Its the game the rugby league world has been waiting for since Round 1 and finally, ladies and gentlemen, its here.
The NRLs oldest and proudest Clubs will face off in their final game of the regular season, sitting 1st and 2nd respectively on the ladder and fighting it out for the 2013 Minor Premiership at the games biggest venue, ANZ Stadium.
The Red, White and Blue of Bondi versus the Red and Green of Redfern, the superstars Sonny Bill Williams versus Sam Burgess and the old school Anthony Minichiello versus the new school Greg Inglis.
The storylines within storylines are bigger than any other match this season and, as with Round 1, everyone will be watching.
However at Roosters HQ, led by the old school Minichiello, the boys from Bondi arent getting too ahead of themselves just yet.
Its obviously a big game, being the last game of the season and its against South Sydney. You know, its always a big game when we come up against them, said Minichiello.
But do the young guns in Bondi know what it takes to tackle this kind of pressure?
Well the skipper, who has played in five grand finals in his near 300 game career, certainly thinks so.
We do have some young guys in the team but theyve played plenty of games now and this is a good challenge and chance for them to rise to the occasion and play under these big conditions.
Even with the pressure mounting on the side after two losses?
Its not ideal but it doesnt worry us, he said with a confident smile.
We just need to go back to what we know we do well and what works for us. We certainly dont consider ourselves to be out of form.
All we can focus on is what we do today, what we do tomorrow and what we do on Friday night.
Obviously South Sydney have been the benchmark all season, so this Friday night will really show us where were at.
Lets hope its in first position, Skipper.. . were with you!
The NRLs oldest and proudest Clubs will face off in their final game of the regular season, sitting 1st and 2nd respectively on the ladder and fighting it out for the 2013 Minor Premiership at the games biggest venue, ANZ Stadium.
The Red, White and Blue of Bondi versus the Red and Green of Redfern, the superstars Sonny Bill Williams versus Sam Burgess and the old school Anthony Minichiello versus the new school Greg Inglis.
The storylines within storylines are bigger than any other match this season and, as with Round 1, everyone will be watching.
However at Roosters HQ, led by the old school Minichiello, the boys from Bondi arent getting too ahead of themselves just yet.
Its obviously a big game, being the last game of the season and its against South Sydney. You know, its always a big game when we come up against them, said Minichiello.
But do the young guns in Bondi know what it takes to tackle this kind of pressure?
Well the skipper, who has played in five grand finals in his near 300 game career, certainly thinks so.
We do have some young guys in the team but theyve played plenty of games now and this is a good challenge and chance for them to rise to the occasion and play under these big conditions.
Even with the pressure mounting on the side after two losses?
Its not ideal but it doesnt worry us, he said with a confident smile.
We just need to go back to what we know we do well and what works for us. We certainly dont consider ourselves to be out of form.
All we can focus on is what we do today, what we do tomorrow and what we do on Friday night.
Obviously South Sydney have been the benchmark all season, so this Friday night will really show us where were at.
Lets hope its in first position, Skipper.. . were with you!
