NRL Previews - 2014 Preliminary Finals

Paul is back for a look at the weekend ahead as we enter the Preliminary Finals. Check out his tips and see if yours will match up...

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Below, Paul runs the rule over the second week of NRL Finals:

1st Preliminary Final
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters
Friday 7:55pm at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

The game of the season. Friday night at Sydney Olympic Park and you won't want to miss this. The reigning premiers, minor premiers and team of stars up against their oldest, biggest and most hated rivals. The Roosters have done it all in the NRL; a glamour club with an abundance of recent success and probably the most powerful club when it comes to influencing the officials at NRL headquarters. Souths are nearly their complete opposite.

The Bunnies are the dirty little brother that has made their way back from the brink of extinction and built themselves up from being bullied by the older sibling for the last 20 years. Well, if you wanna pick a fight with the ‘pride of the league' these days, you better be ready for swift reprisals as they boast some of the toughest footballers in the NRL. The Burgess boys, Issac Luke, GI and a bench that looks like a prison inmate list. Better watch your back.

The Roosters won't be hiding though. With the likes of Sam Moa in career best form, Frank Paul Nuuausala coming off the bench and the other usual suspects, the Chooks middle is anything but soft and they will meet their opponents with force. The forward battle, as always, will decide this one and when the Bunnies' pack gets on top after an enthralling battle, they won't lose focus as they have done in previous years. Souths have fallen short in the Finals for the past two seasons and now, they've learnt their lesson.

The difference being one Luke Keary. Souths have been tagged as predictable by everyone who thinks their opinion counts for something, including the ‘writer' of these weekly ‘previews' on LU. Now, they look mature and diverse. When Adam Reynolds is finished pinning the Chooks down in their own half with an all-pro kicking game, the Rabbitohs creative side will be unleashed. John Sutton becoming ball player and Keary sneaking around without being detected. That, and the almighty force that is Greg Inglis should see them home in a battle for the ages.

My tip: Rabbitohs 20-16

2nd Preliminary Final
Penrith Panthers v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Saturday 7:55pm at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Your second GF qualifier is a tantalizing prospect. Saturday night from ANZ Stadium and you better be ready for a nail biter. The Panthers, ravaged by injury and without the aid of any representative footballers on their current roster, somehow, are 80 minutes away from the big one. The Bulldogs, written off by the rugby league community when they finished the season with 7 losses from 9 games, have somehow found themselves favourites to make the GF here and on paper, have all the weapons to make it happen.

But the wrinkle in this equation in the unbelievable ability of Ivan Cleary to have his players ready to run a game plan, and his uncanny nous to make them better footballers. The likes of Matt Moylan, Dean Whare, Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro have had magnificent seasons and will terrorise the Bulldogs' more favoured and heralded stars. Penrith won't make any mistakes. They won't lose this game through poor form or errors and that puts the onus on the opposition to play just as disciplined.

Canterbury are not known for this in 2014. They destroyed the Melbourne Storm a fortnight ago with a surprise attack and last week against Manly, well, I can't remember much about that game so I'm not sure how they pulled it off. I remember meeting my mates inside Manly's ‘tailgate party' in Moore Park but then it gets a bit hazy. And just quietly, my friends, that tailgate party was a fantastic idea. If only every game could have that level of ‘entertainment'.

Moving on. We'll see the underdog Panthers control this game from the kick off with nerves of steel and great leadership from Soward who has been through his share of big games - but when the boys from Belmore turn it up a gear, the Panthers may not be able to keep up. Canterbury's mobility in the forwards has been their advantage in the Des Hasler era. It was the reason for their success in 2012. Now, they've found their mojo again and will be too good in the final moments for a gallant Penrith team.

My tip: Bulldogs 13-12