The Panthers will give Taylan May until Wednesday to prove he has overcome a hamstring injury, while mystery surrounds a hand injury to Viliame Kikau.
Meanwhile, the Eels are sweating on a hamstring injury to Tom Opacic, who missed the preliminary final.
Read on for all the Team Tips for the NRL Grand Final.
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GRAND FINAL SUNDAY OCTOBER 2
Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT
Last week’s Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 14. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 9. Apisai Koroisau 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon
Team Tips: Taylan May will be given until Wednesday to prove his fitness as he looks to overcome a hamstring injury. May was suspended for the preliminary final, but having served his ban will come in for Charlie Staines provided he is fit. Staines escaped suspension for a shoulder charge and will play if picked. Enforcer Spencer Leniu left the field for an HIA after Taane Milne’s high shot that saw him sent off, but Ivan Cleary said, he was showing no effects from the knock post match. Leniu will have to pass concussion protocols, but is expected to play. Api Koroisau is set to be named in the No.9 jersey in his final game for the club before joining the Tigers, despite Ivan Cleary opting to play him off the bench in recent weeks and he could opt for the same ploy against the Eels with Mitch Kenny to start in jersey No.14. Viliame Kikau escaped suspension for a shoulder charge, but mystery surrounds an injury that required him to wear a brace on his left hand after the game, accoding to The Daily Telegraph. Kikau said he was fine and that he would be right to take his place, although his interview was cut short once his injury was brought up.
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Last week’s Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 19. Bailey Simonsson 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Marata Niukore 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Bryce Cartwright 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi
Team Tips: Tom Opacic is racing the clock to overcome a hamstring injury suffered in the semi-final against the Raiders. Opacic missed the preliminary final and it would be a risk to carry an injured player into the grand final. If Opacic is fit Bailey Simonsson would make way. Simonsson was impressive against the Cowboys, so Brad Arthur may put his faith in the former Raider to get the job done. Bryce Cartwright didn’t light the world on fire coming off the bench after replacing Makahesi Makatoa, who could come back into the 17. The other option would be to play both Cartwright and Makatoa, but Arthur is unlikely to drop son Jakob Arthur. Ryan Matterson is expected to be named in jersey No.13, despite swapping with bench player Marata Niukore against the Cowboys in a ploy Arthur may use again in the decider.
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