Storm v Panthers: Tui starts for Nelson; Sorensen to start
History beckons at Accor Stadium on Sunday when the two best teams of the modern era square off in a grand final for the ages.
Defending premiers Penrith will become the first team since the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1967-71 to appear in five straight grand finals, while minor premiers Melbourne are into their fifth decider in the past nine seasons.
Of the last eight grand finals, dating back to 2016, the Panthers or Storm have appeared in seven of them, a dominance broken only by the Roosters and Raiders in 2019.
Both grand finalists chalked up impressive preliminary final wins but not before the Roosters and Sharks mounted second-half comebacks to give Storm and Panthers fans a few heart flutters.
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In the end it was the class of Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster that saw the Storm kick right away from the Roosters, while Nathan Cleary stood tall on Saturday night to sink the Sharks.
Among many mouth-watering match-ups in the decider, the clash of Cleary and Luai against Hughes and Munster will be worth the price of admission alone, while fullbacks Dylan Edwards and Ryan Papenhuyzen are sure to have a huge say.
Both No.1s are past winners of the Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground in the grand final, and both have the class to break the decider open in a heartbeat.
The Panthers had a scare when Cleary clutched his shoulder after making a tackle in the dying stages against the Sharks but he was adamant post-match that he'd be right to play while back-rower Scott Sorensen hopes to return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the past two games.
Melbourne's drama centres around the judiciary rather than injury, with big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona found guilty of a Grade 3 Careless High Tackle charge on Monday night and banned for five matches.
The Storm won both meetings between the sides in 2024, shutting the Panthers out in an 8-0 triumph in Round 1 and sneaking home 24-22 at BlueBet Stadium in Round 24 on the back of a late Nick Meaney penalty goal.
Craig Bellamy's men also took the honours in the only grand final played between the sides in 2020, but the Panthers have taken all before them since that night and stand on the verge of history as they look to become the first team since the mighty Dragons (1956-66) to win four premierships on the trot.
Match: Storm v Panthers
Grand Final -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Panthers
2nd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Storm: No late changes on game day. Nelson Asofa-Solomona suspended, Fijian giant Tui Kamikamica gets the call-up into the starting side and Lazarus Vaalepu has been added to the bench. Kamikamica has started in 14 of his 21 appearances this season, the most recent being in Round 23 against Souths. The 30-year-old has played 113 games for the Storm and this will be his first grand final, while 25-year-old Vaalepu is just six games into his NRL career having debuted in Round 20 against the Roosters. Grant Anderson is 18th man.
Panthers: Coach Ivan Cleary has thrown Scott Sorensen into the starting side an hour before kick-off as he returns from a hamstring injury. Luke Garner goes to the bench and Matt Eisenhuth goes to 18th man. Brad Schneider comes from the bench and provides injury cover throughout the match.
Match: Storm v Panthers
Grand Final -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack HowarthCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Panthers is number 4 Paul Alamoti
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui KamikamicaProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh KingProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Panthers is number 19 Scott Sorensen
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran WishartInterchange for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian WelchInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Brad Schneider
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Lazarus VaalepuInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Reserves
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Replacement for Storm is number 18 Grant AndersonReplacement for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Storm have scored 213 points in their past five games.
- The Panthers can become the first club in 58 years to win four consecutive grand finals.
- The Storm have four players who have played a total of nine grand finals.
- The Panthers have 13 players who have played a total of 39 grand finals.
- Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes will make his 150th NRL appearance.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored nine tries in 11 games against the Storm.
- Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has scored a try in all four games he has played at Accor Stadium.
- The Panthers have won 11 of their past 13 games at Accor Stadium.
- Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will equal Wayne Bennett’s record of 10 grand finals as coach.
- The Panthers have conceded an average of 9.6 points in their past 11 finals matches.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
