Finals matches - and finals campaigns - can turn around very quickly.
A week ago Manly were in great shape, but heading into tonight's match I make them underdogs against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys may have been towelled up by Manly in the finals last year but this time the match-up has a different look about it. Last year it was the Cowboys who were struggling with injuries to key players. This year Manly are under the pump.
With Steve Matai suspended and Jamie Lyon injured, Manly may struggle. Lyon may not have been ruled out but I can't see him playing - and if he does he won't produce a quality performance. Players don't go off with a calf injury like that and then come back fine the next week. The fact that Manly are leaving the decision to the "last minute" says it all.
That said, you can't write off the Sea Eagles. I can see them channelling a lot of play through T-Rex, while the Stewart brothers are still a major threat. They'll need a big effort from halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, but Manly still have enough class players to turn any match on its head.