Dynasty or droughtbreaker the question to be answered in final NRL grand final
Sydney, tomorrow, 9.30pm
SYDNEY: What’s harder: The pressure of trying to break the game’s most talkedabout drought or attempting to build an NRL dynasty?
It’s a question the rugby league world will find out the answer to tomorrow.
Parramatta will enter the NRL decider as the fairytale story.
A team that has long been close but never close enough, trying to end the longest current drought in the NRL at 36 years.
Penrith, though, remains almightily hard to beat.
With the best junior system in the country, the likes of Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo have made it the envy of the NRL for three years.
One season after breaking their own 18year drought, the Panthers can now become only the second team in almost three decades to go backtoback.
‘‘I’m not quite sure what’s tougher just yet,’’ Penrith captain Yeo said.
‘‘Obviously we were lucky enough to break (that drought). In terms of going back toback, we’ll find out this weekend.’’
In the decider, the NRL has its marketing dream.
The first westernSydney
Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Charlie Staines, Izack Tago, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Apisai Koroisau, James FisherHarris, Viliame Kikau, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo. Interchange: Mitch Kenny, Scott Sorensen, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon.
Eels: Clinton Gutherson, Maika Sivo, Viliami Penisini, Bailey Simonsson, Waqa Blake, Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Reagan CampbellGillard, Reed Mahoney, Junior Paulo, Shaun Lane, Isaiah Papali’i, Ryan Matterson. Interchange: Nathan Brown, Jakob Arthur, Oregon Kaufusi, Marata Niukore.
grand final since the 1980s, and an Eels team that has twice figured out how to beat the Penrith juggernaut this year.
The Eels know they must find a way to pressure Cleary’s kicks, subdue the Panthers’ back three and keep their own offloading game going.
At times in recent days the Parramatta region has been in a state of delirium.
This is, after all, the same team that had Cumberland Oval burnt down after their first title in 1981.
But unlike Eels of the past, this side has done everything possible to embrace the storyline.
Mitch Moses has spoken of his heartache of being there when the Eels lost the 2009 decider, and the dream of being the No 7 to deliver for Parramatta.
‘‘These boys wouldn’t have even been alive when Parramatta won it,’’ Yeo continued.
‘‘(The drought) is not a thing for them, I wouldn’t imagine.
‘‘It certainly wasn’t a thing for us. But I just felt like the experience of being in that arena before is going to help (Penrith).’’
Others have seen firsthand how Parramatta have handled the week, adamant the droughtbreaking aspect of tomorrow night won’t be the issue.
‘‘They’re definitely embracing it,’’ NSW State of Origin captain James Tedesco, who is close with several Eels, said.
‘‘Mitch (Moses) seems really calm. I saw him (Tuesday). Obviously he had his newborn as well.
‘‘He’s had a big week but he seems cool, calm and relaxed. He’s probably the factor for them.