LIVE NRL: Superstar duo's timely return as Panthers, Storm face off ...
The Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm will face off on Friday night with the winner booking a spot in next weekend’s NRL grand final.
With so much on the line, both sides have been boosted by the return of their star playmakers.
MATCH CENTRE: Panthers vs Storm live score, stats, video
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Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes is back from a calf injury, while Penrith’s Jarome Luai is a confirmed starter after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.
The Panthers also welcome back young gun Izack Tago in the centres.
The two clubs have produced some thrilling clashes over the last few years. They came up against each other in the 2020 grand final with the Storm breaking the Panthers’ hearts, only for Penrith to get revenge in the 2021 preliminary final.
The Panthers should be fresh after a win their qualifying final earnt them last weekend off.
The Storm, however, were humiliated by the Broncos in their qualifying final and only just scraped threw their semi-final against the Roosters last week.
Coach Craig Bellamy pulled two big switches before kick-off with star duo Harry Grant and Christian Welch dropping back to the bench with Bronson Garlick and Nelson Asofa-Solomona to start.
TEAMS
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner. 18th man: 18. Tyrone Peachey
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 19. Bronson Garlick 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 15. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims. 18th man: 14. Tyran Wishart
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