The Sydney Roosters faced all sorts of challenges to win this premiership. Manly threw everything they had at them and still couldn’t crack them.

Not that aggressive relentless tackling; not the gritty and determined defence; not even the combos of experienced footy players who have triumphed over so many for nearly a decade. No the Roosters would not concede under any circumstances, although it did look a bit rocky at times.

This was truly a tremendous contest involving two really good teams with real determination to win no matter what it took.

Today the Roosters are worthy premiers and I would think

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Not being at the ground for the GF, I recognise I may have mis-read the following but this is how it came across to me:

• the match itself was so exciting, one of the best GFs for footy entertainment and high standard throughout
• the refereeing officials made some very tough, gutsy calls. They got some wrong but I don’t think anyone could feel that any bad calls amounted to enough to leave us feeling like the “wrong team won”. (perhaps I might be too neutral in this situation but I am just trying to feel the vibe around
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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/footys-biggest-day-out/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/what-to-really-look-for-in-the-big-gf/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/what-to-really-look-for-in-the-big-gf/#comments Sat, 05 Oct 2013 09:59:23 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1113 by Smithy

  What to really look for in the BIG GF

  • If  SBW plays more minutes in the middle as a lock all bets are off for me!  All day in every way he is the standout player. As a right side second rower he can protect what has been the Achilles heel for Roosters D. That’s a real bonus in keeping them in the game.

  But stuck on the right side only in attack minimises the real capacity of the BIG KIWI. When he has had the few opportunities to roam

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/what-to-really-look-for-in-the-big-gf/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-second-rowers/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-second-rowers/#comments Thu, 03 Oct 2013 09:52:59 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1103 by Smithy

  The Second Rowers – these are very real match ups  – “mano-a- mano”  - but maybe miss-matches?

  Williams on Horo – right v left – footy hero versus footy horo!

  I guess no-one will underestimate either the challenge for Justin H but what everyone (except SBW) will do is underestimate the young back rower from tough family stock! Mark his father, a Kiwi international, would likely take the challenge on himself if coach Toovey gave him a late call-up, an indication of the expectation and confidence young Justin has grown up with.

  I have some good news, maybe, for Horo the younger.

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-second-rowers/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-hookers/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-hookers/#comments Thu, 03 Oct 2013 05:08:03 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1097 by Smithy

  The Hookers – These guys unsung?  Not by those who matter!

  Jake Friend and Matt Ballin have so much in common starting with the rock that these teams are built on.

  Matt Ballin left lower grades at Broncos to join the Eagles. Another great get by Manly. Ballin has developed his strong human qualities into his footy to become understudy to Cameron Smith for Origin selection, having won in the only opportunity he has had to wear the maroon jersey. He has won on a very regular basis in the Manly maroon colours.

  Maintaining his strong work ethic in defence and at

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-hookers/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-middles/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-middles/#comments Thu, 03 Oct 2013 03:30:51 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1093 By Smithy

  The Middles – these are two collections of the NRL’s toughest and meanest guys, some with subtle skills and footy smarts too.

  The Roosters starters Waerea-Hargreaves, Moa and Nuuasala can really carry the ball. They could well lay the platform for their multi-talented teammates to execute their skills under less pressure, almost certainly guaranteeing a real shot at the title.

  JWH has become the game’s most damaging hard yardage gainer. That rig is designed for demolition work and he loves it – the rig and the role!

  Sam Moa would kill for that rig if he stopped to think about it. No-one

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-middles/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-halves/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-halves/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2013 06:26:04 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1089 by Smithy

  Maloney and Pearce versus Foran and Cherry-Evans – four great individual competitors but which has the better combination

  There is not much more I can say about these guys except perhaps the here and now stuff!

  Like right here and right now (or Sunday) these two pairings are the best in the NRL. They have performed better than any other more times than any other combos.

  Ok, I know they have also played behind probably the best two forward packs as well but they have still done it.

  In recent matches Pearce has improved his support play from good to GREAT. This was

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-halves/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-wrap-nrl-finals-week-three/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-wrap-nrl-finals-week-three/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2013 05:22:54 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1084 By STEVE MASCORD

  MOST football teams in most big games have a rallying cry. Some of them are positive – doing it for such-and-such – and some are negative – proving the &*$%’s wrong.

  Often, we don’t know about these calls to arms until years later, when players publish biographies. Sometimes – as in the case of a certain fabled doctored tip sheet – the players let it slip in the emotion of victory.

  In many cases the credos are unimaginative and hackneyed. But just the collective will to believe the unbelievable also summons the required unity to win the biggest game of

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-wrap-nrl-finals-week-three/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/how-lost-is-the-west/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/how-lost-is-the-west/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2013 04:04:26 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1079 Short and Sweets October 1

  How lost is the west of Sydney when it comes to its sport teams?

  The debut season of the wonderful Wanderers apart what about the rest!

  Repeat poor seasons plagued Giants of AFL, Thunder of Big Bash cricket and Tigers, Panthers and Eels who “led the field” as back to back wooden spooners.

  I am not across the plans for those others sports for 2014 and beyond. However like most footy fans I am wondering how it looks for the NRL clubs down the track.

  In one positive sign Panthers fans can perhaps see the bright young stars

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  ]]> http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/how-lost-is-the-west/feed/ 0 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-centres/ http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/the-gf-head-to-head-the-centres/#comments Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:43:35 +0000 http://www.smithyspeaks.com.au/?p=1073 by Smithy

  The first and most obvious stat probably says a lot; Roosters Kenny Dowell and Jennings have scored 26 tries (MJ 18) and so have the Eagles pair (JL 15).

  SKD v Steve Matai is a classic Kiwi v Kiwi match up. Are they competing for a World Cup position too?

  The Manly left side has a tremendous record in D this season. Only a return to his stellar form where SKD scored match winning tries on multiple occasions on the way to the Roosters last GF appearance in 2010 could unsettle the Manly edge. I don’t hold any great

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