Scott Prince: 2015 NRL grand final shows Queensland, not Sydney, the real heart of rugby league

A decade has passed since Scott Prince became a National Rugby League (NRL) Premiership champion. Lifting the trophy as Wests Tigers captain, Prince’s coronation also included the receiving of the Clive Churchill Medal – his Man of the Match performance in the grand final lighting up Sydney’s Telstra Stadium.

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It was the jewel in Prince’s career crown and 10 years on, the now retired halfback is eagerly awaiting the 2015 showpiece. It pits another two of his former clubs against each other, as the North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos contest the first all-Queensland grand final.

The Broncos boast an imperious record against the Cowboys having won 29 and drawn two of their 42 meetings. They also have Wayne Bennett as their coach. With seven grand final wins to his name already, Bennett is to rugby league what Sir Alex Ferguson is to football and Phil Jackson to basketball.

He spent 20 years with the Broncos before leaving the club in 2008 after six Premiership triumphs to see if he could repeat his success elsewhere. He could. In 2010, Bennett showed he still had the midas touch by guiding St George Illawarra Dragons to the pinnacle of NRL.

His return to Brisbane at the start of the 2015 season was an emotional one but once again Bennett has worked his magic. Having played under him between 2001 and 2003, Prince knows that the veteran coach's presence makes the Broncos favourites when they meet at ANZ Stadium (12.15 GST) on Sunday.

“The Broncos have turned some heads this year,” Prince tells Sport360. “They recruited their mentor and king in Bennett at the beginning of the season, and nobody saw it coming as far as the turnaround in the Broncos squad. Wayne’s the super coach down here. What he’s done with the team is phenomenal and now they find themselves in a final as a result of him and the players’ hard effort.

“Still, I’m torn between the two clubs as both played such a significant role in my life and career. My head is saying Broncos to win the final, because I think across the park they have a little more to offer, but my heart is saying Cowboys, because I know how much it would mean for them to win the Premiership.”

One player who will be key to the Cowboys’ hopes of stopping Bennett and his boys is Johnathan Thurtson. The 32-year-old picked up a record fourth Dally M (Player of the Year) award this week in recognition of the impressive displays that led the Cowboys to the final.

“Johnathan’s the best player in the game at the moment,” says Prince. “He will be a central figure. As a captain and leader, holding the weight of the North Queensland community he'd give his arm and leg to win the Premiership.

“The Broncos have the jump on the majority of the positional match-ups but the key factor has to be the halves. They talk about the Clive Churchill medal, and nine times out of ten it's down to how the halves perform. It will come down to whether Johnathan Thurtson and Michael Morgan can provide the X-factor for the Cowboys.”

The all-Queensland aspect of the final is a special storyline for many, including Mount Isa-born Prince. The Cowboys booked their place in the decider after beating Melbourne Storm (32-12), while the Broncos downed 2013 champions Sydney Roosters. The latter result was of particular importance for Prince, who believes Sydney has for too long been seen as the home of Australian rugby league.

“When you look at the competition of the NRL, I’m sure people would suggest it's just Syndey and that outside of Sydney there are no clubs,” Prince says. “To have an all-Queensland final shows the real dominance of rugby league in Queensland. We've seen that in the last nine years with the record-breaking number of series wins by Queensland states.

"This is massive for us. It doesn't matter if you’re a Queensland person living in a state internationally; it makes you feel proud that both teams are in an NRL grand final. Hopefully it’s the first of many to come.”

With more than 300 NRL appearances and four caps for Australia, Prince can reflect on a decorated career. Since retirement, he has turned to coaching, co-founding the Little Leagies academy on the Gold Coast; later this month, he will be in Abu Dhabi at the Middle East Touch Championships, providing expert tuition to younger fans of the game alongside former Samoa international Apollo Perelini.

But while he is enjoying passing on his knowledge and experience to a new generation of rugby league players, there is certainly a part of Prince that wishes he could still be involved with days like this Sunday’s grand final.

“I’ve had the privilege to play for Queensland in the State of Origin and represent Australia but it's hard to top winning a Premiership for the Wests Tigers in 2005," Prince says. "The experience of playing in front of a grand final crowd is incredible. With 80,000 fans at ANZ Stadium chanting and wearing their team colours – it’s an amazing spectacle. Thirty weeks of footy comes down to this one game, to see who the world’s best team is. There’s nothing like it."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

JOHNATHAN THURSTON (North Queensland Cowboys): A four time Dally M award winner and the best player in the world. He'll carry the region of North Queensland on his shoulders.

MICHAEL MORGAN (North Queensland Cowboys): Half-back partner of Thurston. Quick and powerful around the fringes. His vision and intelligence will be an integral factor for the Cowboys’ on Sunday.

COREY PARKER (Brisbane Broncos): The leader of the Broncos team. The grey-headed ghost gets through a mountain of work. His accuracy from the boot will prove central, and if he performs well it will play a major hand in the Broncos title ambitions.

BEN HUNT (Brisbane Broncos): Another thorn in the Broncos side. Hunt dictates the game effectively, and for them to win, he’ll have to be at his stellar best.

*Scott will be in Abu Dhabi at the Middle East Touch Championships on October 22-23, providing expert tuition to younger fans of the game alongside former Samoa international Apollo Perelini.

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