The 2023 Grand Final is now just two sleeps away. For rugby league fans, this is better than Christmas!
We have been blessed this year by witnessing the two best sides rolling through finals to meet on the final day of the season.
Both sides are at full fitness, both sides are in top form and both sides have cruised into the Grand Final with relative ease.
Simply put, I am fully expecting both sides to rip in for the full 80 minutes on Sunday night in producing one of the all time finales!
The more I look at it, the closer it looks. The individual battles across the park are mouth watering.
With two sides so closely matched, the season could literally come down to one battle. One moment of magic.
With a plethora of brilliant battles, on and off the park, on Sunday night, we are going to look at the five most likely to decide the decider:
This game could very well be won in the battle of the numbers ones.
Dylan Edwards is the reigning Clive Churchill medalist while Reece Walsh was arguably the form fullback across the entire season - despite what the Dally M count says.
Dylan Edwards has become a reliable big game player over the past three seasons and was a clear best on ground in 2022's Grand Final.
Reece Walsh had a magnificent Origin series and has played very well in his maiden Finals series to date.
Both are entering the biggest game of the season in prime form. Truthfully I can't remember the last time either had a bad game, or even a below par one.
Edwards will run for 200 metres and will take every kick sent his way. Reece Walsh will break tackles and create chances out of nowhere.
There is absolutely nothing between these superstar fullbacks, who I dare say have many big game clashes ahead of them. Perhaps even come Origin One in 2024.
In one corner you have an Origin Series winning five-eighth entering his fourth Grand Final in a row.
In the other corner you have the freshly minted Dally M five-eighth of the year in his third Finals game.
The outcome of this one on one contest will go a long way to crowning 2023 Premiers.
Jarome Luai is a magnificent talent and has a history of brilliant performances in big games. He's also turned in some less than stellar efforts in big games.
Ezra Mam is a relative unknown. He has enjoyed a magical 2023, including two classy Finals performance but is yet to play a Finals game that was close.
There is almost no chance that the Broncos are going to blow away Penrith like they did the Storm and Warriors. So this will be new territory for Mam.
It's hard to build a case for Mam entering this game in the same class as Luai. A big performance on the very biggest stage will absolutely change that.
The obvious major battle comes in the clash of the star number sevens.
Both Cleary and Reynolds are Premiership winning halves with Origin experience. Both are the hearts of their superstar-filled sides.
If this game is going to be won on the back of either halfback's boot, it's a literal coin toss. I don't think it's unfair to say Cleary and Reynolds possess the two best kicking games in the competition.
There is no doubt that Cleary is the NRL's golden boy right now, and for good reason.
That said, Adam Reynolds' arrival at Red Hill has transformed them from a 14th placed finish into Grand Finalists in the space of two seasons.
You can talk about the rise of Reece Walsh, or the Broncos forward pack, or their coaching staff but none of this happens if not for Adam Reynolds decision to move north.
The irony here is that, despite each's brilliant attacking game, it could be the number seven who defends better that has the biggest say in the result.
Both will be be targeted early and often by the opposition's big men. If one cracks early, then it's trouble.
If you were to demand a one on one battle to decider the outcome of this match, obviously it's the Cleary vs Reynolds clash! Sign me up!
The aforementioned halfback clash will likely decide who ices the Grand Final, but this very clash is one that will help set that up.
Payne Haas had a monster season and walked into the Dally M Team of the Year. He was the game's elite prop this season, again.
James Fisher-Harris just came off one of the all time forward performances in the Preliminary Final and was arguably the next man up after Haas and Addin Fonua Blake.
You could not pay me enough to try and stop either of these rampaging bulls on Sunday night.
I would be shocked if one, or both of them, aren't involved in the first hit up of the game.
As good as Cleary and Reynolds are, and they are both oh so good, neither can truly thrive unless their number one prop lays the platform first.
Both forward packs are absolutely stacked but Haas and JFH are the jewels in their respective crowns.
Earlier I mentioned that Reynolds and Cleary would be targets in defense. Look for both Haas and JFH to shift the ball to their wider running forwards with this in mind.
Or they may just cut out the middle man and soften up their opposition number seven themselves.
Whoever gets the chocolates in this personal battle will be right in the running for the Clive Churchill medal come full time.
It's entire possible that the on field results may ultimately be decided by what happens off field.
Ivan Cleary is the most successful coach in recent memory. He is looking to lead his side to a third straight title win.
Regardless of the result, he would have taken the Panthers to four straight Grand Finals. That is absolutely ridiculous in this day and age.
Whilst Kevin Walters is overseeing his first Grand Final, he does have two Origin series wins. He's also never lost a Final's match as a coach.
Walters made a super brave call in Round 27 by resting almost his entire first choice squad. It cost them them the Minor Premiership but also allowed them to walk into a Grand Final.
Cleary has done it all as a coach. He has overseen the loss of superstars, only to replace them with players of similar qualities, only younger and cheaper.
I have no doubt in the world that both coaches will have their sides primed, prepared and ready to capture the ultimate glory.
Can Kevin Walters out-coach his far more experienced rival?
The answer to this question could very well have a huge say come 9:20pm on Sunday night.