NSW Super League Finals Week 1 Preview

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While the premiers Parramatta Eagles take a well deserved break, the other four clubs involved meet in two very tantalising fixtures.
Northern Tigers meet St George at Mills Park in the qualifying final. The league standings saw the Tigers finish second, somewhat comfortably in the end, five points behind Parramatta but also five ahead of St George.  They have hit their straps at just the right time too, having gained maximum points in their final four games, scoring nine and conceding only one, and that an own goal.
With Max Glanville hitting the net quite regularly recently, the Saints will have to keep an eye on the speedy youngster, who has pace to burn. Glanville started the season as a member of the Under 20s, so his eight goals to date in Super League is an excellent achievement.
But Glanville is not the Tigers? top scorer. That mantle belongs to striker Tom Spencer who finished the regular season with eleven to his credit. Add captain Paul Davies, with seven, not to mention Sungyun Park, and the Tigers have quite a few who can hit the back of the net.
Their defence is solid too, only twenty six goals being conceded over the season. That though, matches the ?goals against? column of their opponents St George, so how it pans out this weekend, we can only wait.
The Saints finished the season in their highest placing since being in Super League, though they have contested the semis on two previous occasions. A run of five consecutive wins lifted St George up the table, setting the scene for the final run in. They have been helped recently by the goals, and return to form, of Juan Chavez, last seasons Golden Boot winner, while Denis Cutura and Christian Cevenini have also hit the back of the net in recent weeks. It is a strong strike force, and one which can threaten Northern Tigers. Cutura, with six goals, leads the way as the top St George marksman.
This match should be one well worth watching, as both sides like to play a passing game. No doubt credit for this can go to the opposing coaches Jason Eager (Northern Tigers) and Nick Orlic (St George). While the two sides started the season somewhat slowly, particularly the Tigers, both have come good at the right time of year. The Tigers just shade their opponents this season with a win and a draw but they have both been close games and it could go either way this weekend.
The other match on Sunday is no less interesting and has the added tension of being a knockout.
The reigning champions Spirit FC take on the visiting Macarthur Rams at Christie Park having just earned their way into the five in the final fortnight. Macarthur came over the top of FC Bossy Liverpool to take the fifth spot and so both clubs will be keen to extend their season even further after having done the hard work to get this far.
The main man for the Rams is of course this season?s Golden Boot winner, Sam Messam. The tall striker hit twenty goals this season, his first at the club, and it will take a tough Spirit backline to keep him under wraps. Messam scored almost half of the Rams? total goals this year, fourteen goals clear of Chris Gomez. But while Spirit will need to keep a close eye on him, both Gomez and Alvaro Malmierca have scored their fair share too. 
Spirit FC lead of course with their men from last year, Tim Simpson and Leo Papanicoloau, ably assisted by Ben Gough. While the goals haven?t been as prevalent as they were last season, it would be a brave opposition who didn?t keep a close watch on the front three. The Spirit defence has tightened up somewhat recently too, and went their final three games without conceding. They will look to their captain Paul Nicolau to keep that run intact.
The two sides met in the opening round to this season, a 2-2 draw at Lynwood Park. But the return fixture saw the Rams triumph 3-0 so they know that they can do the job.
Like all finals matches, it is bound to be close, but it will only be the winner that progresses.
-By Peter Rowney