Every outlet and their dog has released their Grand Final preview.
There are SO many story-lines here. Cronk vs Melbourne. Slater in his last game. Cronk vs Slater/Smith.
On-field, this game, despite the status of both sides as not as exactly fan favourites, this could be one of the best Grand Finals in recent memory.
Today we're going to look at a battle, that while it won't attract any media attention, is perhaps just as interesting.
The battle of the coaches: Trent Robinson vs Craig Bellamy.
Games can't be won in the week before a game, but they can certainly be lost. In this era, where every second of preparation counts, coaches have become even more important than ever before.
By coaching, I mean coaching teams. There is no way that even top class coaches can perform all of the duties required by themselves.
Neither the Storm nor Roosters are known for struggling with resources, and both have world class coaching staff and facilities.
Trent Robinson vs Craig Bellamy
Trent Robinson: The Roosters' mentor has a long list of accomplishments to his name despite being only 41 years of age.
He is a Premiership-winning coach (2013) and has a further three Minor Premierships on his resume (2014, 2015, 2018). He was the 2013 Dally M Coach of the Year and was awarded the Rugby League International Federation's Coach of the Year.
The 2013 Roosters were a special side. Perhaps the 2017 Storm would be the only recent team that could match them.
Robinson immediately changed the outlook in Bondi, winning the title in his first season in the top job. At the time he was just 35 years of age and had only 63 games of coaching experience, in the Super League with Catalans.
There haven't been many battles Robinson has lost during his time guiding the tri-colours, despite their underwhelming 2016 season.
Cool and calm, and by all accounts very personable to even opposition fans, Robinson relies on respect and experience rather than intimidation.
He played a big part in the recruitment of James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk, who he decided were the missing pieces of the premiership puzzle after the club's 2017 title-charge fizzled out.
Robinson has guided Latrell Mitchell from the 20s into the game's next superstar.
A brilliant coach and one that has title-winning experience under his belt. He will have his side firing come Sunday evening.
Craig Bellamy: It's hard to believe Craig Bellamy is only 58 years of age. He seems to have been coaching for 25 years.
With 420 games under his belt, the Storm moved water and land to fend off advances from Brisbane to re-sign their super successful coach.
Some will say that Bellamy has always had the 'Big Three' at his disposal and that is why his sides win. Yes, true, it's not often three, once in a generation type players are in the same era, let alone the same side, but that would be under stating his abilities.
The Storm lost Marika Koriobete and replaced him with Suliasi Vunivalu. Bellamy turned Josh Addo-Carr from a reserve grade, trouble maker, into the best winger in the competition.
Cameron Munster is now a genuine superstar of the game, having excelled in two positions under Bellamy.
Bellamy is the master of the game plan. His side were twice beaten by the Sharks this year in close contests. Bellamy had his side firing and they beat the Sharks with relative ease when it mattered most.
He has seven Grand Finals under his name, including two (official) premierships. Bellamy has never coached a side to a losing season. That's incredible in the salary cap era.
Bellamy turns average players into internationals with incredible regularity. I've never seen anything like it.
Verdict: There are probably one, two, possibly three sides, who wouldn't jump at the chance to sign Trent Robinson should his name become available ... BUT ... the Melbourne Storm would be top of that list, being that they have the best in the business Craig Bellamy.
There isn't a coach in the game I would take over the Storm mentor. He has done so much, for so long, with so many different sides.
Robinson is a smooth operator, but no one has more runs on the board than the Storm honcho. CRAIG BELLAMY!!!
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