Ivan Cleary, the coach of Penrith, and Kevin Walters of Brisbane selected the same teams, securing their spots in the grand final.
Three of the Panthers’ top players have returned unharmed for the championship game, while the Broncos have weathered a severe injury scare during training.
The grand final teams analysis is provided below.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Penrith Panthers, 7.30 p.m. AEST, Accor Stadium
Sunia Turuva and Dylan Edwards lead the Panthers’ squad. 3. Izack Tago 4. Crichton Stephen 5. Nathan Cleary; 6. Jarome Luai; 7. Brian To’o 8. Leota Moses 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Harris Fisher 11. Liam Martin 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Scott Sorensen 14. Jack Cogger 15. Lindsay Smith Luke Garner, Tyrone Peachey, Matt Eisenhuth, Zac Hosking, Luke Sommerton, and Spencer Leniu, ages 16 through 19. 22. Thomas Jenkins
With a corner kick from To’o, Penrith established their dominance in just three minutes. The Storm’s only real highlight of the evening came when recalled center Justin Olam scored a goal.
When the Panthers were awarded a free two points in the middle of the first half due to a late push by Nelson Asofa-Solomona on Cleary, tensions broke out.
Subsequently, the floodgates opened, and Penrith scored two goals in a span of seven minutes, with To’o scoring the first and Sunia Turuva scoring the second.
Any last optimism for the Storm vanished as Cleary scored on the strength of a barnstorming run by Liam Martin, which was followed two minutes later by a try of his own by Dylan Edwards.
That signaled coach Ivan Cleary to take star five-eighth Jarome Luai off the field following his successful 58-minute comeback from a shoulder injury.
The Panthers maintained their intensity as To’o scored his third of the game, all but guaranteeing them a position in the championship game.
The floodgates then opened, and Penrith scored twice in seven minutes, with Sunia Turuva scoring the second and To’o the first.
Any remaining hope for the Storm was dashed when Liam Martin’s barnstorming run set up a try for Cleary, which was followed two minutes later by a try of Dylan Edwards.
Coach Ivan Cleary used that as a cue to remove star five-eighth Jarome Luai from the field after his impressive 58-minute recovery from a shoulder injury.
To’o’s third goal of the game kept the Panthers going strong and all but guaranteed them a spot in the final game.
