Penrith Panthers (1) Vs Newcastle Knights (2)
Allianz Stadium, Sunday, September 28
Kick-off: 3.10pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ
Broadcast: Radio coverage courtesy of ABC (Link available via ABC Grandstand)
Broadcast: Radio coverage courtesy of 2GB (Link available via 2GB.com)
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (Link available via www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (Link available via www.steelesports.com.au)
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (Link available via 893fm.com.au)
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Triple H FM (Link available via www.triplehfm.com.au/hhh)
PANTHERS - 1. KIERAN MOSS 2. ETO NABULI 3. WAQA BLAKE 4. WES NAIQAMA 5. TOM EISENHUTH 6. LUKE CAPEWELL 7. TOM HUMBLE 8. LEILANI LATU 9. KEVIN KINGSTON 10. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD 11. ISAAH YEO 12. NATHAN SMITH 13. RYAN SIMPKINS 14. VAIPUNA TIA KILIFI 15. KIERRAN MOSELEY 16. ANDY SAUNDERS 17. DANIEL FOSTER 18. LIAM AYOUB COACH: GARTH BRENNAN
KNIGHTS – 1. NATHAN ROSS 22. JOSH MANTELLATO 3. BRAYDEN WILIAME 4. PAT MATA’UTIA 5. CHANEL MATA’UTIA 6. MATT MINTO 7. MICHAEL DOBSON 8. SAM MATAORA 9. CHAD REDMAN 10. PAT VAIVAI 11. CLINT NEWTON 18. TIMANA TAHU 13. MATT HILDER (C) 14. TRAVIS WADDELL 15. TYLER RANDELL 16. MICHAEL STEELE 17. BRENTON HORWOOD 25. JAMES ELIAS 30. TOKA LIKILIKI COACH: RICK STONE
Summary: And then there were two. After 26 rounds and almost a month’s worth of finals action we are ultimately left with the competition’s two best sides fighting it out for the 2014 VB NSW Cup Premiership. The Penrith Panthers have been the yardstick all season long and will be looking to cap off their record-breaking season by hoisting the trophy aloft come full-time on Sunday, but the Knights should prove to be a more-than-worthy adversary, as they head into the Grand Final off the back of a nine-match winning streak. After their last loss to the Cutters way back in round 17, it still wasn’t certain that the Knights would even make the top eight much let alone the Grand Final, however they went on to win their last seven regular season matches and by doing so they secured a top two finish. There were no such concerns for the Panthers who had the Minor Premiership sewn up over a month out from the finals series, and after losing their opening two games of the season they have gone on to win 22 of their last 24 matches. In fact had the Panthers not relinquished a large lead to the Jets at Allianz Stadium late in the season, they would be entering this match undefeated since a round eight loss to the Sharks at Remondis Stadium. Coach Garth Brennan is certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting his side. The team that accounted for the Magpies on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval had no less than 10 players who have tasted first grade over their careers and with many others that are destined to do so in the near future. The likes of Waqa Blake and Eto Nabuli could arguably have already debuted had they found themselves at a different club while young front rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard is also a name for the future. The Panthers’ depth and strength at present was quantified even further on Sunday when they were able to include the likes of Kevin Kingston, David Simmons and Isaah Yeo to an already strong Penrith side. Their opponents in the Knights shouldn’t be overawed however as they will also field a pretty handy line-up. Newcastle have a host of players with first grade experience, including veterans like Timana Tahu, Michael Dobson, Matt Hilder and Clint Newton, as well as some younger tyros such as Chanel Mata’utia and Pat Vaivai. And besides their players who have tasted first grade, others such as Nathan Ross, Pat Mata’utia and Chad Redman have all had stellar seasons and are a large reason why the Novocastrians find themselves just 80 minutes away from a possible premiership. As you can see below these two sides split their regular-season clashes however it is probably fair to say that the Knights appeared to have gotten Penrith at a good time way back in round one. There are plenty of points in both of these teams and this has been on show during the finals series with the Panthers posting 73 points combined against the Cutters and Magpies while the Knights have managed to score 58 points against the same opposition. Defensively though the Panthers appear the superior outfit on paper conceding just 18 points per game during the regular season and have also only allowed three tries during their two finals series wins. With that said, the Knights defence has stood up when it has needed to and they have only conceded four tries during their two finals wins and can also draw upon inspiration from their round 25 win over the Jets where they defended a man down for most of the match yet were still able to hold on for a win that ultimately saw them clinch second spot. It looms as an intriguing battle not only on the park but also in the coaches box where Garth Brennan will go toe to toe with a man that he spent time working with at the Knights. Brennan was a former assistant to Stone back when Rick was the Knights first grade coach, and should have an intimate knowledge of the way he goes about preparing a side but also some of his personnel. And if Brennan wants to know anything else about the Knights boys he need only ask the Naiqama brothers, or even Will Smith or Sam Anderson, players who have all made their way to Penrith via the Knights. No matter which way you look at it, this Grand Final promises to be one of the best in recent memory. Both sides are fielding the best possible side that they can and have both been the form teams, certainly leading into the finals, if not all year certainly in Penrith’s case. And of course as of this year there is also the added incentive of a chance to square off against the winners of the Intrust Super Cup the following week at ANZ Stadium in the inaugural State Championship. So get out to Allianz Stadium for what is going to be a great celebration of Rugby League in all three grades.
2014 Head to Head Results:
Newcastle Knights 24 def. Penrith Panthers 14 at Sportingbet Stadium (Round 1)
Penrith Panthers 38 def. Newcastle Knights 16 at Cessnock Sports Ground (Round 9)
Panthers leading try scorer 2014 – Eto Nabuli (18 tries)
Knights leading try scorer 2014 – Josh Mantellato (19 tries)
Prediction: Impossible to go past the Panthers who are deserved favourites but the Knights are more than capable of knocking them off. Panthers by 2.
