Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2024 National Rugby League Grand Final clash between the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Penrith Panthers
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Date: Sunday 6 October, 7:30pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Will Warbrick, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Tui Kamikamica, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Shawn Blore, 12. Eliesa Katoa, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Lazarus Vaalepu, 17. Alec MacDonald, 18. Grant Anderson, 19. Joe Chan, 20. Kane Bradley, 21. Tepai Moeroa, 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Paul Alamoti, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Lindsay Smith, 16. Liam Henry, 17. Matt Eisenhuth, 18. Casey McLean, 19. Scott Sorensen, 20. Trent Toelau, 21. Daine Laurie, 22. Luke Sommerton
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
It all comes down to this. The Penrith Panthers, looking to win their fourth consecutive premiership. The Melbourne Storm, the last team to beat the Panthers in a grand final back in 2020. It’s the unstoppable force meets the immovable object, but there can only be one winner.
For the Storm, a big loss with Nelson Asofa-Solomona ruled out through suspension. Replacing him at prop is Tui Kamikamica, with young gun Lazarus Vaalepu added to the bench. The rest of their side remains unchanged from the 48-18 win against the Roosters in last week’s prelim final. Grant Anderson will be 18th Man.
Grand Final experience: Cameron Munster (four games), Christian Welch (three games), Ryan Papenhuyzen (one game), Jahrome Hughes (one game).
It’s taken the Storm four years to return to the grand final, but they are back and poised to put an end to the dominant run this Panthers dynasty has established. The form they’ve been in this year is undeniable and they’ve earned the right to be slight favourites in this game.
A big contributor to their form has been Hughes, who has had a career year and looks unstoppable in both his running game and kicking game. He’ll be key to breaking apart the staunch Panthers defence, along with his fellow spine members Munster, Papenhuyzen, and Harry Grant. Another key area will be how the forward pack respond without Nelson. It could give the Panthers the slight advantage in the middle, but it could also galvanise the Storm squad.
For the Panthers, there’s no changes to the 17 that beat the Sharks 26-6 in last week’s prelim final. Scott Sorensen has been named in the reserves and is an outside chance to be a late inclusion on the bench. Casey McLean will be 18th Man.
Grand Final experience: Dylan Edwards (four games), Brian To’o (four games), Jarome Luai (four games), Nathan Cleary (four games), Moses Leota (four games), James Fisher-Harris (four games), Liam Martin (four games), Isaah Yeo (four games), Izack Tago (two games), Mitch Kenny (two games), Sunia Turuva (one game), Lindsay Smith (one game), Luke Garner (one game).
The Panthers have a shot at history this Sunday. If they win, they’ll be the first club in 58 years to win four consecutive premierships. All eyes will be on the halves pairing of Cleary and Luai and the battle they have with the in-form Storm halves. This will be their last game together, which is sure to provide extra emotion and incentive for a Panthers side that is also farewelling Fisher-Harris and Turuva. Edwards also faces off against Papenhuyzen – both past Clive Churchill Medal winners.
The head-to-head match-ups this year don’t favour the Panthers, with the Storm getting the better of them on both occasions. However, the Panthers hold a sizeable advantage when it comes to grand final experience across the two squads, with 13 players and 39 total appearances, compared to the Storm with four players and only nine total appearances.
Last 20 Matches Head-to-Head Results
Last 20 matches between the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers. The Storm hold the advantage with 12 wins to 8. However, the Panthers have won 3 of the last 5 matches between the two sides.
Melbourne Storm 24, Penrith Panthers 22 (BlueBet Stadium, 15/08/2024) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 8, Penrith Panthers 0 (AAMI Park, 08/03/2024) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 38, Melbourne Storm 4 (Accor Stadium, 22/09/2023) – Prelim Final
Penrith Panthers 26, Melbourne Storm 6 (BlueBet Stadium, 04/08/2023) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 34, Melbourne Storm 16 (Marvel Stadium, 30/06/2023) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 16, Penrith Panthers 0 (BlueBet Stadium, 11/08/2022) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 32, Melbourne Storm 6 (Suncorp Stadium, 14/05/2022) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 10, Melbourne Storm 6 (Suncorp Stadium, 25/09/2021) – Prelim Final
Melbourne Storm 37, Penrith Panthers 10 (Suncorp Stadium, 01/08/2021) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 12, Melbourne Storm 10 (BlueBet Stadium, 25/03/2021) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 26, Penrith Panthers 20 (Accor Stadium, 25/10/2020) – Grand Final
Penrith Panthers 21, Melbourne Storm 14 (Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 19/06/2020) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 32, Penrith Panthers 2 (Carrington Park, Bathurst, 30/03/2019) – NRL Regular
Penrith Panthers 22, Melbourne Storm 16 (AAMI Park, 31/08/2018) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 28, Penrith Panthers 6 (AAMI Park, 01/04/2017) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 24, Penrith Panthers 6 (AAMI Park, 04/06/2016) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 52, Penrith Panthers 10 (AAMI Park, 17/07/2015) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 20, Penrith Panthers 0 (Panthers Stadium, 06/06/2015) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 24, Penrith Panthers 10 (Panthers Stadium, 25/08/2014) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm 18, Penrith Panthers 17 (AAMI Park, 15/03/2014) – NRL Regular
Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers Grand Final Records
This will be the Melbourne Storm’s eleventh grand final appearance and will be aiming for their fifth premiership, noting that the National Rugby League stripped the club of the 2008 and 2009 titles because of salary cap breaches.
Melbourne Storm 26, Penrith Panthers 20 (Accor Stadium, 25/10/2020) – Grand Final
Sydney Roosters 21, Melbourne Storm 6 (ANZ Stadium, 30/09/2018) – Grand Final
Melbourne Storm 34, North Queensland Cowboys 6 (ANZ Stadium, 01/10/2017) – Grand Final
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14, Melbourne Storm 12 (ANZ Stadium, 02/10/2016) – Grand Final
Melbourne Storm 14, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4 (ANZ Stadium, 30/09/2012) – Grand FinalMelbourne Storm 23, Parramatta Eels 16 (ANZ Stadium, 04/10/2009) – Grand Final
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40, Melbourne Storm 0 (ANZ Stadium, 05/10/2008) – Grand FinalMelbourne Storm 34, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 (Telstra Stadium, 30/09/2007) – Grand Final
Brisbane Broncos 15, Melbourne Storm 8 (Telstra Stadium, 01/10/2006) – Grand Final
Melbourne Storm 20, St George-Illawarra Dragons 18 (Telstra Stadium, 26/09/1999) – Grand Final
The Penrith Panthers will play in their eighth decider and aiming to be the first team to win four consecutive titles since the great St George Dragons side which won 11 titles between 1956 and 1966.
Penrith Panthers 26, Brisbane Broncos 24 (Accor Stadium, 01/10/2023) – Grand Final
Penrith Panthers 28, Parramatta Eels 12 (Accor Stadium, 02/10/2022) – Grand Final
Penrith Panthers 14, South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Suncorp Stadium, 03/10/2021) – Grand Final
Melbourne Storm 26, Penrith Panthers 20 (Accor Stadium, 25/10/2020) – Grand Final
Penrith Panthers 18, Sydney Roosters 6 (Telstra Stadium, 05/10/2003) – Grand Final
Penrith Panthers 19, Canberra Raiders 12 (Sydney Football Stadium, 22/09/1991) – Grand Final
Canberra Raiders 18, Penrith Panthers 14 (Sydney Football Stadium, 23/09/1990) – Grand Final
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 2 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook
