With the 2008 NRL season done and dusted, there remains only two teams to review - the Manly Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm. We all know which of these two teams had the better season...

Manly Sea Eagles (1st): This season could not have gone any better for Des Hasler's boys. They were determined to erase the memory of 2007, and have done so in spectacular fashion. Going into the final, a lot of people thought that they couldn't beat the Storm - especially away from Brookvale. Well - they proved all their critics wrong, didn't they?

Throughout the whole season, only one player made his debut for the club (David "Wolfman" Williams), and that shows how much depth the club has. They are losing some veterans of the club, though, and next year will certainly be a good test of how well the club has prepared for life without Menzies, Bell, Williamson and Bryant.

For now, though, they can bask in the glory of their 2008 season.

2009 Gains: Chris Bailey (Knights), Tony Williams (Eels), Shane Rodney (Panthers)
2009 Losses: Steve "Beaver" Menzies (Bradford), Steven Bell (Les Catalans), Luke Williamson (London Harlequins), Mark Bryant (Celtic Crusaders).

Melbourne Storm (2nd): When you think about what was expected of the Storm this year, you'd have to say that the season was a failure. They were favourites to win right from the beginning of the year, but by the time the playoffs came around they were starting to look very shaky. They did, however, win the Minor Premiership - and that shows that they are still a classy side. And, although they too are losing some key players for 2009, only a fool would bet against them. They've developed a winning culture, and it shows no sign of ending any time soon.

They'll be able to put this year behind them, and start looking to how they plan on regaining their title next year. They have such a strong team - with the likes of Smith, Slater, Inglis, Hoffman and Cronk, they'll be able to make a strong fight for the Premiership in 2009.

2009 Gains: Ryan Hinchcliff (Raiders), Arana Taumata (Bulldogs), Matt Cross (Titans), William Isa (Panthers)
2009 Losses: Matt Geyer (Retiring), Israel Falou (Broncos), Jeremy Smith (Dragons), Michael Crocker (Hull), Sam Tagataese (Titans), Antonio Kaufusi (Cowboys), Liam Foran (Warriors), Russell Aitken (French Rugby League)

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...

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 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.

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!