MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Penrith should rest Nathan Cleary against the Sydney Roosters for NRL qualifying final

BULLDOGS V SEA EAGLES (6th V 7th ELIMINATION FINAL)

Hey Sea Eagles fans – it’s time to bury one of the longest-running myths in rugby league.

That we don’t know our way across the Spit Bridge.

Or that we become disorientated if we go any further west than Frenchs Forest.

On Sunday afternoon we need to get in our cars and drive to Accor Stadium (it’s only 32 kilometres from Brookie according to Google Maps!) and get behind our team.

Because our boys are going to need a helping hand.

The Bulldogs could have around 40,000 rabid fans cheering their team, so the Sea Eagles need some maroon and white in the grandstand as well.

I know Manly beat Canterbury comfortably at Accor a couple of weeks ago, but I reckon this elimination final will be a lot tighter.

The Dogs will be back to near full strength with Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Bronson Xerri returning to the side.

Forget their hopeless 44-6 loss to the Cowboys.

This will be their first finals game in eight years, and they will be right up for it.

Plus, I was worried by what I saw from Manly in a 40-20 loss to Cronulla.

The Sharks really had nothing to play for, because they were locked into fourth no matter what happened.

But they gave it to the Sea Eagles on their home turf.

Manly was playing for a home final and they were just way off the pace. They conceded simple tries on the edge and dropped too much ball.

Not great form for the finals.

Tom Trbojevic should be back, but he can’t fix all that on his own.

The Sea Eagles big men need to roll their sleeves up and dominate in the middle.

As the old saying goes, a good big man will always beat a good little man.

Well, Manly has the bigger pack so they need to show their power game.

If they can do that, they have enough strike-power with Daly Cherry-Evans and Tommy Turbo.

I’m tipping Manly by 8.

COWBOYS V KNIGHTS (5th V 8th ELIMINATION FINAL)

Congratulations to the Knights for fighting their way into the top eight.

Just don’t get too comfortable boys because it’s going to be a short stay.

The Cowboys have a massive home ground advantage in Townsville on Saturday night and they’re hitting form at the right end of the season.

Their forwards smashed the Bulldogs and Val Holmes and Kyle Feldt are coming up with some great plays out wide.

The Knights are still relying too much on Kalyn Ponga to come up with the big play.

I have the Cowboys winning this 13+

PANTHERS V ROOSTERS (2nd V 3rd QUALIFYING FINAL)

If I’m the Panthers I’m giving Nathan Cleary another week off.

It’s not sudden-death against the Roosters and imagine if he plays and re-injures that shoulder.

Penrith can’t win the comp without Cleary.

On Friday night they’re playing at home against a patched-up Roosters, who have lost their past nine games against the Panthers. Yes you heard me right, nine games.

I reckon they can get the job done without him.

Panthers by 10.

STORM V SHARKS (1st V 4th QUALIFYING FINAL)

I was really impressed by the Sharks win over Manly.

They’ve got big, mobile forwards and plenty of speed out wide with guys like Sione Katoa.

They have creative halves in Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.

But can they beat the runaway minor premiers at AAMI Park in a final?

I give them a chance, but the Storm look like they’re timing their run to perfection.

I’m tipping Melbourne in a tight one.

MY TOP FIVE TO WATCH IN THE FINALS

Here are the five players I reckon will have a huge say in who wins this year’s premiership.

TOM TRBOJEVIC (SEA EAGLES)

Manly are a different animal with Tommy Turbo wearing the number one jersey. He’s world-class, aims up in big games and has a presence about him that spooks other teams.

With him back from injury, the Sea Eagles could go deep.

DYLAN EDWARDS (PANTHERS)

Everyone talks about Nathan Cleary (and rightly so), but this guy is just as important.

Edwards attacks the kick returns, pops up all over the place, and regularly runs for over 200 metres.

He’s won a Clive Churchill Medal and State of Origin player of the match.

Loves the big match atmosphere.

JAHROME HUGHES (STORM)

Call off the betting – Hughes leads by the length of the straight for the Dally M medal.

I see the Storm number 7 as the complete package. He can run, kick and tackle with the best of them.

TOM DEARDEN (COWBOYS)

His coach Todd Payten put his wheels on the line when he dropped veteran Chad Townsend.

But what a masterstroke.

Since then, Dearden has taken his game to another level.

He’s thriving on the extra responsibility and really grew as a player during State of Origin.

ANGUS CRICHTON (ROOSTERS)

Crichton has the cleanest pair of shorts in the NRL – no one can put him on the ground!

He gets offloads away in traffic while tacklers are hanging off him.

This year at the Roosters – as he showed for the Blues in Origin – he’s relishing the hard work.

His actions scream “come with me, I’ll lead the way”.