NRL Grand Final: Eels betting on Brown to put Panthers off
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur’s bold gamble to inject enforcer Nathan Brown into Sunday’s NRL Grand Final rumble with Penrith is a potential game-changer.
Not the biggest forward in the game, Brown’s controlled aggression, off-loading ability and intimidation appeal more to Arthur than Bryce Cartwright’s unpredictability, which can often come at a price.
Brown, 29, hasn’t played in the NRL since round 17, when he broke his thumb, but Arthur has always had it in his mind to rush him back if the Eels made the GF.
Why?
Because he is a player who hits with venom, bends the line when he carries the ball and can off-load in traffic.
Brown will be valuable against Penrith’s rampaging forward pack and could also prove an ace in helping to unsettle Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary by sitting the Penrith halfback on his backside after he launches his booming bombs.
Experience is a big factor in grand finals and Brown has played State of Origin (2020) and relishes the physicality.
The tougher it is, the harder he will go.
Arthur debunked rumours Brown hasn’t played for Parramatta in recent weeks because of a falling out between the pair, speaking as though he expects Brown to bury the Penrith forwards at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s total bulls—t,” he told Fox Sports.
“Nathan didn’t come back until the first week of the finals and he played in the NSW Cup.
“I felt like he was a bit short of running in his legs, but has done some work now for this game.
“Nathan is what I need.”
The likes of James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and even Viliame Kikau will not feel as comfortable charging through the middle knowing Brown is waiting for them.
Arthur said Brown offered him what he wanted against Penrith’s brutal pack.
“You want to pick them all for a grand final because they have all played a role along the way, but it’s my job as a coach to pick the players I think can get the job done,” he explained.
“I have to do what I think is right and my gut instinct says Nathan Brown is the best thing for the team this week.”
Parramatta are striving to end a 36-year premiership drought, with their last title coming in 1986.
READ: Eels upstage Cowboys to reach 2022 NRL Grand Final
To do it, they will have to stop one of the most dominant sides in the past 20 years, led by one of the game’s very best in Nathan Cleary.
So much revolves around Cleary.
Putting him off his game, even slightly, will be a massive assignment.
But it can be done.
The Eels jumped Penrith twice this season, beating them in a 22-20 thriller at BlueBet Stadium in round nine and then 34-10 at CommBank Stadium in round 20 when Cleary was sent off early in the first half for a spear tackle.
They know the formula; they just have to execute it on Sunday.
Penrith got their revenge by beating Parramatta in the first round of finals and then breezed past South Sydney to enter their third-straight grand final.
Aside from Parramatta fans, they aren’t given much hope, simply because the Penrith Panthers look to be in a league of their own, especially during season 2022.
Parramatta will need to be switched on from the start because the Panthers have the unbelievable record of having won their last 54 games straight when leading at half-time.
They also had the luxury of recently resting all their gun players leading into the finals, while Parramatta have been slogging it out every week in September.
Parramatta should have a hard edge after playing sudden-death football for the last few weeks, but if the scores are close midway through the second half, Penrith should have a lot more gas in the tank.
Clearly the most influential matchup will be the battle between Cleary and Eels number seven Mitchell Moses.
Moses has more try assists (23) than any player this season and averages 343 kick metres a game, the best in the NRL.
Likewise, the clash of the number nines will play a huge part with Penrith’s livewire Apisai Korosau up against Eels hooker Reed Mahoney.
Both are extremely dangerous and very good defenders, with Mahoney the game’s number one tackler with 1,151 already this season.
And what about the clash of the number ones?
Dylan Edwards has been sensational for Penrith this season with 5,287 metres from 518 runs, while Clint Gutherson also ranks top five in the NRL in those stats with 4,105 metres from 439 runs.
But it’s up front the game will be won, with the uncompromising pair of Fisher-Harris and Leota leading the way along with the tireless Isaah Yeo and out on the edge Kikau, who will provide the grunt and go forward against the hard-charging Reagan Campbell-Gillard, human tank Junior Paulo, Isaiah Papali’i and an aggressive Brown when he is thrown into the battle.
Who wins?
It will be close and while it would be foolish to dismiss Parramatta, Penrith have been the best team all season.
They have the fresher legs, which could prove to be the difference in the end.
