Expert Tipping: Grand Final day

The biggest day on the rugby league calendar is almost here, which means it's time for the pan66.com writers to give you their fearless predictions for what awaits.

While opinion is pretty well split on the NRL decider, our experts are a little more confident that the Roosters will walk away from Accor Stadium with a second NRLW title on Sunday. 

Panthers v Storm

Brad Walter: The Panthers have better players, but the Storm may be a better team on the whole. Besides Melbourne’s spine, they do not boast a star-studded line up to match Penrith’s, but each player knows his role and the Storm have been getting the job done since the start of the year. The Panthers are one of the game’s greatest teams, but the fact that no club has won four premierships since the 1960s shows how hard it is to do. Harry Grant will win the Clive Churchill Medal. Storm by 1.

Cameron Mee: The top two teams in the competition have engaged in some thrilling showdowns in recent years and Sunday should be no different. The sides are evenly matched across the park but Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s suspension is a major blow for the Storm. Look for the Panthers to slowly wear their opponents down before Jarome Luai produces a match-winning play to seal a fourth-straight premiership and the Clive Churchill Medal in his final appearance for Penrith. Panthers by 4.

Colleen Edwards: The Storm and the Panthers have their own unique strengths and this is a clash of styles in many ways. But they're evenly matched almost everywhere. Even without Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Melbourne have a strong forward pack to come up against the Penrith engine room, but it is the halves battle that should excite the fans. Both teams boast enviable pairings with representative and big game experience to their names. While Jahrome Hughes is the new Dally M Medal winner, his five-eighth Cam Munster has missed out on many of the season’s big moments and is due to step up in a Clive Churchill winning performance. Storm by 8.

Corey Rosser: In a matchup that looks very evenly matched in the backline, halves and edge forwards, I give Penrith a big advantage in the middle. The Storm will handle it for the most part, but the second they can't – especially late on – is when Nathan Cleary and co will pounce. In line with this theme, James Fisher-Harris will depart Penrith as a Clive Churchill Medal winner. Panthers by 4.

Martin Lenehan: An epic showdown between two champion sides with the champion halfbacks Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Hughes holding the key. There may be a slight doubt about Cleary's shoulder holding up but the Panthers superstar knows a thing or two about playing with pain and he'll lead his team to an historic fourth straight title. The Panthers' other supreme leader, Isaah Yeo, will take home the Clive Churchill Medal. Panthers by 2. 

Roosters v Sharks

Brad Walter: The Roosters have got experience, strike power across the park and the added motivation of wanting to send Sam Bremner out with a premiership. The Sharks had a great season but possibly their best performance was last week’s semi-final shut out of the Broncos. However, it’s hard to go past the fact the Roosters beat them 40-0 just four weeks ago. I'm backing Isabelle Kelly to cap off an excellent season by winning the Karyn Murphy Medal. Roosters by 4. 

Cameron Mee: Sunday’s decider should be a closer affair than the Roosters' 40-0 victory over the Sharks in the regular season, but the Tricolours simply have too much firepower across the park. With Tarryn Aiken and Jess Sergis back from injury and Isabelle Kelly playing through an injured elbow, their strike weapons will lead the team past Cronulla. Kelly ran for 156 metres in last week’s semi-final and is set to deliver another dominant performance on her way to the Karyn Murphy Medal. Roosters by 14.

Colleen Edwards: Every GF day needs an underdog story, so I will go against the grain and tip an upset win for the Sharks. The Cronulla side come into the decider with no expectations on them, with most fans very understandably seeing the star-studded line-up of the Roosters being too much to overcome. Last time the two sides met, that undeniable class shone for the Chooks in a 40-0 win, but with Dally M captain of the year Tiana Penitani in the form of her life I see a Karyn Murphy Medal winning performance coming from her. Sharks by 4.

Corey Rosser: Getting his team to peak last week and produce one of the best defensive performances in NRLW history, on the back of a winless month prior, was a coaching masterclass from Tony Herman. But doing it two weeks in a row is a totally different story, and this Roosters side have far more talent than them this time around. Tarryn Aiken to have multiple try assists on her way to the Karyn Murphy Medal. Roosters by 8. 

Martin Lenehan: Class is set to prevail in the NRLW decider with Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick, champion centre Isabelle Kelly and playmaker Tarryn Aiken delivering a second premiership to the Roosters. The Sharks have been superb in their second season in the competition and they'll match it with the Roosters in the opening 40, but John Strange's team will run away in the second term. Kernick will cap a memorable week by adding the Karyn Murphy Medal to her Dally M triumph. Roosters by 10.