NRL finals as it happened: Penrith’s 20 minutes of perfection demolishes Roosters and rewrites title race

Fools are us. Why, after all these years, do we still doubt them? Or Him?

Last week, in a time otherwise known as Before Cleary, the best team of the NRL era just about looked done, staggering to the finish line at the end of a sapping regular season, and scraping past a team with their minds probably already in Bali. If some of Penrith’s players were racehorses, like Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin, and had walked into the mounting yard at Royal Randwick, you couldn’t possibly have your last on them, covered in strapping to all parts of the body. Their canny coach, when asked who should be favourites heading into the finals, just shrugged and said: “Not us”. That’s Melbourne. Who were we to argue?

But that was BC. If there is a rugby league God, he might wear the Panthers No.7.

Read Adam Pengilly’s full analysis here

In just 20 minutes on Friday night, Penrith threatened to render the previous 16,376 minutes of the 2024 season irrelevant.

How else can you describe the way Nathan Cleary returned for the reigning three-time premiers and spearheaded the most impressive, precisely perfect quarter of football this season?

The Panthers wound up 30-10 winners in their last outing at Penrith Park, are preliminary final-bound once again and the first team to win 10 straight against the Roosters since rugby league began.

Coach Ivan Cleary described their first stanza, in which they piled 22 points past the Tricolours in as many minutes, as their best half this season.

And as for his son and star halfback, with a hand in three tries, sublime kicking game and desperate try-saving chase after Connor Watson charged down one of his punts?

“I thought he was alright,” Cleary senior smirked afterwards. “No, he was outstanding. He makes a big difference to our team, not just the way he plays but he gives everyone confidence.

“He’s got this knack of being out for a while and being able to come back and click straight into gear.”

Luke Garner celebrates a try with Nathan Cleary, Sunia Turuva and Isaah Yeo.Credit: Getty Images

The Roosters were able to wrestle their way back into the contest after being beaten physically in the eyes of Trent Robinson, exposing a defensive frailty or two on the edges in process.

But put it this way: if the Panthers repeat and extend that opening 20 minutes across an entire grand final, then they’re lifting the trophy for a fourth time.

Roosters halves Luke Keary and Sandon Smith were so ruthlessly targeted in defence, possession and field position was so strategically managed, and Liam Martin was just so possessed in attack and defence.

There was just no competing with them. Especially when Cleary is able to spend a month on the sidelines and come back in like he’s been there all along.

“It’s been a frustrating year,” Cleary said. “I just feel bad about not being out there. It’s almost embarrassing sometimes getting those injuries. But I set my sights on this game and had to get over it, there was no point moping around.”

So clinical were the Panthers, Brian To’o’s opening try looked as though it had been choreographed by artificial intelligence.

By the time an exhausted Lindsay Collins, a walk-up starter in Queensland and Australian front-rows, came off after 25 minutes, he had 26 tackles and just two run metres to his name.

Connor Watson finished with 69 tackles for the game and on report for one which had James Fisher-Harris clutching at his neck.

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty Images

Robinson needs another selection drama like a hole in the head as the Roosters dust themselves off for a sudden-death semi-final against either Canterbury or Manly next Saturday night.

The Roosters coach insisted “you don’t have to be perfect” to beat Penrith, because “no team is perfect”.

When he pointed out that every team opens doors, he wasn’t wrong. Penrith’s opening rage was so sweet, it couldn’t be maintained.

Slick shifts to first the left edge for Joseph Suaalii, and then the right for James Tedesco, had the Roosters on the board and kind of, somehow, back in the game after half-time.

And when the Roosters went streaking away down their left, a forward pass call against Daniel Tupou looked harsh at best, but kept any miracle comeback at bay.

“I didn’t think it was forward,” Trent Robinson said.

“I don’t think anybody thought it forward besides the ref. You can’t get that wrong.”

Cleary, all but flawless from his boot, fittingly had the final say. His grubber for Garner’s second try put the Roosters down for good, father Ivan responding by wrapping his star halfback in cotton wool for the final few minutes.

Penrith have earned themselves a week off and are, once again, just 80 minutes from yet another grand final. Twenty minutes on Friday night was all it took to look like them winning the whole damn thing again.

That’s full-time in Penrith, and an absolutely stunning performance from the Panthers.

If that’s not a warning shot to minor premiers Melbourne, then I don’t know what is.

If the Panthers continue to play the way they played tonight, they could be in for a historic fourth consecutive premiership.

Full-time: Panthers 30, Roosters 10

Luke Garner celebrates a try with Nathan Cleary, Sunia Turuva and Isaah Yeo.Credit: Getty Images

Nathan Cleary is given an early mark and comes from the field.

He gives the crowd what they want, a smile and a wave – he really is a king out here.

Just four minutes left in this match, and another preliminary final on the cards for Penrith.

Panthers 30, Roosters 10

I think Panthers fans believe the game is already won.

They’re focussing more on their Mexican wave than they are on watching the game.

Speaking of the game, James Fisher-Harris almost gets a try in his final match in Penrith.

The fairytale wasn’t meant to be, Roosters get the ball back.

Panthers 30, Roosters 10 with five minutes to go

Dylan Edwards is once again proving why he’s one of the best fullbacks.

He catches the ball on the 20-metre line and runs 60 metres up field. A penalty gives the Panthers more tackles and Luke Garner wins the race to a Nathan Cleary kick to get his second try of the night.

Panthers 30, Roosters 10 with nine minutes to go

It’s a tough night for Sandon Smith.

He puts his foot on the line when he picks the ball up from dummy half, and he gives the Panthers a full set 20 metres out from the Roosters line.

Penrith force a goal-line drop out, a perfect kick from Luke Keary gets the ball back for the Roosters and Smith breathes a sigh of relief.

Panthers 24, Roosters 10 with 12 minutes to go

It was almost perfect, but it wasn’t to be.

The Roosters have a magic play up the left-edge with a tip-on from James Tedesco and passes back on the inside from Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu.

Suaalii should be away and over the line, but referee Ashley Klein calls the first pass forward.

It’s a fine line, but that’s a tough call for the Tricolours.

Panthers 24, Roosters 10 with 16 minutes to go.

The Roosters may have come out firing, but the Panthers are starting to win the battle of field position.

Luke Keary’s latest kick comes from well inside their own 40-metres (and on their fourth tackle), and Brian To’o picks it up and gets to halfway.

A lot more puff left in these Panthers.