He has been on both sides of the South Sydney-Sydney Roosters NRL rivalry, and Rabbitohs skipper Michael Crocker claims it is the fans who bring the feeling to the grudge match.

Rugby league’s oldest rivalry will be on show again at Allianz Stadium on Monday night, where the two competition points tell only part of the story of what’s on offer.

Crocker credits the supporters from the rival sides for generating the animosity – the players in little doubt as to the significance of the game for the fans.

“The fans … it’s their grand final – they definitely love to get one up on the Roosters,” Crocker said.

“Our job is to win. It’s no different every other week.

“There’s an added passion, especially for the fans there’s a long history between these two clubs, 100-odd years of history.

“That passion the fans bring to the game, that really intensifies the atmosphere for us.”

Added Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith: “The potential for the fans to be building the game up … the crowd will be pretty passionate. That all fuels the thing a bit more.

“It becomes more than the two points that we’re fighting over this weekend.”

For Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello, the game highlights the changing face of the competition.

“When I first came into first grade, we had five years there where we were always up near the top and they were fighting to get into the eight and now the roles are reversed,” Minichiello said.

AAP