The 2022 NRL NT grand finals are shaping up to be epics
The 2022 NRL NT grand final weekend is here and is expected to be filled with thrilling encounters. Read everything you need to know ahead of the match-ups.
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The 2022 NRL NT grand final weekend is finally here with two senior matches filled to the brim with thrilling match-ups and possible redemption stories.
For the men, the unbeaten Northern Sharks will take on Palmerston Raiders in what is expected to be an intense A-Grade final.
And in the women’s competition, it will be Darwin Brothers looking for atonement against reigning premiers Palmerston.
Both matches should be thrillers with the four sides taking part having proven themselves the best in their respective competitions to date.
MEN
Northern Sharks
Northern Sharks were triumphant in 2021 and have looked nothing short of unbeatable in 2022, using their elite fitness and composure to fend off all comers.
But they’re a side who know all bets are off when it comes to a grand final and won’t consider their job done until they’ve collected the trophy once again.
Sharks struggled in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, missing out on finals in both years due to lacking player numbers.
They came back with a fury in 2021, boasting new-found depth and forward power, catching the rest of the competition off-guard.
They’ve gone up another level in 2022, now boasting a club culture in which every player buys in, backing each other in defence and on the attack.
Damien Mick and Mitch Burke are the dynamic duo at the centre of every play, and with multi-position player Dakota Marsh, run the flow of the game.
And with backs such as Cooper Segeyaro, Simaika Salaa, Caleb Smith and Lachie Wright there’s plenty of options to get the job done in offensive play.
David Munro and Jacob McCarthy have been mainstays, important to the side in both defence and while on the carry.
Sharks captain Jacob Collie noted the success of the season to date, but said all his team was focused on was grand final success.
“It’s been a long season and a pretty successful one so far, but it doesn’t mean much until we win this grand final, that’s all we’re focused on,” Collie said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the guys. Winning last year was unreal and we want more again.
“The way the guys have just got better and better is unreal, I love them all. They’re a good bunch of blokes.
“Everyone just buys into the club, whether they’re new or not and having had those couple of hard years has made the club stronger.
“We just trust each other. We do make errors, especially early in games, but we just back ourselves in defence and know the bloke next to us will do as well.
“In the final we need to keep our composure. We’ve shown all year we will be there for the full 80 no matter what.”
Palmerston Raiders
It’s been an up and down season for the Palmerston Raiders, but in a testament to the quality of their side, they’ve pulled through and made the grand final.
They may not have won a premiership since 2013, but every year they turn up with side full of talent and put up a fight.
And they know they will have to put on a fight if they’re to pull off a premiership coup and beat the more favoured Sharks.
Sharks have been a bogey team of sorts for Raiders since last year’s grand final, winning comprehensively in each encounter; 36-0, 28-4, 38-6 and 22-10 during the season
Raiders captain Alex Johnson said a win would come down to his side playing their natural game and not get “sucked into Sharks’ play”.
“This is what you play for, to get the chance to play footy in the big dance,” Johnson said.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year, particularly with injuries and players unavailable, but it’s been good how the boys have been able to come together and put a team out.
“We just have to play our brand of footy, that’s the most important and not get sucked into Sharks’ game.”
Raiders have plenty of star power with experienced forwards such as Shane Smith and Sean Huirame putting in massive shifts late in the season.
Their backs WERE equally as deadly on their day with Johnson, Tevita Kanalagi, Jake Rainger and Will Beers all in strong form and more than able to run in a try.
Raiders will also be looking to unload the impact of big Joel Turaga, who showed against Brothers in the preliminary final he can cause problems at any time.
And it’s that kind of impact Palmerston will need to get over the line.
“It was a battle (against Brothers). We always knew it would be a battle and that’s finals footy,” Johnson said.
“Everyone lifts it a couple of notches and to win finals. The boys stood up and played the 80 minutes
“It’s going to be an even more intense game again against Sharks. They have a big, big forward pack and really strong runners and hopefully we can match it with them.”
WOMEN
Darwin Brothers
They’ve gone unbeaten all year, but the only match which matters to the Darwin Brothers women is the 2022 grand final.
This will mark the third time in a row Brothers have come up against Palmerston in a grand final, and so far they’re one premiership each.
Brothers triumphed in 2020, but were caught out by Raiders in 2021.
Now the side in the blue and white are back with a vengeance, scoring 20 plus points each week and never once conceding more than 10.
But they know all those results will have little bearing on the big dance where anything can happen.
Brothers captain Bianca Scrymgour said her side were focused on one goal and one goal only, to win the grand final.
“We’re all pumped, keen and ready to go. We’re really excited and just trying to keep our emotions in check,” Scrymgour said.
“We prepared hard, week in week out, no matter where we were sitting on the table and have had a very successful season so far.
“But we have one job left and it’s the one that really matters.”
Standouts for the Brothers women include the ball carrying forwards Elisa Niki and Cassiela Wapau who can cause a dent in any side’s defensive line.
Outside them Callista Boyd and Janna Ransome have had massive seasons taking every chance to score a try while Ivana Schober has been a tackling machine.
“I can’t really fault our forwards, they’ve been nothing but amazing, and our backs have been strong in their own right in finishing off the job,” she said.
“We just need to stick to what we know, stay basic, nothing fancy, keep our emotions at bay and give 110 per cent because there’s not another weekend.
“It’s going to be a physical game, they’re going to come out and give it their all. They have a pretty good team and have come together at the right time.”
Palmerston Raiders
Women’s reigning premiers Palmerston Raiders are back in the grand final and are hoping their forward power can help them win a rare back-to-back premiership.
Prior to 2020, the Raiders women had never made the women’s grand final, but since that time have got better each year winning their first ever premiership in 2021.
That success has come in no small part to their big forward unit which has the ability to hold out any opposition and punch holes in any defence.
It has not been as easy going for the Raiders women in 2022 with player shortages and heavy losses to Litchfield and Brothers in the opening rounds.
But as the season went on and players returned to the fold, Palmerston found their footing and gradually climbed up the table to finish second.
Raider Ruti Tagiloa said it was amazing for her side to be in the grand final fight once again and in with a chance of defending their title.
“It’s just amazing, we had to work really hard to get into this grand final and to be here is amazing,” Tagiloa said.
“It’s a relief to have the team together for finals after playing with just 13 at some stages of the season, and now we have a whole squad to use.”
All eyes will be on the Raiders’ big forwards who have the ability to turn the game on its head with a single bulldozing run.
Chief among them is Ciara Aigea, who has been the cause of many a try over the past few season, whether charging over herself or by putting a back through a hole.
Lucy Aigea has been another strong performer in the forwards alongside Ashley Stott.
Full back Shaylah Barba has been a top performer, running strong support lines or finding her way through defences with an elusive carry.
“We have a few different players from last year, but it’s the same strategy coming in using our strength in the forwards to feed to our backs,” Tagiloa said.
“Just to see Ciara every single year turning up every weekend showing her leadership and skill level.
“It’s just amazing to see and she’s someone for other young women to look up to as an idol.
“Physically we’re ready for this final, so a lot of our preparation has come down to mentality.
“We know how Sistaz are, we know they have strong runners, their teamwork. We know we need to shut them down.”
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