Forget the State of Origin. The biggest battle in sport is on Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre.
Rockdale City Suns play Sutherland Sharks in the crucial Leader Cup football game at 3pm.
The Football NSW Men's 1 sides play twice during the season to determine bragging rights for the year.
At Seymour Shaw Park in May the game was drawn 0-0.
If the game is drawn on Sunday, the Suns kee[ the cup for another year.
But the Sharks won't hear of defeat and are after both the Football NSW competition points and the derby trophy.
The Suns are fourth on the competition table, the Sharks are fifth. Both teams made the finals last season.
With three rounds to go the battle for the finals is tight.
The Leader proudly sponsor the event and the silverware is coveted by both teams.
And it's a big weekend in more ways than one when Rockdale City Suns FC also celebrates its 45th year of football.
The club will hold the annual Ilinden dinner this Saturday, at the Ilinden Sports Centre Rockdale. The event is fully catered, tickets are $75 each and it starts at 7pm. Details: Jim Taseski, on 0417 210 695.
Rockdale City Suns supporter Louie Belevski, a football stalwart, said the night of the event falls on the day of the club's Saint Ilija celebrations.
Stuff of rugby dreams
SOUTHERN Districts Rugby Union Club duo Rob Horne and Kane Douglas will be hoping to get their hands on the Super 15 Rugby trophy when the NSW Waratahs take on the Canterbury Crusaders this Saturday at ANZ Stadium.
Both played in Saturday's semi-final win over the Brumbies. All roads for rugby union fans lead to ANZ Stadium for the big game and kick-off is 7.40pm.
The Waratahs, twice runners-up in the final, are hoping it's third time lucky. All the best to Rebels players Douglas and Horne.
Sorry, Manly look good
HERE is an interesting fact: when Wayne Bennett announces he is leaving a club, Manly win the competition that year. Bennett left the Broncos at the end of 2008 and Manly defeated Melbourne Storm that year, 40-0 in the grand final.
In 2011, Bennett left the Dragons. Manly won the grand final the same year defeating the New Zealand Warriors, 24-10.
Could lightning strike for a third time? The ultimate survivor of rugby league is leaving the Knights and is headed back to Brisbane.
Manly are the team to beat and I reckon they will either play Souths or the Cowboys in the grand final.
