“One of the most crucial things when it comes to finals football is the spine.”

So says NRL great Matty Johns, with rugby league’s biggest stars set to light up September and determine the fate of their teams.

Matty and Cooper Cronk sat down to rank the spines of each finals side.

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Who has the best spine in the finals? | 05:24

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PENRITH PANTHERS: Dylan Edwards, Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary, Mitch Kenny

RANK: 1

LADDER: 7

WEEK ONE: Elimination final vs Warriors, Saturday

There is a reason the Panthers are still in the fight for a fifth consecutive premiership.

Guided by one of the league’s top playmakers in Nathan Cleary, Penrith’s spine remains a class act despite the loss of Jarome Luai this season. It is a stunning feat to still be ranked No.1, given that the club earlier got over the loss of a blue-chip hooker in Apisai Koroisau with a neat pivot to Kenny.

Built from the strong foundation of Cleary, Edwards and Kenny, plus lock Isaah Yeo, Penrith’s spine has benefited from the rise of Talagi in Luai’s old five-eighth jersey.

“I just can’t go past Nathan Cleary and how he’s brought Talagi along,” Cronk said on Matty and Cronk.

“If there was one thing that the Panthers spine needed, it needed some spark, some energy, some youthfulness and he (Talagi) is just working with Nathan … it’s starting to warm up.”

Johns added: “Blaize through the middle of the year started to find his feet in the system, actually started to do a fair bit of ball-playing. But I expect that in this finals series you will see him essentially as a ball-running five-eighth. You’ve got Isaah and you’ve got Nathan there chipping away with your ball-playing, you don’t need another bloke finessing the ball sideways. I think he’ll be a runner.”

Penrith’s spine will suffer from an unexpected disruption this week, with Kenny out due to a hamstring injury, replaced by Luke Sommerton.

Nathan Cleary of the Panthers at the NRL Finals launch.Source: Getty Images

CANBERRA RAIDERS: Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange, Jamal Fogarty, Tom Starling

RANK: 2

LADDER: 1

WEEK ONE: Qualifying final vs Brisbane Broncos, Sunday

The minor premiers rest at the number two spot, powered by rising stars Weekes and Strange, reborn hooker Starling and halfback Fogarty who is in the form of his career.

Fogarty will be the key man in guiding a young side through what comes next.

“He’s the glue. He is the one that’s under pressure and the one that needs to bring that whole thing together,” Cronk said.

“They have had a tremendous year and Fogarty has had his best year so far. But he is the one that needs to make really good decisions through September. If they are to win the grand final, there will be a lot of players on the Raiders roster that will get more attention … but if he makes rock-solid decisions, gets the ball to Weekes and Strange at the right time, connects (Joe) Tapine to those outside backs, they can do it.

“I think he is the one I have a question mark over, whether he can or not. But, they’re No.2.”

Jamal Fogarty of the Raiders.Source: Getty Images

BRISBANE BRONCOS: Reece Walsh, Billy Walters, Ben Hunt, Cory Paix (plus Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam)

RANK: 3 (Johns), 5 (Cronk)

LADDER: 4

WEEK ONE: Qualifying final vs Raiders, Sunday

This is where Johns and Cronk part ways; Johns has the Broncos third, while Cronk has the Roosters (covered below) and Brisbane down in fifth.

Brisbane are a fascinating finals contender, given that Reece Walsh is the only player of the first-choice spine currently playing in his normal spot. Veteran halfback Adam Reynolds and five-eighth Ezra Mam both remain injured, meaning Hunt is at No.7 for another week, while Paix fills the hooker role that would likely be taken by Hunt at this point in a full-strength side and Walters is at No.6, where he might otherwise be shunted to the utility role.

Walsh has delivered a string of career-best performances in recent weeks, working freely alongside Hunt in Reynolds’ absence. Ditto Walters.

“Billy Walters has been so good in the six. He’s been outstanding. He’s fantastic at 14, great at nine, but almost at six he’s gone to another level again,” Johns said, pondering whether he might hold the five-eighth spot over Hunt once Reynolds returns.

Cronk replied: “Not for me. I think Billy Walters has been a point of difference for the Broncs. Off the bench, playing longer minutes (once Reynolds returns). I’m not going to say start at six, I think Ben Hunt stays there.”

As it stands, Reynolds should be available again this season and Mam is only a maybe. Although bringing back Reynolds may thrown off a recently-successful line-up, Cronk insists he will only elevate the team and play a crucial role in keeping Walsh on track.

“(Reynolds goes) straight back in. I think he’s the Jamal Fogarty of Brisbane, he makes really good decisions,” Cronk said.

“Yes, the Broncos have played well since he’s gone down and Ben Hunt is an experience campaigner. But Reece Walsh has gone through the roof in terms of his performance and I feel like in big games, he’s gonna sit on the red line and he could tip over either way.

“If he gets it right, he could be damaging, but I think Reynolds needs to come back in.”

Brisbane Broncos fullback Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied

MELBOURNE STORM: Ryan Papenhuyzen*, Cameron Munster, Jonah Pezet/Tyran Wishart, Harry Grant (Jahrome Hughes out for season)

RANK: 4

LADDER: 2

WEEK ONE: Qualifying final vs Bulldogs, Friday

The Storm narrowly missed the minor premiership and have remained one of the most consistent teams in the league. However, their spine has taken serious hits at the business end of the season.

Dally M-winning halfback Jahrome Hughes will miss the rest of the campaign after breaking his wrist against the Broncos last Thursday, in his comeback game from a shoulder injury, so coach Craig Bellamy must lean on young stars Pezet and Wishart alongside champion five-eighth Munster. Papenhuyzen will miss a week-one final against the Bulldogs due to concussion, with Nick Meaney taking the No.1.

Wishart has been named at No.7 for the finals opener, despite Cronk saying he’d have opted for Pezet, who is at No.14. Cronk said that the Storm would need to rely on their experienced spine players.

“I like that Harry Grant’s back, and Munster. That’s what I’m doubling down on,” Cronk said.

Johns added: “He’s their focal point, Harry.”

Harry Grant of the Storm at the NRL Finals launch.Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY ROOSTERS: James Tedesco, Hugo Savala, Sam Walker, Connor Watson

RANK: 5 (Johns), 3 (Cronk)

LADDER: 8

WEEK ONE: Elimination final vs Sharks, Saturday

The Roosters have seen ups and downs in recent weeks but their 36-6 victory over the Rabbitohs on Friday night gave them a finals shot against Cronulla.

Having thumped the Storm 40-10 a fortnight ago and with Tedesco in extraordinary form, the Tricolours remain a serious force despite finishing eighth.

“I just like the balance. Tedesco is playing career-best football. Connor Watson is doing a really good thing and then Hugo Savala’s kicking game complements what Sam brings,” Cronk said.

After returning from a knee injury in round 19, Walker has made a massive impact on the Roosters spine that could pay dividends in the finals.

“Sam probably has a point of difference to most halves in this competition. Reece Walsh-esque, that teams would be worried,” Cronk said.

“If they can put it together, I think they can be dangerous.”

Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied

CRONULLA SHARKS: Will Kennedy, Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey

RANK: 6

LADDER: 5

WEEK ONE: Elimination final vs Roosters, Saturday

Hynes just got a huge reprieve when a potential suspension for a hip-drop tackle was reduced to a fine, meaning he’s free to face the Roosters in a home final.

The Sharks looked on song in a final-round 24-6 win over the Bulldogs and have won seven of their past eight games, with their former Dally M-winning halfback returning to strong form after yet another season of heavy scrutiny.

“Nicho Hynes played really well the other day, Brailey’s in good touch. That’s the key there,” Cronk said.

Excellent recent showings form Brailey at hooker have his stocks soaring and he is considered a rep player in waiting. Meanwhile, clever five-eighth Trindall has been named to return from an ankle injury this week, pushing Daniel Atkinson back to an extended bench.

Cronulla Sharks star Nicho Hynes: free to play this week. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS: Connor Tracey, Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin, Bailey Hayward

RANK: 7

LADDER: 3

WEEK ONE: Qualifying final vs Storm, Friday

The Bulldogs began the season with Toby Sexton at halfback and Reed Mahoney at hooker, and have since become the most scrutinised spine in recent memory after rushing in Wests Tigers recruit Galvin and then young star Hayward despite starting the year atop the ladder.

Inconsistency and a lack of cohesion have followed, which could be the difference between a premiership charge and an early finals exit. Johns even pondered if the Bulldogs needed to pull a shock backflip and rush Sexton back into the No.7 jersey this weekend, with Galvin sliding to No.6 and Matt Burton from five-eighth to left centre.

The brutal reality: Canterbury tore up a combination that was leading the NRL, only to enter the finals and have their new-look spine ranked second-last among the top-eight.

“I look through the other sides, I know who the chief playmaker is. I look at the Bulldogs and go, who’s the glue, who’s the boss?” Johns said.

Cronk said: “That rhythm of Galvin, Burton, the Mahoney-Hayward thing, Jaeman Salmon, Kurt Mann … there’s a lot of moving parts and they just haven’t found the right mix yet.

“It’s almost like Matt Burton does it in the yardage because of his long kicking game, and then it gets to the middle and Jaeman Salmon steps up for a little bit; but when they split halves, Galvin and (Jacob) Preston, they don’t seem to be on the same page.”

Lachlan Galvin of the Bulldogs.Source: Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Tanah Boyd, Wayde Egan

RANK: 8

LADDER: 6

WEEK ONE: Elimination final vs Panthers, Saturday

The Warriors spine appears the weakest of the finals teams after losing outstanding young halfback Luke Metcalf to an ACL injury in Round 17.

“They’ve been smashed with their spine. Metcalf was a monumental loss,” Johns said.

“Wayde Egan is so important.”

Having only made the finals once in the past five years, the Warriors are entering this series vulnerable given the depletion of their spine. They lost the second chance and copped the Panthers first-up by dropping from the top four with a run of five losses in their past seven games.