Why the Penrith Panthers are primed to claim NRL decider

There's no Melbourne and no Sydney Roosters. At least one of those two sides have featured in 12 of the past 15 grand finals.

Instead, we've got one of rugby league's most famous clubs in South Sydney, with the financial and spiritual backing of Russell Crowe, taking on the whiz kids from Sydney's west in Penrith. No-one can deny both sides deserve to be there.

Souths, coached by a living legend in Wayne Bennett who's preparing for his 10th decider, looked anything but a premiership threat when they conceded 50 points to the Storm and Panthers in the space of a fortnight earlier in the season.

But since that 56-12 hiding from Penrith in Dubbo, the Bunnies have won 14 of 15 games, including their qualifying final win over the Panthers in the first week of the play-offs that turned the final series on its head.

They have done it at the back-end of the season, despite being written off by many who thought they were shot ducks after the loss of fullback Latrell Mitchell to suspension.

For their part, Penrith have shown everyone what they are made of after rebounding from that first finals loss against Souths to carve out two high-pressured, gritty wins to advance past Parramatta and Melbourne.

The Panthers may largely be a bunch of young kids who grew up playing together, but there is a maturity and steel about them that will not be easy to break in Sunday's big one.

The Panthers are busted and the Bunnies are fresh, playing with great confidence and great flair.

In attack, they are just humming with their halves Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker in great touch, while Latrell Mitchell's replacement Blake Taaffe has done a great job to fill the void at fullback despite his inexperience.

Walker's passing game, decision-making and execution with the footy has made Souths' left edge the most lethal attacking weapon in the competition and if the Bunnies can get on the front foot through the likes of Cameron Murray and Damien Cook cuts loose from dummy-half like he did against Manly last weekend, Cody has the ability to tear the Panthers' defence to threads.

But Souths' attack has been on-song for most of the season. It's their defence over the latter part of the season that has got them into the decider.

Earlier in the year, they regularly used to switch off defensively in games and let in soft tries.

You know there is something drastically wrong with your defensive mindset when you leak 50 points twice in the space of a two-week period.

Whatever Bennett and his staff have done to fix that is the reason they are where they are. And don't underestimate Wayne's influence on his team this week.

Like I said, this is his 10th decider. No-one knows how to handle this week better than he does.

No-one knows how to take the pressure off players better than he does.

He'll be relaxed and unfazed by it all and that will rub off on his players.

Desire, will-to-win, steel - there is just a terrific spirit in this young Panthers side and the fact they lost this game last year and the heartache they experienced because of it will be a huge motivator here.

Yes, they look busted after three really tough, hard fought games during the finals. But I reckon it's different now from my days as a player, with science and the fact that so much more goes into getting players back up and ready to play.

In that respect, bubble life is probably a bonus for the Panthers, with their walking wounded able to be worked on literally 24/7 by the team's medical staff.

If Souths' left edge is the most lethal in the competition, Penrith's is not far behind with Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton real handfuls.

Their forward pack is strong and more mobile than Souths, with spiritual leaders James Fisher-Harris and Isaah Yeo certain to play a crucial role.

Yeo was outstanding against the Storm and his ability to play that first receiver link role and take the pressure of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, while being a running threat himself, has been a huge factor in Penrith's attack.

Cleary's kicking game, both in general play and goal-kicking, will give the Panthers a huge edge, particularly if Reynolds' groin prevents him from doing likewise.

But Penrith's main strength is their defence, the best in the competition, and if anyone can put the breaks on Walker and co and douse the confidence in the Bunnies camp, it is the Panthers.

I'm going with the Panthers to win by six in a gripping decider, where I reckon 18-20 points will be enough to win the game.

I'm taking a punt on the Penrith players carrying injuries into the game all getting through OK, but I just think it is their time.

They have been the best side in the competition over the past two years and deserve to taste success here. I know they were beaten by Souths three games back.

But if anything, that loss has done them a favour. They were guilty of going through the motions and being a little passive defensively in that game and the Bunnies took advantage.

But since then, against both the Eels and Storm, the urgency of their defence has gone up a gear or two.

Their line speed and intent has lifted markedly, as has the desperation of their scramble.

While their attack hasn't been as effective as it was during the season, their defensive attitude over the past fortnight has been outstanding.

So it's Ivan Cleary's boys for mine, in a high-quality decider that will cap off another fantastic NRL season.