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NRL grand final

Opinion

A softening up period? Not from these heavyweight combatants

Peter FitzSimons Columnist and author October 5, 2025 — 11.18pm

What a match!

The tradition in rugby league grand finals – to determine who is the heavyweight ‘champeen’ of the year – is for said heavyweights to have a “softening up” period.

The expectation is that each side will stand toe-to-toe and throw a series of upper-cuts, right crosses and jabs, most of which will, of course, be countered. This is, after all, modern league.

They have “defensive systems” designed to block 120kg behemoths and tiny wingers alike. They already know what the best moves of their opponents are through endless study, and have counters prepared.

So, perhaps, after 20 minutes, when the opponent ha

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