Check out what happened in the grand final week of the National Rugby League competition.
Final Scores
PANTHERS 14 d STORM 6
Review
Penrith have won their fourth straight premiership, beating Melbourne in the 2024 Grand Final at Accor Stadium.
The Panthers have matched South Sydney’s four premierships from 1967-71 (though Souths didn’t win four in a row) and eclipsed Parramatta’s premiership hat-trick (1981-83).
The game lived up to the first vs second hype and was played at a ridiculous pace. With five minutes to go until half-time, the ball had been in play for 33 1/2 minutes.
Any concerns over Nathan Cleary’s shoulder were unfounded, with Cleary playing the full 80 and former Canberra Raider Brad Schneider (named on the bench) not needed.
Melbourne was first to score after 22 minutes – benefiting from a contentious stripping call against Ryan Papenhuyzen – with Harry Grant going over from dummy half.
Penrith responded four minutes later through Sunia Turuva as the Panthers spread the footy to the left corner.
Then Clive Churchill Medallist Liam Martin scored just before half-time (with Jarome Luai switching the play left to right with a big ball to Cleary) as Penrith led 10-6.
There was a crucial moment 10 minutes into the second half when Jack Howarth burrowed over after Xavier Coates caught a Cameron Munster kick. It went up as No Try and that decision was upheld by the Bunker, even though video replays suggested Howarth had done enough to ground the footy.
Paul Alamoti gave Penrith a 14-6 lead with 20 minutes left: Martin caught a huge Cleary kick, passes to Moses Leota, who passed to Alamoti.
The Panthers’ eight-point lead was enough to seal their fourth straight premiership, though there was late drama when Cameron Munster was put on report for allegedly biting Alamoti. The win was a nice farewell for James Fisher-Harris (NZ Warriors), Luai and Turuva (both Wests Tigers).
In other grand final day results: the Norths Devils (Queensland) beat the Newtown Jets (NSW) 20-18 in the State Championship game. The Sydney Roosters won their second NRLW title, beating Cronulla-Sutherland 32-28.
Embed from Getty Images
