Panthers confirm gun is IN as likely grand final heartbreak awaits ...

The Panthers have confirmed backrower Scott Sorensen will return for the grand final at the likely expense of either Matt Eisenhuth or Brad Schneider.

Eisenhuth, 32, is the only Panthers player without a premiership ring of those who have been in the squad for the past four seasons.

Sorensen hasn’t played since injury his hamstring in the final round of the regular season four weeks ago.

“He’ll (Sorensen) be playing tomorrow,’’ Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said on Saturday.

Watch the best coverage of the 2024 NRL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

“Yeah it’s awesome. Sorro’s been a big part of our team the last three years. He’s a real soldier in our team. He’s like an old man out there as well, a bit of experience and all-round good guy.

“Everyone was pretty bummed when he got injured a few weeks ago and it looked like that was the end of him this year and he was really devastated.

“For him to work so hard and get back and for him to be able to make a contribution tomorrow, it’s really good.’’

SORENSEN HOPING FOR BETTER GF DAY

Sorensen will be hoping he can actually celebrate with his teammates this time around if they win after missing out 12 months ago.

As Penrith players celebrated in the middle of Accor Stadium after last year’s epic grand final win over Brisbane, Sorensen was in the stands madly searching for his wife’s car keys, with a few journalists helping out to no avail.

You’d usually trade a set of keys for a premiership ring, but the family man was desperate to help locate the little chain that was nowhere to be found.

He walked back with his wife and kids to the carpark wondering if a locksmith could help him out in the middle of the night, but he needn’t have worried.

Scott Sorensen was able to celebrate the 2023 premiership on Monday after missing the aftermath of their epic win while looking for his wife’s missing keys. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“She left them on the front seat of the car!” he revealed.

“I was running around trying to find the keys for her. The poor thing had the two kids in the sheds enjoying themselves, and she thought she lost her keys.

“So I went out and checked where she was sitting and I was fingers crossed that they were in the car.

“We got to the carpark, and here they are sitting in the front seat.

“The door was unlocked.

“Don’t remind my wife because she wants to forget that one.

“She’s done that a few times getting the kids out to the game and leaving the doors open, she’s left keys on top of the roof out here at Penrith. That’s just her, that’s the way she is.”

Sorensen has been named on an extended bench and must prove his fitness as he continue to battle a hamstring strain that has kept him out of the entire finals series.

The two-time premiership winner desperately wants to play for a number of reasons, with Sorensen keen to send his left-edge buddy Jarome Luai out with another ring before he joins the Wests Tigers next year.

“He’s been one of the originals here for quite some time,” he said.

“As well as his playing ability, his leadership has gone through the roof in the last 12 months.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play outside him and I love the bloke on and off the field. I’ve been out for a few weeks this year, but I’ve been able to watch him grow and develop and take on more responsibility.

“It’s going to hurt when he leaves, but we’ve got one more week with him, so we’re not going to push him away that easily.”

BELLAMY’S POTENTIAL LATE SWITCH

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy hasn’t ruled out making a late switch to his bench, with Joe Chan on standby to come in for rookie Lazarus Vaalepu for Sunday’s grand final showdown with the Panthers.

Storm’s plans were thrown into disarray when man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona copped a five-game ban at the judiciary on Monday night after he failed to have his careless high tackle charge downgraded.

Bellamy had several options to fill the massive void and turned to Vaalepu when the team lists were officially released on Tuesday afternoon even though the rookie prop has only played 127 minutes in seven NRL games.

Vaalepu last played in round 27 and hasn’t featured in the finals, with the 25-year-old mainly running out for Sunshine Coast in the Queensland Cup this year.

His teammates have backed him to handle the occasion, but there could be a late switch, with Bellamy dropping a selection bombshell on Thursday that he hasn’t decided who will take the final bench spot.

Joe Chan is also in the mix at this stage, with the versatile forward able to play on an edge or in the middle, with match fitness an added advantage given he started in the NSW Cup grand final for North Sydney on Sunday.

“We probably still haven’t made that decision properly yet. We need to see how we go at training today and whatever,” Bellamy said.

“Both those guys have played really well in the NSW Cup, I think ‘Laz’ actually plays Queensland Cup. They’ve both played really well but with Nelson gone, we have to put someone in there. They’re the next two in line.”

MORE NRL NEWS

‘CARRY THEM WITH ME’: Munro’s tribute to mum, uncle in moving Dally M speech

‘MAKE A STATEMENT’: Bold plan to rattle Cleary - Matty, Cooper’s GF verdict

DYNASTY: Image exposes Penrith’s forgotten exodus... the shrewd moves behind success

Craig Bellamy is weighing up a late change to his pack.Source: Getty Images

Whoever comes in will have the full backing of the rest of the squad, with Storm skipper Harry Grant praising their unheralded forwards who haven’t received too many plaudits this season.

“There’s a lot of talk externally about the spine, and the team understands that,” the hooker said.

“But it’s the guys like Josh King, Trent Loiero who moved into lock this year and has made a great transition from back row, big Tui and what he’s doing, and Nelson has been unreal this season, and it’s disappointing he won’t be there on Sunday but he’s still on the journey with us.

“There are a lot of guys that don’t get the raps, but internally they’re getting plenty of raps week in, week out.

“They’re very valued and adored in the team.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers haven’t made a final call on back-rower Scott Sorensen, who is battling a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the finals.

Sorensen has been named in the reserves and would likely come in for Matt Eisenhuth if he’s cleared to play.

“He’s getting through everything he needs to at the moment,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.

“We’ve still got a couple of sessions to go. We’ll give him every chance but we’re not going to take a risk there either. We’ll see how he goes.”

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers, Accor Stadium at 7:30pm AEST

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson 19. Joe Chan

Players cut: 20. Kane Bradley 21. Tepai Moeroa 22. Sualauvi Faalogo

Late Mail: Tui Kamikamica has been named to slot into the front row in the absence of Nelson Asofa-Solomona after his failed bid to have a high tackle charge downgraded. Lazarus Vaalepu, who was born in Penrith, has been called upon for only his eighth NRL game, having made his debut in Round 20 against the Roosters. However, Craig Bellamy revealed Joe Chan could be a late inclusion.

“He hasn’t had a lot of game time, but the times he has been out there, he’s been really good for our footy side,” Christian Welch told NCA Newswire of Vaalepu. “He’s such a powerful guy and a big body, but his efforts off the ball and in his defensive areas have been really pleasing because the speed of the game at NRL level rises up. For him to be able to still carry the ball but also keep contributing in defence with such a big frame is a really tough thing to do.”

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Daine Laurie 19. Scott Sorensen

Players cut: 18. Casey McLean 20. Trent Toelau 22. Luke Sommerton

Late Mail: Scott Sorensen was named in the reserves but the club have confirmed he’s overcome a hamstring injury and will play. Matt Eisenhuth or Brad Schneider the two most likely to make way. Star halfback Nathan Cleary aggravated an existing shoulder injury last week and left the field in the final six minutes but he’ll play on Sunday, with Schneider on the bench for now as his cover. Daine Laurie and Sorensen were the players kepts on the extended bench at the 24-hour cut-off.

Referee: Ashley Klein

Review Official: Grant Atkins

Touch Judges: David Munro and Chris Sutton

Standby Referee: Gerard Sutton

Standby Touch Judge: Phil Henderson