Big expectations rest on small shoulders in final
As it is throughout the 26 regularseason rounds, the hopes of the final four sides left in the NRL premiership race rest largely on the shoulders of their diminutive halfbacks.
South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds, Sydney Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce, Penrith’s Jamie Soward and Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson are used to living their football lives under the microscope. Every time they pull on their No 7 jerseys it is expected they will guide their team around the park and steer them towards victory.
If their teams win they’ve done their job. The responsibility for defeat, however, also lies at their feet. It’s the chief playmaker’s lot in life.
Only two will survive this weekend’s preliminary finals, so let’s take a close look at the four money men hoping to take their team through to grand final glory on October 5. Adam Reynolds — South Sydney Rabbitohs The halfback under the most pressure, with fans desperate for their first grand final spot since 1971.
For a third consecutive year Souths are one game away, after blowing two golden opportunities in grand final qualifying matches in the past two seasons, against Canterbury in 2012 and Manly in 2013.
Reynolds, 24, copped more than his share of blame for those defeats. A hamstring injury forced him from the field in the Bulldogs encounter, while the Sea Eagles overturned a 0-14 deficit to win 30-20 last year.
Earlier this season rumours swirled that he was on the outer with Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire, with 22-year-old Luke Keary supposedly seen as the creative force needed to take them one step further.
A fiery round-25 clash against the Bulldogs saw Reynolds handed a onegame suspension for a dangerous tackle on Bulldogs rookie Moses Mbye. He was back for a quality performance in their 40-18 qualifying final win over Manly, scoring two tries and booting six goals — 20 points.
His goal kicking will again be key on Friday night but it remains to be seen whether he can help the foundation club fulfil the league fairytale that’s been 43 years in the making. Mitchell Pearce — Sydney Roosters The season’s latter stages have seen Pearce in the best form of his career, coinciding with the Roosters’ purple patch over the past six weeks.
Yet just a few months ago the 25-year-old’s career was in free-fall after he was arrested for failing to leave a Kings Cross nightclub on the eve of the State of Origin series. That resulted in a one-match suspension and a $10,000 fine and cost him his place in the NSW Origin side.
The 2013 premiership winner’s confidence took a battering yet he has reemerged a stronger player. Guided by halfback authority Alan Bell, 71 — credited with developing Andrew Johns from a