For the first time since 2019 the NRL State Championship returns to form part of Grand Final day, after COVID-19 restrictions prevented the game from taking place over the past two seasons.
This year will see the Penrith reserve-grade side try and open the day with a win for the club, before their NRL side plays later that night, while the Norths Devils get a chance to claim another accolade in what has been a dominant 24 months for the club, which has seen them win back-to-back Queensland titles.
The Panthers have appeared in the NRL State Championship on two prior occasions and won it in 2017, while Norths will be playing in the interstate game for the first time.
While the Queensland champions won the first two editions of the match, New South Wales side have won the last four.
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The Rundown
Team news
Panthers: No late changes for the NSW champions. Sean O'Sullivan is out due to being on replacement player duty for Penrith's NRL side, which means Jack Cole shifts to the halves, with Thomas Jennings joining the squad at centre. Luke Sommerton replaces Alec Susino on the interchange. Mavrik Geyer is 18th Man.
Devils: A big blow an hour from kick-off, with halfback Tyson Gamble out of the squad. His spot is taken by captain Jack Ahearn, whose place at fullback will now be filled by Matthew Milson. Rashaun Denny is back in the squad on the wing. Jerome Veve starts at prop, with Tuipulotu Puliuvea reverting to the bench. Two-try Grand Final hero Brayden McGrady is out after dislocating his elbow in the act of scoring the winning try last week.
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Key match-up
Kurt Falls v Jack Ahearn: These two will be the chief playmakers come Sunday. Coming into this game Falls has set up 16 tries in as many games in the NSW Cup, while he's also laid on nine line-break assists. His role is even more crucial now that Sean O'Sullivan is out. Ahearn meanwhile continues to star at the back for the Devils and this year was directly involved in 26 tries, setting up 20 and scoring a further six himself.
Stat Attack
While the Panthers dominated many of the key stat categories through the 2022 season on their way to the title, that wasn't the case for the Devils, who weren't the regular season standouts before turning it on come playoff time. While they were pipped to the minor premiership by a point, Penrith had the best attacking and defensive record in the competition and completed at a better rate than any other side. The Devils on the other hand finished the normal season with the seventh-best attack and were the fifth-worst side in the competition in terms of defensive records, leaking 24 points per game on average.
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