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Back-rower Scott Sorensen of Penrith, who was listed on an extended bench after missing the qualifying final victory over the Roosters due to a hamstring injury, may be a late addition for Saturday’s preliminary final matchup with Cronulla.
Sorensen was named in the reserves after the Panthers defeated the Roosters to secure their berth in the grand final decider, giving him two weeks to recuperate.
He’ll likely be promoted to the starting side if he’s cleared to play, with Luke Garner expected to drop back to the bench which would then see Matt Eisenhuth likely omitted.
Dylan Edwards will commemorate game 150 in the NRL, and the Panthers will be motivated to win a fifth consecutive grand final in addition to supporting co-captain Isaah Yeo, who will become the team’s most-capped player.
They face a Sharks side that is unchanged from the one that knocked out the Cowboys last week, with halfback Nicho Hynes to play his 100th game on Saturday.
It’s smooth sailing in the other preliminary final with the Roosters naming the same 17 that thrashed Manly, while the Storm have stuck solid with the squad which thrashed Cronulla in their qualifying final, but have included speedster Sua Fa’alogo in the reserves after he recovered from a hamstring injury.
Rudolf available
Few are giving Cronulla much of a shot of toppling the three-time defending premiers but if they are to pull off the upset, Rudolf leading from the front against the likes of James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota will be crucial.
Penrith smashed the Sharks 42-0 earlier this season (although Rudolf did jokingly point out he missed that game due to a knee problem) but with Fitzgibbon’s side earning its first finals win together after four successive defeats it’s been freed up from pressure and expectation.
“The coaches are smarter than me, they get paid more than me, they’ll think of the answers,” Rudolf said.
“I’ll just put my best foot forward and prepare like I have all year. Make those right decisions — that’s all I can do.
“It’s a massive monkey off the back [to win a finals game]. It’s alleviation of pressure.
“We can go with the best teams and we deserve to be here.”
