NRL Grand Final: Panthers achieve ‘immortality’ amid secret footage ‘screw up’

The Panthers have cemented their place in rugby league history, proving a class above in a grand final that had fans fuming over one call.

The pink Panthers have done it.

Penrith have defeated the Melbourne Storm 14-6 in the NRL Grand Final to cement their place in rugby league immortality.

It’s their fourth premiership in a row, becoming the first side since the St George Dragons (1956-1966) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs (1925-1929) to achieve that feat.

Wearing their flashy, bright pink jerseys in the decider, Penrith showed they could get down and dirty in a trademark Panthers performance.

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The first half was just about on par with this year’s State of Origin decider for sheer brutality and speed.

But despite Melbourne scoring first and seemingly having the upper hand of the early stages, Penrith hit back immediately and somehow hit the front to take a 10-6 lead into halftime.

Straight after the break, Penrith’s forwards ripped the Storm apart, and the absence of suspended forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona was evident.

Four in a row. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Nathan Cleary and the Panthers rewrote rugby league history. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Even after Paul Alamoti’s try in the corner extended Penrith’s lead, the Panthers withstood one last charge from the Storm, defending five consecutive sets on their own line.

The swarm of pink jerseys to prevent Jack Howarth from scoring what would have been a momentum-shifting try was just as symbolic of the unrivalled defence this Panthers dynasty has been built on.

Premiership hat-tricks are seriously rare. Parramatta in the 1980s was the last side to do it.

Four in a row puts this Panthers outfit into the conversation as the best team in rugby league history.

Channel 9 caller Mat Thompson declared: “Rugby league may never see it again. The Penrith Panthers are the Premiers! This is history. A rich piece of rugby league history.”

Host James Bracey said: “It is official, the Penrith Panthers have achieved immortality with a fourth straight premiership title.”

Defeating Melbourne, the most consistent team of the century, is a fitting way to cement their status as undoubtedly the greatest team of the NRL era.

Penrith now has nine four-time premiership players – Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, James Fisher-Harris, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Scott Sorensen.

Liam Martin won the Clive Churchill medal. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Jarome Luai with the trophy and his four premiership rings. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

In a rematch of the 2020 decider won by Melbourne, lightning didn’t strike twice as Penrith denied the Storm the chance to end their dynasty.

Ivan Cleary becomes the first coach since Dragons Immortal Norm Provan to win four grand finals in a row.

This may well be Penrith’s last dance, with Luai heading to the Tigers and Fisher-Harris joining the New Zealand Warriors.

But Penrith have proven time and time again, they can regenerate on the run.

This era will end eventually, but one thing’s for sure. These Panthers are the undisputed kings of the NRL.

Originally published as NRL Grand Final: Panthers achieve ‘immortality’ amid secret footage ‘screw up’