The NRL's biggest names typically define finals football.
When you think of the finals game breakers, you immediately look at players like James Tedesco, Nathan Cleary and Isaiya Katoa.
But in truth, finals are decided by the players who have been consistent all year, get the job done when it matters and free up the space for the stars to go to work.
Here is the player from each team who will determine exactly how the next month of footy plays out.
The Dolphins: Max Plath
Max Plath is a powerful force for the Dolphins and is incredibly valuable for the Queensland side.
He is a defensive workhorse; Plath can carry the ball, defend for long periods, and play through the middle without needing a large amount of attacking possession. Plath's statistics demonstrate his value to the Dolphins; he has 520.1 post-contact metres, 585 tackles made, and 1513 total running metres this season.
He has a 94.7 per cent tackle efficiency and has scored three tries in his 17 appearances. The 24-year-old made his debut for Queensland in this year's Origin series, featuring in all three games. With his continuous efforts in defence, finals may prove to be Plath's dominant stage.
As September footy brings intensity and pressure, Plath's defensive standards will keep the flying Dolphins in the running for the premiership. His experience on the Origin stage allows him to understand high-stakes football and capitalise on the pressure finals footy brings.
