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Ivan Cleary is certain Parramatta hold no mental edge over Penrith, insisting that the Eels’ record against his team will mean nothing come the grand final.
Next Sunday’s decider has lined up as a promoter’s dream for the NRL, with the first genuine arch-rivalry match in a decider since Parramatta played Canterbury in 1986.
Penrith will start as firm favourites, having swept all before them in the past three years – their only blemish being a defeat in the 2020 decider to Melbourne.
But if there is one team that can enter a big match against Penrith with real belief, it’s Parramatta.
The Eels remain the only team to have beaten anything close to a full-strength Panthers this year, in round nine, before backing that victory up in round 20.
They were the only team to defeat the Panthers in the 2020 regular season, and troubled them again in last year’s semi-final.
“They don’t have a mental edge over us, no,” coach Cleary said.
“The two games we lost, there’s some context around that. I mentioned that at the time.
“But we’ve had a lot of games with them where it could have gone either way.”
Panthers captain Isaah Yeo also insisted that there was no such edge, but conceded there were reasons why the Eels had troubled his side.
“They’ve got a team that matches up well in this month of footy,” Yeo said.
“They’ve got a big forward pack and they’re a really good front-running team. When they’ve got all the momentum they do that really well.
“There was context (to the round-20 loss), particularly with Nathan (Cleary) getting sent off.
“The second half of that game was really good for us though.
“They’re a really good consistent side. So any time you’re like that as a team, it’s going to be hard to beat them.”
Penrith will make a call by Wednesday on whether Taylan May will be fit after a hamstring injury, while Spencer Leniu will also need to overcome back-to-back head knocks.
Second-rower Viliame Kikau (shoulder charge) and star five-eighth Jarome Luai (high tackle) also have judiciary concerns, and will be hoping to avoid bans.
Penrith players will also have a different preparation from the past two grand finals, with this season their first crack at a traditional build up.
The 2020 decider was played in COVID bubbles with no fanfare in the build up, while last year’s match was played in Queensland with NSW residents locked out.
“It’s pretty cool we will be able to do it the proper, more traditional way,” Cleary said.
“We have to embrace it and enjoy it but obviously prepare well like we have all through the year.”
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