| NRL Fixtures: Grand Final | | Print | |
| Tuesday, 29 September 2009 20:02 | |||||||||||||||
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Source: TAB Sportsbet
All times listed are EDT. View Full FixturesNRL Grand Final FactboxWho: Parramatta (8th W12 L11 1D)v Melbourne Storm (4th W14, L9, D1)Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney When: Sunday, October 4 (5pm EDT kick off) Head to head: Storm 12, Eels 9 Past 10 head-to-head games Eels 18-16, at Parramatta Stadium (Round 19, 2009) Eels 24-22, at Parramatta Stadium (Round 16, 2008) Storm 26-10, at Etihad Stadium (Preliminary Final, 2007) Storm 14-10, at Olympic Park (Round 23, 2007) Storm 12-6, at Olympic Park (Qualifying Final, 2006) Storm 34-22, at Parramatta Stadium (Round 14, 2006) Eels 26-14, at Olympic Park (Round six, 2005) Storm 22-16, at Olympic Park (Round 20, 2004) Storm 36-16, at Parramatta Stadium (Round 10, 2004) Storm 50-12, at Olympic Park (Round 23, 2003) Melbourne 7 wins, Parramatta 3 Biggest head-to-head wins Storm 50-12, at Olympic Park (Round 23, 2003) Eels 54-10, at Etihad Stadium (Round 20, 2001) Recent form Storm: LWWWW Eels: WWLWW Key Players Storm: Billy Slater has scored six tries in two finals appearances this season, and he was unlucky not to have a seventh when the referee decided not to go to the video referee in the second preliminary final against Brisbane Broncos. His broken field running has been spectacular, while his chip and regather to score against the Broncos was breathtaking. Eels: Who else but Jarryd Hayne? Cleared by the match review committee to take his place in the grand final, Hayne looms as the man the Storm must stop. Time and again he has been the man to get the Eels going - as he did when he beat four defenders from a standing start to set up Joe Galuvao for Parramatta's opening points against the Bulldogs in the first preliminary final. Summary The Storm haven't beaten the Eels since their preliminary final battle in Melbourne two years ago, but the Eels have proved this season that history means nothing when you have momentum. They are already the first side to reach the grand final from eighth place in the finals, while Daniel Mortimer and Jeff Robson are aiming to become just the second halves pairing since 1977 to win a competition without an international at No.6 or No.7. The Storm are the first side since Parramatta, in the early 1980s, to reach four successive grand finals, but they must win the decider if they are to earn themselves a place alongside the legendary sides. Key The easy answer is the battle of the fullbacks, Slater and Hayne. But the team who provides the best help from the supporting cast will most likely walk away with the winner's medals. Injuries Storm: Brett White (shoulder) Eels: Nathan Cayless (hamstring) - AAP
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