Panthers confident

BRISBANE: It’s a National Rugby League (NRL) grand-final rematch but for Penrith everything has changed.
In 2020 a lack of big game experience cost the Panthers in the decider, but State of Origin stars Jarome Luai and Kurt Capewell say that won’t be the case this year.
After the rampant success of last season’s 17 straight wins on a march to the NRL grand final, the Panthers went from three State of Origin players in 2020 to seven representatives in 2021. Luai as well as Brian To’o, Api Koroisau and Liam Martin made their debuts for New South Wales this year while Nathan Cleary, Capewell and Isaah Yeo added more representative games to their tally.
Intense finals wins against Sydney Roosters and South Sydney in last year’s preliminary final, as well as a loss to the Rabbitohs a fortnight ago and a gritty win over Parramatta has intensified the lessons.
Heading into Saturday’s grand final qualifier against their 2020 foes at Suncorp Stadium, the Panthers are adamant they’re in a better place than last year to shock the Melbourne giants who have been in four of the past five deciders.
“They’ve been in a lot of big games and they’ve been on the right side of the results in a lot of those big games so it’s something that’s new for us,” said Queensland Origin forward Capewell.
“Having the finals experience last year and a fair few of our players gone on to play Origin and in bigger games, now with that bit of experience our team will be a bit better equipped.”
Last year’s 26-20 loss to September specialists Melbourne in the NRL grand final was a reminder of how far the Panthers had to grow as a young side.
But the Storm have had their changes too, losing champion skipper Cameron Smith but continuing their remarkable consistency without him. – Seven News

Bromwich brothers journey together

BRISBANE: After 13 years with the Storm, Kenny and Jesse Bromwich have become as inseparable as the Morris twins or the Burgess brothers but if not for a conversation with now Dragons general manager of football Ben Haran they may never have had the opportunity to play together.
Haran was involved with player development for the Storm in 2008 when Kenny moved from Auckland to Melbourne with his parents, while Jesse was playing for the Orange Hawks in New South Wales Country Group 16 competition and working on building sites.
Kenny was a promising forward who had played alongside Kiwis centre Peta Hiku and Warrington Wolves prop Akauola Sitaleka in junior teams for Manurewa Marlins before moving to Melbourne and Haran had suggested he should attend Hallam Secondary College as it had a league program
He was a member of the Storm’s academy before progressing to play SG Ball, and while Jesse made his National Rugby League debut three years earlier in 2010, Kenny is now the longest-serving Melbourne player after Cameron Smith’s retirement.
Yet Jesse, who will co-captain the Storm in Saturday’s preliminary final against Penrith, may never have had the chance without Kenny asking Haran if his brother could attend a training session where he impressed under 20s coach Brad Arthur.
“I have spent a lot of my life at this club and it has been a good ride so far, especially having the big bro move down and get a crack as well,” Kenny said.
“We are pretty close. We pick each other every day to come to training.” – NRL

Trbojevic, Cleary leading race for NRL’s prestigious award

BRISBANE: Tom Trbojevic’s stunning end to the season could snatch him the Dally M Medal over Nathan Cleary after five players were left in the race for the National Rugby League’s most prestigious award.
New South Wales stars Cleary and Trbojevic led the votes on 24 and 23 respectively to round 19 with Daly Cherry-Evans, James Tedesco and Cody Walker rounding out the top of the polls.
Monday night’s event was the first of two ceremonies, with the count for the final six rounds to resume and the winner announced next Monday night in Brisbane.
Penrith skipper Cleary topped the count, sitting on 21 points before voting went behind closed doors in round 12.
State of Origin duty and injury limited Cleary to one game until round 22, but three votes in a 38-12 win against Sydney Roosters in round 15 could be enough to nab him the medal in a remarkable season for the young halfback.
Cleary returned from a shoulder injury in round 22 and starred for the Panthers in his last four games of the regular season to finish unbeaten from 16 NRL games. – Yahoo Sports

Penrith hopeful as injured stars join training

BRISBANE: Penrith are hopeful that Viliame Kikau, Brian To’o and Tyrone May will all be fit for Saturday’s preliminary final against Melbourne after the trio trained yesterday.
Winger To’o, who missed last week’s win over Parramatta with an ankle issue, has been named as a reserve for the clash in Brisbane.
Kikau (leg laceration and ankle sprain) didn’t take part in a pool session on Monday but the second-rower was on the field for their most recent tune-up, according to five-eighth Jarome Luai.
May, who hasn’t played since round 25 due to a knee injury, has been named on the bench in a swap with utility Mitch Kenny (ankle).
“Everyone trained today,” Luai said.
“Kiks is still sooking about his cut a bit.
“He’ll be sweet this weekend.
“The boys have been pumped, we’ll be sweet.
“(To’o) is looking good. He was training today as well with us, so big ups for us as well. Hopefully, he gets through these next couple of tests throughout the week and he’s sweet to play.” – NRL

Thurston hails NRL for trophy tour of Queensland

BRISBANE: Maroons and Cowboys great Johnathan Thurston believes the National Rugby League (NRL) finals series and trophy tour in Queensland is a fitting reward for the state’s role in keeping the Telstra Premiership season alive.
Thurston was in Mackay as the Provan-Summons Trophy toured schools and gala days — it was also be on display for crowds at Friday and Saturday night’s sudden-death semifinal clashes featuring some of the biggest stars of the NRL, including local hero Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Manly captain lead his side against Sydney Roosters on Friday night, while Nathan Cleary’s Penrith outfit faced arch rivals Parramatta on Saturday night, and Thurston said fans in regional Queensland would get behind the Sydney teams. “The people of regional Queensland love their footy, they are probably not fans of the Roosters or the Sea Eagles, or the other teams, but it is a great opportunity for kids — and adults — to see the best players in the world playing NRL finals,” Thurston said.
“This the holy grail, this is what they are playing for and you don’t usually see finals football being played at regional grounds, so it is a part of history.
“It is a good reward for the Queensland people, who have supported the game, and also for the Queensland government, who have saved the season.”
Thurston, who led the Cowboys to the 2015 premiership and was a key member of the Maroons teams which dominated State of Origin for eight years, said fans in North Queensland had shown their support for the NRL finals
The Provan-Summons trophy is in the midst of a two-week journey throughout Queensland leading into the premiership decider, visiting communities and local clubs across the state. – NRL