NRL PRELIMINARY FINALS PREVIEW ON HMG RADIO

September 25: Tonight sees the first of two NRL preliminary finals to determine who will play off for the 2009 premiership - and it's one of rugby league's great rivalries - the Canterbury Bulldogs up against the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium.

The Bulldogs have their play-maker Brett Kimmorley back in the number seven after an amazing recovery from a fractured cheekbone and his presence evens up what will be an enthralling contest against an Eels outfit that are well and truly on a roll.

Led by two of the games great game-breakers in Dally M Player-of-the-Year Jarryd Hayne and the most devastating forward in the game in Fuifui Moimoi, the Bulldogs will have to halt the Eels pack to earn their place in the grand final.

Tomorrow night will see the 2006 premiers the Brisbane Broncos (without their injured half-back Peter Wallace, who broke his ankle against St George last week) travel to Etihad Stadium to face the 2007 winners the Melbourne Storm.

The Broncos captain courageous Darren Lockyer is also under an injury cloud with a suspect hamstring so the odds are stacked against the Queenslanders who face a mean and hungry Storm, refreshed after their last start thrashing of 2008 premiers the Manly Sea Eagles.

If they can stop Billy Slater then the Broncos just might survive to buck another day.

The Hanson Media Group team of former Sydney rugby league writer Ian Hanson, former ABC sports commentator Darren Madigan and resident Sydney sports expert Kurt Hanson dissect the games that will determine who plays in next Sunday's premiership decider.

LISTEN TO THE HMG RADIO TEAM TALK ALL THINGS NRL FOOTY FINALS {audio}/images/stories/news-articles/audio/nrl prelim sept 25 2009.mp3{/audio}