Penrith has secured a spot in their fifth consecutive NRL grand final with a convincing 26-6 victory over Cronulla, setting the stage for a rematch against the Melbourne Storm, whom they faced in 2020.
Nathan Cleary was the standout player in Saturday’s preliminary final held at Stadium Australia. He was instrumental in creating three of Penrith’s four tries, made a crucial 40/20 kick, and successfully converted four out of five goal attempts.
However, concerns regarding Cleary’s fitness have arisen following the match, as he appeared to suffer a left shoulder issue after a late tackle. Although he managed to continue playing for a while, he was substituted as a precaution just five minutes before the end.
The 26-year-old had previously missed nine weeks of the season due to shoulder instability but reassured reporters from ABC Sport that his shoulder was “all good” after the game.
While Cronulla put up a commendable fight, they struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon acknowledged that his team learned a crucial lesson about handling pressure on such a significant stage.
“They’re a team in the midst of a dynasty, and we’re in a phase of development; there are levels to it, and we’re not quite there yet,” he reflected during the post-match press conference. “I’m very excited about our potential, but I just hate losing.”
The Panthers will strive for their fourth consecutive premiership when they face the Storm on Sunday, October 6. This achievement would mark a historic milestone, as no team has won four straight titles since St George’s remarkable run of 11 in a row from 1956 to 1966. Furthermore, Penrith is the first team to reach five straight grand finals since South Sydney accomplished the feat from 1967 to 1971.