Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has said that he will wait until game day before deciding whether to start the Grand Final with his star hooker, Api Koroaisau, on the field.
Mitch Kenny, usually the backup, has begun the four of the last five games to soak up the early pressure before Koroisau entered later in the first half, but in the pre-match press conference, Cleary refused to rule out a switch back to the status quo for the biggest game of the year.
“It’s something that we never really had as a plan, but just kind of happened,” he said of the switch. “Honestly, from week to week I don’t know what the best way to go is.”
Kenny performed strongly when Penrith rotated their squad and, when the switch was first tried before their Round 24 clash with South Sydney, Cleary said that it was as a result of his form and a desire to allow Koroisau to play against fatigued forwards.
Against Souths in the preliminary final, Kenny was largely ineffective as Bunnies hooker Damien Cook dominated proceedings before Koroisau kick started the Panthers comeback that ultimately won them the game.
“Api’s an 80-minute player and started in Origin this year and started the Grand Final before,” said Cleary. “It’s something we can mix and match a little bit. They’ve got different strengths but everything is going to be based on the day.”
The coach also identified the early stages as a key tactical battle, with the sides fighting to impose their style of play on the game.
“Both teams will want to get back to the style that suits them best, that’s what you’re trying to do,” he said. “You’re trying to get yourself into the game.
“There’s a battle that goes on and the game has plenty of battles within the game as well, but the thing that you want to do is play the style that you’re comfortable with and that you think is going to work best on the day.
“No matter what that is, there’s always variations because every game is different. You’ve got to be able to deal with that on the run as well. Everyone’s got a plan but it doesn’t always go to plan and you have to be able to adjust.
“We’ve got here based on processes and living in the present rather than the past or the future. There’s a few more things going on this week, which is all part of it, and it gets mentioned a lot but it’s worth embracing it and that’s what I’ve done.
“You have to enjoy your down time, immerse yourself in the community and the events that you have to get out to but focus as hard as you can when it comes to training. I’m really confident that when it comes to Sunday we’ve got enough to produce our best.”
Cleary praised the Eels’ ability to overcome a defeat in the first week of the finals to reach the showpiece.
“They had plenty of tough games at the end of the season and it’s pretty obvious from the game they had last week that they’re battle-hardened,” he said. “We went through something similar last week in losing the first final, so you can definitely do it and there’s different ways to get there. Anyone who makes a Grand Final deserves it.
“We’ve played each other a lot in the last few years, with a lot of close games that could have gone either way. It’s a good match up. That’s one of the reasons why we’re both in the Grand Final.
“It’s time now to sit back, let the game unfold and see how it goes.”
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