Live of
Penrith vs MelbourneNRL
8:30 am Sunday 25 October
ANZ Stadium
The NRL season draws to a close on Sunday as Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm face off in the grand finale
The ANZ Stadium clash, which will be played in front of 40,000 fans, is preceded by the NRL Women’s Grand Final which sees Brisbane Broncos aiming for three straight titles against the Sydney Roosters
Both matches are live on Sky Sports and we take a look at what’s being said before the matches here
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Road to the final: QF – beat Sydney Roosters 29-28; PF – defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-16
Road to the final: QF – beat Parramatta Eels 36-24; PF – beat Canberra Raiders 30-10
If you’re someone who believes in omens, then the fact that Penrith’s two previous championships in 1991 and 2003 came when they were crowned minor prime ministers could be seen as a good sign for the Panthers ahead. Sunday’s final
Ivan Cleary’s team finished top of the NRL table once again in this pandemic-interrupted season and reached the Grand Final for the first time since that triumph 17 years ago on the back of ‘a 17-game unbeaten run – a run that started with a 21-14 victory over other Melbourne finalists in June
Head coach Cleary certainly won’t take anything for granted against the Storm, though he’s embraced a superstition or two from him – including not getting his hair cut during this run.
“It started out like that now it has become a superstition,” Cleary told NRLcom “I can’t get him cut now anyway, but he’s been with me for four months and I don’t want him to cut him off now. ‘it be cut
« There are a number of different things going on I have a watch I wear on match day that stopped working about two months ago But I’m not going to touch it – until we lose »
Sunday’s final will also be a big day for the Cleary family as a whole, with son and influential Panthers half-back Nathan set to fulfill his ambition to play on the NRL’s biggest stage
“I think he’s shown he’s pretty consistent,” Ivan said of Nathan. “I don’t think the big scene is going to worry him
« I know he’s been looking forward to this match since he could walk, so I think he’ll be ready for it »
Penrith Panthers: Dylan Edwards; Josh Mansour, Brett Naden, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o; Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary; James Tamou, Api Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo
If Melbourne continues to triumph in Sunday’s grand final, it will mark their fourth title – they have been stripped of their 2007 and 2009 titles due to salary cap violations – since joining the NRL in 1998
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The first of them only came for the second season, with a young Justin Olam among those watching TV at their home in Papua New Guinea
Now, 21 years later, the center finds itself poised to follow compatriot Marcus Bai to help the Storm crown the NRL champion and it was that day in 1999 that helped relaunch his journey to the top
« It was my first game in the NRL that I watched on TV, » said Olam. « It was my first memory of watching it
« We had to go down to another town on the coast I didn’t have a TV at my house so we couldn’t watch it there but we were lucky to get out and go to another city «
Olam, Storm’s third top try scorer this season with nine, is expected to receive a large following who will cheer him on at home in front of televisions across the only country in the world where rugby league is the national sport also
“Speaking of my experience growing up in PNG, when it comes to a big game like the Grand Final or State of Origin, 90% of people go to watch the games,” Olam said
« They all love their rugby league at home, especially my close friends and family. They are really happy for me and proud of me to have reached the grand final »
Melbourne Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen; Suliasi Vunivalu, Brenko Lee, Justin Olam, Josh Addo-Carr; Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes; Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Ahead of the men’s grand final, the NRL women’s competition draws to a close as Brisbane Broncos aim for three straight titles
The Broncos have suffered only one loss in three NHL seasons and are the favorites to continue and defeat Sydney Roosters to maintain their dominance of the competition
Brisbane is led by this year’s Dally M medal winner Ali Brigginshaw who is thrilled with a new team’s performance this year
« You watch our team every year and people leave us to go to other teams, » Brigginshaw told NRLcom
« We have a small group that remains but the majority of our team is otherwise new, and every year is different
« We want girls who have not yet won a prime ministerial post to experience what it feels like, there is no better feeling This is the only motivation »
On the Roosters side, Melanie Howard aims to make the most of her half-time opportunity to play alongside Zahara Temara after injuries left the 27-year-old with a starting spot
“It felt good about the practice and the game,” Howard told NRLcom. “I felt calm and confident in what we were going to do together
« I had a few weeks off so I thought I would have a hard time but I felt great and invigorated I think my defense is strong, that’s what I’m focusing on, and I got a few points with the ball that I was encouraged to do
Brisbane Broncos: Tamika Upton; Shenae Ciesiolka, Julia Robinson, Jayme Fressard, Meg Ward; Raecene McGregor, Ali Brigginshaw; Millie Boyle, Lauren Brown, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Tallisha Harden, Tarryn Aiken
Sydney Roosters: Shanice Parker; Taleena Simon, Corban McGregor, Yasmin Meakes, Brydie Parker; Melanie Howard, Zahara Temara; Simaima Taufa, Nita Maynard, Filomina Hanisi, Vanessa Foliaki, Sarah Togatuki, Hannah Southwell
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National Rugby League, Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, NRL Grand Final, Cameron Smith
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