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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 3320061, member: 1899"] It's time to see if Melbourne can back up what they did last year and essentially book their way into the Grand Final. They've been the model of consistensy this season and they just seem to beat teams into opposition with Brandon Smith in particular doing an excellent job of providing space through the middle of the ruck. He's the best exponent of never playing the ball on the mark, an extra 2m everytime and the markers are never in play, a true marvel in the modern game. The big test for Melbourne will be trying to limit Tom Trbojevic. Tom is going to have a say in the game, but they're going to have to physically bash him out of the game and try their best to put him off. I'd be interested to see if Bellamy takes a page out of the career of Paul Hauff and just tries to target Tom with lower trajectory kicks to turn him around. He can struggle in that department but whether Munster or Hughes can exploit it remains to be seen. I think Melbourne will cause too much havoc around the ruck and on the edges. The opening twenty minutes is going to be crucial, if Manly can muscle up and take the lead Melbourne will second guess themselves and they won't have the composure to get back into it. I thought after the Newcastle game, the Titans season was over and they had to look forward to Season 2022 and getting the next generation ready. However they got a second chance and took it with both hands to book their place. It's a credit to them but now they've got to make it count. They can't afford a Broncos 2019 style appearance, they actually have a fair shot of winning this game IF their young forwards like Fa'asuamalueai and Fifita fire. I'm really curious to see how they play because for both teams I get the sense that making the finals was the goal. Around the time Bennett arrived, Souths Sydney were a ticking time bomb. They were a good team, but they had three senior players who needed to be moved on and they needed to land suitable replacements. To Bennett's credit he did land those signings and Souths were able to remain a good side but they never quite got to that next level. This was a team that on paper many thought would be the premiers but they just have such a soft underbelly and they find themselves in the finals without the one player who could potentially swing it their way in Latrell Mitchell. I would go as far to say that Latrell at South Sydney has been a disappointment. In 2020 he really struggled at fullback to the point where they had to have a reserve fill in for him and he's been far too selfish in 2021. He's spent nearly half the season on the sidelines through his own ill discipline and even when he has returned he doesn't do enough of the hard work. The form of Mitchell to me is a microcosm of Souths in 2021. He's clearly a great talent and one of the best players to watch but he's not performing to potential. I think they're a clear step behind Penrith who are my picks to win this entire competition. I think Newcastle have less business being in the finals than the Titans honestly. A few arsey wins, a pretty lenient draw covered up a pretty disappointing year that never got going. With the Eels it just seems like the same ol song where they start the season white hot only to get exposed later on. I think they would still take that kind of season considering 2018 wasn't that long ago but they need to start bringing up more players from their own system. I just get the sense that they have too many 'value' mercenary types in their team when they really need a few star players. Regardless I'm looking forward to it and all the inevitable controversy. [/QUOTE]

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