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We want you: Kevvie called but GI won't make Origin comeback - NRL.COM

Greg Inglis has revealed that former Queensland coach Kevin Walters did speak to him about making a comeback to the Maroons in 2020 as his side was being decimated by injuries.

Greg Inglis has revealed that former Queensland coach Kevin Walters did speak to him about making a comeback to the Maroons in 2020 as his side was being decimated by injuries. "There was definitely conversations with Kevvie about it," Inglis told NRL.com at the launch of Ampol taking on naming rights for the 2020 State of Origin series. "But I told him I'd only had two months of training by myself. To be Origin-ready you need a lot more than that to be physically ready." Since his Rabbitohs club coach Wayne Bennett has now taken over from Walters, Inglis might be thinking he'd get another telephone call on his Origin availability. "Even if he did call and he hasn't I'd be letting Queensland down in that Origin arena if I went back this year and Wayne knows that," Inglis said. "You need half-a-season at least to get ready. I haven't been doing any contact so my body is nowhere near Origin hardness or fitness." Inglis closes door on Origin return Still after 32 matches and 18 tries for the Maroons since his 2006 debut, no need to guess where Inglis' heart lies. After all his success as a player, mainly at fullback but with a smattering of wing and centre, Inglis was on the losing end of his last three Origins before his last in 2018. He retired from the NRL in April 2019. "New players, Wayne's coming back into the arena with Mal (Meninga) alongside so they will just bring that oomph," he said. "Kevvie did a marvellous job but with injuries and retirements it's going to be a whole new look with the new coaches on board. I haven't been doing any contact so my body is nowhere new Origin hardness or fitness Greg Inglis "In 2018 and 2019 (NSW series wins) we just didn't live up to expectations as players even though they were very close series in those years. "NSW went through a similar stage during those eight years we kept winning. Players get older or get injures and move on. So things change and come full circle for both states as the next generation comes through. "But Queensland to win this year." And as for Bennett's effect on the playing group, Inglis struggles to find the right words. "I don't know what it is but he just has that aura about him. It's the same with Mal. "I think it's quite remarkable that those two are teaming up for Queensland. It's quite a formidable combination that I'm not sure too many teams would want to take on." DCE absorbs lessons from Maroons coaching trio Inglis next project is the Warrington Wolves coached by former Dragons head coach and assistant to the 2016 premiership-winning Sharks, Steve Price. "I'll be going over in January Pricey let me have Christmas here with my family," Inglis said. "It was just an opportunity I just couldn't pass up getting to play footy again and in England where I can also travel to parts of the world I've not seen. "It'll be good for me change of scenery. But I'm definitely not going there for a holiday. "Once I lace those boots on I'll be back, ready to go."

NRL grand final: Melbourne Storm Suliasi Vunivalu Fijian hymn tribute - NRL.COM

Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu is already eyeing off a return to Melbourne after his teammates learned a Fijian hymn to farewell him with at 1am on grand final night.

Suliasi Vunivalu is already eyeing off a return to Melbourne after his teammates learned a Fijian hymn to give him a moving farewell long after the masses had left ANZ Stadium. Vunivalu's final outing in purple proved a spectacular one on Sunday night, with his 80-metre intercept of Nathan Cleary's long ball a critical 12-point swing in the Storm's 26-20 triumph. The Fijian flyer told NRL.com he is "still having second thoughts" about his lucrative return to rugby with the Queensland Reds on a two-year deal that was confirmed last December. Financially the move is a no-brainer for the 24-year-old winger and his young family, but he has explored more than once this year whether the Reds contract would be honoured given rugby union's financial struggles after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a nod to the esteem Vunivalu holds among his teammates, the Storm returned to the soggy ANZ Stadium turf at 1am with a moving farewell for their star winger. Storm players in the middle of ANZ Stadium hours after full-time. NRL.com understands Melbourne players learned the words to the Fijian hymn, "Noqu Masu", while in camp on the Sunshine Coast. The song has provided some stirring moments throughout rugby league's recent history, having been sung by national side, the Bati, before games since the 2008 World Cup. Speaking before receiving his emotional send-off from his teammates, Vunivalu said he would be well and truly open to a Storm reunion at some point in his career. "I want to come back and finish off here some day," he said. "I'm still having second thoughts about [his rugby move], to be honest. "I want to stay but I've got to take that new challenge for myself. Cameron Smith pays tribute to Victoria then raises Provan-Summons trophy "And there's younger boys coming through the club too so I'll give way to them. "I'm trying not to think about that tonight, I'm in the moment now and celebrating. "I'm very, very happy right now. It's my last year so going out with a ring is very special. "I was thinking leading into the game how tough it would be to go out on a loss. This is my fourth grand final and I've had two wins, I definitely didn't want to be 1-3. "I'm so grateful to Craig [Bellamy] and everyone here. I didn't know anything about rugby league when I first turned up. "But I was always a big fan, so when my manager told me 'Storm want you' I was straight on it. 'Take me there, I want to meet Billy Slater'." While the Storm have made a particular point of playing for their home state of Victoria, for Vunivalu that includes the partner and two young children he has only seen via daily video chats since Melbourne's relocation to Queensland. "My family's been back in Melbourne all season, there's a few of us in that position," he said. "I've only seen them by FaceTime. It's hard for sure, but this is my job and this is how I put bread on the table for them. "They understand and there's a lot of people back in Victoria doing it much tougher. "I've got my siblings from Fiji, my two kids and my missus. I think the kids were allowed to stay up for the game." Vunivalu exits for now as one of the game's elite finishers with 86 tries to his name from just 111 Storm appearances. Match Highlights: Panthers v Storm Of all those four-pointers, none have garnered quite the reaction from Bellamy as that 30th minute runaway effort from Cleary's looping long ball. The veteran coach rode Vunivalu's sprint from the coach's box like Seinfeld's Kramer on one hell of a mudder, out-celebrating his own player as he shook off a late challenge from Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai. "I was watching [Dylan] Edwards on my left and had no idea there was someone coming from behind," Vunivalu grinned afterwards. Vunivalu picks off a Cleary pass "Luai almost got me there. I didn't see him, I should've been watching the big screen! "I like to get up hard in defence and once I saw that ball floating in the air, I was always putting my body on the line. "I was thinking before the game 'this is your last game, put your body on the line'. I didn't want to be sitting there thinking 'what if?'. "A while ago I probably wouldn't do that. I would probably just let [the opposition] catch it and tackle them. But that's a big moment and you've got to take it."

Joey's Blues: Johns names his ultimate NSW Origin squad - NRL.COM

Rugby league fans have been set the daunting task of selecting their best NSW Origin side of all time but, fear not, Blues great Andrew Johns is here to help.

Rugby league fans have been set the daunting task of selecting their best NSW Origin side of all time but, fear not, Blues great Andrew Johns is here to help. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia's greatest sporting rivalry, fans have the chance to select their best NSW and Queensland teams and then compare them against the sides chosen by a panel of Origin legends which includes Johns and NSW coach Brad Fittler. Using the NRL App? Click here to vote Sign up for a free NRL Account to access this survey and other exclusive content. Sign Up Already have an NRL Account? Log In Not sure? Learn more about NRL Account We have created two shortlists for you to choose your line-ups of best Cockroach and Canetoad players. The NSW options follow Joey's selections below. To view the available prizes, download the Prize Pack pdf.To view the competition terms and conditions, download the pdf. Here is Andrew Johns' greatest Blues 17. Fullback James Tedesco: "Him and Anthony Minichiello were neck and neck. It was hard to split them. Tim Brasher was close too. But I went with Tedesco." Wingers Eric Grothe Snr: "He was so damaging. In an era when they didn't do much scientific weights, he would have been incredible." Jarryd Hayne: "He played in an era where Queensland were so dominant, and he was still the best player on the field in both teams. Some of the things he did in those series was just unbelievable, and when they won the series it was on the back of him." Centres Brad Fittler: "I wanted to pick Freddy at five-eighth but I went with combinations with Ricky and Laurie. Freddy is the ultimate competitor. You could play him anywhere on the field and was always one of the best players." Mark Gasnier: "He added the X-factor. He had the footwork and speed. He was so dangerous when he was on." Halves Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart: Growing up that was the era in the early 1990's when they won three in a row, and it was on the back of those two players. Just that combination, the long passing of RIcky and the running game of Laurie. Front-rowers Paul Harragon and Glenn Lazarus: "Chief picks himself because at Origin level he was just such an intimidator. Lazo is the best front-rower I've ever seen. Early on I played hooker in between those two and Lazo taught me a great deal about ruck defence. Not only was he a great player, but he was incredibly smart." Hooker Danny Buderus: I was tossing up Benny (Elias) also, but I had to put my great mate Bedsy in there. I remember when we kicked off, might have been the first game at Suncorp, and the ball bounces. Shane Webcke gets it after it bounces and as he looked up Bedsy launches at him. It set the tone for the whole series. We won the series ... it was all set up from the first play from Bedsy. Back-rowers Paul Sironen and Ben Kennedy: Siro is one of NSW's finest in the back row. He always aimed up. Ben Kennedy was my favourite player to play with. He was just so intimidating and everyone loved playing with him. A great player in any era. Moments that matter - James Tedesco Lock Bradley Clyde: "One of the greats." Reserves Paul Gallen: I couldn't put him in the front row ahead of Chief and Lazo, but his leadership and the way he ripped into Queensland is what we're all about here in NSW. Steve Roach: No one hates Queensland more than Blocker. Growing up when it was catch and kill out there, Blocker was catching and killing. Steve Menzies: Beaver is the perfect bench player because he can play any position other than front row. Craig Wing: He's probably the best jersey 14 player ever. No one talks about his toughness because he's such a handsome devil, but he was so tough. Coach Phil Gould: Taught me so much about footy and big-match mentality. He was the perfect coach for that six week period to get anyone in tune. He was a genius at it. You are able to vote for your teams until November 2 and the fan-voted teams will be revealed on November 4 prior to this year's first Origin match. The legends' NSW team will be announced before Origin II on November 11 with the Queensland team 2 on Origin III on November 18. Not only will you be able to compare your selections with the best players who played Origin, but you also have the chance to win a fantastic Weber Store prize pack valued at $3500. To see the list of prize on offer, download the pdf. To enter, opt-in when you select your teams. With Weber Store we've upped the stakes. Share your teams and get on the BBQ with #steakoforigin. Sign up for a free NRL Account to access this survey and other exclusive content. Sign Up Already have an NRL Account? Log In Not sure? Learn more about NRL Account

State of Origin 2020: NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons announce squads - NRL.COM

The State of Origin squads for the upcoming series have been announced following the NRL grand final.

Clive Churchill Medal winner Ryan Papenhuyzen is one of several new faces in line to make their State of Origin debut after NSW and Queensland announced the final additions to their squads following the NRL grand final. Melbourne have been rewarded for their premiership win with seven players called into the squads while six Panthers received some consolation after their grand final loss by being told they would be required for state duty. As expected, Josh Addo-Carr and Papenhuyzen will head to the NSW camp during the week while Tino Faasuamaleaui, Brenko Lee, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munster will be joining Queensland's squad. For Penrith, Kurt Capewell was added to the Maroons squad while grand final teammates Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo have been named by the Blues. NSW coach Brad Fittler said in the Channel 9 post-match coverage that no players suffered injuries in Sunday's grand final win. Papenhuyzen claims Clive Churchill Medal Fittler said he was close to knowing what he wanted his 17-man line-up for Origin I to be and would give James Tedesco as much time as he needed to get over his knee injury. Luai was a surprising selection but Fittler said he was "a player of the future for NSW" and "one of the most energetic players" in the NRL finals. Lee, Faasuamaleaui and Capewell are yet to play Origin football, taking the tally of uncapped Maroons in this years squad to 17, which means their team for Origin I will have at least seven debutants. The Origin series kicks off at the Adelaide Oval on November 4, followed by game two in Sydney on November 11 and the series finale at Suncorp Stadium on November 18. NSW Blues squad

• Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
• Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
• Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
• Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
• Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
• Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)
• Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
• Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
• Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm)
• Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)
• Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
• Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
• Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
• Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm)
• Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
• Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
• James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
• Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
• Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
• Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
• Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)

• Corey Allan (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans)
• AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
• Kurt Capewell (Penrith Panthers)
• Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
• Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
• Xavier Coates (Brisbane Broncos)
• Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
• Tino Faasuamaleaui (Melbourne Storm)
• Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
• Jake Friend (Sydney Roosters)
• Dane Gagai (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Harry Grant (Wests Tigers/Melbourne Storm)
• Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Hymel Hunt (Newcastle Knights)
• Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
• Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Brenko Lee (Melbourne Storm)
• Edrick Lee (Newcastle Knights)
• Dunamis Lui (Canberra Raiders)
• Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
• Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
• Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans)
• Jaydn SuA (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Christian Welch (Melbourne Storm)

NRL 2020: NRLW grand final, Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters - NRL.COM

The NRLW grand final pitted the undefeated Brisbane Broncos chasing their third straight title against the underdog Sydney Roosters.

The Broncos secured their third consecutive title and reaffirmed their status as the benchmark NRLW club with a 20-10 grand final win against the Roosters at ANZ Stadium. The Broncos led the Tricolours 12-10 in a high-quality contest in greasy conditions but the defending champions held their nerve while adding two second-half tries. Strong performances from Karyn Murphy Medal winner Amber Hall, Tarryn Aiken and Millie Boyle gave the Broncos an edge throughout the contest. The Broncos resisted several surges from Roosters, particularly late, but the Tricolours struggled to come up with the big plays when the game was on the line. Aiken was among the best on ground in the first half and helped give the Broncos a 12-0 lead with a short ball for Amber Hall sending the bullocking forward over for the side's second of the afternoon. Hall, who returned from a one-match ban for a hip-drop tackle in round two, finished the game with a try, 154 metres, three tackle busts and three offloads. The Roosters were boosted by the return of Botille Vette-Welsh from a hamstring injury and the Jillaroos representative didn't disappoint with an outstanding effort in a beaten side. A rushed pass from Simaima Taufa turned possession over for the Roosters early and the Broncos struck in the following set with Aiken busting through on the left edge before finding Tamika Upton in support. Aiken slices through to set up Upton Just when the Broncos looked to be on their way to a dominant performance, a successful captain's challenge from Roosters forward Sarah Togatuki swung the momentum as the Tricolours went over on the right edge to get on the board. The Roosters began to control the match with a 58 percent possession rate despite the Broncos maintaining a perfect opening 30 minutes of completions. Bench utility Quincy Dodd has impressed for the side over the past month and got the Roosters back to within two points with a darting effort from close range. The Roosters had a big chance to go on the attack after the break but failed to find touch following a penalty in another momentum swing in the match. Brisbane have proven to need no invite attacking in any opposition's 20-metre zone and extended their lead with Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashing over after receiving a Lauren Brown short ball. The Broncos went back-to-back with 15 minutes remaining as former Rooster Tallisha Harden, who was the club's player of the year last season, ran a strong line off Ali Brigginshaw to establish a match-winning lead. The Tricolours gave it everything late to get back within the reach but failed with execution under pressure. Meakes gets one back for the Roosters

NRL grand final 2020: Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers discuss last-minute preparations - NRL.COM

Melbourne assistant coach Ryan Hinchcliffe says greasy conditions would force the Storm to tone down a guns-blazing approach in Sunday's grand final against Penrith.

Melbourne assistant coach Ryan Hinchcliffe says greasy conditions would force the Storm to tone down an all-guns-blazing approach in Sunday's grand final against Penrith. But he's confident they boast the versatility to prevail no matter what the weather gods produce at ANZ Stadium in Homebush.  The Storm blitzed the Raiders in last week's preliminary final with four tries in the opening 22 minutes and racked up 36 points in their first-up playoffs victory over Parramatta at a dry Suncorp Stadium. "There will be some adjusting to the conditions, there's no doubt about that. Obviously there's some rain probably today and there'll be some rain there tomorrow," Hinchliffe said on Saturday. "We'll have to tweak a few things with what we do when we've got the ball. But we've got a style of footy that we think can hold up. That's in dry and that's in wet as well. "It's a little bit more around the decision-making of your catching, your passing and being a little bit selective with not putting your teammates under too much pressure. Will grand final experience get Storm over the line? "I think the conditions will obviously play a part. The team that probably adapts to the conditions of the game will go a long way to getting the result they want." The fact that biosecurity measures have prevented Melbourne from basing themselves in Sydney for the week and having a training gallop at the grand final venue doesn't worry Hinchcliffe either. "We played Souths there, I think it might have been about round 17. So that's probably about six or seven weeks ago," he said. "So it wasn't that long ago that our players have been there, played on that field. Most of them have played on it before. "We trained at this Sunshine Coast Stadium all year ... So we've kept things as normal as possible." Out Penrith way, Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo insisted "everything went smooth" as the minor premiers wrapped up their preparation. "The whole week's been really good. Just sitting around with the staff then, we're really happy about the way the week's gone and wouldn't change a thing," Ciraldo said. "This year's been really routine for us and coming here [to Panthers Stadium] on our last two days leading into the game has been working well for us and we felt like we wanted to keep our preparations as normal as possible. "So we decided to train here last night as we normally would and train at [ANZ Stadium] this morning as we would for a normal game. "You can tell there's an excitement in the air but they've handled themselves well. They're relaxed, they've ticked every box in their preparation so they're ready to go for tomorrow." 2020 vision: Class of 2003 ready for history to repeat Both camps are keeping a lid on any late changes. The Storm are weighing up whether to bring prop Tui Kamikamica, who hasn't played since round 20 with an ankle injury, onto the bench in place of utility Nicho Hynes. Hinchcliffe said coach Craig Bellamy would make a "gut feel" call. Ciraldo, meanwhile, shed little light on another potential swap between starting centre Brent Naden and interchange utility Tyrone May. However, May spent some time training in the centres on Saturday. Unthinkable: How NRL achieved the impossible

NRL 2020: Melbourne Storm, Cameron Smith, age not a factor for Smith - NRL.COM

The age of Cameron Smith’s children may have a greater influence on his playing future than his own age as the 37-year-old this week ruled out a comeback for Queensland that would have made him the oldest player in State of Origin history.

The age of Cameron Smiths children may have a greater influence on his playing future than his own as the 37-year-old this week ruled out a comeback for Queensland that would have made him the oldest player in State of Origin history. While Smiths future has been the subject of debate and speculation for months, whether he continues next season will have nothing to do with form, the toll on his body of playing a record 19 seasons or the outcome of Sundays premiership decider against Penrith at ANZ Stadium. If Smith hadnt retired from representative football in 2018 he would be poised to eclipse Petero Civonicevas record as the oldest Origin player (36 years and 73 days in 2012) and would also be the oldest player to pull on a Kangaroos jersey since 38-year-old Sandy Pearce in 1921. Kevin Walters had kept the door open for Smith to return in the upcoming Origin series and new Queensland coach Wayne Bennett would have welcomed him back too, while he would still be among the first players picked by Mal Meninga for Australia. However, Smith ruled himself out, saying: "You definitely wont be seeing the old boy going back to play Origin again. We're flush for dummy-halves at the moment."   Finucane: Smith criticism 'unfair' George Green is the oldest grand final winner after helping North Sydney to back-to-back premierships in 1922 at the age of 38 but Smith will become the second-oldest if the Storm defeat the Panthers. Despite being 37 years and 130 days old on grand final day, age has not wearied Smith, who has made 430 NRL appearances and missed just 41 games mainly due to State of Origin duties. Instead, it is the age of his children Jada (12), Jasper (10) and Matilda (8) that is more likely to influence the decision of the Storm hooker and captain as he searches for reasons not to continue playing into his 38th year. "A lot of people have mentioned about whether we get a good result on Sunday and [how] that will determine things but I can confirm that it wont make a difference whether we win or lose," Smith said on The Matty Johns Podcast. "We want to win, there is no doubt about that, but that wont determine whether I play or not next year. "Its the sacrifices that you make in your own personal life and the commitment that it takes to play in the National Rugby League, and for me it is about weighing that up. "It is no secret that I am getting on a little bit now. I am 37 and that means my family is as well, and my children are starting to get a bit older. My eldest daughter is 12 going on 13 next year, and they are starting to do a lot of things in their own life. "It is more to do with whether I am committed to making those sacrifices anymore; its not about how good I feel I am playing or whether I can make a difference to this footy side." On-field numbers stack up Smith missed four matches this season due to a shoulder injury and being rested from the final-round clash with St George Illawarra but he still finished fourth in Dally M voting behind Canberras Jack Wighton, Parramattas Clint Gutherson and Penriths Nathan Cleary. All the grand final day info The former Australian captain was 10th for try assists and eighth for line-break assists the only forward to feature in the top 10 of either category and Smiths goal-kicking strike rate of 84.38% was his best since taking on the role for the Storm in 2004. Panthers v Storm - Grand final He has scored more points (2772), made more tackles (16,883) and kicked more goals (1290) than any other player in the NRL era, while he is seventh overall and the No.1 hooker for line-break assists (158). By comparison, Hazem El Masri scored 2342 points, Nathan Hindmarsh completed 12,203 tackles and Jonathan Thurston kicked 923 goals. In an indication of how much Smith has changed the role of a dummy-half, his 63,209 kick metres are almost double the next highest by a hooker Robbie Farah (38,268m) and the ninth by any player. Former NSW captain Paul Gallen, who was Smiths deputy in the Australian team for most of his six years at the helm of the Kangaroos, retired last year at the age of 38 but he believes there is no reason for the Dally M Hooker of the Year to cease playing. "I knew that season I didn't want to play anymore. I didn't want to go to training, do the contract at training, I didn't want to get hammered in the game anymore and that's something I really loved right throughout my career," Gallen told WWOS radio. "Cameron Smith is still doing everything so great. I still think he's probably the best player in the game; he's definitely the best No.9 in the game. "He could certainly go on if he wanted to but we don't know what's going on inside his head. We don't know how his body feels. I genuinely don't think he knows what he wants to do." Unthinkable: How NRL achieved the impossible Smith revealed on Thursday at his last media conference before what could be his final game that he had been consulting former teammates Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk about the reasons behind their decisions to retire. Have your say on greatest Origin players of all time Like tennis great Roger Federer (39), NBA superstar LeBron James (35) and legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady (43), Smith has been subjected to calls to retire. Federer recently declared he would not retire before the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, while James last week said he had "a lot of years left" and Brady has piloted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to four wins from five matches this season. Slater retired after the 2018 grand final but he also believes Smith could play beyond this season. Smith to make call on future 'sometime after grand final' Youre a long time retired and once your body goes it goes, so there is no having a year off and then changing your mind, Slater said. I have had those conversations with Cam and it is a really tough decision for him because he is getting to the age where he knows it is coming to an end, but is this year the last one? Im not too sure. Choose the 2020 Blues, Maroons squads According to the ghost writer of Smiths biography, Andrew Webster, not even the books publishers know whether the grand final will be his last game and Slater believes he could wait until there is clarity around next season before making a call. "I think he is just enjoying what he is doing and he wants to give him and his team the best chance of winning this premiership and then make a decision off the back of that, Slater told Big Sports Breakfast on Friday. "Lets not forget the Melbourne Storm are trying to win the comp out of a suitcase. Theyve lived away from home for five months and played two home games all season. It is an incredible achievement for this group of people. "Cameron Smith is a very family orientated person and he has been away from his family for a lot of this season. "I cant believe he is still going around performing at that sort of level. It just shows you the durability and competitiveness he still has in his game. He will go down as one of our greats." Farah and Kimmorley make their grand final predictions Hooker records in NRL era (since 1998) Running metres

NRL 2020: Melbourne Storm, 13 of 17 grand final players debuted at club - NRL.COM

While much has been made of Penrith’s development pathway, 13 of the 17 players who will take the field for Melbourne in Sunday night’s grand final made their NRL debut in a Storm jersey.

Penrith aren't the only team in Sunday's grand final built on the back of developing their own talent. The Storm will match the Panthers in having 13 players who have made their NRL debut at the club they still call home. Only Josh Addo-Carr, Brenko Lee, Jahrome Hughes and Dale Finucane debuted elsewhere and the last of that list was the only established first-grader before moving, from Canterbury, to Melbourne in 2016. The chief difference is while the Panthers produced their talent "on site", 11 of the 17 Melbourne team spent time in the Queensland Cup before graduating to the Storms NRL team. That includes Lee, who was signed by Brisbane's Easts Tigers this season but impressed at pre-season training in Melbourne. He is now on the verge of an Origin call-up for the Maroons. Lee debuted for Canberra in 2013 and had feared his NRL career was over after 53 matches in seven seasons for the Raiders, Bulldogs and Titans before being offered another chance by the Storm. Hughes, now a New Zealand international, had played one NRL match for the Titans in 2013 and one for the Cowboys three years later before being signed by Melbourne in 2017 as a back-up for Billy Slater. He had spent most of the previous four seasons playing in the Intrust Super Cup for the Gold Coast or North Queenslands feeder teams and played regularly for the Sunshine Coast Falcons until Slater retired in 2018. Panthers v Storm - Grand final Addo-Carr signed with the Storm before making his NRL debut for Wests Tigers in 2016 and the speedy winger, who had previously been shown the door by South Sydney and Cronulla, is now an established member of the NSW and Australian teams. "In 2017, 15 of the 17 players who played in the grand final made their debut with the Melbourne Storm so we were really proud of that fact," Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi said. "Whilst we haven't matched it this time, 13 is still a pretty high number." From Cameron Smith in 2002 to Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nicho Hynes and Tino Faasuamaleaui last season, the Storm have been using Queensland's second tier to prepare players for the Telstra Premiership. Most players had been in junior systems at other clubs, including Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster (Broncos), Hughes, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith (Cowboys), Hynes (Manly) and Papenhuyzen (Wests Tigers). However, they were largely unwanted before being signed by the Storm. Storm motto drives Asofa-Solomona Fijian winger Suliasi Vunivali and Queensland prop Christian Welch came from rugby union backgrounds, while former New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich joined the club via Orange Hawks. Cameron Smith began his long career with Melbourne at Norths Devils, the club's feeder team at the time, while Welch and Kiwi forward Kenny Bromwich played for Easts Tigers, as did Munster after being signed from Central Queensland Comets. Like Hughes, Kaufusi played for the Townsville Blackhawks before signing with Melbourne and his apprenticeship involved stints with Easts Tigers and Sunshine Coast. Sunshine suits Storm: Grand final week open training session Papenhuyzen, Hughes, Hynes, Justin Olam and Brandon Smith played for Sunshine Coast, while Faasuamaleaui is a Falcons junior who was signed by the Storm. So enamoured are the Storm with what Queensland clubs have provided, they knowingly stepped into the stricter COVID-19 regulations in Queensland to ensure players and staff were in a familiar locale. "The Easts/Falcons system is very good for us and to be honest, it is the main reason we are here now," Ponissi said. Bromwich soaks up GF week with Smith "It has been a challenge being up here in Queensland in terms of the government regulations post-game because they are so strict. "At the time we discussed how staying in NSW was going to be easier to live and we were close to going to Kingscliff but the overriding factor in coming here was because of the connection with the Sunshine Coast Falcons and what we have built here, and also not being far from Brisbane Easts. "It would have been a lot easier to be out of Queensland but we just wanted to strengthen the connection with the two feeder clubs and we have no regrets." Ryan Papenhuyzen

• Junior club: Dundas Shamrocks
• NRL debut: Storm v Bulldogs Round 4, 2019
• NRL appearances: 41

• Junior club: Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
• NRL debut: Storm v Tigers Round 17, 2016
• NRL appearances: 110

• Junior club: Logan Brothers
• Previous NRL clubs: Raiders (15 matches), Bulldogs (18), Titans (20)
• NRL debut: Raiders v Bulldogs Rd 15, 2014
• NRL appearances: 66

• Junior club: Lae Snax Tigers (PNG)
• NRL debut:  Storm v Dragons, Round 9, 2018
• NRL appearances: 37 

• Junior club: Doonside JRLC, Earlwood Saints
• Previous NRL clubs: Wests Tigers (9)
• NRL debut: Tigers v Storm Round 7, 2016
• NRL appearances: 104

• Junior club: Norths Knights, Rockhampton
• NRL debut: Storm v Cowboys Rd 12, 2014
• NRL appearances: 130

• Junior club: Currumbin Eagles
• Previous NRL clubs: Titans (1), Cowboys (1)
• NRL debut: Titans v Panthers Rd 17, 2013
• NRL appearances: 59

• Junior club: Manurewa Marlins/Orange Hawks
• NRL debut: Storm v Sharks Rd 1, 2010
• NRL appearances: 247

• Junior club: Logan Brothers
• NRL debut: Storm v Bulldogs Rd 5, 2002
• NRL appearances 429

• Junior club: Brisbane Easts
• NRL debut: Storm v Eels Rd 19, 2015
• NRL appearances: 95 matches

• Junior club: Bundaberg Brothers
• NRL debut: Storm v Dragons Rd 1, 2015
• NRL appearances: 131

• Junior club: Manurewa Marlins
• NRL debut: Storm v Tigers Rd 5, 2013
• NRL appearances 170

• Junior club: Upper Hutt Tigers
• NRL debut: Storm v Manly Rd 8, 2015
• NRL appearances: 123 

• Junior clubs: Waiheke Rams
• NRL debut: 2017 Rd 13 Storm v Newcastle
• NRL appearances: 61

• Junior club: Gympie Devils
• NRL debut: Storm v Dragons 2019 Rd 16
• NRL appearances: 26

• Junior club: Umina Bunnies/Woy Woy Roosters
• NRL debut: Storm v Rabbitohs Rd 21, 2019
• NRL appearances: 12

• Junior club: Bega Roosters
• Previous NRL club: Canterbury (66)
• NRL debut: Bulldogs v Rabbitohs Rd 13, 2012
• NRL appearances: 200

'Am I over the hill?': Tamou reveals he considered retiring - NRL.COM

From considering retirement as he questioned whether he was a spent force to leading his team to the grand final.

From considering retirement as he questioned whether he was a spent force to leading his team to the grand final. James Tamou has reflected on a remarkable two-year turnaround as he prepares to captain Penrith in Sunday's decider against the Storm.  He's chasing a second title after saluting with the Cowboys in 2015. The veteran prop, who turns 32 in December, is desperately hoping his last act as a Panther is doing a victory lap at ANZ Stadium before joining the Wests Tigers on a two-year deal. It'd be a magical moment given Tamou, whose average running metres this season are his best in seven years, grappled with self-doubt in 2018 and began wondering if he should call it a day. "I think that was when I started thinking, 'Wow, am I done? Am I over the hill?'," Tamou told NRL.com the day after beating South Sydney. "I thought, 'Is this it? Am I going to hang the boots up?' "But heading into Ivan [Cleary] coming along, there was a new pre-season and I thought, 'No, hang on - I'm not done here. I want to give myself the best opportunity to make sure I want to go out on my own terms'. So I guess I just had to change my mentality on myself and change my game.  "But there were periods in these years that I've had with Penrith that I've thought, 'Wow, I could be done here'. "To be in this position, leading the team about to play in the grand final, I can't put it too much about my form. These boys have just been unreal. I've just been doing my job, really." Match Highlights: Panthers v Rabbitohs Cleary installed Tamou as captain last year and he's recaptured the form that once made him a NSW and Australian mainstay. But he was almost squeezed out of Penrith before the 2019 season and prepared his family for moving elsewhere, potentially overseas. Instead, Trent Merrin packed his bags for England. "I think it was out of me and him," Tamou said. "I think I picked up [on that] throughout the whole year [in 2018]. "We both did ... And talking to Gus [Gould] when Gus was there, I sort of had a few words with him. Mez obviously spoke to him as well, so we knew we were thereabouts. "Rolling into pre-season, I got a phone call from Mez saying he got the tap on the shoulder. "It wasn't a relief because he's one of my good mates and it's sad that it happened, but that was a thing in my mind - like the same thing could happen. Cleary explains his reasoning for starting May "I was thinking I needed to tell the wife, 'Get ready here, we might need to pack up and have to move on'. So that's how close I think it was." Not since Steve Price with Canterbury in 2004 has an NRL skipper been part of a premiership-winning campaign before departing the next season. Price, who went on to join the Warriors, didn't play in that year's decider due to injury but famously lifted the Provan-Summons Trophy alongside Andrew Ryan. "It is quite unique now that you think about it," Tamou said. Get Caught Up: Finals Week 3 "See, I haven't spoken too much to the Tigers - the team I'm leaving to next year - and they probably want to leave me with the team. "I haven't put too much thought into it, but it is a unique position. But we'll just hopefully put one foot in front of the other first, lift the trophy first and then think about the rest." Tamou wasn't sure how he'd react if the Panthers are to become premiers. "I don't want to add too much more emotion to it," he said. "I think one of the biggest things - moving down here to Penrith and learning about the team and being the captain and knowing what the team means to the community, I'm going to miss that. "And obviously the playing group is going to be a massive one. "Hopefully we can have a few beer celebrations and a few beers and tears after the game. "Even after the Souths game, I saw a poster of the Storm and the Panthers and I thought, 'Oh, wow, we're in the grand final', you know. So it was one of those things that didn't quite hit me."

NRL 2020: Penrith Panthers Brent Naden, Kurt Capewell grand final selection headache - NRL.COM

Penrith has a couple of bench spots up in the air for the grand final, and more than a couple of compelling options to fill them thanks to having their entire top 30 squad fit and ready to go.

The six-game centre who's spent the past two weeks tackling Viliame Kikau or the breakout star who warmed the bench for an entire 80 minutes? The local junior whose cruelly timed COVID-19 test could cost him a grand final crack, or the late-bloomer who has already performed 18th man duties while his teammates claimed a premiership? A remarkable combination of diligence, professionalism and luck has left Ivan Cleary with an entire top 30 Panthers squad to choose from for Sunday's grand final against Melbourne. The Penrith coach has some serious selection headaches looming for the decider with his bench make-up and right centre options, and the credentials of Tyrone May, Brent Naden, Spencer Leniu and Kurt Capewell all posing particular pause for thought. Cleary caught plenty by surprise when he named May at centre against South Sydney, benching Naden after what the 24-year-old described as "a few defensive slip-ups against the Roosters". With Kikau returning from suspension and James Fisher-Harris and Zane Tetevano both avoiding charges for high shots against the Rabbitohs, Capewell is expected to return to the bench in the utility role May has filled adeptly for much of 2020. Moses Leota and Tetevano are going nowhere after telling contributions in Cleary's front-row rotation. But up until the finals young tyro Leniu was more than impressive off the pine as well, and had been named there for the preliminary final after he had recovered from 24-hour bout of flu. "I got COVID tested and got it back Tuesday night so we thought I was sweet," Leniu told NRL.com. "But the risk of getting the other boys sick meant I couldn't train or be near the boys. "It was only a 24-hour thing for me and I wasn't even that sick, but obviously you don't muck around this year. "Not training with the team, Ivan told me he couldn't pick me and I would've felt so bad if I got anyone else sick. Imagine being sick for the grand final because I gave it to one of the boys and they had to miss out? "If it means me missing out, we've talked about an all-in culture all year. "If someone goes down, you know someone's going to come in as replacement and do the job." Mitch Kenny's inclusion as Leniu's replacement proved a sound one when Api Koroisau was briefly sidelined with a 'stinger' to his shoulder on Saturday. But with Capewell who served as Cronulla's 18th man for their 2016 decider and May both able to fill the utility role, Naden may well be the unlucky man out come grand final day after not seeing any game time against the Rabbitohs. If that's the case he wasn't kicking stones during Sunday's squad-wide media day, joking throughout and badgering Brian To'o for a ride on the ever-present scooter in between interviews. "That [would be] pretty selfish," Naden said. "Weve got a value, a team value - its like team before I. Its pretty selfish if you think [outside that value]. "Hethro [Jack Hetherington] said to me, At least youre still in the team, Im not in the 21. At least youre still in the 17. It gave me a bit of perspective on it." Should May maintain the rage out on the right edge it will be just his sixth game at centre in his NRL career, and roughly his tenth all up having come through the grades as a half/lock. Get Caught Up: Finals Week 3 Whoever gets the gig has the task of stopping Papau New Guinean wrecking ball Justin Olam, who is regarded as one of the heaviest hitters in the game after a stellar 2020 season. "Ooft" was the reaction of May and reporters alike as they worked out the potential match-up. "He's a heck of a player," May said. "He's doing his country proud too he's going to be a tough man to mark. "He looks as hard as a rock, so hopefully I've got my shoulders on early." With Kikau joining Penrith's second-string side, affectionately known as 'The Cougars' for the past two weeks, the 119-kilo Fijian spent his suspension lining up May and the rest of Penrith's right edge. "He doesn't like me very much at the moment," Kikau quipped when asked how May matched up. "Luckily I get to defend inside someone that I live with [Nathan Cleary] and two boys that I grew up playing with [Brian To'o and Liam Martin]. " I have trust in him (Nathan). He's a good defender for a half and I can trust him to make his tackles. Hopefully he can trust me to make mine. Match Highlights: Panthers v Rabbitohs "I didn't start training there until I got named to start there one week [earlier in the year]. "But last year when I wasn't playing I was filling in a lot of different positions, wing and centre. "It's just something I've got to know being the utility. I could get thrown in anywhere, I could go from centre to hooker. Hopefully that doesn't happen because the job's a bit harder."