The NRL grand final might have come a week early.

Friday night's preliminary clash between South Sydney and the Roosters will be the game of the year.

I've been on board the Roosters all season and, going on form over the 26 rounds, a meeting between these two teams on October 5 would be fitting.

It's no-one's fault except the Roosters that fans won't see this game on grand final day.

Had they held on to beat Penrith in the semi a fortnight ago, they'd be on the opposite side of the draw to the Rabbits and the two clubs would have had a chance to tango at the big dance.

But that's football for you, you never know what's going to happen.

Don't get me wrong, Penrith and Canterbury are equally deserving of a grand final spot.

I just get the feeling a Roosters/Rabbitohs grand final would be the perfect way to close a great season.

The two powerhouse clubs haven't met in a final since 1938. That's a shocking statistic when you consider the relative success of both organisations.

Grand final or not, I'm confident this game will be a blockbuster.

The key for the Roosters will be to make sure they stay in the game right to the end.

If the score remains tight up until the last 20 minutes or so, the demons from South Sydney's past might start niggling at the back of their minds.

The Rabbitohs haven't had much luck in finals in recent times and that can start to play games in your head when the pressure is on.

The Roosters also need to learn to keep their foot on the opposition's throat during games.

They blew it against the Panthers two weeks ago and almost lost a 30-0 lead against the Cowboys last week.

It would have been embarrassing for the minor premier to go out in straight sets.

It's hard to pick one side or the other but, seeing as I've been on the Roosters bandwagon, I'll stick with them.

And I firmly believe the winner of this game will go on to win the premiership.

But Penrith and Canterbury didn't get to a preliminary final by playing bad football.

Both clubs have claims.

The Panthers and Bulldogs will be hoping South Sydney and the Roosters bash each other into submission.

If the latter two go out and absolutely hit each other with everything they've got, whoever wins the other game might find themselves with an advantage next week.

Particularly if the Rabbitohs and Roosters big men spend their tickets a week early.

TV the culprit

Where are the punters?

The decline of crowd numbers at NRL games has been well documented but it seems to be reaching breaking point.

The Sydney Swans drew a bigger crowd last week than the NRL did over two games.

That's a disheartening statistic to say the least.

We have the greatest game on earth and no-one wants to attend live games.

I think television stations have made it too attractive an option to stay home rather than make your way to a stadium.

You can sit on the couch and be treated to slow-motion replays and all the bells and whistles that don't come with live action.

I won't deny I have been guilty of watching the screen when I should have been watching the field.

The Rabbitohs/Roosters semi-final needs to be the exception.

I'm tipping a 70,000-strong crowd for the big game.