Set of six: It's all good

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Photo / Getty Images

1. It's all good

This weekend marks the NRL's rivalry round but there's already more anticipation around Manly's game against Parramatta next weekend. It's not because of the Eels' great form (three wins in 17 games) but the continuation of the spat between Eels prop Mitchell Allgood and Manly centre Steve Matai after Allgood decked Matai three weeks ago in an act he claimed was self-defence. Matai told the Sydney Morning Herald he won't be seeking revenge but will try to put a big (legal) hit on him. He's already landed one. "I'll definitely try to put a shot on [Allgood] but it would be tough to get a shot on when he only takes the ball up four times a game." Ouch.

2. Meaty argument

If Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is keen to get an upgrade on his Roosters contract, there may not be a better time than now to bang on the CEO's door. The Roosters conceded more points (99) in the five games for which the Kiwis prop was suspended than for the rest of the games put together (98). Maybe it was the raw meat diet he followed in pre-season.

3. Keeping it clean

The Roosters aren't the only team to excel defensively this season - they have kept five clean sheets this season and won their last two by a combined score of 76-0 (they have defended 302 consecutive sets without conceding a point). There have actually been 13 occasions this season when a team has been kept scoreless, which is only one shy of the record set in 1989 when the struggling North Sydney Bears were on the wrong end of four such defeats.

4. Grand fans

It may have more to do with geography than lack of optimism but Warriors fans accounted for just 1.7 per cent of the 12,000 grand final tickets snapped up in the first few hours when they went on sale on Tuesday morning. Not surprisingly, long-suffering Rabbitohs fans keen to see a first premiership since 1971 bought the most (54.6 per cent) followed by the Roosters (10.7 per cent) and Bulldogs (5.8 per cent). Cowboys fans accounted for the least (1 per cent).

5. Price not right

Rabbitohs fans might be happy to fork out the money for grand final tickets, especially if they go on to win, but the NRL has copped a lot of flak about the cost of tickets which critics say prices most families out of the market. Prices have jumped up to 138 per cent on last year, with cheaper family tickets behind the goalposts having increased from A$200 to A$425 and the cost for a family of four to sit in the best seats jumping from A$580 to A$1380. The quality of the experience has also incensed some, not to mention prices for food and beverages. "Even my wife has complained about this," Brisbane skipper Sam Thaiday has said. "She loves a beer and a pie before the game. She reckons prices are ridiculous."

6. Game of the week

One team's run of wins will come to an end at Hunter Stadium on Sunday. The Roosters (2nd) have won their last four and the Knights (5th) their last three and the Knights will want to win to not only keep the pressure on the top four but also keep their noses ahead of the chasing pack (only two points separate fifth and 11th). The Roosters welcome back Sonny Bill Williams from a hamstring strain but the Knights will be without Kade Snowden, who is suspended.