey Jones
This one is going to be close but if Cooper (Cronk) plays, I’d say the Roosters will get it done.
The fact the game is in Sydney, coupled with the Slater drama potentially disrupting the buildup for Melbourne, plays in the Roosters’ favour. Also getting back Dylan Napa and Latrell Mitchell (who both missed last week through suspension) is a huge boost for them.
Prediction: Roosters 16-12. Mark Tookey
I’m a bit torn because they’re two teams I don’t really support, to be honest.
I’m leaning towards Melbourne. Cameron Smith is a Logan boy and a mate of mine. Cooper (Cronk), even if he does play he won’t be at 100 per cent,
would create a precedent. Given the furore, lawmakers have to look at the ban’s original intent.
Some critics have called for shoulder charges to be made lawful again for tackles in the torso area, claiming ball carriers often lead with the shoulder as they make contact with defenders. Automatic red cards and bans would be issued for defenders who makes contact with an opponent’s head.
Pigs might fly. The ban will never be lifted. No self-respecting sport wants a repeat of the Ackerman fatality where the father of two died after a shoulder charge ruptured an artery in his neck.
But the question must be asked: Was the shoulder ban sanction meant to stop side-on contacts, such as Slater’s on Feki?
Going back to the NRL’S so Melbourne will target that side and they have the players to cash in there.
Two very good defensive teams so it will be tight, but I’d say the Storm will be too good. Just.
Prediction: Melbourne 16-10. Francis Meli
Roosters to win for me. They will be strengthened by the return of Dylan Napa and Latrell Mitchell.
The two sides play a similar kind of footy, but Sydney have a blueprint as to how Melbourne play – Cooper Cronk will educate them on the ins-and-outs of the Storm’s weaknesses and strengths.
If you look at grand final stats, the team that keeps a team under 16 points normally come out winners and I think that will again be the case come Sunday.
Prediction: Roosters 21-16. Billy Slater attends the judicial hearing which eventually cleared him of a shoulder charge, allowing the Melbourne Storm fullback to play in the NRL grand final on Sunday. Michael Luck
If Cooper Cronk was 100 per cent, I’d say it’s a tossup. But given he’s not going to be, or probably not anywhere close to 100, I’ll take Melbourne.
There are guys there that have not only played in grand finals, but State of Origin, test footy, they just don’t let the occasion get to them.
For the Roosters, I think a few of their young guys who don’t have that big game experience could get caught looking around and feeling their way into things. You can’t do that against Melbourne.
On top of all that they (Melbourne) have a coach who has been there, done that as well.
Prediction: Melbourne 18-10.
G-force evidence benchmark, was the impact on the ball carrier as great in the Slaterfeki collision as it would have been in a front-on crash?
Clearly not, as Feki got straight back on his feet.
Fittler said on last Sunday’s Footy Show: ‘‘If you want to stop players doing [a shoulder charge], you’ve gotta uphold what they’ve gone down with. Because if you’re not going to take it out, all fullbacks are going to come across saying ‘now I can shoulder charge in this instance because Billy Slater got out of it.’ Until someone gets hit in the head in that situation, then we’re going to go and look back and do the whole thing again.’’
Yet Slater argued at the judiciary that there was no malice in his tackle attempt and that he was trying to wrap his right arm around Feki and his left underneath, but the contact happened earlier than he
By JACKSON THOMAS
‘‘Given the furore, lawmakers have to look at the ban’s original intent.’’
expected and he was running at top speed and was unable to stop.
The NRL moved in 2017 to clarify the definition of a shoulder charge ‘‘to make it easier and simpler for fans a players’’.
Simply put, a player would only be charged if (1) the contact was forceful and (2) the player did not use, or attempt to use, his ams (including his hands) to tackle or otherwise take hold of the opposing player’’.
Slater claimed he attempted to use his arms, that he first hit Feki with his chest and that the contact with his hip had sent the Sharks wing flying.
Others have invoked the words of the Tui beer ad: ‘‘Yeah, right.’’
Every shoulder charge case has to be considered on its merits.
But it would be no surprise to see Billy Slater lining up at his nearest Oz Lotteries counter.