NRL Previews - 2014 Semi Finals

Paul is back for a look at the weekend ahead as we enter the sudden death Semi 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 Semi Final
Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys
Friday 7:55pm at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park Sydney

A pity that one of these teams won't be involved in the next fortnight of footy after this match. The two most entertaining squads in the competition and two teams that are coached the right way and play the right way. They've both peaked at the right time of the season and even though the Roosters were losers last week, they will only be rejunivated from this and ready to play for their season on Friday night in front of their home fans.

Anthony MInichiello breaks the Chooks' all time record for games played and what a mighty captain and fullback he's been. Joining the likes of RTS, SKD and Michael Jennings, the Count and his crew make up a formidable try-scoring machine and this back line is the best in the land. The defending premiers will be thankful that they won't be forced into a grind, like they were against the Panthers last week.

The Cowboys? Well, a great disappointment that they won't have Tariq Sims in the squad but with Gavin Cooper and Glen Hall, they have a combined 389 first grade games to guide this team up front. These two, combined with Australia's best in Matt Scott, won't have any problems matching the Roosters all-star forward pack, but they will struggle defending their line against waves of tri-coloured attacks out wide.

So, be ready for a beauty with the Roosters back to form and the poor old Cowboys losing another semi-final on the road. They will defend bravely and attack the home side with their usual flair, led by the NRL's best in Johnathan Thurston, but it will be Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney who steer the minor premiers to a showdown with the Bunnies next week.

My tip: Roosters 24-14

2nd Semi Final
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Saturday 7:45pm at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park Sydney

Saturday Night from Allianz Stadium to see who faces the Panthers next week and this will be a cracker. The opening 15 minutes should tell us how tough the Sea Eagles really are without Anthony Watmough. No question, they are a brave bunch and have been for nearly a decade, but last week, their forwards were destroyed by South Sydney and now the Bulldogs' pack have sniffed the blood and are high on confidence.

The likes of James Graham, Aidan Tolman, Greg Eastwood and Tony Williams will be joined by former co-captain Frank Pritchard to raise hell this week. Pritchard's triumphant return from injury could spell the end of Manly's season. If not in the forwards, then Manly's right side defence could also spell their doom. A corridor that was exposed last week could see Josh Morris have a field day.

Rumours of infighting and people not getting along with Queenslander and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans are running rife. However, they get one more chance to disprove these theories and perhaps salvage a legacy of champions that dates back to the Matt Orford/Steve Menzies age. Otherwise, one of the greatest dynasties we've seen in the NRL could be over. The end of an era and all that.

With this pressure on them, Manly's defence won't be as brittle as Canterbury's previous opponents were in the early going last week, so this one should turn in to a good old-fashioned bar room brawl; except for the punching; just the other stuff from a bar room brawl; petticoats, piano players, blokes getting thrown over the bartender and out into the dusty street, where you've parked your horse. That sort of stuff. If Manly can kiss and make up in the dressing room before kick-off, they may get one last crack at glory and pull off a stunner. If not, the ‘Dogs march on.

My tip: Bulldogs 18-16