From the “Never Thought This Would See The Light Of Day” file comes this week’s column: 10 reasons why you should cheer for Manly in the NRL grand final.

I know it’s hard, but I think the Eagles are the team to back this Sunday afternoon.

Don’t forget kick-off is at 4pm our time.

1. Brett Stewart
Yep, the Storm has Billy Slater who’s a Queenslander ... he was even born in Nambour hospital.

However, Stewart is the most exciting player in the game these days.

On Saturday night against the Warriors, he came up with two tries, thanks to his great speed, and manufactured a brilliant between-the-legs pass which set up another try for the Eagles.

No one is better to watch and he’s almost guaranteed to score a grand-final try.

2. Manly has taken an interest in the Sunshine Coast
Cynics will say the Eagles are only here, and have formed a partnership with our soon-to-be Queensland Cup club, because they think they can make money out of the Coast and find some good young talent.

Well, good on them for showing some initiative and spending some serious money here.

The Brisbane Broncos have neglected the Sunshine Coast badly in the past decade.

They have taken this region’s support for granted.

So far, Manly has not.

3. Melbourne's grapple tackles
The Storm must have been hit with the crazy stick if their big chiefs thought Cameron Smith was going to get off his charge.

Just about everyone else knew the captain was guilty and that’s why the bookies had very low odds on him being suspended.

It wasn’t because of any judiciary conspiracy as Craig Bellamy suggested in his post-match outburst on Friday night.

The grapple tackle, brought to the game by Melbourne, is a blight on the game and must be snuffed out.

4. Manly wears maroon

Queensland wears maroon.

I didn’t say all the reasons were good ones.

5. It's Steve Menzies last game in the NRL

has “Beaver” ever been in any trouble, on or off the field?

I can’t remember anything and the bloke has been around for 312 first-grade games.

He is one of those players who deserves to leave as a winner.

6. Melbourne beat Brisbane
Yes, all you Broncos supporters, the Storm is the club that ended your year with that heart-breaking last-minute try.

Remember that one?

Surely you can’t turn around and support them now.

Can you? Can you?

7. Dennis Moore is part of the Manly coaching staff

If you’re looking for a Coast link to the grand-final sides, the most substantial is Sea Eagles assistant coach Dennis Moore, who may rank winning an NRL premiership above winning a Sunshine Coast grand final with Maroochydore.

And we hear he’ll be director of coaching for the Coast’s Q-Cup team.

8. Manly hasn't for a while and Melbourne won last year

Sharing is a good thing.

The same club winning over and over again can be a boring thing.

9. Melbourne is owned by News Limited

If you want to support a team owned by Australia’s richest man, go for the Storm.

If you want to support a team owned by a man who put out a diet book after he turned himself from a fatty into a well-built fella, go for the Eagles.

10. My wife supports Manly

And she’s a very good judge.