Choose your fighter: Which of the grand final players would you pick in your team?

It’s not easy to pick who is the best halfback in the game when your options are as good as 2023 Clive Churchill medallist Nathan Cleary and 2024 Dally M medal winner Jahrome Hughes.

Or to decide who the best five-eighth will be when the Panthers and Storm go head-to-head in the grand final this Sunday, when Jarome Luai and Cameron Munsters are both star Origin playmakers.

If you were building a grand final team this weekend, who would you choose in each position?

1. Fullback

Starting off with a tough one. Dylan Edwards is Penrith’s workhorse, the 2023 Clive Churchill medallist and NSW and Australian representative. But it’s also hard to go past Ryan Papenhuyzen, the last non-Panther to win the Clive Churchill Medal. He is one of the best game-breakers in the NRL and would have likely pulled on a representative jersey in recent years if it wasn’t for a series of unfortunate injuries.

2. Winger

Will Warbrick has been sensational this season, with 15 tries across the year and acrobatic skills to rival the best in the game, while Sunia Turuva fought back to be in Penrith’s starting squad after being dropped by coach Ivan Cleary earlier in the season.

3. Centre

Melbourne’s Jack Howarth has had a spectacular end to the season, with the 21-year-old solidifying his spot in the starting side following a string of consistent performances in the middle of the year, while Izack Tago has become known for his unrelenting physicality on the field.

4. Centre

After breaking his arm earlier in the year, Paul Alamoti has come back with a vengeance, with a try-scoring double against the Sharks last week to help secure the Panthers’ spot in the grand final. Since Papenhuyzen’s return, Nick Meaney has locked down his spot in the centres, and adds extra value and points for Melbourne with his goal-kicking.

5. Winger

It’s two Origin superstars going head-to-head with Brian To’o up against Xavier Coates. To’o was named one of the NRL wingers of the year at the 2024 Dally M awards, and has a locked-down spot in the NSW Origin side, while Coates is one of the league’s most gifted players when it comes to finding the try line.

6. Five-eighth

They’ve both got a reputation for being their team’s troublemakers, but Jarome Luai and Cameron Munster are also two of the best playmakers in the NRL. Both players are frequently called upon to represent their state and country, and are the kind of players their coaches rely on to crack open a game.

7. Halfback

Arguably the hardest decision of the lot. How do you choose between the two best players in the NRL right now? The only reason Nathan Cleary wasn’t up there contending Jahrome Hughes for the Dally M Medal on Wednesday night was because of his injury woes this year, but even if he had been fit all year, the jury would be split.

8. Prop

Moses Leota and Tui Kamikamica have been pivotal to Penrith and Melbourne’s success this year. They’re the big guys who burst through the middle, with particular success when fatigue starts to set in for their opposition.

9. Hooker

Harry Grant is a Queensland and Australian representative, who has really stepped up his game this year after taking on the captaincy role at Melbourne. But Mitch Kenny is a two-time premiership winner with Penrith and instinctive on the field when he works with the rest of Penrith’s spine.

10. Prop

The Panthers will be devastated that enforcer James Fisher-Harris is off to the Warriors next season – he has been instrumental to the team’s success throughout their past three premiership wins and again this year to get the Panthers to the grand final. Meanwhile, Josh King has been Mr Consistent for Melbourne this year, starting at prop for all but one game this season.

11. Second row

Shawn Blore has gone from a wooden spoon recipient with the Tigers to being one game away from winning a premiership with Melbourne. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has helped turn him into a consistent player, while Luke Garner has built into the finals after dealing with a hamstring injury earlier in the year.

12. Second row

Liam Martin and Eliesa Katoa have been among the best edge forwards all season, and big contributors to their teams reaching the grand final. On top of his excellent form for Penrith, Martin was relentless for the Blues during the Origin period, while Eli Katoa has been a try-scoring machine for Melbourne and an expert when it comes to challenging opposition under the high ball.

13. Lock

Isaah Yeo was named the 2024 Dally M lock of the year for a reason, you would be hard pressed trying to find someone who is more consistent week-to-week. As for Trent Loiero, he’s jumped between the interchange and lock position throughout the year, but has earned the No.13 jersey this finals series.

Bench

The benches are tough to split. Tyran Wishart has undoubtedly been one of the best utilities in the NRL this year, while the likes of Alec MacDonald, Christian Welch and Lazarus Vaalepu have had a massive impact when they’re brought into the game.

Compare them to Penrith, who have Brad Schneider as a handy insurance policy in case Nathan Cleary’s shoulder gives way, along with the force of Lindsay Smith, Liam Henry and Matt Eisenhuth, and it’s tough to pick out of the two.

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