Eels confirm massive team news ahead of NRL grand final

The Eels have made a big call on Tom Opacic, while the Panthers remain coy on who will start at hooker for the grand final.

Tom Opacic has played his last game for the Eels. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Eels have officially ruled Tom Opacic out of Sunday’s grand final after the centre failed to overcome a hamstring tear in time for the biggest game of his career.

It means he’s played his final game as an Eel, with Opacic set to move to the English Super League next season.

Opacic hurt his hamstring in the second half of the semi-final win over Canberra two weeks ago and didn’t play in last week’s epic win in Townsville.

Tom Opacic was put through his paces on Monday. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

He did some running at Parramatta’s session on Monday but said at the time that he would rule himself out of the grand final if he wasn’t 100 per cent because he didn’t want to let down his teammates.

The decision means Bailey Simonsson will line up at left centre having only returned to the NRL side last week for the first time since round 19.

He and Ryan Matterson are the only Parramatta players with grand final experience after Simonsson played for Canberra in the 2019 decider.

“Tom won’t play,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said.

“We wanted to give him every opportunity. It’s a big risk going into the biggest game of our careers and our lives.

“We’re devastated for Tom because he’s done a really good job and has been very solid for us.

“I remember before his debut, he guaranteed the group that he’d be ultra-reliable. Every time he’s taken the field, he’s been that for us.

“It opens the door for Bailey Simonsson who played well for us.

“It’s sad for Tom. We’ll never forget what he’s done to help us get to this point.”

Nathan Brown is a shock inclusion for the grand final. Picture; Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Arthur also confirmed that firebrand Nathan Brown would come off the bench in what will be his first NRL appearance since round 17.

It dispels the theory that he and the coach had a falling out, with Brown set to bring a stack of energy and aggression when he’s unleashed before the break.

“Browny’s role will be limited in terms of minutes, but either side of halftime he can come on and bring a bit of energy for us and work really hard defensively,” Arthur said.

“He’ll bring plenty of energy and bring some nice talk. He’s going to have a pretty important role to lock it down either side of halftime.

“We want him to be aggressive, but we have to be smart about it. We can’t afford to be giving Penrith cheap possession attacking our try line because they turn it into points. He needs to be smart with his aggression.”

Penrith won’t confirm whether Api Koroisau will start on Sunday. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Ivan Cleary remains undecided on who will start at hooker on Sunday night.

Api Koroisau is the Dally M Hooker of the Year and has been named to start, but he came off the bench in the preliminary final win over South Sydney and turned the game on its head.

Mitch Kenny has started both finals matches, with Koroisau coming on to terrorise defences through the middle.

“It’s something that we never really had as a plan. It just happened,” Cleary said.

“Week to week, I still don’t know what the best way to go is. It’s something that we mix and match a bit.”

Originally published as Eels confirm massive team news ahead of NRL grand final