![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/f4894fe8c22d65a9870299f285a57ebbd6dd8941.jpeg\")
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Harry Grant (main) is the best player in the world, while Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Cameron Munster aren\u2019t too far behind.Credit: Aresna Villanueva<\/p>\n
Munster has got no idea what he\u2019s doing from set to set or from one play to another. He\u2019s instinctive, all-out attack and doesn\u2019t worry about making a mistake.<\/p>\n
Munster is unorthodox and unpredictable, and that\u2019s just off the field.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll both play on the same side of the field and in wet greasy conditions, it\u2019ll come down to a couple of big moments for a match-winner. You only get a few chances in this type of game, and these are the two men most likely to take them.<\/p>\n
Grant and the grafter<\/p>\n
Harry Grant, meanwhile, is the best player in the world right now.<\/p>\n
Since State of Origin and Hughes\u2019 injury<\/a>, Grant has gone to another level \u2013 running more and producing great pass selection, all while topping the tackle count.<\/p>\n The past three weeks he\u2019s claimed man-of-the-match honours from Channel Nine, and he\u2019s already among the top three hookers the game has seen.<\/p>\n On the other side is Mitch Kenny, who is as underrated as he is tough. The tougher the game gets, the better he plays.<\/p>\n You won\u2019t see the flashy plays from him, but keep an eye out for the way he leads Penrith\u2019s line speed, their kick chase and how much pressure he can put on an opposition kicker. He wins all the effort areas at a team that prides itself on them.<\/p>\n And then you look at his passing game, and the ball he threw for Cleary to hammer his two-point field goal a few weeks ago against the Titans<\/a>. A 20-metre pass, under pressure, with the game on the line isn\u2019t easy, but Kenny nailed it so Cleary could keep the game alive.<\/p>\n Six foot five against five foot six<\/p>\n And then out wide, I\u2019ve been really impressed with the left-edge combination of Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean. They\u2019ve improved out of sight since the start of the year when they were very poor defensively and full of errors. Now they\u2019re winning games for Penrith.<\/p>\n On the opposite edge will be Xavier Coates up against Brian To\u2019o, and I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Penrith switch Tom Jenkins to mark Coates, given the Storm star is just so strong in the air.<\/p>\n Especially with the way making contact on an attacking player jumping for a kick is being officiated<\/a> \u2013 an absolute joke. It\u2019s near impossible for a defender to stop someone like Coates unless they can get a hand to the ball in the air.<\/p>\n To\u2019o is the best winger in the world coming out of trouble: he\u2019s an extra front-rower for the Panthers, contributing 200 metres in most games and quick play-the-balls. Coates is an amazing athlete and a great finisher. And when you put them together, Coates looks like he\u2019s six foot five and To\u2019o looks five foot six.<\/p>\n Brian To\u2019o was sent to the sin bin in Origin I for tackling Xavier Coates in the air.Credit: NRL Imagery<\/p>\n It\u2019s like watching Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito in Twins.<\/p>\n There won\u2019t be anything in it on Thursday night, and I\u2019m expecting a really low-scoring game. Last year\u2019s grand final was won 14-6 by the Panthers, and that was on a dry track. If Ashley Klein stays out of the contest and two of the best defensive teams in the NRL are able to go at each other without set re-starts or piggyback penalties, I think we could have only one or two tries scored by each team.<\/p>\n Joey\u2019s tip: Panthers by two.<\/p>\n First try-scorer: Liam Martin<\/p>\n Man of the match: Nathan Cleary<\/p>\n Spray it loud, spray it clear<\/p>\n The most important combination for a rugby league side is between the dummy half and the first receiver, because the halfback is the link between the middle forwards and strike players out wide.<\/p>\n So for the halfback to be getting the ball when and how he wants it, that\u2019s a hooker\u2019s biggest job, especially with the game on the line.<\/p>\n Mitchell Moses leaves Tallyn Da Silva in no doubt about his opinion on Sunday.Credit: NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b37fc6c2212cfc8f81ff369f2eee380cddad7590.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Mitchell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/a2b0d0cf8fa01870295a40f69f5e6c1acac233ee.jpeg\")
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