The New Zealand Warriors have announced that the Little General, Stacey Jones, is coming out of retirement, and has signed a one year deal with the club.

Jones has not played for the Warriors in three years, although he did play a couple of seasons for Les Catalans in the Super League. More recently, he played in the one-off All Golds Test against the New Zealand Maori.

This decision has come completely out of the blue. To be completely honest, we thought it was a joke when we first heard it announced. The more we think about it, though, the more we think this could be a brilliant move by Ivan Cleary. It's no secret that Grant Rovelli has struggled to play consistent footy at halfback, but with someone like the Little General looking for game time, Rovelli may be forced to make a drastic improvement. Either that, or face the scrap heap.

Cleary has said that Jones is not guaranteed a starting position, and will have to prove to the coaching staff that he is capable of playing the high level of footy he is known for - but someone with the class he has should have no problem adjusting to the daily grind of the NRL.

At 32 years of age his comeback is unlikely to be a lengthy one, but with the form the Warriors showed in the back end of this season, he may only have to play one more year to gain that elusive NRL Premiership.

(The season hasn't even started, and we already think the Warriors can win...OK, maybe we're thinking too far ahead...)

No doubt many people will think he's too old to make an impact, but just remember the year that Ruben Wiki had. Sometimes age can be an advantage, especially when you've been around as long as Stacey has.

The only bad part about this news? It makes us wish the 2009 season was starting next weekend. Five months is a long time to wait...

They say you have to lose a Grand Final to win one, and that saying certainly came true last night for the Manly Sea Eagles - who put on an unbelievable display against the Melbourne Storm.

No one in their right mind would have believed the Sea Eagles could have put 40 points on the Storm, let-a-lone keep the Storm scoreless - but the Sea Eagles were unstoppable on their way to their first Grand Final victory since 1996.

The Storm looked shell shocked as the Sea Eagles dominated the game right from the kickoff. And, while it took around 25 minutes for Manly to score their first try, from that moment on they just kept the four pointers coming. Michael Robertson scored three of the eight trys, and set up the Beaver with his 180th try in the NRL - not a bad way to end a sixteen year career with the Sea Eagles.

Brent Kite was outstanding as he made hit-up after hit-up, keeping the Sea Eagles on the front foot and, most importantly, giving the backs great field position from which to attack. Kite was rewarded for his excellent performance with the Clive Churchill Medal, which will help him erase any bad memories of missing out on Origin this year.

The Sea Eagles can now put last years disappointing Grand Final behind them, while the Storm are left to ponder what on earth happened.

For a team that boasts the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Israel Falou and Cooper Cronk, last nights efforts will be one they'll never want to remember. It was one of their worst displays in a long time, and unfortunately for them they saved it for the biggest game of the year.

They've looked tired since their game against the Warriors in Round 11 of the playoffs, while the Sea Eagles looked refreshed and ready to do battle.

While we wouldn't count the Storm out in 2009, it does seem as though their era of dominance may be starting to crack - and they're losing some key players for next year's competition, too.

For the Sea Eagles, last night was all about redemption - and, most importantly, sending the long serving Steve Menzies out on a high. They achieved both, and brilliantly.

Menzies now heads to Bradford to end his illustrious career that spanned sixteen years, 349 NRL games (a record he now shares with Bulldogs great Terry Lamb), fifteen State of Origin campaigns with New South Wales, and twenty Tests for the Kangaroos. He is the epitome of the word 'legend', and it's been an absolute pleasure to have watched him play over the past sixteen years.

We wish him all the best for the rest of his career.

The rugby league world now turns it's attention to the World Cup, which kicks off in a couple of weeks - no doubt there'll be a few Sea Eagles in the Australian squad...

It would only be fitting to look at the Top 5 NRL Grand Finals over the past decade, seeing as today the Sea Eagles and the Storm will do battle for the Premiership.

There have been some truly great clashes over the past ten years - here are our picks:

5. Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm - 2006
It was the third placed Broncos vs the minor premiers, and everyone was expecting the Storm to take this one out. But the Broncos are the masters of Grand Finals, and this one was especially special - they were saying goodbye to Shane Webke, who was retiring after the Grand Final. And they couldn't have sent him out in better fashion, with a 15-8 victory - making it six wins from six Grand Final appearances for the Broncos (not bad, really...).

The Storm looked like they had scored late in the second half through Matt King, but the video ref called a knock-on - effectively giving the Broncos the title.
The video ref's call created a bit of controversy, but in the end the Broncos were too good for the Storm, who would have to wait another year for a second NRL title.

4. Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters - 2003
The Panthers had a standout year, and topped it off with an impressive 18-6 win over the Roosters, who were trying to go back-to-back after beating the Warriors the year before.

The game will best be remembered for Scott Sattler's amazing tackle on Todd Byrne - a tackle he should never have had the chance to make. The veteran forward chased down the flying Byrne, coming from the other side of the field to catch "Skinny" - it's the kind of moment that can only happen in a Grand Final.

The tackle swung the momentum back towards the Panthers, who never looked back. Luke Priddis was named the Clive Churchill medalist, after scoring one try, setting up another, and making an incredible 47 tackles.

This one was also special for us New Zealanders, because of the strong Kiwi connection with the Panthers. And, of course - any time the Roosters are beaten has got to be good.

3. Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels - 2001
The Eels were odds-on favourites to win the Final after going through the season with only one loss, but at halftime the Knights were up 24-0 and were playing some fantastic footy. The lead shocked everyone - none more so than the Eels, who came out in the second half with a lot of work to do to catch up.

They managed to fight back scoring 24 points, but it was too little too late as the Knights went on to win 30-24, and in doing so claimed their second Premiership since their win in 1997.

2. Melboure Storm vs St George/Illawara Dragons - 1999
The Storm produced one of the best comebacks to win the 1999 Premiership - their first since joining the NRL the previous year.

Down 14-nil at halftime, the Storm fought back to 20-18 in very dramatic circumstances. With only three minutes to go the Storm were trailing 18-14, when Brett Kimmorley put up a bomb for winger Craig Smith. As Smith went to catch the ball, Jaime Ainscough took him out with a head high tackle, forcing Smith to knock the ball on. The video ref was left with the decision of whether or not a penalty try should be awarded, which he gave to the Storm - sealing their first Grand Final win.

The win was Storm prop Glenn Lazarus' fifth Grand Final win, and it coincided with his last game in the NRL.

The game will best be remembered for that infamous moment with only three minutes on the clock. Ainscough wouldn't have been very popular in St George after that night...

1. Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys - 2005
Both these two teams were making their first appearance at a Grand Final, and with the Tigers winning twelve of their last fourteen games (including two wins over the Cowboys), they were on their way to their first NRL Premiership.

They didn't fail to impress, racking up 30 points to sink the Cowboys hopes.

Benji Marshall set up what is possibly the greatest try in a Grand Final, with a flick-back pass to set up Pat Richards, who ran in for one of the Tiger's five trys.

The Tigers were on fire, while the Cowboys looked to have a case of the Grand Final jitters - and in the end, the Tigers thoroughly deserved their first Premiership (as a combined club - Western Suburbs and Balmain).

If tonight's game is anything like these five, then we're in for something special.

After an incredible sixteen years playing in the NRL, veteran Ruben Wiki is finally hanging up his boots.

(Well, at least in the NRL - it's still unsure whether he'll play in the Super League).

Wiki carved out a long career playing for the Canberra Raiders, where he started out as a young center playing along side the likes of Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley. He was part of the 1994 Premiership-winning Raiders team, and went on to play 225 games for the "Green Machine", scoring 60 trys.

As he got a little older, he moved into the forwards. He played in the front and second rows (predominantly at prop towards the back end of his career), and became one of the fiercest players in the NRL, known for his hard hits and physical presence.

In 2005 Wiki finally became a Warrior after twelve years in Canberra, and over the last four years he has become a home town favourite at Mt. Smart Stadium. Wiki played 87 games for the Warriors, and surpassed the 300 game milestone this year against the Tigers - becoming the first New Zealander to do so.

His career tally - 312 NRL games and 72 trys.

Wiki also holds the record for playing the most Test matches of any player, with a total of 55.

Wiki will be best remembered for his no-nonsense kind of play. He put everything he had into every moment he was on the field, and at the age of 35 (the oldest in the NRL) he was still competing with the younger guys, who looked up to him as a player they could aspire to be like. Fair enough, too - if you're going to style your game on anyone, it might as well be one of the best.

Wiki also credits his lengthy playing days to Kava, which he drinks before every game, and has even introduced it to some of the players at the Warriors club. Hopefully that will give them`career's as long as Wiki's...

Life in the NRL won't be the same without Ruben Wiki - especially at the Warriors, where he's looked up to like the legend that he is.

We wish him all the best for his future, and thank him for the eighteen wonderful years of hard hitting rugby league he's given us.

Ruben - you're an absolute legend.

This Sunday, the Manly Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm will once again go head to head for the NRL Premiership.

The two sides met in last year's Grand Final, where the Storm proved to strong for the Sea Eagles - who looked like they had the Grand Final jitters.

But that was a long time ago, and the Sea Eagles definitely look like a much better team this time round. And they'll need to be if they want to win their first Premiership since 1996.

The Storm are not in the best form, and losing Cameron Smith will take it's toll on the team come Sunday - but at this point, all that matters to the Storm is that they have a shot, and they do seem to save their best efforts for the Sea Eagles.

They have a whole lot of talent in their side, so don't write them off just yet. Cooper Cronk will need to have a big game if the Storm want to win their third NRL Premiership, and he will need to take a lot of the responsibility - especially since being given the captaincy.

For the Storm to beat the Sea Eagles they'll need to put pressure on Matt Orford, who has been criticised in the past for not handling the big occasions. He, too, will need to be at his best come Sunday night.

The Sea Eagles, though, do have the advantage of having Jamie Lyon at number 6 - he can take a lot of the pressure off Orford by doing a lot of the general kicking, and pitching in with on-field leadership.

Believe us when we say this game will be one you won't want to miss. Manly have seemed more determined than ever since last year's loss, and (despite loosing to the Storm earlier in the year) if they play like they did against the Warriors, then they'll walk away with the win.

And wouldn't that be a fitting way to send Steve Menzies out - with one last Premiership victory?

We certainly think so.

It's all over for the two biggest surprises in this year's finals.

Not many people would have picked the Sharks to make the Top 8, let-a-lone the top four - and no one EVER seems to think the Warriors can make the eight. That is, except for us here in the Attic.

A top four finish for both sides is an excellent result, and both teams are looking to build on this year's success with some decent signings for 2009.

Here's how the two teams went in 2008:

Cronulla Sharks (3rd): The Sharks have definitely been one of the NRL's biggest improver's, and have made a name for themselves with their solid defence. While their offensive game needs work, the signings of Anthony Tupou and Trent Barrett will certainly add a spark to their attacking game.

They have certainly had some serious issues, especially with Greg Bird, but the players really rallied together and continued their drive to the Top 8. They won't be happy with the way they bowed out of the finals, but overall we think they'll be pleased with how the year went.

They can definitely improve on this year's efforts, and going one step further next year isn't out of the question.

2009 Gains: Anthony Tupou (Roosters), Trent Barrett (Wigan), Corey Hughs (Bulldogs)
2009 Losses: Brett Kimmorley (Bulldogs), Issac De Gois (Knights), Lance Thompson (mid-season, retirement), Greg Bird (sacked), Adam Peek (Celtic Crusaders)



New Zealand Warriors (4th): After a terrible start to the year, the Warriors really muscled up and made a fantastic run to the finals. They certainly struggled with injuries early on, and losing Steve Price, Wade McKinnon and Manu Vatuvie didn't help. Once the team was fully fit, though, they looked in great form, and picked up wins against the Storm, Broncos and Sharks (all top four teams at the time).

Their efforts against the Storm and the Roosters in the finals were something no one could believe (although, to be fair, we did...loyal, we are), and they even made history, becoming the first eighth placed side to beat the minor premiers under the McIntyre system.

They'll be very extremely pleased with 2008, and the outlook for 2009 is equally as promising.

If they can continue to improve their defensive game, and play with the confidence they have shown over the last few weeks, then they too can make a real threat on the competition next year.

2009 Gains: Jacob Lillyman (Cowboys), Denan Kemp (Broncos), Joel Moon (Broncos), Liam Foran (Storm)
2009 Losses: Ruben Wiki (???), Wairangi Koopu (???), Logan Swann (???) - all three are yet to decide on their futures.

Stay tuned for a 2008 review of the Sea Eagles and the Storm, as we head towards the Grand Final.

The Manly Sea Eagles are off to the NRL Grand Final, after they downed the Warriors 32-6 in Sydney last night.

They put on a fantastic performance to shut out the Warriors, and now head to the final against the Melbourne Storm (a rematch from last year's final).

The Warriors didn't play badly last night, but the Sea Eagles completely controlled the game - and in doing so, didn't allow the Warriors to play the type of game that's worked for them recently.

It's simple - Manly were the better team on the night, and unfortunately for Warriors fans that's just the way the game goes sometimes.

The Sea Eagles kept the game flowing at a high speed, slowly wearing down the Warriors - who spent a lot of the game defending. And, in the end, the Sea Eagles proved too strong.

Next Sunday's Grand Final is going to be another great match-up, as both the Sea Eagles and the Storm have shown that they are by far the two best teams in the competition this year.

It's hard to pick a favourite to win, but after last night's performance we have to say that Manly head into the game as the team to beat. They controlled the game against the Warriors perfectly, whereas the Storm fed off the mistakes of the Sharks. While we can't count out the Storm, we definitely think Manly are in red hot form right now - and will probably take it out.

Manly have been playing with an intense passion since losing last years final, and it's driving them towards victory this year. They say you have to lose a final to win a final, and if that's the case the Storm had better watch out - because the Sea Eagles are flying high right now.

There will be some exciting match-ups next week - both teams have some of the best in the business. Brett Stewart vs Billy Slater, Jaime Lyon vs Greg Inglis, Matt Orford vs Cooper Cronk - we could go on and on.

This one has 'epic' written all over it, and anyone who misses next Sunday's final will regret it come Monday morning.

Just when you thought all the drama surrounding Sonny Bill Williams was over...

Sonny recently injured his leg, and has had some down time while he recovers - and this has no doubt added to his homesickness.

Moving to France was never going to be easy for Sonny, especially when you consider everything that he left behind in Australia. His friends and family are in Australia and New Zealand, and for him to suddenly leave all that behind, and move to the other side of the world - well, it was inevitable that he would struggle with homesickness.

Apparently, someone close to Sonny has approached the Bulldogs, while Khoder Nasser has flown to France to check up on Sonny's welfare. You can bet he won't be happy to see Sonny return to the Bulldogs if it means taking a pay cut.

The Bulldogs have stated that they will only be interested in talking to Sonny if he returns on "bended knee", and "under the club's terms and conditions". In other words, things wont be as cushy for Sonny as they were before.

The biggest problem is that the Bulldogs have made a lot of signings since Sonny departed the club, and so they may not have the funds to resign him - and that may bring a halt to him returning (as part of the settlement, Sonny cannot return to any other club until 2013).

It's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out - just don't expect it to go smoothly.

All the speculation over who will play fullback this weekend can now end, with Wade McKinnon getting the nod over Lance Hohia after serving his three game suspension.

McKinnon was found guilty of spitting at a touch judge in the Warriors Round 25 clash with the Panthers, and became only the second player in the NRL to be suspended for spitting.

But, thanks to the fantastic performances by the Warriors over the past three weeks, McKinnon gets a chance to redeem himself against the Sea Eagles this weekend. His return couldn't come at a better time for the Warriors, as they head into the preliminary final - with the winner going to the Grand Final in two weeks.

McKinnon's support play is among the best in the NRL, and could make the difference between the two sides - although the Sea Eagles have a pretty handy fullback in Brett Stewart, who is a try scoring machine.

Hohia has done a standout job filling in for McKinnon, but filling in is really all he can do. He'll make a big impact off the bench, where he can cover a number of positions, and get himself involved on attack a lot more.

Manly will certainly put up a tough challenge, and will definitely go into the clash as odds-on favourites to win. They can't afford to take the Warriors lightly, though, or they'll meet the same fate as the Storm and the Roosters.

Unfortunately for the Storm, they could head into their preliminary final against the Sharks without captain Cameron Smith, who has been cited for a dangerous grapple-tackle on Sam Thaiday. He'll get two weeks off if he takes an early guilty plea, and could face even longer on the sidelines if he challenges the charge.

We think the NRL judiciary need to crack down on players who continue to make these unnecessary grapple-tackles, which are ruining the game. The Storm are renowned for their grappling, and it needs to stop - it's rugby league, not wrestling.

The best way to stamp it out of the game is to come down hard on the repeat offenders, and in this case it's Smith. It doesn't matter that they're only one win away from the final - if they continue to use the grapple-tackle, then they can do so without Smith.

Jeremy Smith is also likely to miss this weekend for using the dangerous 'chicken wing' tackle during the same tackle on Sam Thaiday. Obviously, the Storm aren't getting the message.

The Sharks certainly won't mind if they don't have to worry about Cameron Smith, but it still won't be an easy task. They'll have their hands full, and with the likes of Inglis, Slater and Falou, the Storm still look good for the win.

The two finals games over the weekend were two of the most exciting games we've seen in a long time.

The Warrior's second half performance was outstanding, and to keep the Roosters scoreless in the second half shows just how far the Warriors defense has come. Although to be fair, in recent weeks it seems anyone can keep the Roosters scoreless in the second forty.

The Storm were lucky to come away with the win on Saturday night. Inglis's last minute try was a heart breaker for Bronco's supporters, and you could tell how much it hurt them when you saw Lockyer's reaction.

It was a really tough week for the Broncos, with the sexual assault allegation against Hunt, Boyd and Thaiday, and then reports that Lockyer tackled a bar manager.

The loss sees the end of the Wayne Bennett era for the club, and although it wasn't the ideal send-off, you can't argue with the culture Bennett has established at Brisbane.

Here's a review of the Broncos and Roosters 2008 season:

Roosters (6th): When you think back to 2007, and the horror year that the Roosters went through then, you'd have to say that 2008 was a success. They got off to a great start, and began to look like the Roosters of a few years ago. Towards the end of the season, though, they started to get quite shaky, and their game started to suffer. To finish in the top eight is a huge improvement, and the way Brad Fittler is molding the club - well, let's just say that the future is looking a lot brighter than it was this time last year.

The only concern for the Roosters heading into 2009 is that they haven't made any decent signings - and when you consider the players they're losing, that may be a problem.

2009 Gains: Zero
2009 Losses: Anthony Tupou (Sharks), Davis Shillington (Raiders), Micky Paea (Dragons), Anthong Minichello (possibly leaving to play rugby in France, but it's not 100% at this stage)

Broncos (5th): Another solid year for the Broncos, but they'll be extremly disappointed to have lost to the Storm in the dying minutes. It's the end of an era at Brisbane, and it's hard to see them dominating the NRL in the years to come. Just look at who they're losing - Bennett (coach), Carroll, Ennis, Hannant, Boyd, Kemp and Eastwood. The club will essentially have to be re-built, and that won't be an easy task.

In saying that, any club with Lockyer and Hunt will be tough to beat - but without Bennett at the helm, we won't see them at their best in 2009. It's certainly going to be interesting to see how they adapt to life without Wayne.

2009 Gains: Israel Falou (Storm), Ben Te'o (Tigers), Aaron Gorrell (Les Catalans), Lagi Setu (Dragons)
2009 Losses: Michael Ennis (Bulldogs), Ben Hannant (Bulldogs), Darius Boyd (Dragons), Toni Carroll (retiring), Denan Kemp (Warriors), Joel Moon (Warriors), Shane Perry (Les Catalans), Greg Eastwood (Leeds)

Only four teams remain for 2008 - next week, we'll review the two who don't make it to the Grand Final.

Have a prediction? Head to our forum, and let us know.

What an absolutely brilliant comeback.

Down 13-6 at halftime, the Warriors unleashed in the second half to win 30-13, and in doing so send the Roosters packing for the 2008 season.

The Warriors were starved of quality possession in the first half, and despite scoring the opening try in the first couple of minutes, they were on the defensive for the rest of the half.

Their night wasn't looking that good, and their first half was summed up when the Roosters were awarded a penalty try. It was a lucky break for the Roosters - there's no way the video ref could say that Minichello would have definitely scored.

The Roosters looked the better of the two teams, but after half time that all changed.

The Warriors came out ready to play, and for the last forty minutes the Roosters never looked like they were in the game. It's the fifth week in a row that the Roosters have been held scoreless in the second half - a terrible stat when you're playing in the finals.

To put it nicely (like, really nicely), they were appalling.

The Warriors, on the other hand looked as good as they ever have, as they ground down the Roosters defensive line.

You could sense they were giving it all they had - Wiki's barnstorming run at Soiola was awesome, and he was literally screaming as he charged at the Roosters line.

The whole team lifted, and in the end that's what got them home.

Next up for the Warriors is a trip to the Sydney Football Stadium for a battle with the Manly Sea Eagles, which is going to be one hell of a battle.

While everyone is saying "It's just good they've got this far", we feel that bowing out one game away from the Grand Final would be hugely disappointing - and we're sure the Warriors won't be happy unless they make the Final.

They certainly have what it takes to beat the Sea Eagles, and the way the Warriors are playing at the moment - well, we wouldn't be putting money on the other team.

It's Round Two of the NRL playoffs this weekend, and it's do or die for all four teams.

On Friday night the Roosters will take on the Warriors at Mt. Smart, and this game has the makings of being a classic.

Clashes between these two teams are always something special - you only have to go back to last year's epic 31-all draw to see that there's not much between these two sides. Well - over the past few years, anyway.

After beating the Storm on Sunday, the Warriors will be heading into this game as favourites - but beware the side that takes the Roosters lightly. The Warriors cannot afford to ease up, or the Roosters will run away with the game.

The Warriors will have to shut down Mitchell Pierce, Braith Anasta, and the Roosters most lethal attacker, Anthony Tupou, if they want to win. If they can shut these three players down, they'll be well on their way.

Their defence has been improving steadily all year, and their efforts against the Storm have shown us that they can hold off the best attacking sides in the NRL.

The Roosters will have to stay composed if they want to beat the Warriors. They were in control of the Broncos last Friday, but let them back into the game in the second half - ultimately costing them a home game this week.

They need to get Tupou into the game early, and give him the ball so he can weave his magic. His ability to break the line could make the difference between the two sides, as could the kicking games of Pierce and Anasta. Last time these two teams met, we saw how important it is for the Warriors to put pressure on the two kickers.

We definitely think the Warriors can win this, and not just because we're Warriors fans. The Roosters form has been a little shaky lately, and their second half performance against the Broncos proves they still aren't playing anywhere near their best.

The Warriors home record towards the back end of the season has been impressive, and it wouldn't be a bad thing if they got a bit of rain on Friday night. It's odd, given their favoured style of play, but for some reason the Warriors play their best footy in wet conditions.

If Friday's clash is going to be exciting, then the game between the Broncos and the Storm is going to be off the charts. It's a rematch of the 2006 Grand Final, and we think the Broncos can once again upset the Storm. Or at least, we'd like them to.

The Storm will be hurting after their shock loss to the Warriors, and things won't be any easier when they face a red hot Broncos team, who will be looking to move on from their recent off-field dramas.

The Storm will need to play their natural game, and forget about what happened against the Warriors. If they try to play a different game to what they usually play, they're going to find themselves in a lot of trouble against this Broncos team.

The Broncos are playing with a lot of passion, which is being fuelled by the desire to send Wayne Bennett off on a high. The Broncos always play their best when someone influential is moving on - think, the 2006 Final, when they sent Shane Webke out on a high.

If we were the Broncos, we'd be looking at what the Warriors did to beat the Storm. Namely, getting right in their face, and trying to disrupt their flow. If they can do that, then they can come away with the win - and send the Storm packing.

Both games could easily be Grand Final matches, and we expect nothing short of that when they kickoff.

One thing's for sure - you don't want to miss this weekend's footie action.

The NRL is one of the toughest competitions in all of sport, and, due to the salary cap, is also one of the closest fought - there is talent spread across all 16 teams.

We thought we'd pick the NRL team of our era, which has included some of the greatest players to ever grace the rugby league field.

1. Darren Lockyer: Before becoming one of the games best five-eights, Lockyer was a fantastic fullback, and represented Queensland and Australia in the number one jersey. He's one of the games greatest thinkers, and is a constant threat to his opponents.

2. Matt Sing: Sing was a prolific try scorer, scoring 159 trys - the fifth highest in the NRL. He represented Queensland and Australia regularly between 1995 and 2005, before he left the NRL to play for Hull in the Super League.

3. Mal Meninga: How could we not pick Meninga? He's an absolute legend - a member of the rugby league Hall of Fame, and the NRL Team of the Century. He was an excellent attacker, and a very handy goal kicker. It would be a crime not to pick him.

4. Andrew Ettinghausen: ET was exceptionally fast, and used his speed to great effect. He could break through the defensive line with what seemed like ease, and once he was through it was almost impossible to catch him. He was a regular selection in both the NSW State of Origin team and the Kangaroos.

5. Wendell Sailor: Before switching codes, Sailor was one of the best wingers in the NRL. He transformed the way a winger was supposed to play (due to his massive size) and got rid of the idea that wingers had to be thin speed machines. He has looked good since returning to league this year, too.

6. Laurie Daley: We know everyone is expecting Wally Lewis, but Daley was the five-eighth we remember best from when we were growing up. He was the key weapon of the Raiders during their glory days, and the way he led the team was something special.

7. Andrew Johns: Probably the easiest pick of the lot. Joey is without a doubt the greatest player of the last decade. His ability to find a whole in the defence was incredible, as was his kicking game. The Knights were never the same team when Joey wasn't there.

8. Ruben Wiki: Wiki has brought the same physicality to the field for over 300 games. He is one of the toughest players to ever play the game, and one of the most passionate. He holds the record for Tests, playing 55 games for the Kiwis between 1994 and 2006.

9. Steve Walters: Walters was another key player of the Raiders during their glory days of the early 1990's. He went on to represent Queensland and Australia, along side his brothers, Kevin and Kerrod. He was named among the 100 greatest players of all time.

10. Paul Harrigon: The Chief was one of the hardest hitters of all time. He brought an intense physical presence to the Knights, as well as NSW and Australia. It's because of guys like Harrigon that we're passionate NSW supporters.

11. Sonny Bill Williams: Although his NRL career was pretty short, in that small amount of time he became one of the best players league has ever seen. He could attack like no one else, and his defence was rock solid. Just ask Joel Clinton how hard Sonny Bill could tackle...

12. Steve Menzies: Another 300 game veteran, who is still playing just as well today as he was over fifteen years ago. He is also a try scoring machine, scoring 178 trys - and there could be more to come, providing Manly stay in the finals.

13. Brad Fittler: Ok so we know he's out of position, but we couldn't leave him out of our team. Fittler is one of the games true legends. He was a handful on attack, and he had a knack of creating something from nothing. He also has the makings of a great coach, leading the Roosters to the playoffs this year.

Reserves: Danny Buderus, Gordon Tallis, Glenn Lazerus, Bradley Clyde.

Coach: Wayne Bennett - no one else comes close.

The 2008 NRL season is over for the Canberra Raiders and the St. George/Illawara Dragons, after both sides lost in the first round of the finals. Both teams will be extremely pleased with the way their season went, though - especially the Raiders, who were expected to win the wooden spoon.

As promised, here's a review of their season:

St. George/Illlawara Dragons (8th): The Dragons got off to a terrible start, and it looked like it was going to be another long season. However, after it was announced that Wayne Bennnett was going to be coaching the Dragons in 2009, things started to turn around - and the wins began to stack up. The high profile signing of Wendell Sailor was a massive boost for the club, as was the return to form of Jason Ryles, who had been struggling for the past couple of seasons.

They are losing some quality players like Gasnier and Ryles, but they have also recruited well, and should be able to build on their 2008 season. The loss of Mark Gasnier is massive, but things are certainly looking up for the Dragons in 2009.

2009 Gains: Michael Weyman (Raiders), Jeremy Smith (Storm), Luke Priddis (Panthers), Neville Costigan (Raiders), Darius Boyd (Broncos), Matt Head (Tigers)
2009 Losses: Mark Gasnier (French Rugby), Jason Ryles (Les Catalans), Simon Woolford (midseason, retirement), Josh Morris (Bulldogs), Lagi Setu (Broncos), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Ben Rodgers (Knights), Kirk Reynoldson (retirement)


Canberra Raiders (7th): What a season for the boys from the capital. Everyone was picking the Raiders to take the wooden spoon, but they have shown that they are a team on the rise. They have unearthed some good young talent, and will only get better over the next few years. While they are losing their coach, Neil Henry, they are gaining former Raider David Furner, who will be looking to return the Raiders to the glory days of the 1990's.

The season wasn't without it's controversy, with Todd Carney getting sacked for numerous alcohol related problems - but they maintained their composure to cruise into the playoffs. They'll need to work on their defence in 2009, and if they can, they'll be poised to go even further.

It's just great to see the green machine getting back to the top.

2009 Gains: Stuart Flanagan (Tigers), David Shillington (Roosters)
2009 Losses: William Zillman (Titans), Michael Dobson (midseason, Hull), Michael Weyman (Dragons), Ryan Hinchcliffe (Storm), Colin Best (Rabbitohs), Marshall Chalk (Celtic Crusaders - new Super League team), Todd Carney (midseason, sacked/Wigan), Neville Costigan (Dragons), Lincoln Withers (Celtic Crusaders)

Stay tuned for more team reviews, as the remaining teams drop out of the last six.

This Sunday the Warriors will face their biggest game of the year, when they take on the Minor Premiers, the Melbourne Storm.

The Warriors can't afford to lose this game - if they do, it's all over for 2008.

Beating the Storm in Melbourne is tough - very tough, in fact, and the Warriors will have to play out of their skins to progress to the second round of the finals. But, if there's one team that could cause an upset, it's the Warriors.

They are the one team no one wants to play in the finals - you just don't know which Warrior's side is going to show up. Sure, you could beat them by fifty points, but there's also a good chance the Warriors could blow you off the field.

For the Warriors to win on Sunday, they will have to shut down the Storm's best attacking machine, Billy Slater. Slater has been in the best form of his career, and if it wasn't for a one-game suspension (which cost him three player points) he would have won the Dally M award (which instead went to Manly's Matt Orford).

Slater is a dangerous runner, and can cause problems from anywhere on the field - which is why the Warriors will have to be right up on him at all times.

They'll also have to watch Greg Inglis, who is just as dangerous as Slater on attack.

But with Michael Luck, Simon Mannering and Ian Henderson in our defensive line, we should be able to shut down the Storm's attacking weapons.

The Storm definitely go into the game as red hot favourites, but don't count the Warriors out yet - they'll be wanting to send Wiki and Swann out on a high note, and what better way than by winning the Premiership?

(We know - we're being very optimistic...)

The Warriors have good experience at finals footy, playing in five out of the last eight playoffs - which is a great record, considering that only two other teams have played in more over the past eight years.

There's so much on the line, but they might just be the dark horse of the eight remaining teams...

We're right behind you boys!

It's a case of 'better luck next year' for the eight sides who didn't cut the mustard in the NRL this year.

While the best eight sides live to fight another day, that's it for the bottom eight in 2008. For these teams, there's nothing left to do but enjoy summer, and start planning for next year.

We thought we'd take a look at the sides that were on the wrong side of the eight, and have a look at what went wrong:

Newcastle Knights (9th): The Knights were 'oh so close' to playing September footy, but were pipped at the post by the Warriors. After last year, though, you'd have to say 2008 has been a great improvement, and Brian Smith looks to be developing some strong talent. The biggest improvement for the Knights is that they've learned to win without the great Andrew Johns, which is something they've struggled to do in years gone by. Unfortunately, next year they'll have to learn to win without Danny Buderus.
2009 Gains: Issac De Gois (Sharks), Ben Rogers (Dragons)
2009 Losses: Danny Buderus (Leeds), Chris Bailey (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Sargent (midseason, Castleford), Matt White (Titans)

Wests Tigers (10th): Consistency has once again plagued the Tiger's season. They are capable of beating most sides in the competition, but have let themselves down with some terrible defencive efforts. If they can sort out their defence, 2009 will be a lot better for West's fans.
2009 Gains: Gareth Ellis (Leeds), Josh Lewis (Titans)
2009 Losses: Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield), Nick Youngquest (midseason, Bulldogs), Luke Harlen (midseason, Cowboys), Ben Te'o (Broncos), Matt Head (Dragons), Ryan O'Hara (Celtic Crusaders)

Parramatta Eels (11th): After coming so close last year, the Eels have been disappointing in 2008. They've been their own worst enemies for most of the season, and just when it looked as though they were getting back to winning ways, they slumped again. And, once again, they have recruited poorly.
2009 Gains: No One!
2009 Losses: Tim Smith (midseason, Wigan), Mark Riddell (Wigan), Tony Williams (Sea Eagles), Chad Robinson (London Harlequins), Daniel Wagon (French Rugby League)

Penrith Panthers (12th): Last year's wooden spooners made a good surge for the Top 8 during the middle of the year, but began to slip down the ladder towards the end of the regular season. For a team that boasts such a strong side, 12th place is not a good finish. 2009 isn't shaping up any better, either.
2009 Gains: Gavin Cooper (Titans)
2009 Losses: Tony Puletua (St. Helens), Richie Williams (sacked midseason), Joe Williams (midseason, Bulldogs), Luke Rooney (French Rugby), Luke Priddis (Dragons), Rhys Wesser (Rabbitohs), Shane Rodney (Sea Eagles)

Gold Coast Titans (13th): The Titans were on top early on in the season, but as the weeks went by they began to slip further and further down the table. This was mainly due to injuries, although the fact that they struggle to win away from home isn't helping their cause. They've definitely shown they deserve to be in the NRL, and will be a real threat if they can avoid injuries.
2009 Gains: William Zillman (Raiders), Sam Tagataese (Storm)
2009 Losses: Matt Peterson (midseason, Wakefield), Michael Hodgson (Bulldogs), Luke Lewis (Tigers), Clint Amos (Cowboys), Gavin Cooper (Panthers), Luke Swain (Salford), Kris Khaler (Pia Donkeys), Matt Cross (Storm)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (14th): A woeful start to 2008 for a side that's promised to back up on 2007. They made a good fightback, but it was too little too late. They have a lot to work on for 2009.
2009 Gains: Colin Best (Raiders), Rhys Wesser (Panthers)
2009 Losses: Ben Rodgers (midseason, Dragons), Manase Manuokafoa (Cowboys), Dean Widders (Castleford), Jeremy Smith (Salford)

North Queensland Cowboys (15th): A horror of a year for the Cowboys. Graham Murray was sacked as coach, he walked away midseason, and still they couldn't win a game - this is one season they'll want to forget in a hurry. But, it wasn't all about the coach - the players were the real culprits. They played poorly all year, and never looked like the Cowboys of recent times.
2009 Gains: Willie Tonga (Bulldogs), Manase Manuokafoa (Rabbitohs), Luke Harlen (midseason, Tigers), Clint Amos (Titans), Antonio Kaufusi (Storm)
2009 Losses: David Faiumu (midseason, Huddersfield), Jacob Lillyman (Warriors), Ray Cashmere (Salford Reds), Sione Faumuina (Castleford), Mark Henry (Salford Reds), Justin Smith (Retired)

Canterbury Bulldogs (16th): Another side that will want to forget all about 2008. Their poor performances have been overshadowed by the Sonny Bill Williams saga, but it's no excuse for the way they've been playing - they thoroughly deserve the wooden spoon for 2008. 2009 looks a lot brighter, as they've recruited a lot of talent. And, of course - it can only get better from here.
2009 Gains: Michael Ennis (Broncos), Ben Hanannt (Broncos), Brett Kimorley (Sharks), Josh Morris (Dragons), Michael Hodgson (Titans), Joe Williams (midseason, Panthers)
2009 Losses: Willie Tonga (Cowboys), Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon), Corey Hughs (Sharks), Cameron Phelps (midseason, Wigan), Nick Youngquest (midseason, French Rugby), Justin Tsoulos (midseason, retired), Arana Taumata (Storm)

Stay tuned - we'll review the other sides as they drop out of the Top 8.

The Melbourne Storm have once again claimed the NRL minor premiership, with a 42-4 thrashing of the Rabbitohs last night.

After last week's loss to the Knights, the Storm looked to have blown their chances at the minor premiership, giving the Sea Eagles a shot at the $100k bonus prize.

Their chances weren't helped by the Sea Eagles win over the Panthers on Saturday night, which meant the Storm had to win by a margin of 26 points to claim first place.

Fortunately for them, the woeful Bunnies put up no challenge - and the Storm were easily able to surpass the 26 point mark.

They will now head into round one of the playoffs against the Warriors, who beat the Eels to secure the final spot in the playoffs - who ended the Knights 2008 season by doing so.

The Warriors will need to play the game of their lives if they want to beat the Storm, but if there's one side in the playoffs that can cause a few upsets, it's definitely the Warriors. In saying that, though - they could very well find themselves on the wrong side of a fired up Storm unit.

But, that's the beauty of the Warriors - you never quite know what you're gonna get.

The Sea Eagles will be disappointed not to win the minor premiership, but at this stage of the year all that really matters is that you're in the Top 8. They'll take on the St. George/Illawara Dragons in a battle between 2nd and 7th.

What a comeback it's been for the Dragons, who were really struggling at the beginning of the year. And, whilst their chances of beating the Sea Eagles are pretty slim - stranger things have happened.

The Sharks finished the year in 3rd place, which gives them a home game against the Canberra Raiders - the surprise team in this year's competition.

The Raiders are playing fantastic footy, and pose a real threat to the other seven sides. They'll need to work on their defence, which has been lacking at times this year, but there is a real chance of an upset in this game.

The Roosters have finally returned to the NRL playoffs after a few years in the wilderness, but their form of late has been average at best - and it doesn't help that they face the Broncos, who will be looking to finish the year with one last Grand Final win under the guidance of Wayne Bennett.

With the lowest placed losers dropping out from the first round of action, it's hard to see the Warriors and Dragons progressing to the second round. Both teams will have to be at their best to knock off the Storm and Sea Eagles, but the fact that they're there means they have a chance - and that's all that matters at this stage.

We've waited 26 rounds, sports fans, and now the real excitement begins. September footy is here!

The Warriors have kept their season hopes alive, with another hard fought win on Saturday night.

The Broncos came to town looking to move into the top four, but found a Warriors side desperate to keep their good form going - and in the end, the Warriors managed to scrape through with a 16-12 win.

The Broncos arrived in Auckland without Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Toni Carroll and David Stagg, but with the likes of Darren Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt and Peter Wallace on the field, they'll be disappointed not to come away with the win.

The Warriors, on the other hand, welcomed backed Wade McKinnon - who managed to play eighty minutes, and score a try on his long awaited return. Wade ran for over 150m in an impressive performance, and will only get better over the next few weeks.

Michael Witt also had an impressive return to first grade, and although his usually reliable goal kicking was off target, he tackled well and gave the Warriors good field position with his general kicking.

Ben Matulino and Witt scored the other two trys for the Warriors, while Ben Hannant and Denan Kemp scored for the Broncos.

It was great to get a look at Kemp, and to see what he'll bring to the Warriors next year. He's an exciting young player with a gift for hunting out the try line, and he certainly has the potential to make a great Warrior in the years to come.

The Warriors have to face the Sharks next week, which will be even tougher. The Sharks are sitting in the top four, and are a real chance of winning the Premiership this year.

It's do or die for the Warriors, but if they can continue their form from Auckland, there's no reason they can't beat the Sharks.

With the Warriors already picking up wins against the Storm and Broncos over the last few weeks, they have another chance to pick up top scalp.

We can't wait.

Can the Warriors continue their march to the finals?

You better believe they can, and yesterday's hard fought win over the Storm (the reigning premiers, no less) shows they're still in with a good chance of a finals spot.

The Warriors have won four games in a row, and their recent form has been well timed as the race for the Top 8 heats up.

The Storm are never easy, and today was certainly no different - the 8-6 scoreline shows just how close this one was. Really, the fourty meter penalty from Lance Hohia was the only thing separating the two sides.

The Warriors defence has improved remarkably over the past five-six weeks, and if they can make the Top 8 they're a real chance of matching it with the top four sides in the comp.

Next up on the Warriors hunting list - the Bunnies.

In other NRL news, Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams has walked away from his current five year contract, after serving only one year of it. He has apparently signed a two year deal with Toulon, a French rugby side (Tana Umaga's team), for around 3.4 million dollars.

The Bulldogs bosses are looking at taking legal action, and news of the courts becoming involved has surfaced today.

NRL boss David Gallop has stated that he fully supports the Bulldogs in whatever they decide to do - and at this stage, the future isn't looking too good for Williams.

Gallop has talked about a lifetime ban from the NRL, and if they hold Williams to his contract, he won't be playing in either code.

It's just at that point with Williams, isn't it? He thinks he's bigger than the game, and unfortunately he's about to learn the hard way that once you sign a contract - you see it out.

It's a real shame to lose a star like Sonny Bill (especially for the Kiwis!), but at the end of the day, you can't let players do whatever they like, when they like. He's an employee - are other employees you know that reckless? We think not.

Time to get your priorities straight, Sonny (ha) - it's not all about the money, baby.

The Warriors continue to make a charge for the top eight, with a convincing 40-22 win over the woeful Bulldogs on Saturday night. While they did fall asleep for thirty minutes of the second half (allowing the Bulldogs to creep back to 30-22 with ten minutes to go - *shudder*) the Warrior's first half display was near perfect.

They came out fired up, and completely blew the Doggies away, scoring six trys within the opening forty minutes. It was a case of everything that could go right, did go right - which was the complete opposite for the Bulldogs, who struggled to make their tackles and complete their sets.

The Dogs did manage to fight back in the second half, but were always going to struggle to haul in the massive deficit that the Warriors had set up. Hazem el Masri managed to score a double, which brought him within striking distance of Andrew Johns' record for points scoring. Hazem will be looking to overtake Joey by the end of the season - IF the Dogs can manage to score some points.

The Warriors looked like the Warriors of 2002 (when they made the Grand Final) and if they continue to play this way, there's a good chance that they can make the eight. Although, as we've mentioned before, they have one of the toughest runs home - starting with the Storm this weekend.

Rookie Malo Solamona crossed the line for a hat-trick, while Hohia, Price, Sonny Fai, Kirk and Rapira all scored in the impressive display.

Brent Tate continued his good form as he made easy work of the Bulldogs defence, which was below average. It really didn't help them that Sonny Bill didn't play.

They'll need to be on top of their game if they're to stand any chance of knocking off the Storm, but being back at home will help them.

From this point on, it's one game at a time - and realistically, they can't afford to lose due to the closeness of the NRL this year. With the Raiders and Tigers picking up wins over the weekend, the race for the top eight is shaping up to be one of the closest battles in recent years.

The Rabbitoh's season looks to be over after being mauled by the Tigers, who ended a four game losing streak. It's been an incredible turn around by the Bunnies, but the loss all but ends their chance of a top eight finish. It will take some kind of miracle for them to play in this years playoffs, but stranger things have happened...this IS the NRL.

Whatever happens, it's going to make for some great viewing over the next few weeks.