NRL Grand Final 2013: Predicting Outcome of Sydney Roosters vs. Manly Sea Eagles

The Sydney Roosters have beaten the Manly Sea Eagles three times already this year, and they will be hoping to make it four in a row when the two meet in Sunday's NRL grand final.

Even with those three wins, Sydney has only beaten Manly in four of the teams' last 10 meetings.

As with any event of this magnitude, experience will play a factor. It's all well and good to reel off wins during the regular season, but this game decides the year's premier club and that comes with added pressure.

Although the Roosters have the upper hand with three victories over the Sea Eagles this season, Manly has been steadily narrowing the gap each time the teams have met. Sydney won the last game just 4-0, so the signs are encouraging for the Sea Eagles.

If Manly are to get a result here, history suggests that they will need to get early points on the board. According to NRLStats.com, the team that is ahead at half time has won 15 of the last 20 matches between these two teams.

In order to get themselves in front, the Sea Eagles will look to attack James Maloney and Mitchell Pierce. The Roosters' halves have been a little shaky at times, conceding a total of 44 penalties while missing an average of 6.1 tackles per game.

Tim Gore at ABC.net.au stated that Manly averages around one try per game against the Roosters, so it's vital that it breaks that habit on Sunday. Maloney and Pearce could be the ones to unwittingly help them out.

For the Roosters themselves, it's also going to be tough to find a way through the Sea Eagles' defence. Michael Jennings has the pace to do so and is poised to score his 20th try of the year in his debut season with the club.

However, even with Jennings' remarkable year, Sydney's hopes will rest and the shoulders of Sonny Bill Williams. 

He returned to rugby league after four years of rugby union and a sideline in professional boxing, and he has been in crushing form this year. With an impressive 61 offloads for the season, the Kiwi has been the key figure in Sydney's route to the grand final.

It's been a familiar to see Williams break tackles and set up another Roosters try, so Manly needs to be strong in possession and limit Williams' opportunities. We've seen too many errors from the Sea Eagles' wings, which will cost them in this game.

Manly has the more experienced players, with captain Jamie Lyon playing in four grand finals and winning two. Sydney has lost its last three deciders, while Manly has won its last two.

Nevertheless, the Roosters have the most recent advantage, given their three victories this year. It's going to be an incredibly tight battle, but Sydney should win this by four.