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Parramatta and Penrith have stuck with their 17-man squads but have made positional changes one hour before kick-off in the NRL Grand Final.
Mitch Kenny will again start at hooker for the Panthers with Api Koroisau reverting to the interchange in the only tweak to Ivan Cleary‘s team.
Brad Arthur has done his usual trick of bringing Marata Niukore into the run-on side at lock with Ryan Matterson to start from the bench.
Sean O’Sullivan will be Penrith’s standby player on the bench with Bryce Cartwright fulfilling the same role for the Eels.
Matt Eisenhuth was the last name culled from the reserves for Penrith, after J’maine Hopgood, Sunia Turuva and Chris Smith were removed 24 hours before kick-off.
Makahesi Makatoa was dropped by Parramatta on game day after Ofahiki Ogden and Ky Rodwell had been cut on Saturday. The third man originally part of the 22-man list was departing centre Tom Opacic who was ruled out earlier in the week with Bailey Simonsson to give Parramatta a second player with Grand Final experience.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Former NSW lock Nathan Brown will make a shock return for Parramatta in the Grand Final 12 weeks after he was last sighted at NRL level.
Arthur has reinstated the fiery lock to his bench after he was continually left out of the 17-man line-up for the past three months, leading to suggestions the coach has been feuding with the veteran, who has been told he is free to leave the club at season’s end even though he is under contract for next year.
Penrith winger Charlie Staines retained his spot in Ivan Cleary‘s side for the Grand Final after first-choice winger Taylan May has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with a hamstring injury.
Staines, who has played 14 games for the Panthers this season, earned a recall for Penrith’s preliminary final win over South Sydney with May sidelined with injury and suspension.
Staines and Panthers teammate Viliame Kikau only copped fines for shoulder charges in last Saturday’s victory over Souths.
Rabbitohs winger Taane Milne was rubbed out for six weeks, which means he will miss Fiji’s World Cup campaign, for the high tackle on Leniu which led to his send-off in the second half.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In the NRLW Grand Final, Simaima Taufa was cleared of a hip-drop tackle and will spearhead the Parramatta pack against Newcastle.
Taufa was instrumental in the Eels’ 24-10 upset over premiers Sydney Roosters although they will come up against a Knights side riding high after a 30-6 drubbing of St George Illawarra in the other Semi-Final.
Strike Parramatta centre Tiana Penitani won’t play in the NRLW grand final after failing to overcome a quad injury she suffered a fortnight ago in time to play.
One of the stars of NSW’s State of Origin backline, Penitani had been named on an extended bench in No.21.
Knights: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Kiana Takairangi 3. Shanice Parker 4. Bobbi Law 5. Emmanita Paki 6. Kirra Dibb 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Caitlan Johnston 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Millie Boyle 11. Romy Teitzel 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Kayla Romaniuk 14. Emma Manzelmann 15. Tayla Prededbon 16. Simone Karpani 18. Caitlin Moran 17. Makenzie Weale 20. Kyra Simon 22. Tiana Davison 23. Jess Gentle 24. Tamsin Barber
All eyes will be on star fullback Tamika Upton who scored twice in Sunday’s tough semi-final victory over St George Illawarra. The recruitment of Upton and prop Millie Boyle has transformed the winless wooden spooners into title favourites.
Makenzie Weale has lost her place to Caitlin Moran on the interchange after the squad was cut back to 19 on Saturday.
Eels: 1. Gayle Broughton 2. Zali Fay 3. Abbi Church 4. Rikeya Horne 5. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 6. Ash Quinlan 7. Tayla Preston 8. Kennedy Cherrington 9. Brooke Anderson 10. Ellie Johnston 11. Christian Pio 12. Vanessa Foliaki 13. Simaima Taufa 14. Filomina Hanisi 15. Seli Mailangi 16. Nejvada George 17. Rima Butler 18. Ruby-Jean Kennard 19. Brooke-Morgan Walker 20. Reuben Cherrington 21. Tiana Penitani 22. Tess Staines
With representative forward Simaima Taufa being cleared of a hip-drop tackle, Dean Widders’ side is unchanged.
Tiana Penitani was named on the reserves after being out with a thigh injury but won’t be a late inclusion after being omitted 24 hours before kick-off.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 14. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 9. Apisai Koroisau 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Sunia Turuva 22. Chris Smith
Viliame Kikau and Charlie Staines escaped bans from their shoulder charges against Souths. Staines was looking likely to make way with rookie Taylan May due back from a one-game suspension for a high tackle but he has been ruled out due to a hamstring concern.
Api Koroisau will again start from the bench with Mitch Kenny elevated from the interchange.
Spencer Leniu (head knock) will be able to take his place on the bench.
Eels: Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Marata Niukore 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Nathan Brown 15. Jake Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Bryce Cartwright 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Tom Opacic 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Ky Rodwell
Tom Opacic’s hamstring strain means he will sit out the decider with Bailey Simonsson holding his spot in the outside backs. Opacic had been named in the reserves.
Bryce Cartwright was elevated to the interchange in the Semi-Final but only got 14 minutes of game time and Nathan Brown has been reinstated on the bench by coach Brad Arthur.
Marata Niukore will start at lock with Ryan Matterson switched back to the bench.
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