Heavyweights ... will Sam Burgess and James Maloney clash in the 2013 grand final? Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
An NRL grand final between foundation clubs Sydney Roosters and South Sydney would be "great for the game", according to Bryan Fletcher, and the former player for both clubs believes it's now a very good chance of happening.
While Fletcher concedes it's still very early in the season to be predicting who'll face-off in the decider, he sees all the signs that both are genuine premiership contenders, and it's hard to argue with one and two on the ladder after nine rounds.
After another convincing win over a top four contender on the weekend, the Rabbitohs have now been installed outright premiership favourites, just ahead of Melbourne Storm and the Roosters.
While the Bunnies have been there or thereabouts for the last couple of seasons, the Roosters have looked anything but a title contender since their last grand final appearance in 2010.
A fierce competitior, Roosters chairman Nick Politis knew something had to change, and he orchestrated a complete make-over of the club at the end of last season.
After sacking Brian Smith, Politis brought in the unheralded Trent Robinson to take the reins of a new-look team that included Sonny Bill Williams, James Maloney, Michael Jennings and Luke O'Donnell.
The transition has been just about seamless and, after finally beating a genuine contender in Manly on Monday night, Fletcher believes the Roosters are now entitled to crow loudly from the rooftops.
"They turned up to play Manly, who are really physical, and they were again last night, and I think it's proven that they're probably the real deal this year, the Chooks," Fletcher told foxsports.com.au on Tuesday.
"They've got the best defence in the competition and I think that's because they've become a very mobile side under Trent Robinson.
"If you look at the front-rowers from Monday night, Martin Kennedy and Jared Waerea-Hargereaves; Jared was a backrower growing up, so everyone's mobile and they're quick across the field.
"They're playing that sliding defence so they've got enough pace to get to the attackers and push them over the sideline or shut them down.
"Robbo's really working to their strengths."
Like most experts, Fletcher subscribes to the theory that premierships are won in defence and in that respect the Roosters have been peerless so far in 2013.
In fact the 86 points they've conceded at a tick under 10 per game is something to behold in the modern game and they were at it again on Monday night, keeping Manly to just four points on their home fortress.
The Sea Eagles spent sustained periods of the game hot on attack and on several occasions broke the line only to be chased down by a desperate cover tackle.
While an argument could be made that those half chances would have been finished off by the predatory instincts of Brett Stewart is he wasn't out injured, it also said a lot for the Roosters' attitude under Robinson, as well as their fitness.
"In the last year they were a bit off the pace and I think they had a really brutal off-season and it's paying dividends," Fletcher said.
"When you're fit you can get back there and the fact that they're a quick side with the likes of Michael Jennings and Roger Tuivasa Sheck, and even in the halves, Mitchell Pearce is pretty quick.
"When you combine pace with fitness you can certainly get back there and cover like they did last night."
But if anyone has the firepower this season to run through the Roosters' brick wall, it's the Rabbitohs, as they did when the local rivals clashed in round one.
After falling one game short of a grand final appearance in 2012, the Rabbitohs have taken their game to the next level this season and Fletcher has noticed a change in style in their attack that he believes will revolutionise the game.
"They always say it's the forwards that win you games and this pack is just about revolutionising the way the game's played," Fletcher said.
"A lot of teams are taught to surrender to try to get a quick play-the-ball in the hope that the dummy half can get out and challenge the line or they can set-up a good kick down field.
"The thing about the Souths forwards is they're getting quick play-the-balls but they're doing it by pumping their legs through the tackle.
"So whereas other sides go down and surrender, the Rabbitohs are getting quick plays even more effectively just through brute power and speed."
The contrasting styles could add up to a potent cocktail if the pair meet on grand final day and Fletcher predicts it will be enough to get Roosters fans "out of the cafes".
"It would be great for the game. You couldn't get a stadium big enough," Fletcher said.
"I played for both clubs and it would be huge for the area. The Roosters sometimes get criticised for having not many supporters but if it was a Souths-Rabbitohs grand final I think the crowd would be pretty split down the middle.
"The Roosters supporters would get out of the cafes and come and watch."
And who would the man who played most of his footy with the Roosters but finished his career with the Rabbitohs, who he grew up supporting, cheer for?
"I'm watching the footy and Anthony Minichiello's the only player left (at the Roosters) who I played with," Fletcher said.
"Whenever the two clubs meet I can't lose but If Mini's playing on grand final day I'll be cheering for the Chooks, but only for that reason."
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