The National Indigenous Times cast its eye over the NRL grand final from the weekend and assessed how both Brisbane and Penrith's Indigenous representatives performed in the biggest game of the season.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
FULLBACK – 1. REECE WALSH
Rating: 6.5
Key Statistics: 102 run metres, 10 tackle busts, 3 errors, 2 line breaks, 1 try assist, 1 offload
Summary: Walsh had an up-and-down evening on the biggest stage after starting off quietly and looking frustrated throughout the first half. The fullback came into his own after the half-time interval with two dazzling line breaks including assisting Ezra Mam's third try that looked to set up a Brisbane premiership. But Walsh came up with some crucial errors as Penrith began to attack, including being the fourth and last man in the line of defence, who could not lay a hand on Nathan Cleary's matchwinner. The Panthers held back Walsh, the one Broncos star, back bar for a sizzling 10 minutes, where many pundits predicted he would be the difference in the grand final should Brisbane win. He wasn't. Not sure how much the public bust-up with a rival fan affected his performance.
CENTRE – 3. KOTONI STAGGS
Rating: 5.5
Key Statistics: 126 run metres, 12 tackles, 4 missed tackles, 1 error
Summary: Staggs seemed to do plenty of things right at times, but also blew quite a few chances with ball in hand amid a mixed night. He did pretty well to get out of his own in-goal and avoid a goal line drop out early. The centre also came up with a great take from a high-ball before turning over possession at the next play-the-ball that eventually led to the calamitous opening try for Panthers. He missed crucial tackles, none more so than on opposite number, Stephen Crichton, to concede the late try that brought Penrith within a try of victory with still 13 minutes remaining. He did at least look to threaten when on the attack.
WING – 5. SELWYN COBBO
Rating: 4
Key Statistics: 110 run metres, 7 tackles, 2 tackle busts, 1 error
Summary: Cobbo was conspicuously quiet for the night of all nights and, like Walsh, was expected to be one of the Broncos' key players should they have prevented the Panthers' three-peat. Certainly he appeared nervous following an early fumble that gifted the ball back to Penrith in field position inside Brisbane's own 20 metres. He really didn't see much of the ball most of the game where the winger just needed to get involved. But the youngster bounced back with some tough carries and claimed a crucial take late in the cliffhanger of a match. Definitely a learning experience for the boy from the amazing Aboriginal sporting community of Cherbourg.
FIVE-EIGHTH – 7. EZRA MAM
Rating: 9
Key Statistics: 147 run metres, 7 tackle busts, 3 tries, 2 line breaks, 2 line break assists
Summary: The solid but hardly spectacular first half gave no indication of what was to come next for Mam. It all started after spotting prop Lindsay Smith lost on the field and completely out of position to run the first of his three tries to initially capture the lead. He blew the game apart inside the next 10 minutes with another two tries that utilised his inane ability to step around players with a minimum of fuss. In attack, the five-eighth had no peer. It would only appear that Penrith's stunning fightback that halfback Nathan Cleary orchestrated was the sole factor in Mam missing out on this grand final's Clive Churchill Medal. He no longer will be living in the shadow of fellow Indigenous star Reece Walsh after this performance.
PENRITH PANTHERS
RESERVE – 18. TYRONE PEACHEY
Rating: N/A
Key Statistics: N/A
Summary: Peachey, as the Panthers' Head Injury Assessment (HIA) reserve, was only coming onto the field during the grand final should a teammate suffer concussion from a head injury. That didn't happen. Unfortunately, the 18th man's role ensures Peachey was not able to be an active member of this famous victory after a solid season.
