NRL finals updates: Joey’s confidence grows for Knights after shock Cleary call

Before this match begins, we will have a moment of silence for 20-year-old Constable Mia Lay who died in a car crash while on duty.

The teams have huddled together, arm in arm, to honour her.

This crowd is absolutely rocking for the Knights this afternoon as the players run out.

The travelling fans are making plenty of noise at Homebush and there's a real sense of belief building.

Penrith slowly make their way out to ACDC’s pump-up track Hells Bells as they look to book a sixth grand final appearance in the past eight seasons.

Should be an absolute belter.

The absence of Nathan Cleary is obviously the big story here and there are some players who need to stand up.

Jack Cole and Jack Cogger are the obvious ones, making up a new-look halves tandem. Cogger is back from suspension and has the experience, so expect him to do most of the game-management.

But perhaps the man under the most pressure is captain Isaah Yeo. Without his usual partner in crime, the Panthers lock-forward will need to rely more on his ball-playing through the middle.

Penrith have enough strike and class to make up for Cleary’s absence, but this task got a lot more difficult in the past hour or so.

While the Panthers are all out on the field warming up, Nine’s cameras have shown Nathan Cleary doing his own session inside the sheds.

He is just wearing joggers and doing some short runs. Shane Elford is feeding him so passes, but again, the movements are very limited.

Cleary has kicked the ball a handful of times, but not with power.

It very much feels like Penrith do not want him to go out on the field today.

I don’t think Andrew Johns has been more excited about a game than this one.

He is down on the field interviewing Newcastle players ahead of this match and he has given every one of them a massive hug and pep talk before this game.

Johns believes the weather could work in favour of the visitors, but Kalyn Ponga has reminded him that the playing group has no plans to change their style.

“We have to be good with our hands but we won’t change anything,” Ponga said speaking on Nine.

Phil Gould was giggling in commentary listening to Johns interviewing Ponga.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Andrew Johns prepare for big games. We need to give him a jersey and get him out of the commentary box,” Gould said.

“I don’t think I will be able to handle him today. He is going to be a real problem,” he ended, smiling.

Modest reception as the Panthers players filter out for warm-up. Nathan Cleary has not joined his teammates on the field.

Massive cheer for the Knights as they come out for their pre-game preparations. Fans have made the trip weather with no fear of getting drenched by the rain.

The Screaming Jets’ iconic hit Better is blaring over the loudspeakers at Accor Stadium. Getting the vibes right!

The crowd is slowly building with about 40 minutes until kick off at Accor Stadium.

There's not too much rain around, just some light drizzle. Hopefully doesn't turn too many fans off rocking up for what promises to be a blockbuster grand final qualifier.

NRL officials are expecting a crowd around 55,000 for today's clash.

Ivan Cleary has spoken for the first time since naming his son and star halfback on the bench to start this match.

“It gives us our best chance to navigate through the full 80 minutes,” Cleary told Nine pre-game.

“Nathan isn’t starting ... I just feel like the start of the game is the most intense, so we are just giving him a better chance, once he is on, to work his way through the game.”

The Panthers coach insists Nathan’s game will not change despite his injury.

“Once he gets on, he will play,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure he will do everything he normally does.”

The closed door training sessions in Penrith this week set off alarm bells for several league greats, but it may just have helped Newcastle’s chances.

The Knights will take on the Panthers without Nathan Cleary to start this match.

Andrew Johns and Billy Slater feel the door may have now opened for them to strike and secure a spot in the grand final thanks to Cleary’s injury.

“When you have a foot injury like that, it is very hard to get up and explode off the mark because you can’t get up on your toes,” Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“That is more a worry in defence for Nathan because he defends on the side where Kalyn (Ponga) likes to patrol.”

Billy Slater still had no doubts that Penrith should win this afternoon’s battle, although he conceded his tip will rely on the fitness of Cleary.

“Newcastle have a real chance if Nathan is not 100 per cent,” Slater said.

“He is the conductor, he is pulling all the strings for the Panthers.”