Sorensen starts GF, Eisenhuth unlucky Panther again

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Sorensen starts GF, Eisenhuth unlucky Panther again

Matt Eisenhuth has become Penrith’s unlucky man after Scott Sorensen went straight back into their starting side for the NRL grand final against Melbourne.

The Panthers confirmed on Sunday that Sorensen would start in the second row, after overcoming a hamstring issue that has sidelined him since round 27.

Luke Garner moves back to the bench, leaving Eisenhuth as the man to again miss out on a grand final and named as 18th man.

Part of Penrith’s squad since the first premiership in 2021, Eisenhuth is still yet to play in a decider at any point in their streak of three straight titles.

He played one finals match in 2021, and in both of the Panthers’ finals matches this year before being named in the No.17 jersey for Sunday night’s match.

But he will again watch it from the bench, and only activated to play if Penrith are allowed to use the concussion substitute.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has meanwhile stuck with the same 17 he named on Tuesday, opting to play forward Lazarus Vaalepu over Joe Chan.

Bellamy had weighed up a decision between the pair all week, after prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was suspended for a high tackle at the NRL judiciary.

With six games to his name, Vaalepu will be the least experienced player to feature in a grand final since Steve Price with Canterbury in 1994.

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