It’s both a unique chance to see the two best sides from the 2018 season on the same field at the same time and an opportunity to see a stack of different players in action.

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But who’s worth watching? 

Frankly, there’s a stack of players who’ll be worth the price of admission alone. 

Forbes flier Charlie Staines will head off to Penrith full-time in 2019 with Sunday his last games – he plays in both the Magpies’ under 18s and first grade outfits – in the black and white.

Next time we see him play may well be on TV with the Panthers’ NRL side.

But there’s plenty of others, too – here’s a breakdown on who has been leading the way for their sides in 2018.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ST PAT’S: Ash Cosgrove.

Arguably the best player in Bathurst St Pat’s under 18s side, too, Cosgrove is a phenomenal ball runner that makes bumping off opposition defenders looks way too easy – an absolute weapon. 

GRAND FINAL STORY: St Pat’s book first spot in NAB Western Premiers Challenge.

RED BEND: Jack Hartwig.

Captained Western’s Andrew Johns Cup side to the under 16s country championship crown, and is a Canterbury Bulldogs gun of the future, Hartwig is an out-and-out powerhouse in the back-row.

Small, but nigh on impossible to tackle one-on-one. Will lead the charge for the Forbes boys on Sunday.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Red Bend knocks off Parkes Marist to claim back-to-back titles.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ST PAT’S: Meredith Jones

Quick, smart and a leader – everything good St Pat’s does with the ball often features Jones.

Her speed is the key. She turns a half-chance into points, and against a decent tagging side those opportunities are crucial.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Experience prevails as St Pat’s march to second straight Group 10 crown.

SPACECATS: Cass Ward.

I hope I’ve got the right Ward, here. 

Finds space at will and is one of the best defenders in Group 11.

Led a star-studded Spacies to the 2018 title. No reason she can’t do the same on Sunday.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Super Spacecats rocket to sensational premiership triumph.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

PANTHERS: Brad Fearnley.

All elbows and knees, Fearnley would have to be one of the hardest players to tackle in any grade in Group 10.

Big and rangy, the towering red head gets Panthers going forward which allows a super smart halves pairing to excel.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Brutal Panthers dig deep to best gallant Orange CYMS.

MAGPIES: Dennis Spathis.

The obvious one here is Charlie Staines. He’s just terrific. On his day the best 18-year-old in bush footy. But Spathis is a pure, unbridled power.

If Spathis winds up then look out – his Samoan sidestep has left countless defenders semi-buried in fields right across Group 11 in 2018.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Staines’ class shines as Magpies swoop on Group 11 junior crown.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

PANTHERS: Willie Wright.

Unheard of to start 2018 in Group 10, ended the season as the best goal-kicker in the competition and, arguably, the most influential player in the region.

For a Panthers side that finished fourth, he potted the winning field goal in the minor semi-final and then winning conversion from the sideline in the decider – as cool as ice.

GRAND FINAL STORY: Wright, Panthers stun Cowra to claim break-through Group 10 crown.

MAGPIES: Farren Lamb.

No player, in either group, came of age more in 2018 than Lamb. 

His field goal against the unbeaten Dubbo CYMS in the clutch in the Group 11 grand final’s die stages will live on for as long as footy is kicked at Apex Oval.

Cool, calm and full of confidence.

In fact, if you were picking a Western Rams halves pairing tomorrow you’d just about have to pick Lamb and Wright. 

GRAND FINAL STORY: Lamb writes himself into Forbes folklore with late dagger to sink CYMS.