Ivan Cleary has no concerns about throwing Scott Sorensen into the cauldron of an NRL grand final after clearing the Penrith forward to feature against Melbourne.
Cleary confirmed on Saturday that Sorensen was fit to take the field in Sunday’s decider after being sidelined for the past month with a hamstring issue.
The Penrith coach would not confirm who would drop out for Sorensen, but the return of the New Zealand international is a significant boost for the Panthers.
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“He’ll be playing. It’s awesome. Sorro’s been a big part of our team the last three years,” Cleary said on Saturday.
“He’s a real soldier in our team.
“Everyone was pretty bummed when he got injured a few weeks ago (against Parramatta) and it looked like that was the end for him this year.
“He was really devastated. To be able to work so hard and get back and for him to be able to make a contribution tomorrow is really good.
“Last week he definitely was (pushing to play and) if it was a round game throughout the year, you probably wouldn’t do it, but we definitely considered it.
“In the end it was just too big a risk, so we were always hoping we’d win the game and we’d be able to give him a chance this week. He has ticked every box.”
Cleary, however, would not be drawn on which player would miss out.
Matt Eisenhuth — a long-serving player at Penrith, who has yet to win an NRL grand final — looms as the most likely casualty of Sorensen being given the all-clear.
Still named on the bench as the Panthers trimmed their squad 24 hours before kick-off, Eisenhuth said earlier this week he would have no issue making way for a fit-again Sorensen.
Daine Laurie is the other Penrith player alongside Sorensen to be spared the axe from the Panthers’ extended squad.
“That’s the real downer when it comes to this time of year and these sorts of games,” Cleary said.
“You’d love them all to play but they can’t, unfortunately.
“We’ll confirm the 17 tomorrow (on Sunday) … I’ve got things covered.”
Sorensen’s inclusion gives Penrith an extra experienced head to match it in the middle against a Storm side deprived of Nelson Asofa-Solomona due to suspension.
“They (the Storm) had a great season and they’ve been very dominant in their two finals games,” Cleary said.
“When you get to grand final day you expect to play against the best. That’s certainly the case for us.
“It’s the old saying, to be the best you’ve got to beat the best, and we are looking forward to that challenge.”