New South Wales coach Brad Fittler is confident his former club Penrith can take home Sunday’s Grand Final against South Sydney.
Fittler, who was a member of Penrith’s 1991 premiership side, believes the group has become battle hardened throughout their three finals games making them a formidable opponent in the decider.
“I think you get hardened, I’ve said that from the start,” Fittler said on SEN 1170 Drive with Joel and Fletch.
“They sort of had form throughout the whole year and then everyone got injured.
“No James Fisher-Harris, no (Nathan) Cleary, Jarome Luai was injured, Brian To’o was injured, they hadn’t really played much together.
“They played South Sydney in the first one, and I thought this is the best way to beat Melbourne, you take away the energy of the Grand Final which Melbourne do so well and take them on in a Preliminary Final.
“I just think they’re hardened, and they’re a physical team, they’re not that big but they’re physical and they like the confrontation.
“They’ll be harder than they were two weeks ago and I think South Sydney need to improve.”
With halfback Nathan Cleary leading both Penrith and the Blues Origin side, Fittler explained that it’s his preparation that makes him so effective on-field.
“He (Cleary) studies and researches more than anyone, more than anyone I’ve ever seen and more than anyone I’ve ever heard of,” Fittler said.
“He knows the game better than anyone, so when he goes out there any position he’s in he’s already been there.
“He’s watched it on video, he’s basically done it at training.
“He’s better at that more than anyone who has ever been in the game.
“It’s finding out when everyone is like Nathan and that’s the standard, rugby league will pick up and go forward because his level of research and preparation is the best that anyone’s ever done before.
“Apart from that, he’s a really tough kid, he understands diving on loose balls is incredibly important.
“Supporting especially his other half, he supports them incredibly.
“He understands the team mentality of rugby league that’s been around since 1908.
“That’s why it culminates that he delivers under pressure.”
Cleary will be hoping to lead the Panthers to their first title since the 2003 premiership winning side.
The NRL Grand Final kicks off at 7:30pm (AEDT) on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.