After everything was said and done, it was the teams ranked first and second who remain to do battle in the NRL grand final.
For the Melbourne Storm it could be an end of an era with the potential retirement of Cameron Smith and departure of Craig Bellamy. They would certainly love to send those two off with another premiership in their possession.
Meanwhile, who would have predicted the Penrith Panthers to have the mammoth season they have had so far. They have only suffered one loss in the entire season and to fall short when it matters most would be absolutely heartbreaking.
They are two contrasting teams when it comes to experience in the grand final. Melbourne still have a plethora of players who have remained in the squad when the Storm last won the premiership in 2017. Meanwhile, the majority of the Penrith players will be making their first appearance ever on the big stage.
These two teams met back in Round 6 when Penrith held on to win 21-14. There are some significant match-ups to monitor across the park.
The battle of the forwards will be extremely important to allow the halves to attack the opposition goal-line. When you look at the numbers, the Panthers on average run over 160 metres and over 80 post contact metres extra per game than the Storm. The Panthers also average 20 kick return metres more than the Storm thanks to Dylan Edwards and that can help with field possession.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Penrith will be happy to welcome back Viliame Kikau after a one-week suspension.
With the numbers favouring Penrith, it brings Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai into play as they have many ways they can attack the defence. They like to take on the line while also making the right passes when necessary. They also have a strong kicking game and force many dropouts to build pressure.
Penrith also make the least amount of errors in the competition, allowing them to complete sets and dominate possession.
One area that Melbourne can exploit is their ability to generate offloads and create second-phase play. The Storm play in unison and they are a threat no matter where they are on the field. Every player gets involved and Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes have a great running game.
Against Parramatta and Canberra, the Storm displayed their ability to score short-range and long-range tries. Their ability to move the ball with decoy runs, create overlaps and provide support will always be prominent. Ryan Papenhuyzen, Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu are one of the best outside-back trios in the competition and the wing defence for Penrith will need to be resolute once again.
The likes of Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Nelson Asofa-Solomona will need to stand tall against Penrith’s forward pack. They need to allow Cameron Smith the ability to exploit the middle if possible.
The bench will also be pivotal in making a difference. Both teams have quality benches with impact players. For Penrith, Moses Leota, Kurt Capewell and Zane Tetevano will be looking to outmatch Brandon Smith, Tino Faasuamaleaui and Dale Finucane.
This is going to be an extremely tough contest. Penrith have shown that this season has been no fluke so far and most signs suggest that the Panthers are the better team. However, the Melbourne Storm are different beasts when it comes to finals footy. Their experience, determination and skill cannot be overlooked and as a result they have been touted as favourites.
There are plenty of unknowns with the Penrith Panthers and how they handle the pressure of the NRL grand final is yet to be seen.
There is no question that these are the two best teams in the competition. We should expect a back-and-forth game by these two sides, which ultimately ends up in a nail biter.
Overall, while the heart would love to see Penrith upset the juggernaut of Melbourne, the head would say the Storm might have too much class on grand final day.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Absolutely agree. Three replays should be proof enough! Simplicity is the key to consistency. Heartily sick of ‘blades of grass’! Forward passes and related application of the stated rules/regulations is also a contentious issue for me. I’d like to see it sorted by the ‘powers that be’ Forward passing in general play has been allowed to flourish In recent seasons. Is it now acceptable to throw passes forwards when not within 10 metres or so of the try line?
Nat
Roar Rookie
Three-peat baby, I'm taking it. :stoked:
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think it’s far more likely that the young relatively inexperienced Panthers are blown of course than the Storm I feel like the Panthers need to be at their best while the Storm will just be at their metronomic standard waiting for the right time to put their foot down Panthers can definitely win but their error rate from last week concerns me. The Storm won’t let them get away with that
Walter Black
Guest
I will give it a rest when everyone stops posting that somehow every team in the comp deserves to win rather than the Storm and how every team is disadvantaged against the storm due to everyone including the local traffic warden plotting against them. The team that deserves it most will be the team that wins on Sunday. Until then the Panthers are no better than Melbourne, have no more disadvantages and are no more deserving.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Give it a rest Walter, most Vics pay big money to come up to the Sunny Coast every winter. Smith, Munster etc feel like QLD is home . Oh wait........
Walter Black
Guest
Amen to that Lisa Refereeing is a difficult job which most people would accept but we really do over complicate things. I think that rules need to be simplified and the bunker should have its remit changed. In my view a try is always a try unless there is something very obviously wrong with it on replay. We should not be concerned about a blade of grass width on the touch line or finger tip downward pressure that needs 27 replays to determine. But that is something for the NRL during the off season, in the meantime, he is looking forward to a fantastic Grand Final on Sunday.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Agree with all of your sentiments Nat! The NRLW GF should also be a beauty. (....you'll finally get the chance to support a Bronco's team that actually wins games. :stoked: )
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I hope the referee and bunker blokes do a unbiased, fair, consistent job, leaving no doubt as to which team is the winner in this Grand Final. That in itself will be a victory for our game. I’m sure they will do their best, but as you know, refereeing in a game such as this, with so many rules and interpretations and changes? It’s no easy feat. The best team ON THE DAY will be victorious if all goes as it should :thumbup:
Walter Black
Guest
It will be a travesty if the STorm don't win the Premiership this year. Won every game except 3 and 2 of those were with a severely weakened team and every game played away from home. Even the finals were all played away from home despite finishing in the top 2. BTW, since this may well be Cameron Smith's last game, they deserve to send out this future immortal with a premiership plus sending out our departing wingers on the high that they so deserve. Given everyone thinks Smith is a referee now maybe he could take on the role officially and ensure that all those Sydney and Queensland clubs play to the rules. I do hope the Storm win in for the hardships they have had to endure this year and for all those Victorian fans who haven't been able to go to a single match this year. Go Strom, win it for Victoria
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I like your thinking :happy:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
So no bet each way lol? And I fear that the fear of losing could possibly contribute to the ultimate downfall of these Panthers. However, they have come so far and I’d like to think they have the strength of mind and belief in themselves to be super competitive in this last hurrah against a ‘superb team (still don’t like ‘em though) and yes it’s a case of ‘happy hubby happy life’ ( it’s been a good winter)
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
It would be a travesty if the Panther's don't win the Grand Final this year, 17 wins in a row, 21/22 games won. they truly deserve it and hope they do win it. BTW didn't Cameron Smith have a testimonial at least three seasons before he retired? He may well be refereeing his last NRL game and the Storm (and NRL) may just 'wrestle' a win for him.
Paul
Roar Guru
“can I have a bet each way on a win or a place for the mountain men??” You can but it’s probably not a great way to make money! :happy: I don’t think you’re on your Pat Malone when it comes to trying to separate these two teams. You’ve done a nice job of trying to find a difference maker through your comments, but there’s one factor I think might swing the game towards the Storm and that’s the Panthers fear of losing. They’ve clearly had an outstanding year, losing just the one game and I wonder if that’s preying in some of their minds? The old “we’ve come all this way, let’s not stuff it up now”. I think backing the Panthers in your case is a smart move. If nothing else it will help prevent marital discord if you’re both supporting the same team. :stoked:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
One the one hand we have the Panthers, a team of young guns who’ve been playing the kind of football I love to watch. It’s never certain what they will come up with at any given moment. It seems to me that every move is backed up so well by a team that loves playing together. They complete their sets creatively, reading the play on the fly, reacting and interacting with each other, not only to make field position but to open up spaces -holes, on either side of the ruck, leaving their opposition floundering as the halves use every centimetre to get a teammate close to or over that try line. On the other hand we have the Storm – a well-oiled machine that plays precision football, based on an intimate study of opposition tactics, strengths and weaknesses, with the aim of stifling them in attack, and giving few opportunities for their opposition to gain good field position. Beautiful defensive work, always backed up by a masterful fullback, arguably the best in to he business at this time, who is fast, furious and seems to have tentacles rather than arms! Their captain is skilful and tenacious, giving no quarter or reprieve to his opposition or to the officials. He knows how to ‘work the room’ so to speak and is never backwards in coming forwards. If I had to place a bet on which team will be victorious? No idea! I’m clueless! I constantly try to imagine how the game could pan out, matching up players and positions…it becomes muddled and I feel brain-addled. I’m no expert on either of these teams and my attempts to be analytical regarding the complexities that will come into play during this final game of two worthy opponents, are amateurish but heartfelt. I enjoyed reading this article very much and the thrust and parry of the ensuing discussions is most edifying. I must champion the Pennie Panthers – my husbands much-loved team and the Storm is a mortal enemy of my lot so… can I have a bet each way on a win or a place for the mountain men?? :silly:
Nat
Roar Rookie
Melbourne haven't seen rain since they moved to the coast...
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. That clears it up for me
Albo
Roar Rookie
Just accidents , which don't count, Barry ! :silly:
Tony
Roar Guru
I thought I saw a few high tackles?
Tony
Roar Guru
Corey Allan was the guy I was thinking of :happy:
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Great post