From Pizzey Park to ANZ Stadium, it has been a long and enjoyable ‘Road to the Grand Final’ for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the Holden Cup competition.
The journey is set to become even more exciting when the Sea Eagles clash with Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium this Sunday at 1.35pm on rugby league's biggest day.
The Panthers will start the match favourites, having finished the regular season as minor premiers compared to Manly Warringah’s fourth place position.
The regular season saw Penrith beat the Sea Eagles twice before claiming victory again three weeks ago in week one of the finals series.
The underdog tag will again suit the Sea Eagles after overcoming the odds to beat the red hot Nth Qld Cowboys at AAMI Park last Saturday night to move into the season decider.
The Sea Eagles had failed to beat the Cowboys twice this season before winning the preliminary final. Could it be the same story with Penrith this Sunday for Coach David Heath and his men?
The Grand Final will be shown live on Channel Nine.
Road to the Grand Final
Rd 1: d Parramatta Eels 54-26, Parramatta Stadium
Rd 2: d Melbourne Storm 46-20, Brookvale Oval
Rd 3: d Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 34-16
Rd 4: d St George-Illawarra Dragons 24-22, WIN Stadium
Rd 5: d Canberra Raiders 36-22, Central Coast Stadium
Rd 6: lost to Penrith Panthers 36-16, Pepper Stadium
Rd 7: drew 30-30 with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Belmore Sports Ground
Rd 8: lost to Melbourne Storm 18-12, AAMI Park
Rd 9: lost to Newcastle Knights 28-18, Henson Park
Rd 10: lost to Penrith Panthers 42-16, St Marys Leagues Stadium
Rd 11: Bye
Rd 12: lost to Nth Qld Cowboys 38-6, 1300 Smiles Stadium
Rd 13: drew 28-28 with Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium
Rd 14: Bye
Rd 15: d Wests Tigers 44-24, Campbelltown Stadium
Rd 16: d South Sydney Rabbitohs 38-12, ANZ Stadium
Rd 17: drew 22-22 with Cronulla Sharks, Brookvale Oval
Rd 18: lost 22-18 to Gold Coast Titans, Pizzey Park
Rd 19: lost 34-16 to Nth Qld Cowboys, Brookvale Oval
Rd 20: d Warriors 36-16, Mt Smart Stadium
Rd 21: lost 38-22 to Brisbane Broncos, Central Coast Stadium,
Rd 22: d South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-18
Rd 23: d Canberra 46-18, Canberra Stadium
Rd 24: d Parramatta Eels 18-16, Brookvale Oval
Rd 25: d Sydney Roosters 40-16, Brookvale Oval
Rd 26: d Cronulla Sharks 52-6, Remondis Stadium
Finals Series:
QF: lost to Penrith Panthers 44-24, ANZ Stadium
SF: d Wests Tigers 28-22, Allianz Stadium
PF: d Nth Qld Cowboys 25-24, AAMI Park
Played 27: Won 15, lost 9, drawn 3, byes 2
