NRL Grand Final / James Cleary / 03 October 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

The NRL Grand final has the potential to be a classic, believes James Cleary.

League winners St George Illawarra Dragons take on 2009 wooden spooners the Sydney Roosters in the first all-Sydney NRL Grand Final in 6 years.

Runners-up 11 years ago, the Dragons will see this as an opportunity to finally realise the potential that has seen them fall short in their bid to land a maiden final.

The Roosters, champions most recently in 2002, would be the first side for 76 years to go from bottom spot one year to landing the championship 12 months later. Their coach Brian Smith is also gunning for a first Grand Final, having lost three times - once most recently with Eels and twice with St George Dragons before their merger in the late 90s. They were beaten in 1992 and 1993 by the Brisbane Broncos, who were coached by current Dragons boss Wayne Bennett.

Both sides have been in winning form, although it is the Roosters who have been the more impressive. Having finished the regular season down in 6th, they have had to defeat the sides that finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th to reach the final, and have achieved three scalps in impressive style. The memorable 19-15 win at the Wests Tigers in week 1 of the play-offs, when they were seemingly dead and buried, has pushed them to greater heights and a finals appearance.

Inspired by Dally M Medallist Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce, they have now won five on the spin, including regular season matches, with the Gold Coast Titans put to the sword 32-6 last weekend.

The Dragons, meanwhile, were 28-0 victors over the Sea Eagles in week 1 of the play-offs, but only edged through 13-12 over the Wests Tigers to secure their place in the final. The Dragons' defence has been key in 2010, with them conceding just over 300 points all year. It was their major strength in this area that led to victory.

Wayne Bennett's side have beaten the Roosters twice in 2010 - 28-6 in round 7 and 19-12 last time the side's met a couple of months ago. However, the Roosters look a more confident side than that day, where they were always in the game until the final few minutes. Overall the Dragons have the edge 14-8, with one draw in the 23 games between the sides.

Jeremy Smith is free to play for the Dragons after accepting a guilty plea for a dangerous contact charge on Lote Tuqiri during the 13-12 win over the Wests Tigers. Michael Weyman (groin) is expected to start, while Jarrod Saffy (quad) is also named.

There are no injury worries for the Roosters, while Todd Carney is fine to play after accepting a guilty plea for a dangerous tackle on Scott Prince during the 32-6 romp over Gold Coast.

Roosters have the attacking edge, the creativity, the try-scoring capabilities, while the Dragons are superior overall in terms of metres gained, kick metres, accuracy and defence.

But with the momentum and more convincing displays coming from the Roosters in the play-offs, I fancy them by 6 for success.