The Broncos are staring down the barrel of a scary statistically anomaly after ending with the worst case situation from their closing spherical conflict.
The Panthers’ halves mixture have solely had one recreation collectively forward of the finals, however did destroy a lacklustre Cowboys aspect.
Meanwhile, James Tedesco is peaking on the excellent time and the Storm have a giant resolution to make concerning Papenhuyzen’s greatest function.
Read under for all of the burning questions forward of the primary week of finals!
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Can the Cogger and Cleary mixture lower it after just one recreation?
Following Jarome Luai’s shoulder harm, alternative playmaker Jack Cogger is the person tasked with selecting up his slack. Cogger’s pure place is halfback, however will take over on the left aspect of the sector for the Panthers, with Luai solely a slim likelihood of returning ought to Penrith make the preliminary finals. Nathan Cleary is arguably the sport’s greatest No.7 however his mixture with Cogger could be very uncooked, getting in to the finals with just one recreation performed as a partnership. Can Cleary and Cogger lead the Panthers to their third straight premiership? If their efficiency on Saturday afternoon was something to by, the reply is sure. Penrith have been ruthless in assault towards the Cowboys and delivered a near-perfect first half earlier than taking their foot off the fuel within the second. With gamers like Mitch Kenny and Scott Sorensen returning, Cogger will merely should play a task and the Panthers’ juggernaut may function on with Cleary as soon as once more main the best way.
Can the Broncos defy the statistics to win in week one?
The stats paint a grim image for the Broncos. The Storm’s Round 27 win over Brisbane was their 14th consecutive recreation taking the candies. Suncorp Stadium can be revered as probably the most feared grounds to journey to in rugby league, however not for Melbourne. They haven’t misplaced to Brisbane on their residence soil since 2009. However, if there was ever a group to defy the percentages it’s this Broncos outfit stuffed with a few of the recreation’s most in-form gamers. Reece Walsh is arguably the season’s greatest recruit, whereas the one-two punch of Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan is extraordinarily harmful. Throw within the skilled Adam Reynolds and speedsters Herbie Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo, and the Broncos may get the job accomplished. Coming in to the ultimate spherical of the 12 months, the Broncos would have been assured of securing the minor premiership, which might have seen them face the Warriors. Andrew Webster’s aspect would have been thought of an ‘easier’ opponent for the Broncos, however after resting a number of big-name stars Brisbane misplaced each the J. J. Giltinan Shield and their preffered match-up which may come again to hang-out the Red Hill membership.
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The Storm have one of many recreation’s greatest gamers on the bench — how can they use him?
There’s no arguing Ryan Papenhuyzen is among the NRL’s greatest gamers. He has solely performed two NRL video games since getting back from a 13-month lay off after an unpleasant knee harm, however was spectacular in his first full hitout in Round 27. The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield has revealed how Craig Bellamy will utilise his abilities, handing him a roving playmaking function off the bench with Nick Meaney staying at fullback. Papenhuyzen will reportedly change a center ahead — however can the Storm’s pack lower it towards a rampaging Broncos entrance row being a big-man down within the center? Only time will inform, however the considered Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes linking up with Papenhuyzen in the course of the sector will strike concern in to Kevin Walters’ coronary heart. Papenhuyzen will float throughout the park and search for holes, being handed freedom just like Joey Manu on the back-end of final season. He would pop up when wanted for Melbourne, however his defence in the course of the park might be a problem and he’ll doubtless be focused by the Broncos forwards.
Is it simply too good to be true for the ‘Wahs’?
‘Up the Wahs’ chants have unfold like wildfire off the again of an enormous season to complete in fourth. All the speak pre-season was about Cameron Ciraldo becoming a member of the Bulldogs, however the Warriors signed the hidden gem in Andrew Webster. Players and followers alike love ‘Webby’ and he was even likened to Jason Sudekis’ loveable soccer coach character Ted Lasso. But with a conflict towards the reigning premiers looming, is all of it too good to be true? New Zealand are using a wave of success, however absolutely the buck stops someplace? But if you happen to have a look at their group’s type, perhaps not. Shaun Johnson is a number one contender for the Dally M Medal, Dallin Watene-Zezlezniak can’t cease scoring and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad might be probably the most dependable man in rugby league. That’s not even together with Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan and Tohu Harris who’ve all been wonderful this season. New Zealand, even when they lose to the Panthers in week one, are a real power to be reckoned with and it’s solely going to get higher subsequent season with the return of one of many membership’s favorite sons in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
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Are the Knights too reliant on Kalyn Ponga?
It was solely two months in the past that Knights coach Adam O’Brien was on the chopping block, with membership powerbrokers reportedly assembly with quite a few candidates to take over his function, together with Justin Holbrook. Fast ahead to August, and Newcastle have completed in fifth. The Knights have been in 14th place as late as Round 19, however went on a staggering nine-game win streak and at the moment are one of many hottest groups within the finals. The turnaround from a aspect who regarded directionless in the beginning of the season to an attacking power has been nothing wanting spectacular. Credit goes to O’Brien and the membership’s talisman Kalyn Ponga, who has been arguably the most effective participant within the competitors to shut out the 12 months. His resolution to overlook the Origin sequence has paid dividends in a giant method and he has properly and really jusitified his hefty million-dollar price ticket. But in the event that they Knights do lose him to a head knock or an harm within the finals, can they get the job accomplished with out him? The gun fullback spearhead’s their assault and is the person they try to get in to area. After an AC joint harm, Ponga didn’t function in Round 27 and nonetheless Newcastle have been stable towards the Dragons securing a 20-point win. The Knights have a number of different gamers within the midst of career-best seasons, together with Bradman Best and Phoenix Crossland, who has been wonderful at hooker. While Ponga is the group’s most necessary determine, credit score additionally must be handed to the remainder of the aspect.
Is Hynes the reply at fullback?
Will Kennedy is out for majority of the season with a hamstring harm, and now fill-in fullback Connor Tracey is contact and go for the primary week of finals after struggling a knee blow. That leaves Daniel Atkinson and Kayal Iro because the remaining choices, if Craig Fitzgibbon doesn’t choose to shift the reigning Dally M Medallist to the again. Nicho Hynes performed off the bench and primarily at fullback throughout his 36 video games on the Storm and is a greater than succesful participant to put on the No.1 jersey. Some pundits would even argue fullback is his greatest place, having beforehand put his hand as much as make a positional change after Kennedy’s harm. If Hynes was to maneuver, Matt Moylan is ready within the wings to accomplice Braydon Trindall. That would see Trindall put on the No.7 and Moylan begin for the second time since he was dropped forward of Round 21. Atkinson has solely performed two minutes this season, taking the sector twice throughout three seasons within the NRL. Throwing him in to the deep finish could be a daring transfer from Fitzgibbon, whereas Moylan may additionally return to the fullback place he made his title in coming by means of the ranks on the Panthers. Is it time for Hynes to return to fullback? It stays to be seen, nonetheless Fitzgibbon could haven’t any different possibility in a do-or-die conflict.
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Is James Tedesco peaking on the proper time?
It hasn’t been James Tedesco’s greatest season by his lofty requirements and the gun fullback had admitted he has struggled in 2023. In Origin, he did not ship and there have been even requires him to dropped getting in to Game III. However, the 30-year-old former Dally M Medallist has put collectively a string of stable performances. The Tricolours have gained three video games in a row, and Tedesco performed an instrumental function in his aspect’s win over the Rabbitohs in Round 27, securing a finals spot. In Round 25, he additionally scored a double in a mammoth show towards the Eels earlier than a head knock dominated him out of Round 26. There’s little doubt Tedesco’s type is selecting up and his re-emergence as an attacking menace coincides with the Roosters’ dream run in to the finals. He can be one among a number of Tricolours gamers who know what it takes to win a premiership, having lifted the trophy alongside Luke Keary and Jared Warea-Hargreaves amongst different massive names. Tedesco may even be determined to proper his wrongs from the beginning of the season and count on the veteran fullback to ship on the massive stage.
Can the Raiders get the job accomplished with out Seb Kris and Josh Papalii?
Veteran prop Josh Papalii’s season-ending Biceps harm was a hammer blow to the Raiders who scraped in to the finals. But now they may even be with no key exterior again in Sebastian Kris after he was handed a five-game ban for a lifting sort out in Round 27. The 24-year-old has performed 21 video games this 12 months, largely at fullback however he shifted to the winger towards the Sharks. If Ricky Stuart opts to shift Jack Wighton again in to the centres, we may see the return of a membership legend in Jarrod Croker, who has been a stable performer in 2023 throughout his 15 appearances. That leaves a spot on the wing to be stuffed, with Albert Hopoate being the doubtless man to fill the void. Papalii’s absence isn’t the one center ahead Canberra are lacking, with Origin consultant Corey Horsburgh additionally suspended till the grand closing if the Raiders go that for. Ricky Stuart made the daring resolution to begin debutant Hohepa Puru at lock in Horsburgh’s absence, however may shift Joseph Tapine to the function and produce Emre Gular again in to the beginning aspect at prop, with Puru shifting again to the bench. However, Stuarrt decides to configure his bench, the Raiders are up towards it with a number of key gamers lacking towards a red-hot Knights outfit.
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