NRL 2022: Lachlan Ilias faces up to Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai in Friday night’s grand final rematch
Lachlan Ilias produced his best NRL performance in the win over the Roosters, but taking on Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai is another matter entirely, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
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South Sydney captain Cameron Murray has made the shock admission he was “lucky” to stay on the field in the grand final after getting wiped out by his own teammate in the first tackle.
Ahead of Friday night’s grand final rematch, we have identified eight key points that could make or break both teams in the return blockbuster.
And among Murray’s grand final revelations is the fact that the inspirational skipper has still not sat down to watch a replay of the heartbreaking defeat, conceding “I don’t think I will”.
“No. I haven’t watched it,” Murray told The Daily Telegraph. “Maybe when I am all done (retired) … but I won’t watch it.”
The painful memories are still a major motivation, not just for Murray, but the entire Rabbitohs team against a Penrith side that has its own issues to confront.
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1. MURRAY’S ‘DAZED’ MEMORY
You could tell as soon as we brought up the incident where Murray was smashed in the back by a missile named Tevita Tatola, then ricocheted into Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris, that the unassuming lock didn’t want this to turn into another concussion controversy.
In Fox League commentary, Mick Ennis said after the first set that Murray had “certainly come out of it wobbling around, he’s still distressed. There’s no doubt the trainers have to respond to this. They have to. It was a huge head knock”.
While he was adamant he felt “OK” to stay on the field, Murray clearly had rubbery legs and players are supposed to go off for a head injury assessment if they show any signs of concussion.
But in this instance it got lost in the chaos of those opening grand final exchanges.
Murray conceded: “I was a little bit lucky” that he wasn’t taken off.
“I got a bit dazed”, he admitted, while also revealing that he wasn’t even aware who whacked him.
“To be honest, it is all a pretty big blur, and not just because of the first hit,” Murray said.
“I think it was just the occasion. Big games I don’t seem to remember much.
“Look, I was a bit worried when it first happened because obviously I didn’t want to come off. I thought I was okay to continue and I guess I was a little bit lucky there that it went a little bit unnoticed.
“But, yeah, I am happy I was able to get through the whole game and give it my all, because if I came off I would have been in a similar position to someone like Jai (Arrow, who was taken out after a tackle from Viliame Kikau was placed on report).
“I just didn’t want to die wondering.
“I was happy I went out there and gave it my all.”
2. NRL’S BEST LOCK?
Even after copping that brutal early shot in the back, Murray was still one of the best players in the grand final, although we’ll never really know what it took out of him in those vital early exchanges.
But now for the rematch and the battle of these two outstanding locks that is going to be crucial.
After three rounds Isaah Yeo leads the Dally M Medal count on a perfect nine votes while Murray was phenomenal in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Roosters, showing yet again what a machine he is.
Survey a thousand NRL fans and you’d probably get an even split as to who is the game’s best No.13.
Who comes out on top here might go a long way to deciding who wins.
3. ROOKIE V ANTAGONIST
For the first couple of rounds it looked as though Lachlan Ilias was getting swallowed in Adam Reynolds’ shadow.
But he produced his best NRL performance in the win over the Roosters that gave a great indication he is not letting the pressure get the better of him.
But it goes up a notch here when he goes head-to-head with Jarome Luai who is the new undisputed champ of getting under the skin of opponents (just ask Kyle Flanagan who is one of many to have felt the sting of Luai’s antagonistic ways).
4. CLEARY V WALKER IS PERSONAL
Nathan Cleary comes across as such a cleanskin you just didn’t expect him to react like he did to Cody Walker’s intercept pass in the grand final.
But what it does is give us a real insight into the take-no-prisoners mindset that drives these young Panthers who are quite clearly not out to win the popularity contest.
But Souths and particularly Cody will want to be careful they don’t get hung up on the emotion of retribution, because that will play straight into the Panthers’ hands.
5. ARROW’S POINT TO PROVE
The image of Jai Arrow leaving the field for his concussion test and pointing his finger directly at Viliame Kikau has got played over and over this week in the build up.
Then there’s the vision of Kikau giving his rendition of “Glory, Glory to South Sydney” during the Panthers’ celebrations.
Arrow has come out this week and assured us there are no hard feelings and that he won’t go looking for Kikau this week.
If you believe that you believe in Santa.
6. WILL LATRELL BE OK?
There was a scare at Souths training on Thursday when Latrell Mitchell copped a knock on his knee and went down.
Jason Demetriou assured the media afterwards that the star fullback would be fine.
The concern is the last time Demetriou said a training incident was no big deal was after Blake Taaffe injured his ankle at the captain’s run before the first round and is still sidelined but has been named 18th man this week.
Plenty of Souths fans are convinced had Mitchell not been suspended for the grand final their team would now be premiers.
He not only sets up tries but he is a big body coming out of the back field. Without him in the grand final their back three got pulverised by Penrith.
7. PANTHERS’ DEPTH TEST
So far it hasn’t been an issue with the Panthers unbeaten despite losing Kurt Capewell, Matt Burton, Paul Momirovski and Tyrone May.
And while Cleary has been sidelined until now, don’t forget they are also still missing their best metre-eater Brian To‘o.
Although there is late mail James Fisher-Harris and Liam Martin could be late inclusions which would be a massive boost.
8. THE BENNETT SHADOW
After the opening two rounds plenty of people were thinking Souths were going to be lost without Wayne Bennett and Adam Reynolds.
But Demetriou got his first big scalp with last round’s win over Trent Robinson and the Sydney Roosters. If he can back it up against Ivan Cleary it will put a significant gap between himself and Bennett’s aura.
‘WE’LL TEST HIM OUT’: SOUTHS REVEAL NO.1 PANTHERS TARGET
—Brent Read
South Sydney forward Jai Arrow refused to reignite his feud with Viliame Kikau on Monday but he has warned Penrith captain Nathan Cleary to prepare his reconstructed shoulder for a searching workout in the grand final rematch on Friday night.
Arrow was forced from the field for a concussion test in last year’s grand final after a tackle from Kikau that was placed on report.
He directed a few choice words at the Panthers back rower as he left the field for assessment and then received a barrage himself from the Panthers bench and their supporters as he made his way to the sideline.
In the days after the decider, Kikau was again in the crosshairs of Souths supporters after a social media post where he appeared to mock the club, singing their song — ‘Glory Glory to South Sydney’.
Arrow insisted it was all fair game when quizzed about Kikau in the lead-up to Friday night’s game at BlueBet Stadium, although it is unlikely that Souths fans will be as willing to forgive.
“I don’t think I was spraying him,” Arrow said.
“I was saying to him, ‘don’t worry, I will be back, I am coming back’. He clocked me. He got me straight away on my first carry.
“It is something that happened on the field. You don’t take it off — you respect each other off the field. I won’t go looking for him.
“No doubt there will be a bit of fireworks. No doubt both packs will go after each other.”
Asked about the abuse he copped from the Panthers players and the supporters, Arrow said: “I remember coming off and I copped it a fair bit.
“Rightly so. In the semi I tried to go after them. In the grand final I came out on the s--- end of the stick. I looked at the bench and it might have been the families behind giving it to me.
“I look back now and it is pretty funny but at the time, I was pretty filthy because I got clocked in the head.”
Arrow hasn’t watched a replay of the grand final and isn’t likely too given the way it ended for the Rabbitohs. They result left a sour taste in their mouth of Souths players and supporters, as did the behaviour of some Penrith players afterwards.
The Panthers were determined not to be intimidated or walked over on grand final night, and they will no doubt carry the same mindset into the rematch.
“As players we have motivation just wanting to win the game,” prop Mark Nicholls said.
“When you win you can do whatever you want I guess. I hate to think what I would have done after a few beers.”
Friday night’s game will also herald the return of Cleary from shoulder surgery, the Panthers having wrapped their captain and talisman in cotton wool over the opening three weeks of the season.
Cleary took the extra time off to ensure his shoulder was fully healed but if there is any weakness in the joint, the Rabbitohs will look to expose it.
“I am sure the edge back rowers can’t wait to run at him,” Nicholls said.
“I know, I have done a shoulder. Your first couple of games back you are going to one nervous. You have done all your rehab but there is nothing like going out and having to tackle a 110kg forward running at you.
“I am sure Jai can’t wait to run at him.”
He can’t.
“He obviously had a reco in the off-season and missed the first couple of rounds,” Arrow said.
“So he hasn’t had some footy under his belt. We will definitely want to test his shoulder out and test him defensively.
“He is obviously a quality player — he will no doubt do his job. But it is hard coming back after surgery and trying to find your groove.
“I have no doubt we will try to test him out. We will want to isolate it (the shoulder) and run as hard as we can.”
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