2009 Super League Grand Final Preview

Parramatta Eagles, who just failed to snare the Premiership on goal difference, will be keen to make amends after having lost last year?s season decider. Spirit FC, who finished the regular season in third, will compete in their first Super League Grand Final, in this their first Super League season.
Both sides met in the preliminary semi final at Melita Stadium three weeks ago in a cracker of a game which saw Parramatta eventually taking out the tie 2-1 after extra time.
Spirit had been reduced to ten men by the time Parramatta scored the winner but captain Paul Nicolaou returned to the side last weekend for the Final win over Rockdale.
Apart from the odd suspension, Spirit?s first team virtually picks itself with coach Jason van Blerk being able to rely on a very settled and structured defence where the likes of Daniel Cunningham, Ross Kethel, Lachlan Harte as well as Nicolau have ensured that Spirit have one of the meanest defences in the league. Murray Nelson in goal has also shown a more than capable pair of hands this season and it will need to be an on-fire Parramatta if they wish to break through this backline.
In the centre, Spirit will look to the hard working Adam and Matthew Peatey to support the front running pair of Tim Simpson and Leo Papanicolaou. These two strikers have continued to combine well this season having scored twenty goals between them during the regular season.
It was Papanicolaou?s double last weekend which saw Rockdale eliminated and the rise in class in this competition, after having gained promotion from the first division last season, has not reduced their effectiveness.
For all of Spirit?s strengths though, Parramatta will be confident that they have their measure. In the three games played this season, the Eagles have triumphed on two occasions, in the preliminary semi and the Round 12 clash at Melita. A 2-2 draw at Christie Park on the opening day of the season has been the only time that Spirit has matched the Eagles on the scoresheet.
Parramatta will no doubt look to their captain, Ben Delicata to lead the way. Delicata has been in excellent form during the finals series, prompting and directing play from his midfield heartland. The recent return of Fred Graham upfront has created more opportunities for the Eagles and if the semi against Spirit was any indication, the chances will be there. And if Graham isn?t on the end of them, there will be a good chance that Mario Ghobrial will be.
At the back, Parramatta will be bound to excel. They had the best defence in the league during the season, conceding only 20 goals in their 22 games. The safe hands of Stacy Alogdellis, a keeper with extensive state league experience, brings confidence to the Parramatta backline, led ably by Daniel Borg and Patrick Gatt.
They will need to be at their very best to annul the Spirit threat so it all points to a thrilling encounter come Grand Final day.
-By Peter Rowney