2023 NRL: Best Grand Final Comeback Crowns Panthers Three-Peat Champions
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.
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Recap
Telstra National Rugby League Premiership 2023
Accor Stadium15 Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127, Australia
October 1, 202319:30
| Team | Tries | Goals | FG | 2pt FG | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Broncos | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Game Statistics
Panthers
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Edwards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sunia Turuva | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Izack Tago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stephen Crichton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian To’o | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jarome Luai | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nathan Cleary | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Moses Leota | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitch Kenny | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Fisher-Harris | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Sorensen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liam Martin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaah Yeo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Cogger | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lindsay Smith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spencer Leniu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Garner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyrone Peachey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Broncos
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reece Walsh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesse Arthars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kotoni Staggs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Herbie Farnworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Selwyn Cobbo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ezra Mam | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Reynolds | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Flegler | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Walters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payne Haas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kurt Capewell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Riki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Carrigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyson Smoothy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brendan Piakura | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kobe Hetherington | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keenan Palasia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Oates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Venue
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season | Match Day | Full Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2023 | 19:30 | Telstra National Rugby League Premiership | 2023 | GrandFinal | 80' |
