THE bookies are tipping them. Most of the experts are tipping them. Now a group of the game's best players have predicted Melbourne will be driven to an NRL premiership by the demons of 2006.

Yesterday, the Herald took a straw-poll of eight members of the Australian train-on squad to face New Zealand on October 14 in Wellington - as well as their coach, Ricky Stuart, - and all but three predicted a Melbourne win in Sunday's grand final.

Prop Petero Civoniceva, who helped Brisbane upset the Storm in last year's decider, believed that defeat would give them the extra motivation to win at Telstra Stadium.

"I just think that losing last year and carrying that disappointment through the whole season will be in the back of their minds," Civoniceva said. "It can work for you and it can work against you … but I know Craig Bellamy as a coach, and he'll have that side firing."

Stuart echoed those sentiments, saying: "Melbourne would have certainly learnt from their preparation last year and the loss. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth."

Still, the Cronulla mentor sat on the fence slightly, adding: "I think Manly have had a better preparation heading into this game. They had a softer style of game on Saturday night [against North Queensland] and the extra day of preparation and they'll certainly hit the ground enthusiastically fresh and ready, which is what's needed to play against Melbourne."

Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah said he felt "the demons of last year will really drive them - they don't want to lose two in a row", while Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta said: "I think they'll learn from last year. I don't think they'll let this one get away."

Dragons centre Mark Gasnier said Melbourne's "structure and consistency" would get them home. Bulldogs second-rower Andrew Ryan added that Melbourne "just seem to grind teams out for the full 80 - they just hang in and hang in."

Still, Manly had their backers, notably Eels second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh, Gold Coast prop Luke Bailey and Cronulla back-rower Paul Gallen.

Gallen said: "I just think Manly can rough them up a little bit. Their forwards might give it to them a little bit … There's a lot of pressure on Melbourne and I think Manly might get the cash."