The first week of finals is here, being buoyed by a host of players who have performed week in, week out during the 27 rounds of the regular season.
But finals games are a new beast and key match-ups can make or break a clash.
Whether it be the halves battle in the Storm and Sharks’ clash, or a backrow duel for the ages in the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles’ fixture — each will have a major influence on the outcome.
So what are the match-ups that could decide each finals clash?
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NATHAN CLEARY VS SANDON SMITH
It’s a battle of the novice versus the superstar here, but the return of Nathan Cleary up against Sandon Smith could prove the different in this clash. The Roosters lost a host of big-name stars in Round 26, with Sam Walker and Brandon Smith suffering season-ending injuries, forcing a spine shake-up. Those injuries have seen Smith called up to be the club’s chief playmaker, spearheading a finals campaign for the Tricolours only 26 games into his NRL career. He will face arguably the biggest test of his career on Friday night, with Cleary returning with a vengeance after missing the last three games due to a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old is arguably the best player in the game and have been a huge factor in the Panthers’ dominance in recent seasons, winning three premierships. While Jarome Luai has been excellent in the No.7, he will make way and shift to five-eighth, hailing his halves partner’s superpower to Newswire. “He brings this aura and he has this type of feeling that if the game goes down to the wire, we’re a big chance of winning because he’s there,” Luai said. “If we’re behind on the scoreboard in any situation, we’re always going to be in the game (because of him). “It’s a pretty cool superpower to have. That’s what he brings to this team – the belief.” That belief will be a scary prospect for the Roosters who are down on troops. Smith himself was fully understanding of how big a task he has ahead of him if the Tricolours want to compete for a premiership. “It’s a different sort of beast going from reserve-grade to the NRL, just that mental sides of things,” he said to Zero Tackle. “You got to lock in and prepare and really put your best foot forward every single week. You can’t miss a moment in this game or you get found out.” Smith has been touted as the club’s long-term halves replacement for his current partner Luke Keary, and will likely partner Chad Towsend to start the 2024 season following Walker’s ACL rupture. While it remains to be seen whether he can get the job done, finals experience can only be a positive for a rising playmaker.
JAHROME HUGHES VS NICHO HYNES
Once again, we’re taking a close look at the halves here, with Nicho Hynes coming up against the potential 2024 Dally M Medallist in Jahrome Hughes. Hynes, who has been sidelined with syndesmosis, has copped criticism for his lack of involvement in recent weeks. League legend Gorden Tallis, who commentated the Sharks’ clash against the Sea Eagles, was of the belief Braydon Trindall has been the man standing tall. “I called that game yesterday and there was 18 minutes to go and the game was still in the balance,” Tallis said “It could have went either way, right? And I said, this is the part where Nicho’s just got to stand up and grab the game by the throat. “I thought Trindall was absolutely outstanding. But that’s why the questions get asked.” With criticism comes a chance to respond, and Hynes will have no better motivation than coming up against his former club in the Storm. The former Dally M Medallist will also be out to break Cronulla’s finals hoodoo and win a post-season game under Craig Fitzgibbon. The Sharks went out in straight sets in 2022, before they were knocked out of the finals by a Sam Walker field goal in 2023. Meanwhile, his halves counterpart Hughes has been arguably the best player in the competition this year and was labelled the “the best running halfback I’ve ever seen” by Matty Johns. The Storm are premiership favourites this year, and if they are to lift the trophy Hughes is set to play a big role. Elsewhere, an interesting international match-up between two New Zealanders will also be massively influential on the result of this clash. Briton Nikora and Eliesa Katoa will almost undoubtedly partner each other in the backrow come the Pacific Championships, and while they won’t defend each other, their attacking prowess could have a big influence on the result of this clash. Both players have an ability to break the line and also score from kicks, and whoever delivers on the night, their performance will go a long way to a win.
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VILIAME KIKAU VS HAUMOLE OLAKA’UATU
When it comes to physical battles, they don’t get much more exciting than this – the two most destructive second-rowers up against each other in an elimination final.
Olakau’atu got the edge over his opponent a fortnight ago when the Sea Eagles came out firing against the Bulldogs to seal a 34-22 win. The barnstorming second-rower finished with 13 runs for 98 metres, got six tackle busts, two offloads and made 23 tackles with two misses.
That’s compared to Kikau’s much quieter performance which consisted of nine runs for 37 metres, two tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak assist and 13 tackles – two misses.
But with everything on the line, expect these two players to leave some sort of mark on the game.
It’s been a big year for both of these imposing edge forwards. Olakau’atu made his State of Origin debut, while this week Kikau was named the Bulldogs’ Player of the Year.
In 19 games this season Olakau’atu has notched up six tries, 10 linebreaks, nine linebreak assists, 14 offloads and 76 tackle busts – which he leads his team in. He’s also been averaging 118 running metres and 24 tackles per game.
Kikau has four tries, nine linebreaks, eight linebreak assists, 41 offloads and 53 tackle busts. He’s averaging 91 metres and 20 tackles per game.
But most importantly, what the stats won’t say, is that both spark fear in the opposition.
SCOTT DRINKWATER VS KALYN PONGA
If the Cowboys or Knights need something pulled from nothing they’ll look to these two players.
North Queensland’s No.1 Scott Drinkwater and Newcastle’s No.1 Kalyn Ponga are two of the most creative players in the competition and no doubt will have their hands all over the result should their respective team win.
Ponga needs no introduction. He put the Knights on his back last season, leading them to a 10-game winning streak and a semi-final before being named the Dally M medalist.
The superstar No.1 has done something similar this year too with his red-hot form key to the Knights winning four of their last five games to creep into the finals.
Ponga’s overall stats this season won’t tell the story given he missed a big chunk of the year with a foot injury but in his last five games alone the 26-year-old has five try assists, six linebreaks, eight linebreak assists and in all of those games except one he had 10 tackle busts or more.
Meanwhile, Drinkwater finished the regular season leading the competition in linebreak assists with 36 and second to Ben Hunt in try assists with 29. He has kicked three 40/20s this season – the most in his team and third most in the competition – and he’s also sitting first for the Cowboys and fifth in the NRL overall in tackle busts (117).
Throw in his 10 tries and the 128 running metres he’s averaging per game and many would argue the 27-year-old is the Cowboys’ most valuable player.
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