Grand Final coaches Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy have fronted the media alongside senior players at a press conference in Sydney.
The official Grand Final Media Conference was held at Circular Quay as part of the NRL’s Fan Fest this afternoon.
Both sides appeared comfortable as they answered questions from journalists – giving little away as two of the most experienced sides enter the final days of Grand Final preparation.
The 2020 Grand Final became a focus of the presser, with Cleary accepting the loss to the Storm on that day lit a fire for his side’s later success.
“It definitely was an important part of our journey. We had a great season that year and went into the Grand Final with 17 wins on the trot,” he said.
“We were taught a lesson that day not just by the Storm but about big occasions. It definitely lit a fuse of fire, we wanted to make sure we learned from that. We were a young team at that point so there were good times ahead of us.”
Cleary said it’s surreal to be in a fifth Grand Final.
“It feels like yesterday we were in Manchester in February,” he said.
“We’re very grateful to be here. It’s so cool to get yourself into a Grand Final.”
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.