Hi everyone!
So there we have it! A Canterbury Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm Dream Grand Final. They have been the two best teams in the competition all year and have earned the right to play off for the 2012 NRL Premiership.
And they managed to qualify for the Grand Final in style last weekend with big victories over their hapless opponents....
The Storm was first to show their class by running in 7 tries to end the Seaeagles hopes of defending the premiership they won last year under Des Hasler and the following night, the minor premier Bulldogs grinded out a solid victory over the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium infront of 70,000 fans.
All the match details below!
Melbourne advanced to its first season decider since 2009 after humbling defending premiers Manly 40-12 in their preliminary final at AAMI Park on Friday evening.
The Storm produced a clinical performance and capitalised on the Sea Eagles' mistakes, scoring seven tries to two to keep their title hopes alive.
After being stripped of premierships in 2007 and 2009 for cheating the salary cap the Storm will have a chance to win a legitimate title at ANZ stadium on September 30.
Storm captain Cameron Smith highlighted that his troops were able to build on a positive start.
"We started really well and we knew we had to against Manly because that is what they build their game around, their starts," he told the media
"Our first 30 was really good. We fell away with our ball control towards the end of the first half but the second half was great.
"We knew we had to come out and play strong and they were going to throw a lot at us, but it was great to finish the way we did."
Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey admitted his side started off the pace.
"When you drop the ball off the kick-off and you complete one out of your next five it's very hard to beat a team like Melbourne," he said.
With the exception of their skipper Jamie Lyon, who scored a try in each half, the Sea Eagles could hardly have played worse, with the fierce rivalry between the sides falling flat.
The visitors started the match with an error on the second tackle and that set the tone for a miserable night, as they suffered their first grand final qualifier loss since 1975.
Storm superstars Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk showed how much they love the big stage, both scoring a double as their side thoroughly outplayed the visitors.
Such was their dominance, the Storm should have had the match wrapped up by half-time but only led 12-6 thanks to some uncharacteristically wayward kicking by Smith and Lyon's try in the 37th minute.
But Cronk's second, coming four minutes into the second half, saw Sea Eagles heads drop again.
The torrid semi-final win over North Queensland last Friday night looked to have taken its toll on the Sea Eagles, who let themselves down with a barrage of handling errors and some lazy marker defence.
After two controversial decisions by the video referee favoured the Sea Eagles against the Cowboys, they were on the receiving end at the nine-minute mark in Melbourne.
The Storm had already opened the scoring five minutes into the match through Cronk and they mounted another charge with centre Will Chambers tackled just short of the line.
Slater picked up the ball from dummy half and dived across the line with video referees Russell Smith and Sean Hampstead ruling a "benefit of the doubt" try despite the star full-back appearing to knock the ball on.
"When you drop the ball off the kick-off and you complete one out of your next five it's very hard to beat a team like Melbourne."
After being bundled out of the competition at the same point last year, the Storm made no mistake with this opportunity, piling on the pressure as the Sea Eagles continued to implode.
Hard-working Storm forwards Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor were both rewarded with late tries to ice the triumph.
Smith says the Storm will enjoy a quiet build-up, in light of the media focus to be surrounding AFL grand final week in Melbourne.
"It's going to be pretty low key, the way it was this week, obviously with the AFL (finals) going on down here," he said.
"But that's the way we like it, we just go about our business."
Des Hasler became the first coach to reach back-to-back NRL grand finals with different clubs after Canterbury ended South Sydney's bid for a first premiership in 41 years with a 32-8 preliminary final win on Saturday night.
Before 70,354 fans at ANZ stadium, the Bulldogs set up a decider against Melbourne in a match which swung their way when the Rabbitohs lost rookie of the year Adam Reynolds to a hamstring injury midway through the first half.
The Rabbitohs, with the longest active streak between premierships in first grade, were leading 8-4 and in control when Reynolds hobbled from the field.
From there it was all the Bulldogs as they scored 28 unanswered points, two tries in the four minutes before half-time breaking the back of the Rabbitohs before their spirit was destroyed with two tries in the space of five minutes before the hour.
The win means Hasler - who quit Manly just days after guiding the Sea Eagles to the 2011 crown - becomes the first man to make it back to a grand final with a new side the following season.
It was a stunning opening to the match, the Rabbitohs with skipper Michael Crocker on report and down 4-0 thanks to a Krisnan Inu try before they had even touched the ball.
Souths returned serve thanks to back-to-back penalties, as Issac Luke dived over from dummy half and then their lead extended when Reynolds added a penalty for what appeared an innocuous bump on Dylan Farrell.
Luke had been the Rabbitohs' most influential player but his impact was minimised when he was moved out to half-back to cover for Reynolds, and the Bulldogs now had a sniff their enemy was vulnerable.
"[It was] really disappointing for [Reynolds] and really disappointing for us," Souths captain Michael Crocker said.
"He's had such a great season and to do an injury like that in a game like this was very disappointing.
"It was close. I don't know if it was the turning point or not. It hurts losing a playmaker like that.
"It hurts but we were beaten by a better team tonight."
Despite the injury blow, and Greg Inglis being held up over the line thanks to a brilliant try-saving tackle from Josh Reynolds, it seemed Souths would hold on for a deserved lead at the interval.
But two moments of inspiration from Ben Barba ensured the Bulldogs went into the break in front.
The Dally M Medal winner's charge to a 23rd try for 2012 was stopped by team-mate Frank Pritchard getting in his way four minutes before the break, but it proved only a minor delay as Sam Perrett scored his first on the next play off a precise Josh Reynolds kick.
From there it was always going to a mountain for the Rabbitohs to climb.
Perrett brilliantly tip-toed the sideline off a Greg Eastwood pass to score before Eastwood set up fellow countryman Pritchard on 59 minutes before and finished the job himself with a try on the stroke of full-time.
"We knew what Souths were going to throw at us," Barba said.
"All year we worked hard and its paying off for us.
"This is why we're going to [the final] next week.
"Our forwards have been the mainstay all year, they've taken us through the middle all year and put us on the front foot.
"It was everyone doing their job and really focusing on the little things."
Starting XIII: Ben Barba, Sam Perrett, Josh Morris, Krisnan Inu, Jonathan Wright, Josh Reynolds, Kris Keating, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (c), Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood.
Interchange: James Graham, Dale Finucane, Corey Payne, David Stagg, Dene Halatau
Starting XIII: Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Dane Nielsen, Will Chambers, Justin O'Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Sika Manu, Ryan Hoffman, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Kevin Proctor, Jaiman Lowe, Richie Fa'aoso, Rory Kostjasyn, Mahe Fonua, Siosaia Vave, Anthony Quinn (four to be omitted)
OVERALL
Total Games: 29
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs wins: 15. [Pts: 576]
Melbourne Storm wins: 14. [Pts: 588]
Draws: 0
Biggest wins
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 46 pts
2003 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 22 - Bulldogs 50 d. Storm 4 [Crowd: 9819]
Melbourne Storm: 46 pts
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 12 - Melbourne Storm 46 d. Bulldogs 0 [Crowd: 12251]
Last 50 games against each other form line (most recent matches at end of line)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: WLLLLWWWWWWWWWLWWLLLLLWLWLLLW
Melbourne Storm: LWWWWLLLLLLLLLWLLWWWWWLWLWWWL
Last 10 games
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 16 - Canterbury 20 d. Melbourne 4 [Crowd: 11876]
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 7 - Melbourne 12 d. Canterbury 6 [Crowd: 14192]
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 18 - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18 l. Melbourne Storm 28 [Crowd: 9963]
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 4 - Melbourne Storm 30 d. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 [Crowd: 11592]
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 18 - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 d. Melbourne Storm 18 [Crowd: 10350]
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 12 - Melbourne Storm 23 d. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 [Crowd: 12420]
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 11 - Bulldogs 26 d. Melbourne Storm 10 [Crowd: 10923]
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 12 - Melbourne Storm 46 d. Bulldogs 0 [Crowd: 12251]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 24 - Bulldogs 6 l. Melbourne Storm 38 [Crowd: 21756]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 9 - Melbourne Storm 38 d. Bulldogs 14 [Crowd: 14066]
Overall record at ANZ Stadium (Sydney)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 144 games, won 83, drawn 2, lost 59
Last 5 games:
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Finals Week 3 - Canterbury 32 d. Souths 8
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Finals Week 1 - Canterbury 16 d. Manly 10
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 26 - Canterbury 42 d. Roosters 10
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 24 - Canterbury 23 d. Wests Tigers 22
2012 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 23 - Canterbury 22 d. Brisbane 14
Melbourne Storm: 12 games, won 9, drawn 0, lost 3.
Last 5 games:
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 13 - South Sydney Rabbitohs 6 l. Melbourne Storm 16
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Grand Final - Melbourne Storm 23 d. Parramatta Eels 16
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Grand Final - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40 d. Melbourne Storm 0
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 10 - St George Illawarra Dragons 36 d. Melbourne Storm 12
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Grand Final - Melbourne Storm 34 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8
Head to Head at ANZ Stadium (Sydney)
Total Games: 3
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs wins: 0. [Pts: 48]
Melbourne Storm wins: 3. [Pts: 106]
Draws: 0
Last 5 games:
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 24 - Bulldogs 6 l. Melbourne Storm 38 [Crowd: 21756]
2000 National Rugby League - Round 12 - Bulldogs 22 l. Storm 44 [Crowd: 15137]
1999 National Rugby League - Round 19 - Canterbury 20 l. Storm 24 [Crowd: 16318]
==================================================
In our tipping competition, sava4 (161) has had his lead cut down to 1 point over The Neighbour (160) but it wasn't enough for The Neighbour in stopping sava4 from taking out this year's Tipping Championship title. With a much superior margin difference, the $520 1st prize is safely tucked away after a very intense battle at the top for months and months on end. Great entertainment!
The Neighbour has also wrapped up the 2nd prize of $220 while BEARlythere (157) shook off his late battle with Kiwi_Misty (155) to take the $100 3rd prize.
Sava4 (Pool C), The Neighbour (Pool B), BEARlythere (Pool D) and Kiwi_Misty (Pool G) have also won their respective Pools and have collected $100 each.
Well done to all 3 tipsters on a tremendous season of NRL Tipping.
Other tipsters that have wrapped up their Pools in style are ootz (Pool A), Wilshere Wonderland (Pool E), Jessamine (Pool F) and cmcnls+1day (Pool H).
Congratulations to all those tipsters who have all collected prizes this season.
Heading into Grand Final Day and with all prizes have been decided, every tip entered by Sunday will be for pride and trying to improve final positions on the Tipping Championship Ladder.
So 1 game left to go...who will win? Dogs or Storm? Should be a cracker!
Final Prizes will be confirmed in next week's final Tipping 'Grand Final Edition' Update next week.
BEARlythere with a top score of 2 points and a margin of 12. Nice one son.
|
RANK
|
TIPPER
|
FINALS WEEK 3 SCORE
|
FINALS WEEK 3 MARGIN
|
TOTAL SCORE
|
TOTAL MARGIN
|
|
1
|
sava4
|
1
|
34
|
161
|
309
|
|
2
|
The Neighbour
|
2
|
22
|
160
|
349
|
|
3
|
BEARlythere
|
2
|
12
|
157
|
385
|
|
4
|
Kiwi_Misty
|
2
|
22
|
155
|
332
|
|
5
|
Vee8head
|
1
|
38
|
153
|
387
|
|
6
|
Wilshere Wonderland
|
2
|
24
|
151
|
313
|
|
7
|
ootz
|
2
|
22
|
151
|
334
|
|
8
|
Jessamine
|
2
|
18
|
149
|
346
|
|
9
|
Feet Little
|
1
|
34
|
147
|
326
|
|
10
|
Link Abrams
|
2
|
18
|
147
|
360
|
|
11
|
melz
|
2
|
22
|
147
|
387
|
|
12
|
Keith Wilton
|
2
|
20
|
146
|
346
|
|
13
|
Evra69
|
0
|
38
|
144
|
323
|
|
14
|
Harveysan
|
1
|
32
|
144
|
336
|
|
15
|
cmcnls+1day
|
2
|
24
|
144
|
358
|
|
16
|
Simply The Bears
|
0
|
36
|
144
|
411
|
|
17
|
Heath Caldwell
|
2
|
14
|
143
|
373
|
|
18
|
Warmess
|
2
|
20
|
142
|
344
|
|
19
|
steven bowers
|
1
|
35
|
142
|
358
|
|
20
|
TUMUCH
|
2
|
18
|
142
|
369
|
|
21
|
blo1
|
1
|
36
|
142
|
409
|
|
22
|
boogs_nz
|
0
|
28
|
141
|
327
|
|
23
|
Beakster
|
2
|
18
|
141
|
328
|
|
24
|
TimmyDemon
|
2
|
16
|
141
|
362
|
|
25
|
kazgriffo
|
0
|
32
|
140
|
316
|
|
26
|
wayne
|
0
|
28
|
140
|
320
|
|
27
|
Sincas
|
0
|
28
|
140
|
333
|
|
28
|
NO1QPRNZ
|
2
|
16
|
140
|
340
|
|
29
|
Lainey
|
1
|
34
|
140
|
356
|
|
30
|
Bronco2020
|
0
|
38
|
140
|
429
|
|
31
|
Rex Kwando
|
2
|
27
|
139
|
371
|
|
32
|
Dean Campbell
|
0
|
36
|
139
|
374
|
|
33
|
jared francois
|
2
|
24
|
139
|
376
|
|
34
|
killswitch
|
2
|
20
|
138
|
314
|
|
35
|
Brenda Kirkman
|
0
|
28
|
137
|
341
|
|
36
|
NZ Tiger (Aka NZ Ranger)
|
2
|
18
|
137
|
345
|
|
37
|
Matthew Bowers
|
1
|
38
|
137
|
360
|
|
38
|
Scotsta
|
1
|
29
|
137
|
384
|
|
39
|
Steven Marshall
|
0
|
28
|
136
|
343
|
|
40
|
taijay
|
2
|
13
|
136
|
355
|
|
41
|
sole@basher
|
1
|
32
|
136
|
365
|
|
42
|
Yo Mama
|
2
|
18
|
134
|
331
|
|
43
|
Richard McCourt
|
0
|
28
|
134
|
350
|
|
44
|
Shay Wall
|
2
|
24
|
133
|
338
|
|
45
|
Bearass
|
2
|
20
|
133
|
352
|
|
46
|
OVERATEDBENJI
|
0
|
28
|
133
|
359
|
|
47
|
Balmainadrian
|
2
|
20
|
132
|
313
|
|
48
|
eviltwin
|
2
|
24
|
132
|
313
|
|
49
|
Bearette
|
2
|
18
|
132
|
318
|
|
50
|
MrBusy
|
1
|
18
|
131
|
286
|
|
51
|
Staks
|
1
|
38
|
131
|
366
|
|
52
|
Scott Nielson
|
0
|
28
|
129
|
352
|
|
53
|
Redv4me
|
2
|
18
|
127
|
331
|
|
54
|
kelren
|
1
|
34
|
125
|
310
|
|
55
|
money_box_man
|
1
|
16
|
124
|
450
|
|
56
|
Hemi Ropata
|
1
|
12
|
123
|
335
|
|
57
|
tais1
|
0
|
28
|
123
|
400
|
|
58
|
ROOSTERSRCHAMPIONS
|
0
|
28
|
122
|
313
|
|
59
|
5JS
|
0
|
28
|
121
|
353
|
|
60
|
Gaddaffi
|
0
|
32
|
121
|
387
|
|
61
|
Joejoez
|
0
|
28
|
120
|
311
|
|
62
|
katie rice
|
0
|
40
|
120
|
415
|
|
63
|
Kyle Thomson
|
0
|
28
|
118
|
354
|
|
64
|
Tiger Warrior
|
0
|
28
|
117
|
384
|
|
65
|
Bruiser
|
0
|
28
|
116
|
318
|
|
66
|
BT Ross
|
2
|
20
|
115
|
379
|
|
67
|
Pistol
|
0
|
28
|
114
|
388
|
|
68
|
Radman
|
0
|
28
|
112
|
393
|
|
69
|
mdt64
|
0
|
28
|
110
|
330
|
|
70
|
melros
|
0
|
28
|
106
|
310
|
|
71
|
Darren Scott
|
0
|
28
|
106
|
365
|
|
72
|
rog the dodge
|
0
|
28
|
94
|
379
|
|
73
|
Anotherstranger
|
0
|
28
|
93
|
320
|
|
74
|
Tubasaurus
|
0
|
28
|
90
|
388
|
|
75
|
haze13
|
0
|
28
|
89
|
354
|
|
76
|
Joey James
|
0
|
28
|
88
|
329
|
|
77
|
Irontiger
|
0
|
28
|
87
|
346
|
|
78
|
Tigerstu
|
0
|
28
|
87
|
384
|
|
79
|
Dave Gearey
|
0
|
28
|
72
|
331
|
|
80
|
Sanka
|
0
|
28
|
68
|
323
|
|
81
|
Big Trouble
|
0
|
28
|
64
|
330
|
|
82
|
Tiger77
|
0
|
28
|
60
|
392
|
TO SEE WHO TIPPED WHAT - VISIT THE FOOTY TIPS 'WHO TIPPED WHAT' LINK (YOU MUST BE SIGNED IN TO VIEW). FOR THE LATEST POOLS TABLES PLACINGS - VISIT THE CURRENT POOLS TABLE PAGE
That's it for this update. Seeya's all next week for the final update!
Have a great weekend and enjoy Grand Final Day!
Mark
aka NZ Tiger
IN STORES 11th OCTOBER 2012 on both PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®
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