'Back where it belongs': Grand Finals launched in style as Sydney awaits new champions

The countdown to Sunday’s 2022 NRL and NRLW Premiership deciders reached fever-pitch on Monday night when the four captains gathered around their Premiership trophies at Sydney Harbour to officially launch Grand Final week.

Standing in front of a dazzling display of fireworks and a cheering crowd of proud supporters, the skippers were joined by NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo and NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin to launch the biggest week of the rugby league calendar.

The 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership has come down to a battle between the two Western Sydney powerhouses as the Panthers take on Eels in the men’s decider, while the NRLW competition will see two sides compete in their first-ever Grand Final match, with the Newcastle Knights set to clash with the Eels.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said this week is an opportunity for fans to celebrate a game whose future "has never looked brighter".

“Fans of each club are going to be bringing their passion and their colours to life. At home, at work, we want to see you loud and proud," he said.

“Paint your hair, paint your house, paint your lawn, paint your business. Decorate whatever you can to show your support.

“The game’s future has never looked brighter. The Grand Final teams represent modern-day Australia; confident, diverse and growing communities.

"Heartland areas that have more kids picking up a football for the first time than ever before."

NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said it was fantastic to have the NRL Grand Final back in the nation’s birthplace of rugby league and to have 83,000 fans packed into Accor Stadium on Sunday.

“We know Sydney is the birthplace of rugby league in Australia, providing the NRL’s strongest support base,” he said. “And how fitting that this year’s NRL Grand Final is being played between two powerhouse Western Sydney teams [and] with the Eels also taking on another NSW team in the Newcastle Knights for the NRLW trophy.

“So I am absolutely delighted that the game’s showpiece event is now back where it belongs, in its spiritual home.”

With Penrith Panthers captain Nathan Cleary set to feature in his third-consecutive Grand Final, the poised halfback said he is excited to finally experience the excitement of a grand final lead-up with his community in western Sydney.

“You already see around the streets at home not only the Penrith jersey and flags but also Parramatta too and it’s a great representation of Western Sydney,” he said.

“It’s an absolute please to be a part of this week again and so far compared to the previous two years it’s already felt different, with Covid restrictions and obviously last year the game was up in Queensland.

“So I’m just going to try and fully embrace this week and with two Western Sydney teams; it’ll be a pretty cool week and I’m really looking forward to Sunday.”