NRL Finals Week 3

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: Panthers (1) V Storm (3) – Accor Stadium – 21.50NZT

What an opportunity for history for the Panthers. On the verge of playing their fourth Grand Final in as many years, this club has really produced some phenomenal football over the last four seasons – and somehow have managed to get to this stage of the season and look as fresh as ever.

They’ve beaten the Storm comfortably twice this season, in both times the Storm have led early which goes to show that the Panthers are a hard side to rattle even when things aren’t going their way.

While Melbourne’s season hasn’t been as consistent as they would have liked, they’ve once again shown they are, and seemingly always be a finals side.

A massive in for the Panthers is Jarome Luai, back only four weeks after dislocating his shoulder against the Eels in Round 26. 

You know that Nelson Asofa-Solomona will be running at him all day, so you must think that he is absolutely ready to go, which is pretty incredible to think of.

Penrith are full strength, which at this point of the season is a miracle. After a week off, they’ll be ready for the task ahead of them.

Melbourne certainly have limped their way to this point in the season, but absolutely deserve this shot at making the NRL Grand Final.

Kicking early, turning Penrith around, and limiting their post-contact metres is going to be the top-three things they will have to achieve to even come close to upsetting the boys from Western Sydney.

I’m in absolute awe of this Panthers side, and I think they’re just going to be too strong for the Storm in the end.

Expect a very physical match, things may get a little fiery, but the Panthers will be good enough to come away with the dub and a fourth grand final appearance.

TIP: Panthers 1-12

 

SATURDAY: Broncos (2) V Warriors (4) – Suncorp Stadium – 21.50NZT

I’ll happily eat my words because at the beginning of the season, I didn’t even have Shaun Johnson in the top 17 of the Warriors. Now, he’s the favourite to win the Dally M Player of the Year award.

But in front of the Up The Wahs movement is a Brisbane side who have absolutely been the second-best team all year.

Deservedly playing in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium, this young Broncos outfit will be a very tough ask for the Warriors.

There are plenty of similarities to the forward packs of both these sides. Back-rowers Patrick Carrigan and Tohu Harris are both in arguably career-best form, playing a pivotal role as linkmen through the middle for their respective sides.

Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake have led from the front all season long without taking a single step backwards.

And the way that Adam Reynolds and Shaun Johnson have pulled the strings and added a wealth of experience to their sides add plenty of juice to this already frothing football game.

Yep, the Reece Walsh narrative will be played up by the media right up before the whistle blows.

This game seems to sit on a knife edge for me and isn’t as clear-cut as the other Grand Final Qualifier.

Brisbane are good enough and ooze a ridiculous amount of confidence which has barely hampered their season. 

The Warriors, this is a fairy tale that deserves one more chapter. The way this club has turned everything around, and united an entire country has been nothing short of sensational.

I’m calling it. Up The Wahs get the job done.

TIP: Warriors 1-12

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