Key Roosters Jake Friend, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce on cusp of Kangaroos selection: Lockyer MANY is the man who has played his way on to an Australian touring team by excelling in the NRL Grand Final. Jake Friend is knocking on the door of making Australia's World Cup team on the back of what I think will be a Roosters win on Sunday. Similarly, teammate James Maloney is a strong chance of being blooded as Australia's back-up five-eighth behind Johnathan Thurston. There will be someone given a trip for experience. Daly Cherry-Evans played his way onto Australia's 2011 touring side when Manly won the Grand Final that year. Friend's selection as a second hooker would have to come at the expense of Robbie Farah, who did not play in the finals. But his work in the Roosters pack has been outstanding and he will get out of dummy-half a bit better than Matt Ballin and get his big forwards on a roll. A lot of scrutiny will be on the halves, but while the Manly halves have been going well too, I think this is the game for Maloney and Mitchell Pearce. James Maloney is a key plank in the Roosters' Grand Final team. They have been to this ground for Origin games, won one with NSW, and that will help their confidence going into the Grand Final. They have both already played in a Grand Final, too, Maloney having accompanied the Warriors to their 2011 Grand Final. It's been Pearce's motivation since the Origin series, I'm sure, to come out of this season with a premiership and prove people wrong about him. I know in 2000 that the Broncos involved in Queensland's demoralising Origin series loss had a burning desire to win the premiership. That was the year that the Blues had their infamous "hand grenade" celebration. It was humiliating to have your opponents behave like that and I don't think anyone in the team was spared criticism. The Broncos won the minor premiership by six points and took the Grand Final. Pearce told reporters shortly after the Origin series that he would seek to block out criticism of his performances. It's easier said than done because well-meaning acquaintances let him know what's said. His friends and family would know better. He will have confidence in how well the Roosters have been rolling and in how things have been coming off for him, like his cutout pass which put Mitch Aubusson over in the preliminary final against Newcastle. The Roosters halves have to match the kicking game from Manly, which will not be easy given Cherry-Evans" form. It's a Grand Final between two outstanding defensive teams, as evidenced by one try from a kick in their semi-final clash. But it might be slightly harder for Manly to close down the Roosters" options for 80 minutes with Sonny Bill Williams a wildcard, which the Sea Eagles don't have. Everything points to this being SBW's last game for the Roosters. I believe when he left New Zealand rugby he had a handshake agreement that he would go back after this season. After what happened when he left Canterbury, he will want to honour that. He can't be blamed for that. Our game will do all it can to keep him. He would be missed. He brings an element of entertainment and intrigue. But we would move on. The game will prosper regardless of having Williams or Israel Folau at an NRL club or not.