10 reasons to be excited about the 2017 NRL Finals

The 2017 NRL finals are almost upon us! And even if your team won't be competing, there are still plenty of things to be excited about. Now, of course, this is only one man speaking so if you have anything thing else that you are looking forward to this NRL finals series, please leave it in the comments. Parramatta back on the big stage [caption id="attachment_25325" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Tim Mannah of the Eels during the round 20 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Parramatta Eels at Cbus Super Stadium on July 23, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Getty Images)[/caption] After 8 years out of the NRL finals series, the Parramatta Eels are back and are in it to win it! The last time the Eels were in the finals they made the grand final unfortunately losing to the Melbourne Storm 23-16. During the Eels time out of the finals, they finished last on the NRL ladder in 2012 and 2013. They were not helped by the multiple scandals they faced over this period of time and the loss of their “golden son” Jarryd Hayne who went to play in the NFL in late 2014. That is now all behind them as the Eels now look to push forward and attempt to become the 2017 NRL premiers. It will be interesting to see this Parramatta squad in the finals as most of them do not have finals experience, so it will be exciting to see players like Semi Radrada and Mitchell Moses getting a taste of finals footy. Another exciting aspect is that Parramatta is the team that has gone the longest amount of time without winning a premiership. The last time they won a premiership was in 1986 which was 31 years ago, meaning it would be one of the great rugby league return to glory stories if they were to win this year's premiership. Battle of the West in the Finals! [caption id="attachment_28649" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Bryce Cartwright of the Panthers offloads the ball during the round eight NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)[/caption] Penrith versus Parramatta, the two towns that epitomise the west of Sydney, the loser’s season is over, the winner has a shot at winning the Provan-Summons trophy! If results go a certain way for the rest of the season there is a good possibility that the Parramatta Eels (who would be 5th) will face the Penrith Panthers (who would be 8th) in the first week of the NRL finals series, with the loser eliminated. It is common knowledge that the Panthers and Eels have had a long standing rivalry which began all the way back in 1967 when the Panthers entered the NRL (then known as the NSWRL). This rivalry has since been dubbed “the Battle of the West” as these two teams play within close proximity of each other in Western Sydney which today is known as rugby league royal ground. Not only will these two teams be playing to be the pride of Western Sydney, but they will also be playing for higher stakes as the winner not only has bragging rights but moves on to the second week of the finals. The loser, however, will have to head back home with their tail between their legs (pun very much intended). Potential for big crowds [caption id="attachment_28650" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: An image of Cameron Smith of the Storm is seen in the crowd before during the 2016 NRL Grand Final match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] As we know (especially with the bigger stadiums), crowds have gotten smaller in regular season games for the past few years. It is always good to see crowds cracking at least 20,000 in NRL finals games over the past few years and this year should be no exception. With intriguing possible matchups like the aforementioned battle of the west and others that will be mentioned later who knows a number of people that will be at each game. Brisbane generally gets big crowds anyway, but could you imagine that plus the people that are there to experience finals footy? How about Melbourne fans coming in droves to support the era that's having its last hurrah with Cooper Cronk set to leave the Storm. The Big 3’s final curtain call as a collective [caption id="attachment_20691" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk of Storm pose with the trophy during the lap of honour after winning the 2012 NRL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on September 30, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] With Cooper Cronk leaving the Melbourne Storm at the conclusion of the 2017 NRL season this finals series will be the last time Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will play club footy together in a finals series. The Storm will now have the added incentive (like they need another) to make sure Cooper Cronk’s last moments at the Storm are of him, Smith and Slater holding the Proven Summons trophy representing the Melbourne Storm as the 2017 NRL premiers. These three have been playing together as a unit since 2006 dominating the NRL, and although you may not like them you have to respect what they have done in the years they spent together at the Melbourne Storm. Potential 2016 Grand Final Replay [caption id="attachment_26415" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Paul Gallen of the Sharks and Cameron Smith of the Melbourne Storm shake hands before the round six NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks at AAMI Park on April 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)[/caption] The Cronulla Sharks beating the Melbourne Storm in the 2016 NRL Grand Final will go down in history after the Sharks won their first ever grand final after 50 years in the NRL. If these two teams meet in the finals it will most likely be in the first week with the Melbourne Storm (who would be 1st) hosting the Cronulla Sharks (who would be 4th) in a finals match that would determine who goes straight to the grand final qualifier and who would have to play in an elimination final the next week. Another bonus is that because they would be playing in the first week of the finals, it means that they could then face in the grand final! Imagine that Storm vs Sharks II. The Melbourne Storm seeking revenge for the 2016 grand final loss and looking to send Cooper Cronk off a champion. However, the Cronulla Sharks will be looking to be the first team since the Broncos in 1992-93 (Broncos 1997-98 victories do not count as they were in 2 different competitions) to win back to back NRL premierships. Potential 2015 Grand Final Replay [caption id="attachment_20522" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Ben Hunt of the Broncos reacts after defeat during the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)[/caption] The possibility of this matchup just had to make the list. The Broncos vs the Cowboys, these two teams have had great battles with less than 4 points scored in each game they have played since the 2015 NRL Grand Final. If they do face off in the finals its will most likely be in the second week of the finals with the Broncos (who would be 3rd) taking on the Cowboys (who would be 6th) in front of an almost be a guaranteed sell out crowd. There is also the potential for these two heavyweights of rugby league to face off in the grand final. Miracle at the foot of the mountains [caption id="attachment_28149" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 04: Nathan Cleary and Matt Moylan of the Panthers celebrate atry scored by Corey Harawira-Naera during the round 13 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium on June 4, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] The Penrith Panthers, a team with a great club culture and a great legacy have been on the brink of becoming the NRL’s next dominant team since 2014 but have been unable to win the premiership during this time. The two time NRL premiers have been in a mini return to glory over the past few years, making the 2014 grand final qualifier, making the 2016 semi-final and being tied favourites with the Melbourne Storm to win the premiership at the start of the 2017 season. Penrith is looking likely to steal the 8th spot on the ladder at the end of the season and are unpredictable. If all their players put in a 100% effort, they could potentially go far in this year’s final series. Manly return to glory [caption id="attachment_28135" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Daly Cherry-Evans of the Sea Eagles looks on after a Warriors try during the round 17 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors at nib Stadium on July 1, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)[/caption] Okay okay, not many people like Manly, but it will be interesting to see if they can return to their former glory that they had between 2008-2013. Manly won the premiership in 2008, 2011 and losing to the Sydney Roosters in the 2013 Grand Final. Will players such as Daly Cherry-Evans, Martin Taupau and Akuila Uate be able to deal with the pressure of returning Many to the promise land? Guess we’ll just have to find out. Player of the Finals? [caption id="attachment_28535" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - MAY 13: Nathan Cleary of the Panthers watches on during the round 10 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the New Zealand Warriors at Pepper Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] Who will be the in-form player in the 2017 NRL finals series? Could it be Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk or Billy Slater? Could Nathan Cleary prove that he will be a star for years to come in the NRL? Will Daly Cherry-Evans prove he deserves the title of the "10 million dollar man"? Will they lead their team to this year’s NRL premiership? Who will hold the Provan-Summons Trophy? [caption id="attachment_25625" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 23: All 16 NRL team captains pose with the Provan Summons Trophy during the 2017 NRL Season Launch at Martin Place on February 23, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Will it be the favourites the Melbourne Storm? No doubt they will hope to end their season of dominance on a high and send halfback Cooper Cronk on his way as a champion. Will it be the Sydney Roosters, the team trying to prove they are still the pride of the league after winning the minor premiership from 2013-2015? Could it be the Brisbane Broncos attempting to once again be the champions after not winning a premiership since 2006? Will it be the Cronulla Sharks who look to be the first team to win the premiership back to back for the first time since 1992-93? Or will it be one of the other 5 teams who are still a chance at hoisting the Premiership at the end of the 2017 NRL season?