NRL 2024, Grand Final, Late Mail, team lists, injuries, updates, 1 hour, 24 hour

NRL Late Mail: Grand Final - Cleary, Bellamy weigh up changes

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Thu 3 Oct 2024, 03:37 PM

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy have each left the door ajar for further changes to their teams before Sunday's NRL decider.

The mentors were pressed on a number of selection decisions at Thursday's grand final press conference and revealed there is a chance of a reshuffle leading into the game.

Panthers forward Scott Sorensen is a chance of returning from a hamstring injury while Bellamy revealed he is yet to settle on a replacement for suspended forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

See all the late mail, official team news and updates ahead of the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership grand final.

NRL Late Mail: Grand Final

Storm v Panthers, Sunday 7.30pm AEDT at Accor Stadium

Storm: Bellamy is weighing up his options for Nelson Asofa-Solomona's replacement after initially naming Lazarus Vaalepu on the bench. Joe Chan remains in the mix, with the coach to wait until closer to kick off before making a final decision. "We still haven't made that decision properly yet," he said. "We need to see how we go at training today. Both those guys are playing really well in the [NSW Cup and Queensland Cup]." Harry Grant, Nick Meaney and Jahrome Hughes picked up injuries in last week's preliminary final win over the Roosters however all three have been named and look set to line up in Sunday's decider. Livewire utility Sua Fa'alogo made a successful return from a hamstring injury in last week's NSW Cup grand final and will provide injury cover in the extended squad.

Panthers: Coach Ivan Cleary will give Scott Sorensen every opportunity to prove his fitness as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. The forward has missed both finals matches but was named in the extended squad for Sunday's clash. "He's getting through everything he needs to at the moment but we've still got a couple of sessions to go," Cleary said. "We'll give him every chance but we're not going to take a risk there either." Matthew Eisenhuth shapes as the man likely to drop out if Sorensen comes in. Nathan Cleary has declared his shoulder is good to go, with Brad Schneider set to start on the bench and provide injury cover throughout the match. Trent Toelau, Daine Laurie and Luke Sommerton are also in the extended squad with Casey McLean the 18th man.

Grand Final - Grand Final - Sunday 6 Oct

8:30 am

Storm

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Paul Alamoti
Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Brad Schneider
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Lazarus Vaalepu

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth

Reserves

Replacement for Storm is number 18 Grant Anderson

Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Casey McLean
Reserve for Storm is number 19 Joe Chan

Reserve for Panthers is number 19 Scott Sorensen
Reserve for Storm is number 20 Kane Bradley

Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Trent Toelau
Reserve for Storm is number 21 Tepai Moeroa

Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Daine Laurie
Reserve for Storm is number 22 Sualauvi Faalogo

Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Luke Sommerton