Penrith are the first triple premiers in 40 years led by Clive Churchill Medallist Nathan Cleary.

PENRITH 26, BRISBANE 24

Penrith has sealed a premiership hat-trick after an astonishing NRL Grand Final comeback win at Homebush.

Penrith lead 8-0 before Thomas Flegler scored just before half-time. Then an Ezra Mam hat-trick – in a 10 minute second half burst – gave the Broncos a 24-8 lead with 24 minutes left. Penrith’s reign looked over.

But this champion team wasn’t done yet, with Moses Leota, Stephen Crichton, and Clive Churchill Medallist Nathan Cleary scoring to give Penrith a two point lead, with Cleary’s 29th minute penalty goal (along with his three conversions) proving crucial. It was Cleary’s second Clive Churchill in three seasons (winning in 2021). It was one of the biggest grand final comebacks since 1999, when Melbourne trailed 14-0.

It’s the first premiership hat-trick since Parramatta (1981-83) and surely cements the Panthers as the most dominant team in the NRL era. And the game itself was up there with 1989, 1997 (ARL), 2003, and 2015 as one of the greatest grand finals ever.

Despite the loss, Brisbane can be proud of their season, rising from the 2020 wooden spoon to a grand final.

It sealed a sad grand final weekend for Queensland football teams: the Brisbane Lions lost to Collingwood in the AFL Grand Final, the Brisbane (Eastern Suburbs) Tigers lost to South Sydney in the NRL State Championship, and the Gold Coast Titans lost to Newcastle in the NRLW Grand Final.

Embed from Getty Images
.wp-block-mailster-form-outside-wrapper-9141ae85 .wp-block-mailster-form-wrapper{border-radius:20px}.wp-block-mailster-form-outside-wrapper-9141ae85 .wp-block-mailster-form-wrapper::before{border-radius:20px}.wp-block-mailster-form-outside-wrapper-9141ae85 .wp-block-mailster-form-wrapper .mailster-label{color:#212427}.wp-block-mailster-form-outside-wrapper-9141ae85 .wp-block-mailster-form-wrapper .input{color:#212427;border-radius:42px}

Subscribe to our weekly tips

We'll send you our weekly predictions once they're posted to NothingButLeague!

No spam, you can cancel at any time.

{"id":385895,"identifier":"9141ae85","cooldown":0,"isPreview":false,"type":"submission","prefill":false}
October 1, 2023
26 - 24
Full Time

Venue

Accor Stadium
15 Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127, Australia

Details

Date Time League Season Match Day Full Time
October 1, 2023 19:30 Telstra National Rugby League Premiership 2023 GrandFinal 80'

Subscribe to our weekly tips

We'll send you our weekly predictions once they're posted to NothingButLeague!

No spam, you can cancel at any time.

Previous articleHow Rookie Bulldog Preston Plans to Continue Meteoric Rise
Next article2023 NRL: Match Review Committee Charges
Andrew Pelechaty
Deputy Sports Editor for the Australian Times Weekly

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.