The more I look at Sunday's NRL Grand Final, the harder I find it to pick a winner.
These two teams have been the best two teams all season and it is right that they both are involved in the Centenary Grand Final.
Both have 101 reasons to win the game and I feel it might just come down to a bounce of the ball or a touch of luck - there is a split hair between these teams in terms of talent and big game experience. On paper they both ooze class.
In my opinion, to win a Grand Final a team needs to have a gun number seven to steer the ship, a dynamic full-back who not only scores tries but also is a dangerous broken field runner, and a number nine who is calm under pressure and who makes the right decisions for the full 80 minutes.
Melbourne and Manly each have expectional half backs in Cooper Cronk and Matt Orford respectively. Orford was named as the Dally M Player of the Year for a very good reason - he has had an bumper season.
His opposite number, Cronk, has been asked to lead the team in Cameron Smith's absence, and last week he slipped comfortably into the cpatain's role. While the burden of captaincy can somertime overload a player to the team's detriment, I think the added responsibility has actually improved Cronk's natural game.
We will see arguably the best two full backs in the world on show in Billy Slater (Storm) and Brett Stewart (Manly) so these two cancel each other out.
The big blow for the Storm was losing Smith, not just for his leadeship capabilities, but more for his guile around the ruck. His stand-in replacement last week, young Russell Aitken, did a fine job last week against the Sharks but whether he can handle the big occasion on Sunday is yet to be seen.
Sunday will also see both teams say farewell to two club legends in Steve Menzies for Melbourne and Matt Geyer for the Storm. Menzies will head to Bradford next season in the UK Super League as the NRL's all time leading try-scorer, while Geyer will hang his boots up after 11 seasons and two NRL Premierships with Melbourne. Both are true champions.
So, as I said at the top, I think it might just come down to a stroke of luck. It may be in the final few minhutes, it may even come in extra time. And this is where I think the Sea Eagles may have Melbourne covered. I think the Storm have already used up their 'get out of jail free card' when escaping at the death in Brisbane two weeks back.
For this reason alone I am leaning ever so slightly to a Manly victory and I think we'll see the NRL crown head back to Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Whatever the outcome, it should be a corker, and one of two legends will be seen off in style.