The Sporting Day: Bulldogs-Melbourne, Friday Night Football

This Friday, two heavyweights will collide. Like The Rumble in the Jungle, two titans will meet to fight for superiority and respect. There is little doubt that the Ali and Foreman of modern rugby league are the Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bulldogs. No two sides illicit more fear. No two teams garner more respect. They are the two big dogs on the block, the two bullies who instill apprehension.

This clash has the makings of a Grand Final. This may well be a preview of The Big One.

The Melbourne Storm have been the benchmark over the last few seasons. They are brilliant and tough, flashy and intimidating. They look strong all across the park and have few discernable weaknesses. They have a coach whom history will regard as one of the finest ever and a home ground that strikes terror into all opponents. The likes of Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and boom rookie Israel Folau can score from anywhere on the paddock and pose a constant threat to opposition defensive lines. The Storm lack nothing in playmaking ability with Cooper Cronk, a halfback who is on the up-and-up. Up front, the mix of go and grunt is perfect. The likes of lock Dallas Johnson and the incomparable Cameron Smith and their tireless tackling efforts perfectly compliment the big boppers of Ben Cross, Brett White and Ryan Hoffman, who hit the line with the force of a hurricane. Even the bit players play their role to perfection.

If the Storm have been the benchmark, it is the Bulldogs who have lurked in the reeds like a crocodile ready to strike. The Bulldogs have been inconsistent but always capable of anything. They know it, opponents know it. Their strength is up front and that is where the Bulldogs win and lose games. The power and fearsome intimidation of Willie Mason and Mark O’Meley give opposition players nightmares. The sheer audacity of Sonny Bill Williams leads to a severe dose of cold sweating by opponents and uncontrollable gasping by fans. The toughness of Andrew Ryan, the Mr-Fix-It nature of Reni Maitua. If this Unit of Domination dominates, the likes of Luke Patten and Hazem El Masri can put the points on the board to assure victory.

This Friday night affair will be brutal and will be remembered for a long time by participants and spectators alike. The aura of finals football will fill Telstra Stadium with all aware that there is a very real possibility that the two will again meet on that same turf some six weeks later. Both clubs realise the importance, all supporters know the score.

While the Dogs have always held a grand advantage over the Melbourne Storm, in recent times, the tide has turned. Between 2000 and 2005, the Storm won only one of eleven and were generally regarded to be outmatched by the Bulldogs. Not anymore. The Storm have won the last three over the Bulldogs, touching them up in two of those affairs. When the two teams met in May at Olympic Park, the Storm put on a dazzling display of rugby league, winning 38-14.

Saying that, the Storm have struggled in recent weeks while the Dogs have lifted. They have the taste of September in their teeth and a Bulldogs side with that taste is very difficult to beat. Sonny Bill Williams is playing the best football of his career and all the key Dogs stars are playing at levels near their best. This one will be a close affair marked by heavy hits and forceful defence and that suits the Dogs just fine.

For any lover of sport, this game is something to get very excited about.

© 2007 Punting Ace.com