Eels coach Brad Arthur is poised to drop a selection bombshell in recalling abandoned prop Nathan Brown for the NRL grand final against the Panthers, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
But one man unlikely to suit up for the decider is centre Tom Opacic, who pulled up lame in a fitness test on his hamstring on Monday. He missed the Eels’ preliminary final against the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are resigned to rising winger Taylan May missing the decider at Accor Stadium on Sunday night due to his hamstring injury. He missed the Panthers’ preliminary final against the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
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Brown, a former New South Wales State of Origin representative, hasn’t played in the NRL since round 17, and there’s been talk of a rift between the 29-year-old and Arthur. The Parramatta coach denied there was a feud on Nine’s 100% Footy last week.
Brown will likely take the place of former Panther Bryce Cartwright on the bench, who’s in line to be the Eels’ 18th man despite facing the Cowboys on Friday night.
The Eels are planning to reinject Brown to give their bench more punch for their clash with the white-hot reigning premiers.
Brown is contracted to Parramatta until the end of 2023, but the club has given him the green light to explore his options.
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After struggling in stints with Wests Tigers and the Rabbitohs, Brown has played 108 NRL games with the Eels since arriving at Parramatta ahead of the 2017 season.
The Eels and Panthers will reveal their 22-man grand final squads at 4pm on Tuesday.
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