The NRL grand final is nearly here, with the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos to go toe-to-toe for the 2023 premiership.
Can the Broncos upset the Panthers, who are pushing for an historic three-peat? Is Nathan Cleary a lock for the Clive Churchill Medal? And who bags the all-important first try of the game?
The Sporting News team give their best bets for Sunday's showdown below.
All odds courtesy of DABBLE - WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU?
MORE: Walsh, Johnson headline The Sporting News' Team of the Year
Cleary to guide Panthers to dominant grand final win
Not exactly an interesting prediction, but it is hard to see this classy Penrith side losing on Sunday.
They dismantled the Warriors and Storm in their previous two finals games, scoring 30+ points and conceding less than 10 in both matches.
The Broncos represent a tougher challenge, notably when it comes to their explosive attack.
However, there were a couple of defensive lapses in Brisbane's preliminary final, allowing their opponents to score three first-half tries.
If the Panthers even get a sniff in the grand final, you can be confident that Nathan Cleary and his efficient team will make the Broncos pay.
Penrith's consistency over 80 minutes will also put fear in Kevin Walters' team, with the ability to maintain their high attacking and defensive standards on either side of half-time.
BEST BET: Panthers to win both halves ($3.20)
FIRST TRYSCORER: Izack Tago ($13.00)
CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDAL WINNER: Nathan Cleary ($3.50)
- Joshua Mayne
Patrick Carrigan leads Broncos to nail-biting premiership win
Brisbane will be looking to cap off a remarkable campaign on Sunday night — and they'll also be hoping to break a 17-year premiership drought in the process against the Panthers.
The two sides have squared off twice this season, with the Broncos taking out the opening-round clash by one point before the reigning champs bounced back in Round 12 with an 11-point triumph.
Penrith's defence has been a staple of their last two title victories, but the attack of Brisbane will pose a bigger threat than what they have encountered in their previous two finals games.
The two sides have blown their rivals out of the water in both the prelim and qualifying finals, with their combined winning margins sitting at 56 and 60 points respectively, but will face a tougher task this time around.
Given all the talent on both sides of the ball for Brisbane and Penrith, let's go with a narrow margin and the underdogs getting over the line, exorcising the demons from their extra-time 2015 loss to the Cowboys.
As for a tryscorer bet, look to departing centre Herbie Farnworth to bag a four-pointer in his last game for the Broncos - particularly given he will be up against Izack Tago, who is still below 100 per cent due to a pectoral injury.
As for the man of the match honours, Patrick Carrigan will be at the forefront of any potential win for the Broncos, with the lock-forward capable of playing big minutes and posing a massive game-changing threat with or without the ball.
BEST BET: Brisbane Broncos by 1-5 points ($7.50)
FIRST TRYSCORER: Herbie Farnworth ($17)
CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDAL WINNER: Patrick Carrigan ($13)
- Liam O'Loughlin (@ljoloughlin)
Slow start cruels Broncos as Panthers' class shines through
The Broncos are second only to Penrith in scoring prowess in 2023 but under the weight of expectation of their first grand final since 2015 and without a premiership since 2006, the Panthers' defence will keep the scoreline in their favour in the early stages.
Should Brisbane trail at half time, footy stats savants will be able to trot out an old favourite: Penrith have lost just one half-time lead in 73 games.
Both sides average 27 points a game but expect a match dominated by the forwards battle, with Penrith the first side to go back-to-back-to-back in the NRL era.
BEST BET: Panthers win, To'o anytime tryscorer, S. Crichton anytime try scorer ($6)
FIRST TRYSCORER: Brian To'o ($8)
CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDAL WINNER: Liam Martin ($17)
- Chris Danks (@DanksDiscussion)
