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:
5. Ivan Cleary vs Kevin Walters
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.
