NRL grand final fever is sweeping through St George and Sutherland Shire even though the Dragons or Sharks are not involved.
Bulldogs supporters have come out of their kennel and the Bunnies faithful are bursting from the burrow.
Souths and the Bulldogs settle down for premiership glory from 7.22pm this Sunday at ANZ Stadium this Sunday.
Cheerleader gets set for gem of a day
THE NRL grand final fulfil a dream for Bulldogs Sapphires cheerleader Darcie McDonald. (Pctured in gallery above)
The Sylvania resident had a dream since childhood to support her favourite team, announcing in her year 6 year book at Our Lady of Fatima Caringbah that she would become a Bulldogs cheerleader when she grew up.
She joined a former squad, the Belles, and from this season started with new Sapphires.
Darcie and the squad are gearing up for a big day on Sunday, with fingers crossed the game won’t be a repeat of 2012 when they watched the Dogs lose to Melbourne.
Her grandfather was an original season passholder at Belmore, her family attend every home game and have travelled interstate and to New Zealand to watch the Bulldogs.
They have a bulldog named Willie after Willie Mason.
‘‘I will be cheering on the big day, so fingers crossed we win this weekend,’’ Ms McDonald said.
‘‘It would be like a fairytale ending to be there on the sideline for a grand final win.’’
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Reader and NRL aficionado Steve Ryan pondered the Grand Final possibilities and put forward some questions for supporters.
Will it be the year of the rabbit or the year of the dog?
Will it be the year the hoodoo - Souths haven't won a premiership since 1971 - gets broken or will it be the modern theory that gets broken - no one can win the premiership if they're not in the top four (Canterbury)?
Will it be the club (South Sydney) that's won the most premerships in the history of rugby league or the club (Canterbury) which already has won 6 premierships since Souths last win in 1971?
Will it be the club (Souths) who haven't been in a grand final since 1971 and therefore have no experience in one recently or will it be the club who has most recently been experienced in a grand final match (Canterbury 2012) ?
Will it be the team with the most pommies (Souths) in it or the team (Canterbury) who only has one ?
Will it be the team Gus played for (Souths) or the team he played for and coached (Canterbury)?
Will it be the home team (Souths) or the away team (Canterbury)? There is a trick to this question - can you guess what it is?
Who will win the grand final on Sunday?