Daley Mail: Laurie's NRL finals analysis TWENTY-SIX rounds, 192 games, 15,360 minutes. Sixteen has now become eight. The time has finally arrived. Rugby league's semi-final series kicks off tonight in what will surely be one of the best in recent history. I have been asked time and again to pick my premiers. Boy, talk about a tough ask. There are so many sides I just can't separate. But I do think it unlikely that any of the bottom four sides in the semis can win it. I just can't see Canterbury, Newcastle, North Queensland or Cronulla winning four sudden-death games to claim the title. Manly, Melbourne, Sydney Roosters and Souths. How can you split them? Class, toughness, experience, speed. This will be one hell of a finals series. Bring it on. Strength: I really enjoy watching Souths" forwards go to work. They are tough and aggressive. If they dominate, there's no reason why the Rabbitohs cannot break their 42-year premiership drought. Weakness: Sheer weight of expectation. 42 years. That can be a massive burden on a club. And I wonder how much pressure will be placed on Souths" outside backs. Key player: Greg Inglis. In career-best form. Surely he stands among the most powerful fullbacks in rugby league history. I really believe he has to fire for Souths to win this year's premiership. Strength: The old cliche - been there, done that. Slater, Smith and Cronk know what to do to win major games. They have key players in key positions. Never write off Melbourne. Weakness: I sometimes wonder whether Melbourne have the ability to contain massive opposition forward packs. That could create an issue playing against a team like the Roosters. Key player: Cam Smith. Can do it all. Calm, skilful and composed. Has there been a better dummy-half in the modern era? Controls a game so beautifully. The key link in this formidable Storm side. Strength: I like the toughness of Cronulla's pack. Gallen, Graham, Fifita, Lewis - hard and skilled. Throw in Ben Ross, Anthony Tupou and Chris Heighington and you have a first-class pack. Weakness: Do they have enough strike power out wide? I have some doubts. There is a lot of expectation. Cronulla have never won a premiership - that's hard for fans to accept. Key player: Paul Gallen. The Sharks" inspiration. I loved coaching "Gal" in Origin this year. A true professional. Gallen is a player others love to play alongside. In big games, teams need their big names to fire. I am sure Gallen will. Strength: They are playing with so much momentum and belief. Six wins in six games to surge into the finals. I wouldn't want to be playing them. Weakness: I just don't think they can win 10 straight to win the title. Winning six has been great. Four more wins in finals is near impossible. Key player: Johnathan Thurston. What more can be said about this bloke? He is pure class and has played a major role in North Queensland's storming run. A once-in-a-generation player. Andrew McKinlay and Mark Gasnier preview the finals clash between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles. Strength: Their forward pack has been physically dominant all season. Defence too has been stellar. They all work for each other. Defence wins big games. Weakness: Can they put their minor premiership triumph to one side? It is a significant achievement but it can be difficult to re-focus in week one of the finals. Key player: Sonny Bill Williams. What a year, what a player. A supreme athlete. Cannot believe how quickly he adapted to rugby league. Has every possible skill a player could want. Strength: Manly's halves have been quite brilliant this year. They carry themselves well and are playing with plenty of confidence. Maybe it's Andrew Johns" influence. Their left and right sides are equally lethal. Weakness: I reckon Manly fail at times to play consistently for the entire 80 minutes. They drop off in some periods - and that can be fatal in semi-final football. Key player: Brett Stewart. Has the unbelievable knack of sniffing out a try. Nothing in rugby league can beat pure speed and this bloke has pace to burn. Manly will need Stewart at his blistering best to push for this year's title. Andrew McKinlay and Mark Gasnier preview the finals clash between the Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights. Strength: They know they are a good side. After last year, the Bulldogs are aware of what they can achieve. They have self-belief and a roster that can beat any side on any given day. Weakness: They haven't put four good games together once this year. What makes you think they can do that over a month of finals footy? Haven't seemed to really put things together this year. Key player: Ben Barba. Had a troubled season but is vital to the Bulldogs" chances. Must push all the drama aside if he's to inspire a side capable of causing some damage under dual premiership-winning coach Des Hasler. Strength: Wayne Bennett. Has done it all. Knows how to get his side peaking at just the right time. Newcastle might be a "sleeper" this year. Bennett knows just the strings to pull at this time of year. Weakness: Are they battle hardened after a romp over Parramatta last week? That last game before the finals is always vital. Each club needs a good hit-out. Key player: Jarrod Mullen. Creative, with a wonderful kicking game. Some say he hasn't kicked on since his 2007 Origin debut, but he has enjoyed a fabulous season. A vital link to a fine backline.