NRL.com asked a host of Australian sporting personalities who they reckon will take out the 2015 Telstra NRL Premiership on Sunday.
Australian cricketer Shane Watson: "Broncos. They've just had a great year. It would be a great story for Wayne Bennett as well. He's obviously an incredible coach. Everything he does continues to turn to gold."
Former Fox Sports presenter Lee Furlong: "I definitely second that, the Broncos. It's amazing to see what they did last year [finishing eighth and being knocked out in the first week of the finals] to come back and be in the position they are, I'll definitely be cheering on the Broncos on the weekend!"
Australian actor and son of The King, Lincoln Lewis: "This is a tough one because I'm a Queenslander and my favourite teams are honestly Broncos, Cowboys and Storm. It's been unreal, and at the end of the day a Queenslander is holding up the trophy which I'm stoked about. I'm just hoping for a good game because there's nothing worse than a game getting hyped beforehand and not delivering. The last few weeks though every single game has felt like a grand final so I reckon this one will be an absolute cracker."
Dally M Women's Player of the Year Jenni-Sue Hoepper: "Definitely I'll be cheering for the Cowboys, being located there and having a lot to do with them and being able to see how they are behind the scenes as well, I definitely want them to get the win. They've done a lot of hard work and I think they deserve it. Both teams deserve it and I just hope that it's a really good game."
Jillaroos captain Steph Hancock: "Ever since the Cowboys started in '95 I am the world's biggest Cowboys supporter and I hit 'JT' and Matty Scott up when I saw them last and said 'can you boys please win me a premiership'? So that would be my perfect year. But an all Queensland Grand Final, if you're a Queenslander, if I had the power I would declare a public holiday. You've got thousands of us coming down to inject some money into the NSW economy. It's going to be one big day on Sunday but hopefully the Cowboys come home with the win."
St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor: "Look it's going to be an open game of footy and very different to games in the past due to the fact they both love throwing the ball around. I'll go Cowboys by four points – but to be honest it could be on Thurston. He's the best player in the world and I certainly think he's in the form of his life, and my heart leans a little bit towards North Queensland because they have never won one and have been the form team for a long time. Taking nothing away from Brisbane, but I like the JT factor and three big forwards they roll out."
Netball World Cup winning Australian Diamonds player Paige Hadley: "I'm tipping the Cowboys. They are the underdogs and I love a good fairytale ending. Plus I don't want another Brisbane-based team to win another title!"
Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss: "It's an even money bet for mine. I'm tipping the Broncos to make it seven wins from seven grand final appearances, but I reckon I could form just as strong an argument for a Cowboys victory. Brisbane to win by four... 20-16. And lock me in for Ben Hunt to snare the Clive Churchill Medal."
ABC Radio and NRL.com analyst Matt Elliott: "Cowboys to win. It's a complete guess, but I'm from Townsville and my family wouldn't speak to me ever again if I went the other way."
Actor, writer and director Brendan Cowell: "I'm backing the Cowboys. I like Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford a lot, but after the State of Origin, I just cannot bear to see Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday looking so smug and happy again. Hurts too much. Also, Thurston deserves the ring. I have a sick feeling in my stomach that with Hodges dodging the week off, Wayne's boys may actually thump the Cowboys but fingers crossed it's a good news story for the freak show that is JT, and his hillbilly compatriots. I love Townsville, it's a great place, and I don't dare to think of what Flinders Street may resemble come Sunday night if they win."
Channel Nine sport presenter Yvonne Sampson: "My head says Broncos but my heart says Cowboys. This historic all-Queensland grand final is the Cowboys' best ever chance to win a premiership. I was born in Townsville and I understand how much it means to the North Queensland and country fans. Cowboys to win 24-18, Justin Hodges to score the first try and Johnathan Thurston to win the Clive Churchill Medal."
