NRL Grand Final Tips & Preview

A thrilling NRL season reaches its crescendo this Sunday night with a clash between the two powerhouses of Sydney’s western suburbs – Parramatta and Penrith.

The Panthers have easily been the best team in the league over the past two years and have made every post a winner in their quest to go back to back.

A carefully managed approach to season 2022 has them at close to full strength at the right end of the season. 

Last week, a slow start against South Sydney had a few Penrith fans moving uneasily in their seats. Still, after giving away a 12-point start to the rampaging Rabbitohs, coach Ivan Cleary steadied the ship, and his experienced outfit got their act together to deliver a stunning comeback win.

Nathan Cleary set the tone for the premiership fancies with some laser-like kicking getting them quickly back into contention. 

The shrewd move to bring Apisai Koroisau off the bench paid immediate results, with Penrith looking a different team with him on the pitch.

Whether Koroisau remains an impact player off the bench or elevates himself to the starting lineup remains to be seen. Still, either way, he will be a headache for a Parramatta coaching team looking to contain any wildcard factor the Panthers bring.

The Panthers have the weight of expectation, but Parramatta has the monkey on their back, with a 36-year premiership drought, the longest in the NRL, dominating the narrative leading into this one.

This is their first Grand Final in 13 years and an entirely new experience for the bulk of their team. While last week’s win over North Queensland made the league stand up and take notice, there are still a few question marks hovering over some key Eels.

Waqa Blake can set a game alight within minutes but has been noticeably absent at critical moments, including in their most recent game against Penrith in week one of this finals series, where Cleary had his measure.

But with 12 tries for the season, Blake does have some runs on the board, and Grand Finals are always a different beast. If he can settle his nerves early, he may well set the tone for an upset Parramatta win.

As the Eels’ playmaker, Mitch Moses also comes with a vital role this Sunday and needs to be at his best to give his side the best possible chance. They will also be looking for another big performance from Shaun Lane, who has been one of the stars of this year’s finals campaigns.

But for all the momentum Parramatta brought from their comeback win over North Queensland last week, they are taking on an impenetrable behemoth in their traditional rivals.

Cleary might be the poster boy for the Panthers, but they bat deep.

Brian To’o is as tricky a match-up as they come and is a threat on both sides of the ball, Isaah Yeo is a force of nature, and Viliame Kikau looks set to leave nothing out on the pitch in his final game as a Panther.

There has been no reason to question anything about the Panthers this season, and all looks set for a second successive premiership to further consolidate an already impressive era.