The most anticipated clash of the 2022 season has arrived with Latrell Mitchell’s Rabbitohs taking on the reigning premiers for a spot in the grand final.
Penrith will start the grand final rematch as the short-priced favourites, but almost every pundit agrees that if Mitchell delivers his best - Nathan Cleary’s side are in trouble.
Panthers halfback Cleary is the best player in the game but Mitchell is the most exciting and his big plays have carried Souths through this finals series.
Crucially for Souths, when their superstar fullback plays well it opens up time and space for Rabbitohs No. 6 Cody Walker.
That’s why this contest will likely be decided by who wins the duel between Cleary and Walker, whose game will be dependent on Mitchell producing his best.
Here foxsports.com.au previews the elimination final between the Panthers and the Rabbitohs.
CAN THEY BE BEATEN?
The Panthers are historically already one of the best NRL sides of all time, having won 67 of their past 76 games.
They boast the best roster in the competition and head into this clash almost at full strength and the only factor working against them is minutes in the legs.
Most of their squad has played just once over the past month after coach Ivan Cleary opted to rest a host of players in the final round with the minor premiership already locked up.
In saying that, Cleary missed five games through suspension leading into the first week of finals and delivered arguably the best performance of any player this season.
But the Rabbitohs have risen to this challenge before, delivering a crushing upset in the first week of finals last season.
And they did that without Mitchell, who will line up on Saturday night in career-best form alongside Walker.
Mick Ennis, who won the 2016 premiership with Cronulla, believes that dynamic duo is the reason Souths stand a fighting chance in the grand final rematch at Accor Stadium.
“The unpredictability of Latrell and Cody, absolutely gives them a chance on Saturday, absolutely gives them a massive chance,” Ennis told foxsports.com.au.
“Penrith, yes they are primed and had the week off, and they have been so good and deservedly favourites.
“But they’d be a little nervous too, Souths with that hunger and motivation on the back of last year.
“The form of some of their superstars, the form of Walker, Mitchell and Murray is as good as anyone in the competition at the moment.”
CLEARY VS WALKER
Cody Walker will never unsee his pass floating across the Suncorp Stadium’s turf only to be snatched out of the air by Panthers centre Stephen Crichton.
The intercept try proved the difference in last year’s grand final and the agonising moment no doubt plays on replay, probably in slow motion, in Walker’s mind.
But the veteran has the chance over the next eight days to replace that memory with premiership celebrations.
First he must outplay Cleary who Andrew Johns believes is on track to become the greatest rugby league player of all time.
“Absolutely, it would burn him, but I would hope, and Cody himself knows… I think he would know South Sydney wouldn’t be where they are without him,” Ennis said.
“They wouldn’t have played in the grand final, they wouldn’t have even been in that game without that try he scored, which was one of the great solo grand final tries.
“While there will be focus on that moment, because it was a big moment, Crichton rolled the dice… it didn’t go Cody’s way and I think he has responded perfectly.
“He is a massive part of why Souths have come from seventh into a preliminary final.
“The mental strength of Cody has been awesome to be able to move past that moment, dust himself off and get back to his brilliant best.”
BIG PLAYERS OWN BIG GAMES
Andrew Johns in 1997. Benji Marshall in 2005. Johnathan Thurston in 2015.
The bigger the game, the bigger the performance is usually how it goes when it comes to rugby league’s greatest players.
A slice of history is there for the taking for whichever Rabbitohs or Panthers star wants it.
“Every time big games come around we talk about all the really good players, that this is the biggest moment of their career if they haven’t won a competition,” Ennis said.
“(Mitchell) Moses, (Dylan) Brown, Cody Walker, last week Nicho Hynes, so the playmakers take the spotlight, because they often have the biggest impact on the game.”
Walker, who made his NRL debut at 26, will play in his fifth preliminary final in a row this year.
But none will be more important to the veteran playmaker after last year’s nightmare.
Ennis believes it is his time to shine with a “perfectly timed run” after failing thus far to bring a premiership back to Redfern.
“The fact that Cody, who has had some incredible moments over the last few seasons… I think he has timed his run perfectly, there is no doubt that the pain of losing a grand final just burns,” Ennis said.
“So that motivation of losing a grand final would be enormous for him.”
Meanwhile, Cleary will be desperate to achieve a rare feat in the NRL — guiding his side to back-to-back premierships.
The Roosters in 2018-19 and Broncos in 1997-98 and 1992-93 are the only two teams to do it in the last 30 years.
If the Panthers are able to secure the 2022 premiership, it will also be the first time in the club’s history they have won two-in-a-row.
THE THREATS
Outside of Cleary, Mitchell, and Walker, there are threats on both sides across the park.
Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham was dangerous against the Sharks last week, recording five offloads from 16 hit-ups.
The 23-year-old, who has been playing with a rib fracture the last two rounds according to the SMH, will line-up against emerging star Izack Tago.
Tago, in his first full season in first grade has forged a strong partnership with Taylan May on the left side, but will be without his partner in crime.
May was hit with a suspension for a dangerous high tackle on Eels flyer Will Penisini with Charlie Staines taking his place.
Souths will be without a flyer of their own after Alex Johnston was ruled out with a hip flexor injury with Richard Kennar coming in as his replacement.
Panthers enforcer Viliame Kikau has also enjoyed career best form at the foot of the mountain this season and will line-up against a familiar foe — Jai Arrow.
Arrow famously called out his rival when leaving the field after an ugly high shot from Kikau.
Then when celebrating the grand final, the Bulldogs recruit posted vision of himself singing Souths’ ‘Glory, Glory’ song to social media, which hasn’t been forgotten by Jason Demetriou’s men.
Add in the battles between Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo, Apisai Koroisau and Damien Cook, as well as James Fisher-Harris and Tevita Tatola, and there are entertaining match-ups across the park.
