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Parker: The six players that could decide GF
SEN • October 3rd, 2025 4:31 pm
The NRL Grand Final is almost here.
And with that in mind, Corey Parker on SENQ Breakfast has gone through the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos team lists and has named in no particular order the three most important players for each side.
With the Storm and the Broncos playing one another in the 2025 decider, both sides will be hoping that their stars can make the difference on Sunday.
And if any of the players Parker has mentioned can have the impact he thinks they will, it will go a long way to either side achieving the ultimate goal.
Melbourne Storm
Cameron Munster
Parker: “Cam Munster, for obvious reasons.”
“Surprisingly, (he) had one of his most consistent seasons in terms of playing games.
“He’s had 23 games and he’s been apart of 23 tries (through assists). So he is very much ingrained in what they do from an attacking point of view.
“He loves the big occasion, and he plays a position that really leans into exactly that.
“The fact that he plays five-eighth and he has the ability to off a quick play of the ball, off some ruck speed to then inject himself.
“Normally when he plays in a big game, he averages up over 100 run metres and if he does that, (the) Melbourne Storm will go on to win the game.”
Harry Grant
Parker: “Harry Grant has been in unbelievable form post-Origin.”
“He went through that period, and if you remember that game that he played at Suncorp (in Game I), it was probably the worst game I’ve seen Harry play.
“He took that personally; he’s the skipper, and he has certainly been playing lights out football since.
“Harry has not won with the Melbourne Storm...he’ll certainly want to be part of a winning grand final as a skipper.
“That’s going to be his driving force. He’s very crafty, and he’s arguably the best hooker in the comp at that.”
Eliesa Katoa
Parker: “He worries me, this guy.”
“He probably doesn’t get the accolades externally, but I know internally, they value him very, very much.
“Tongan born, sort of weapon they have out on this edge for them.
“13 tries this season…and a lot of them have come from running a nice line off Jahrome Hughes out the back or the athleticism and his ability to get up.
“They have a specific kick not only for Xavier Coates out on the wing, but oh no, we’ll go to Eli Katoa, he can come up with it.
“So the likes of Benny Hunt and Adam Reynolds, where those kicks will be landing on their head, the mismatch in size for those two, he’ll be an absolute key part of what they are doing.
“That’s not even taking into consideration what he can do with the ball.
"He is an absolute weapon."
Brisbane Broncos
Payne Haas
Parker: “He’s played 23 games this season, he’s been in incredible form as he has always been.
“His bar is set so high. He’s had 125 tackle breaks this season, 70 offloads, and I think that’s a big part of a little bit of the arsenal up the sleeve for Payneo.
“If he can create some offloads throughout this game, and he was quiet in that area, and whether they did a number on him in that area, I wasn’t so sure or whether he just put it away.
“He needs to really lean into that.
“If he can create some space between the first contact and himself, he can then find an offload, and that will be a real pivotal point and a little bit of an X-factor.
Ben Hunt
Parker: “Benny Hunt is absolutely cherry ripe in his career, cherry ripe in his own skin, body and where he’s at, and he’s got some unfinished business at Accor Stadium.”
“Yes, it is a different team, yes, it is 10 years later.
"But at some point this week and at some point since Sunday, and we’ve had Benny Hunt (on air) and asked him the exact same question, ‘Do you think you can win the comp?’
“His answers have been very straight. Yes, absolutely.
“And the turning point against Melbourne in Melbourne in that 20-point loss is certainly one of those areas.
“But at some point, this week, Ben Hunt, whilst he might not tell anyone, will have a vision in mind on what he is going to do (on) grand final day.
“He’s starting in the No. 6; he’ll find his way into the No. 9.
“At a real key point on the weekend against the Panthers, he went right against the grain, rolled the dice, come to the left-hand side (and) Cleary only just got his hand to the ball and was able to pick up the ball for Xavier Willison, who scored, started the comeback for Brisbane.
“You talk about storylines, you talk about all these things, this could absolutely play into Benny Hunt’s hands.”
Reece Walsh
Parker: “Reece Walsh over the last five, six weeks has absolutely dominated, whilst Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam and these sorts of players haven’t been there.
“He’s the man with the hot hand at the moment.
“As quiet as he was in different stages last week against the Panthers when it absolutely mattered, Reece Walsh checkered himself down that right edge, got a pass out to Deine Mariner, who was able to score.
“He was the difference (against the Panthers), and he will certainly be the difference (against the Storm).
“23 try assists in 20 games this season, same as Munster, less games.
“He’s got speed, confidence, and just oozes X-factor.”
SEN will have live coverage of the Grand Final, with fans having the option to either listen to a Storm or Broncos-themed call alongside a neutral one, which can be found on SEN’s radio network or the SEN app.
Coverage of the match will be available from 9am AEDT.
Kick off takes place at 7:30pm AEDT on October 5.
