Penrith Panthers off to grand final following win over South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Panthers are on the verge of smashing a 65-year record after securing a dream grand final ticket to face Melbourne.
The bold, brash and brilliant Panthers are on the verge of smashing a 65-year record after securing a dream grand final ticket to face Melbourne.
Unbeaten in four months, an ecstatic Penrith are chasing their most important win of all after advancing to the club’s first grand final since 2003 by ending South Sydney’s season in a thrilling 20-16 preliminary final win at ANZ Stadium last night.
In front of a crowd of 30,116, the 2020 minor premiers roared into the NRL grand final on the back of Dally M favourite Nathan Cleary to set a date with the irrepressible Storm in Sydney next Sunday.
Penrith will boast the support of an entire city with Melbourne no stranger to playing the role of gatecrasher to the game’s biggest party.
A Penrith-Melbourne grand final is the ultimate reward for the two most consistent teams - having finished first and second on the NRL competition ladder respectively - and the two best defensive teams all season.
The Panthers are sweating on the availability of several key stars following last night’s brutal match.
Hit-men James Fisher-Harris and Zane Tetevano both face a nervous wait after committing high tackles, while despite returning to the field after succumbing to a shoulder injury, hooker Api Koroisau will be a focus for club medical staff.
The Panthers power-game led by gun back-rower Isaah Yeo, the brilliance of Dylan Edwards at the back and Cleary’s kicking game was the catalyst to Penrith securing their ticket to a grand final.
How much the 80-minute fight that saw a courageous South Sydney fight until the final siren took out of Penrith will be a major factor in their preparation for the Storm.
Rugby league fans need to appreciate that when they watch Penrith coach Ivan Cleary’s young side, they are witnessing something special.
Although they began last night’s match in nervous fashion - trailing 6-0 nil after five-minutes - the Panthers absorbing win over the Rabbitohs was incredibly their 17th-consecutive win.
If this awesome Panthers side can roll through the famous purple wall from Victoria to lift the Provan-Summons trophy, they will smash one of the game’s oldest standing records.
The longest winning streak to claim a grand final victory currently stands at 11 by Manly in 1972 and South Sydney in 1955 - 65-years ago - a number the Panthers would crush by seven games should their current streak remain unbroken.
The Panthers could also become the first team since the 1959 St George Dragons to win the premiership with one loss or less throughout the whole season.
Having last lost a match in June, Penrith are riding on a wave of confidence and will go into the decider with genuine belief having beaten Melbourne 21-14 in their only previous match-up this year - in round six at Campbelltown.
However, in that Friday night clash, the Storm were without Test winger Josh Addo-Carr and halfback Jahrome Hughes while the Panthers were without Brent Naden and Kurt Capewell with the win also just the Panthers third victory over the Storm since 2005.
In a major boost for the Panthers, devastating left-edge backrower Viliame Kikau will return to the grand final line-up after missing last night’s match qualifier due to suspension.
Kikau’s return will force coach Cleary into a tough call on who to drop from last night’s jubilant Panthers 17-man squad.
Sunday’s grand final is flush with storylines including the obvious being the anticipated final game of Cameron Smith’s NRL career.
It’s poignant that as the veteran prepares to retire, the 2020 grand final will boast some of rugby league’s most exciting young talent who will fly the NRL flag for the next decade.
In a precursor to the future, Penrith’s Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary will trade blows with Melbourne next-generation stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith.
The Panthers have proven all year they’re capable of turning a blind-eye to pressure and records and if they are to secure the game’s ultimate prize they will need to overcome an alarming lack of grand final experience.
Only James Tamou, Api Koroisau and Zane Tetevano have played - and each won - a grand final, while the Storm boast no less than 11 players who have played in two grand finals or more.
Having first rolled through the Eels in week one of the finals and then the Raiders on Friday night, the Storm will undoubtedly start favourites with the bookies to decide this year’s champions.
Daily Telegraph
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