Panthers coach Ivan Cleary admits Souths were 'hungrier' in last meeting ahead of NRL grand final
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has admitted that South Sydney were the "hungrier" side when the two sides met to open each other's finals campaigns last month.
After losing just three games during the regular season, Penrith was expected to steamroll South Sydney in the opening week of the finals, but Cleary's men were stunned in a 16-10 loss.
READ MORE: Canterbury Bulldogs set to sign Rabbitohs star
However, the premiership favourites have knuckled down since that loss, with two consecutive gritty wins over Parramatta and Melbourne setting up a rematch with the Rabbitohs in the NRL grand final.
Speaking ahead of the grudge match, Cleary paid credit to the underdogs for their surprise win last month.
Cleary and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett shake hands ahead of Sunday's grand final clash Getty
"We were probably just a bit off. In a big game, in a big finals game, that can be the difference. They were probably just a bit hungrier than us that night," he admitted.
"They looked like they put a lot into that game, which of course we did as well, but in the end we left Townsville that night feeling like we didn't quite put our best foot forward.
"We've corrected a few things, we've improved gradually since then.
"We want to get there tomorrow night and give the best possible performance that we can and we feel like that can certainly be a bit better than that game in Townsville."
Cleary said the likes of winger Brian To'o will line up despite being under injury clouds NRL Imagery
A gruelling finals campaign has left Penrith bruised and battered heading into the decider, but Cleary was adamant that the quartet of Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota would all take the field on Sunday night.
"I just marvel at the resilience of these boys and the courage they show each week," Cleary said.
"They just refuse not to play. They just keep turning up and doing their thing."
Despite a COVID-19 scare in Queensland this week, the NRL grand final will remain at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 pm AEST.
