The biggest game of the year is only days away and both the Storm and Panthers have named near full strength teams for their title-deciding clash.
Melbourne will be without Nelson Asofa-Solomona after he failed in his bid to have his high tackle charge downgraded.
Meanwhile, Ivan Cleary is without Scott Sorensen who is a slim chance of returning to the side after battling a hamstring injury.
Read below for the Grand Final Team Lists!
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 6
Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers, Accor Stadium at 7:30pm AEST
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson 19. Joe Chan 20. Kane Bradley 21. Tepai Moeroa 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Analysis: Tui Kamikamica has been named to slot into the front row in the absence of Nelson Asofa-Solomona after his failed bid to have a high tackle charge downgraded. Lazarus Vaalepu, who was born in Penrith, has been called upon for only his eighth NRL game, having made his debut in Round 20 against the Roosters.
“He hasn’t had a lot of game time, but the times he has been out there, he’s been really good for our footy side,” Christian Welch told NCA Newswire of the 119-kilogram forward.
“He’s such a powerful guy and a big body, but his efforts off the ball and in his defensive areas have been really pleasing because the speed of the game at NRL level rises up.
“For him to be able to still carry the ball but also keep contributing in defence with such a big frame is a really tough thing to do.”
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Casey McLean 19. Scott Sorensen 20. Trent Toelau 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Analysis: No changes to the side that defeated the Sharks in the preliminary final. Star halfback Nathan Cleary aggravated an existing shoulder injury last week and left the field in the final six minutes but as expected he has been named to play after assuring the media he will be right to go. Brad Schneider has been named on the bench as cover though. Scott Sorensen has been named in the reserves and hopes to overcome a hamstring injury for the Grand Final but will have to pass a fitness test later in the week.
“I just aggravated it a little bit during training (before the first finals game),” Sorensen told NCA Newswire on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t quite back to square one, but I had to get back into rehab and make sure it was strong so I could make myself available for the weekend just gone. That wasn’t to be, but that’s all right.
“Everything is tracking along well. I’m literally ticking boxes at the moment and making sure that I get through my training sessions to hopefully make myself available for Sunday.
“I’m feeling good and feeling strong.”
Referee: Ashley Klein
Review Official: Grant Atkins
Touch Judges: David Munro and Chris Sutton
Standby Referee: Gerard Sutton
Standby Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
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