Former Broncos hardman Peter Ryan has urged Eels enforcer Nathan Brown to cut Panthers lock Isaah Yeo in half as he did to Cronulla's David Peachey in 1997.
The man Parramatta legend Peter Sterling dubbed "a missile" for a brutal and game-changing tackle in the 1997 Super League grand final has anointed bench Eels forward Nathan Brown as the "new missile" for the upcoming decider.
It is 25 years since Brisbane enforcer Peter Ryan cut Cronulla fullback David Peachey in half with a tackle that jolted the ball free for a try to Broncos centre Steve Renouf and ultimately a 26-8 win for the Broncos. The Broncos led 10-8 in a tight contest before Ryan's bellringer.
The two-time premiership winner was the ultimate hitman.
Technically superb and mentally focussed with no thought for self-preservation, he was brutal. Ryan sees the same qualities in the recalled Brown ahead of the NRL grand final between Parramatta and Penrith on Sunday.
"Those tackles can change momentum in a big game," Ryan told AAP of his own effort.
"The nutcase and new missile on the field in this grand final, who I really like, is Nathan Brown.
"He's going to tighten up the middle when he comes on and can be the guy to really own someone and get a turnover for Parramatta.
"I hope Brown opens up a couple of the big Penrith ball carriers and I hope he feeds it to (Panthers lock) Isaah Yeo. That would be entertaining. I would like to see him cut Yeo in half.
"Brown is not big but is an enforcer. I like guys who have no fear of throwing their bodies into the fray for the betterment of their team."
Ryan has a soft spot for the Eels. A Western Suburbs supporter as a youth before joining the Broncos, he made the Queensland Schoolboys side in 1986.
"We were travelling to Perth and had a stopover in Sydney where we sat in on a team meeting at Parramatta and did a fitness session with them," Ryan recalled.
"That was the last year they won it. All the legends were in attendance including Mr Perpetual Motion (Ray Price) himself.
"My team was Wests but I supported Parra because they were doing well. You know what kids are like."
Ryan is glad four-time Eels title-winner Sterling was behind the microphone for Channel Nine when he smashed Peachey.
"Peter Ryan. He was a missile," Sterling said in commentary.
Ray Warren then said: "Peachey seemed comfortable."
Sterling replied: "He wasn't too comfortable when Peter Ryan arrived on the scene. He's got it covered and Ryan comes in ...whooshka."
Ryan said Sterling was "a true gentleman" as he recalled the 1997 tackle.
"It was a decent shot, but I gave myself a real stinging and had the wobbly boot. Thank God that Pearl (Renouf) scored," he said.
"Sterlo called me 'a missile' which was really lovely.
"I treasure what Sterlo' said to this day. He was a rugby league great in my mind and not because of what he said about me.
"Sterlo is very much in the mould of Broncos recruiter Cyril Connell who would never say a bad word about anyone, but would speak truth about a performance."
