Canberra’s two-time premiership-winning prop Glenn Lazarus says the battle between Josh Papalii and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves could decide the NRL grand final.
The clash of the front-rowers has been one of the major talking points heading into the decider between Canberra and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Papalii led the Raiders to their first grand final since 1994 with the match-winning try in their pulsating victory against South Sydney last Friday.
Waerea-Hargreaves missed the Roosters draining preliminary final against minor premiers Melbourne because he was suspended.
The duo have completely different on-field personalities but are equally effective, according to Lazarus.
Roosters enforcer Waerea-Hargreaves is known for getting in opposition faces, while Papalii goes about his mountain of work and avoids the melees.
“I know whatever Hargreaves tries to do, Josh will just laugh it off,” Lazarus told AAP.
“Josh looks so focused and healthy these days and it’s going to be a massive battle because I’ve always said Waerea-Hargreaves is very important to the Roosters, that’s why I gave Melbourne a big chance last week.
“They’re very different players. Josh just goes about his business and does it really well, whereas Jared gets a bit excited and can be a bit controversial at times.
“But they both have the same sort of impact. Jared is as important to the Roosters as Josh is to the Raiders.”
England international and two-time Super League winner John Bateman said he’s never played alongside a better forward than Papalii.
Lazarus believes Bateman and Papalii hold the keys to Canberra’s success on Sunday and said the latter must stop Waerea-Hargreaves if they’re to end their premiership drought.
“It’s certainly one battle that will be very interesting and could determine the outcome of the game,” Lazarus said.
“If Josh gets over the top of someone like Jared the whole forward pack will lift and the same for Jared. It will be a very important part of the game.
“Both are wonderful players who people love to watch.”