No-one can argue against the notion that 2023 has been one of the great seasons of rugby league. Upsets (think Dolphins v Panthers in Round 1 of the NRL, Titans v Roosters in the NRLW Preliminary Final), magnificent series (think State of Origin – both men’s and women’s), sensational players (think Reece Walsh, Shaun Johnson, Tamika Upton, Jesse Southwell) and wonderful finals series. We’ve had it all! And now, come Grand Finals day, we have four teams who thoroughly deserve to be there and, in both the NRL and the NRLW, hot favourites taking on worthy challengers.
The NRL State Championship match between South Sydney and Easts Tigers features two teams who have waited a long time to taste success at this level. Souths won their first NSW premier league title in 40 years when they downed a gallant North Sydney Bears on Sunday afternoon. Easts Tigers last won a senior title when they took out the 1991 BRL Premier League. Sunday will provide a huge stage for these players.
NRL
What can you say about the Panthers that hasn’t been said dozens of times before? Put simply, they’ve been the most consistent team for the past four years and are aiming for a third straight title. They have depth of personnel, talent across the park, a multi-pronged attack and the most miserly of defences. Pick a star or six – Cleary, Yeo, Edwards, Crichton, Fisher-Harris, Martin, To’o…and on and on. They’re very competitive, skilful, supremely fit, fast, relentless, super confident and…on and on. And yet, somehow, they lost 6 games this year, including once to Brisbane (by a point in Round 1). Only Parramatta had a winning record against them in 2023. They’ll start at $1.62 v Broncos at $2.30 which may get even wider if either Walsh and/or Farnworth get ruled out after injury scares (real or just mind games?) early in the week.
The Broncos have come from wooden spooners to genuine contenders in three years. Kevin Walters has restored pride and a positive mindset to a club he took on when they were on the scrapheap. They’ve re-learned how to win with style, self-belief and even a touch of swagger last seen in the days of Alfie, the Walters boys, Pearl and co. I’ll be the first to admit that it has taken me just about the whole season to believe that they are worthy at this level. But watch their last two wins against the Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors; you’ll see a team on the verge of something special. Old heads (Reynolds, Capewell), mid-career stalwarts (Carrigan, Staggs, Flegler, Walters), young tyros (Mam, Walsh, Cobb, Farnworth) and developing journeymen (Hetherington, Arthars, Riki, Smoothy, Piakura, Palasia) – it’s a great mix with a premiership window open for a few years to come.
But what happens over 80 minutes on Sunday evening? Penrith won’t suffer from stage fright – been there, done that (several times) before; will the less experienced Broncos wilt under the pressure of the occasion? Penrith are an 80-minute team who just keep coming at you, both with and without the ball, and then throw in skill, speed and razzle dazzle to hurt you on the scoreboard; the Broncos are solid in defence yet liable to handling lapses but are then able to go crazy for 5-10 minute periods with scintillating attack that pile on the points.
As much as I’d love to see them win, I can’t see the Broncos sustaining the level of both attack and defence required over the full 80 minutes to contain the well-oiled machine that is Penrith. I can feel a three-peat coming on.
The referee will be Adam Gee.
NRLW
The Newcastle Knights have deservedly won the right to defend their NRLW crown when they meet the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon. The most consistent team throughout the season, Newcastle streeted the Broncos early in their Preliminary Final before easing off the pedal and hanging on to win. The scoreboard flattered Brisbane. The Titans played their best game of the year to hold the heavily favoured Roosters scoreless and book their spot in Sunday’s decider.
The Knights will be hot favourites, quoted at $1.54 at the time of writing agains the Titans at $2.50 – probably pretty fair on the basis of what has gone before. They have that wonderful attribute of being consistent, perhaps a boring description but a bankable one. Solid from 1 to 17, Newcastle have several game-breakers who can turn a match on its head anytime from anywhere on the field. Tamika Upton has been in sensational form all year and is, possibly, the best women’s player in the world; Jesse Southwell is just 18 but is already the next superstar of the game (if she isn’t one already) – she’s visionary, tough and a fierce competitor; big sister Hannah is the strong, no frills, dependable leader every team needs; Caitlin Johnson is among the game’s premier forwards; Yasmin Clydesdale provides strength and leadership in both attack and defence. The Knights are a formidable unit!
I’ve underestimated the Titans all season. I was wrong. I thought their early season wins were ok but unimpressive; I wasn’t surprised by their mid-season slump; their late fightback looked good but hardly inspiring. Deadset last in 2022, they’ve probably been the best performed side this year given that they had to battle both their lowly ranking plus the challenge to put together a decent squad in the expanded competition. Full marks to coach Karyn Murphy and her off-field team. Then came last weekend’s Preliminary Final when they kept the Roosters scoreless and produced enough attack to get up 12-0. It was an outstanding, courageous, 70-minute effort. Have they got one more game at that level in them? On paper they have the personnel – the attacking Pelite, speedy Karina Brown, scheming Lauren Brown, the remorseless Shannon Mato, the guile of Brittany Breayley-Nati, the drive of Shaylee Bent, the football brain of the underrated Georgia Hale and the presence of one of the code’s greats, Steph Hancock, off the bench.
I think the Knights will win through their speed, creativity and strong defence. I fear that last week may have been the Titans’ grand final and they’ll struggle to get up again this weekend. I hope I’m wrong because if both teams are at their best, it will be one hell of a struggle for supremacy.
The referee will be Belinda Sharpe.
So my winners for this week are the Panthers and the Knights.
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
Oh well Ian – we are on different paths- for what should be a great game. I agree with you on the season- the footy has been fantastic and I am also looking forward to the State final- the Qld team have the benefit of a week off and if it’s 37 degrees that will be huge!
Matt, I really do want to think that the Broncos are a genuine chance. If they can do what the NRLW Titans did to the Roosters on the weekend – hustle, bustle, suffocate, frustrate, go flat out forgo to whoa, then capitalise on any mistakes – then they’re a show.
Oh, I just realised that that’s what Penrith do every week!
Lol