The 2015 NRL grand final is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing deciders of recent times. There is so little between the Broncos and Cowboys, despite the fact they tend to play the game in very different styles. Analysing how these two teams will play is a fairly simple exercise. However, predicting which team is likely to win is nothing more than a guess. I can come up with a scenario for either side winning. There are many factors to consider. As to which factor will finally make the big difference remains to be seen.

LET'S START WITH SOME GRAND FINAL TRIVIA

It's funny how different people perceive different opponents. According to people in and around these two teams, both sides got the grand final opponent they wanted. I spoke to a number of people last week before the preliminary finals from both the Broncos and Cowboys.

Firstly, there was a real air of confidence from both camps. The Broncos held no real fears for playing against the Roosters. The Cowboys camp was actually quite dismissive of the Melbourne Storm's prospects. During discussions, I asked that if they got through to the grand final, which team from the other preliminary final would be their preferred opponent. To a man, those associated with the Cowboys stated they would prefer to play the Broncos than the Roosters. Interestingly, those associated with the Broncos expressed real concern about playing a grand final against the Melbourne Storm.

They felt better about playing the Cowboys in Sydney. So, explain this to me. The Broncos were very confident in beating the Roosters, yet the Cowboys camp would prefer to play the Broncos than the Roosters. Similarly, the Broncos were hoping to avoid the Melbourne Storm if they could, yet the Cowboys were extremely confident about brushing the Storm aside. Anyway, it could well be a case of be careful what you wish for. Both sides got the opponent they preferred. That means both teams will be extremely confident going into this clash. That sets up for a great game because both teams will play like they believe they are the better side.

NOW FOR MORE TRIVIA

Both teams started the season with huge losses in round one, playing on their home ground. The Broncos were flogged 36-6 by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Cowboys were blown away 28-4 by the Roosters. It just goes to show, it's not where you start, but where you finish that counts. Both teams won 17 and lost seven during the regular season. They finished equal on 38 points. The Broncos scored 574 points, the Cowboys 587. The difference in defensive records was a little more pronounced with the Broncos conceding 379 to the Cowboys' 454.

Cowboy coach Paul Green has won 63 per cent of the 53 NRL games he has coached. The old coach Wayne Bennett has won 62 per cent of his 734 matches. That's right, 734 times Wayne has sat there in the coach's box, virtually expressionless, arms folded, watching his teams go about their work. That is phenomenal. To think his teams have been successful 62 per cent of the time defies belief. What an extraordinary record.

THE BRONCOS

The beauty of Wayne Bennett-coached teams is in their simplicity. His thoughts on coaching football have remained unchanged for almost five decades. Discipline, defence and spirit. You can't win regularly without any of these things, so why not make them the focus of every team you coach. This simple philosophy certainly stood the test of time. Basically this current Broncos team plays the game exactly the same way every Bennett-coached team has played down through the years. It's kind of like Bennett says to his team, "I own our half of the field. You will do as you're told. When we get into their half of the field, I'll get you organised, but you just play what you see."

When the Broncos have the ball at their own end of the field they are very deliberate about what happens next. They advance the ball as simply as they can, as quickly as they can, as hard as they can, with the single thought of being in good position to be able to kick long and chase.

They make very few mistakes when working the ball away from their own end. They dominate the competition in kick-and-chase metres. They make more metres on kick chase than any team in the NRL. Interestingly, the teams that have dominated the statistic over the years usually go on to play in the grand final.

At their own end of the field the Broncos' defensive line is outstanding. This is a real feature of Wayne Bennett-coached teams. In fact, I'm convinced they would much rather defend on their own goal-line than anywhere else on the field. His players work so hard together and they read the play really well. They offer their opponents the outside. It's like they want you to try to go around them. Attacking players from rival teams are drawn to the space they see down the sidelines. By the time they get there though, they realise it's just a mirage. The hard-working Bronco defenders swallow them up and bundle them into touch.

Broncos playmakers Andrew McCulloch, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Darius Boyd have formed a dangerous combination. They are unencumbered by strategy. The Broncos have a very definite attacking structure, but it is designed to get these fellas the ball as often as possible in positions where their vision and natural flair comes to the fore. Individually they are all dangerous in their own right. However, it's the fact that these playmakers are now working so well together as a unit that makes them all the more dangerous.

There is always pressure in a grand final, because the result is so important. This is why Bennett likes his playmakers to play by feel and muscle memory, rather than harnessing them with structure and strategy. The Bronco forwards are real tradesmen and go about their job very professionally.

The playmakers are creative and very dangerous. The outside backs are big, strong and fast. What more do you need?

The Broncos will be very hard to beat.

THE COWBOYS

I find it quite extraordinary that this North Queensland team finds itself one win away from a premiership title. Not that I don't rate them. I certainly do. This is a very good football team with so many talented individuals.

It's just that when you look at so many of their games this year, they gave away so many big starts and conceded so many soft tries, I figured they couldn't keep getting away with it. But get away with that they did.

They kind of remind me of the 2003 Penrith Panthers and the 2005 Wests Tigers. There seems to be this unshakeable belief within their team that it doesn't matter how many points you score; we'll find a way to score more.

I don't really rate the Cowboys defence. Even though they were comprehensive in their defeat of the Storm last week, the two tries they conceded were too soft for a game of that importance. If they don't improve their defensive reads today, I can see Hunt and Milford causing them no end of trouble.

In possession, the Cowboys are far more adventurous from their own end of the field than the Broncos. They can hurt you from long range. In fact, if I am coaching against them, I'm actually more worried about them at their end of the field, than when they're attacking our line from close range.

There is some real star power in this team. Front-rowers Matt Scott and James Tamou have been outstanding at the back end of the season. Lock James Taumalolo is a wrecking ball. He is also key to the Cowboys' attacking game, because they go for many of their big plays off the back of his big runs and quick play-the-ball. He is pretty much the trigger to what comes next.

Five-eighth Michael Morgan has been a revelation. He is one of the most improved players in the NRL over the past two seasons. Young hooker Jake Granville is a livewire. Fullback Lachlan Coote has had an outstanding season and added a real new dimension to the Cowboys' attacking game.

At the end of the day though, the Cowboys' fortunes lie in the hands of just one man – Johnathan Thurston.

At this stage of his career JT pretty much has the game all worked out. He is not as fast or as sprightly as he used to be. His body is starting to creak. Sometimes you can feel his pain as he gets up from another collision and staggers back into the play. However, his brain is as sharp as ever and his execution in attack has never been more precise. Thurston these days looks like he sees the game in slow motion. When the ball is in his hands you can feel the tension and panic in the opposition defensive line. Thurston has so many options at his disposal and the ability to execute any one of these options with the mere flick of a wrist.

He simply waits for defenders to make a mistake. If they don't make a mistake this time, he has the patience to regroup and come back and ask you the question again. He is relentless. He will keep coming back until you get it wrong and he gets the result he wants.

If the Cowboys forwards do their job and dominate the advantage line, then there is no doubt Thurston can manufacture a victory.

IN CONCLUSION

As I said earlier, I can make a case for both the sides winning this afternoon. I think we will see a fierce opening 20 minutes as the two forward packs look for ascendancy. I think this battle will pretty much even out.

The result could well come down to the execution of the respective playmakers in each team. It's the guile, experience and sheer will of the great Thurston, up against the whiz-kids from the Broncos who play like they are in the local park after school with their mates.

I have this concern with the Cowboys about their defence and also the fact they have done so much travelling over the past couple of months to play their games. The Broncos, on the other hand, have a tremendous defensive attitude.

They have also had the luxury of a spare weekend to relax before the preliminary final. Only once in the past eight weeks have they had to travel away from their home base in Brisbane to play a game.

When the result is in the balance with 20 minutes left to play, I just have this feeling the Broncos will be fresher in mind, body and soul.

I see the Broncos winning four tries to two. Enjoy your grand final football.