NRL Grand Final 2024: Penrith Panthers win 14-6 over Melbourne Storm to claim fourth straight premiership

An incredible game of attrition has seen the Penrith Panthers win their fourth-straight premiership. And Jarome Luai says no team will be able to replicate it.

This was supposed to be the last ride for the mighty Panthers, but the dynasty is showing no signs of slowing down as they farewelled a couple of club legends in style with a 14-6 win over the Storm to seal their fourth-straight title.

Winning one comp is hard enough, but what the Panthers have achieved over the past four years is nothing short of amazing given they’ve been forced to shed so many superstar players.

Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau have all come and gone, with Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris moving on in 2025 after coming through the ranks out west.

But the production line never stops, with Luai fittingly finishing the game on the Accor Stadium turf hugging great mate Nathan Cleary who has been with him every step of the way.

Ivan and Nathan Cleary celebrate after winning their fourth straight premiership. Picture: Getty Images

“I left on a good note,” the champion five-eighth side after the emotional win over the team that beat him in the 2020 Grand Final and helped create the monster that they’ve become.

Luai was brilliant and laid on the first try for Sunia Turuva, but it was his halves partner who iced it with the Iceman setting up two tries as the Penrith machine clicked into gear and strangled the Storm into submission.

People have doubted this team at every turn, and the same will likely happen going into the 2025 season, but the awesome foursome could easily turn into a fab five with the rest of the comp clueless right now on how to end their reign.

Luai made a bold claim on the Panthers’ legacy, believing nobody will be able to replicate their success.

‘No one’s gonna do this again’, Luai said to Brad Fittler after the game.

MARTIN MAGIC

Cameron Munster poked the bear earlier in the week when he said that he didn’t get along with Liam Martin during a Kangaroos tour.

He shouldn’t have.

Martin played like a man possessed on Sunday night, setting the tone in front of 80,156 fans when he smashed the Storm five-eighth in the opening few minutes to get the Panthers fans purring.

The Blues back-rower has had some big games but he was on another level as he broke Melbourne hearts on the stroke of halftime when he charged past Munster and Jack Howarth to give his side the lead.

Martin’s magical night didn’t slow down after the break with the edge forward then flying high to reel in a kick before he dished off to Moses Leota who set up Paul Alamoti to put Penrith up by more than a converted try.

Liam Martin scoring the try that broke the grand final open. Picture: Jonathan Ng

BITING BACK

Munster could have a lot more to worry about than midweek squabbles with Martin after the superstar playmaker was put on report late in the game for an alleged bite on Alamoti.

The Panthers centre made the allegation with five minutes remaining, with referee Ashley Klein placing the incident on report despite Munster shouting defiantly that he didn’t do anything wrong while Alamoti’s arm was around his mouth.

Cameron Munster was put on report for an alleged bite on Paul Alamoti.

BUNKER DRAMA

Ivan Cleary’s fears have been realised with a controversial Bunker call denying the Storm a try at a crucial stage in the second half.

The Panthers coach had a fair whack at the Bunker after last week’s win over the Sharks, but this time he was on the receiving end of a very favourable call from video referee Grant Atkins.

A spectacular bit of footy from Storm star Xavier Coates to keep the ball in play saw Jack Howarth burrow through several defenders, with Klein sending the decision upstairs because he couldn’t see the ball.

But replays showed the Steeden make contact with the grass which should have made it 10-all with a kick to come, only for Atkins to support the original decision.

Jack Howarth was denied a try despite appearing to get the ball down.

OH NO TO’O

All the focus during the week was on Scott Sorensen’s fitness, but in the end he was good to go for Sunday’s decider, with Brian To’o the one who created the most drama when he came off with a knee injury midway through the second half.

The powerhouse winger limped off which triggered a major reshuffle that saw Alamoti move to right wing, and the move proved a masterstroke with the grand final rookie diving off after some brilliant work by Martin and Leota.

Brian To'o suffered a knee injury early in the second half. Picture: Getty Images

NASTY RESULT

The Storm were the pre-game favourites with the bookies, but their weakness through the middle was exposed badly by Penrith as some of their key players were kept very quiet.

The loss of man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona to a five-game ban on Monday night left the Storm without their most damaging forward, and the minor premiers lacked any punch through the middle without him.

Starting prop Tui Kamikamica had just two runs for 19 metres while rookie Lazarus Vaalepu made just 11 metres off the bench as Penrith finished with an extra 300 more running metres as they enjoyed 67 per cent of the territory.

The lack of go-forward killed the Storm who rely on quick play the balls for their spine to flood the middle, with skipper Harry Grant the only one who asked questions with the game’s opening try, but he was gassed late on with 47 tackles.

Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes was unable to take control, while Ryan Papenhuyzen was kept very quiet after torching the Panthers in the 2020 decider.

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