Underdogs plot NRL finals upsets

The last team into the finals has declared two competition front runners ripe for
the picking as the underdogs plot massive upsets in the first week of the NRL
finals.
Newcastle premiership winner Adam MacDougall believes the Bulldogs (second) and Gold
Coast (third) are vulnerable next weekend with injuries to key personnel and heavy
last-round defeats sapping confidence heading into the playoffs.
Minor premiers St George Illawarra are flying again after a 37-0 win over
Parramatta, who they'll meet again on Sunday at WIN Jubilee Oval.
Melbourne will host Manly in the other confirmed final on Friday, the fourth- and
fifth-placed teams clashing at Etihad Stadium.
MacDougall's Knights secured their place with a 35-0 flogging of Penrith on Sunday
and will meet either the Bulldogs or Titans - both sides coming off their worst
losses of the year.
The Dogs, minus star halfback Brett Kimmorley, surrendered the minor premiership in
a 34-12 loss to Wests Tigers while the Titans were steamrolled 38-4 by reigning
premiers Manly.
"We've beaten both and I think one of our better games this year was when we beat
the Bulldogs without four or five of our best players," said MacDougall.
"They've got no Brett Kimmorley and obviously coming off the back of a disappointing
loss.
"Out of all the sides in the finals they're probably the ones who are probably going
into the finals a little bit down on confidence.
"The Gold Coast got a touch up as well. They're both coming off losses so for us
it's a good opportunity, we come in with a win and they go in on a loss.
"We're going in believing we can win." Gold Coast fullback Mat Rogers faces a
race to recover from a hamstring strain, while utility Luke O'Dwyer will miss the
entire finals campaign with a knee injury.
Prop Luke Bailey says the Titans cannot afford a repeat of the "soft" and
"embarrassing" performance next Saturday or they will risk becoming the first
third-placed team in the history of the NRL eliminated in the opening week.
The current highest ranked team eliminated in the first weekend of the finals is St
George Illawarra, ousted after placing fifth in 2004.
"We have had a chat about how soft our forwards went and we have to try and redeem
ourselves next week with a stronger performance," said Bailey, who expects a derby
with Brisbane next week.
"It's probably the perfect game for us knowing we got a bit bashed (by Manly) and
the Brisbane pack are probably even a little bit bigger.
"That was our worst performance of the year but blokes are not hanging their heads.
Everyone is probably embarrassed by the performance we put out there but we all know
we're capable of a lot better.
"I've often thought about it, we have beat everyone in the top 8 so there is no
reason why we should be down on confidence." Last year's grand finalists Manly
and Melbourne both enter the finals on the back of impressive wins, the Storm
holding the Warriors scoreless at home with a 30-0 win.
While the fourth v fifth clash has typically had little importance in the first
week, Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai fears the unpredictability of the 2009 season is
almost certain to deliver a finals shock.
"If you lose you're out," he said of their clash with Melbourne.
"You would rather be in control of your own destiny rather than waiting for results
to go your way." Hooker Matt Ballin believes that with sides like the in-form
Broncos, Knights and mercurial Parramatta below them, a string of upsets is
possible.
"They can all easily win so for us it's a win-every-game-from-now-on mentality," he
said.
At the other end of the ladder, the Sydney Roosters collected the 2009 wooden spoon
with a 32-16 loss to North Queensland on Sunday.