NRL grand final 2024: Stats and storylines that matter ahead of the Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers showdown

The two best teams of the season will appropriately slug it out in the 2024 grand final with premiership glory beckoning. As Melbourne and Penrith prepare to lock horns, we looks at the numbers and narratives that matter most.

Jahrome Hughes Nathan Cleary

The stage is set.

The two best teams of the 2024 NRL season will go toe-to-toe at Accor Stadium on Sunday as the Storm take on the Panthers.

Melbourne superstar Cameron Munster has nothing but respect for the Panthers as he sizes up the mammoth task in front of him and his side.

“It’s a well-oiled machine, isn’t it?” Munster said.

“They’ve got so many players and if they probably didn’t lose those players with the salary cap, it could be a different story but it shows the way they develop their players in Penrith and I’m sure that our club at the moment is probably doing a little bit similar to them now.

“We’ve probably lacked a little bit of that stuff and we’ve reviewed it all and thought we need to start developing players. I think there’s a lot of nice, players in Melbourne playing country footy or playing the footy here in Melbourne that probably haven’t had the development or had the pathways for them.

Cameron Munster believes the Storm can take some lessons from the Panthers when it comes to player development. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I’ve always had a nice battle with Nathan Cleary and you want to play against the best. Two of the best halves of the competition – Jahrome Hughes and Nathan Cleary – going to battle. It’s mouth-watering.”

Ahead of the grand final, we take a look at the stats and stories that matter.

STORM

1. The Shadow of Nelson

Big-name players missing grand finals has happened before. The Storm will be hoping man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona doesn’t join the likes of Cameron Smith, Luke Ricketson, Issac Luke and Steve Roach in watching the decider from the sidelines because of an indiscretion. Asofa-Solomona is fighting an up-hill battle though. One that will most likely prove too hard to overcome.

Melbourne are facing the prospect of going into battle without Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2. Spine busters

Melbourne have a clear advantage compared to anyone in the competition when it comes to their spine. It’s been a trademark of Craig Bellamy coached teams where he spends a large chunk of the cap on their key positions. Harry Grant has returned to his best form after a slow start to the year while Jahrome Hughes is the form player in the competition. Cameron Munster should’ve been sidelined for the year because of a groin injury but his last month has reminded everyone why he is the best running half in the game and Ryan Papenhuyzen has cast aside a string of serious injuries to give flashbacks to his 2020 grand final win – where he won a Clive Churchill Medal.

The Melbourne spine was at its deadly best against the Roosters. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

3. The coach

Is he the greatest? Craig Bellamy has always been compared to Wayne Bennett now the Storm mentor equals Bennett’s record for 10 grand final appearances. It is four clear of any other coach. Bellamy has long flirted with retiring but those close to him say that he will stick it out as long as he believes he can win a title. And this Storm side can certainly do that.

Can Craig Bellamy conjure up some more grand final magic? Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

4. Overcoming the Panthers hoodoo

Penrith had a clear dominance against the Storm prior to this year with Melbourne now looking like they have unlocked the Panthers’ mystery. Melbourne have defeated Penrith twice – 8-0 in round one and 24-22 just last month. Prior to that though the Panthers had won five of their six games.

PANTHERS

1. On the brink of being the greatest?

Just like when it comes to discussing Australia’s best cricketer – it’s Don Bradman first and then the debate is whoever is next. The same can be said for rugby league teams with St George’s 11 straight grand final winners the greatest of all time. But Penrith can lay claim to being the next best. Penrith joins St George (1956-66) and South Sydney (1967-71) as the only clubs to reach the decider in five straight seasons in the grand final era. That Dragons side was the last to win four straight titles and the Panthers are now on the brink of greatness.

Penrith are on the cusp of four in a row. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

2. The last ride

The Panthers love a theme. We’ve seen Top Gun and Undisputed used in recent seasons. This year they are channelling the Chicago Bulls Last Dance moniker. Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris and Sunia Turuva have 80 minutes before their time comes to an end. There is no doubting the brotherhood this Penrith side have. And it will be on display again come Sunday.

Jarome Luai bows out of Penrith colours following the grand final. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

3. The game’s best player

The Panthers have Nathan Cleary. While the Storm have a stack of big names and in-form players, Cleary still stands out as the best player in the game. If you have any doubt just watch the final 20 minutes of last year’s grand final. The Broncos still haven’t recovered. If Cleary gets even close to matching those heroics his team will win.

Nathan Cleary’s 2023 grand final heroics are of rugby league royalty. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

4. The coach

Understated and somewhat unappreciated by Ivan Cleary will try the game’s greats should he get the job done again. Cleary is the first coach since rugby league Immortal since Clive Churchill (Rabbitohs 1967-71) to reach five consecutive deciders. Norm Provan (St George 1962-65) and Ken Kearney (St George 1957-61) are the only two coaches with four straight grand final victories. Cleary’s name will forever be mentioned among the greatest to do it. But a win on Sunday and he will instantly sit next to the likes of Jack Gibson, Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett.

Originally published as NRL grand final 2024: Stats and storylines that matter ahead of the Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers showdown