Penrith secured a 26-6 victory over Cronulla to advance to their fifth consecutive NRL grand final, where they will face off against the Melbourne Storm, a rematch of their 2020 encounter.
Nathan Cleary was the standout performer in Saturday’s preliminary final at Stadium Australia, contributing to three of Penrith’s four tries, executing a crucial 40/20 kick, and successfully converting four out of five goals.
However, questions regarding Cleary’s fitness have arisen after he exited late in the game while holding his left shoulder following a tackle. Though he continued to defend after the incident, he was substituted for precautionary reasons with five minutes remaining.
The 26-year-old had previously missed nine weeks during the season due to shoulder issues, but he assured ABC Sport after the match that his shoulder was “all good.”
Cronulla put up a strong effort throughout the match but struggled to capitalize on their opportunities. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon acknowledged that his team learned a lesson in handling high-pressure situations.
“They’re a team in the middle of a dynasty and we’re a team in the middle of development; there’s levels to it and we’re not quite there yet,” he stated during his post-match press conference. “I’m super excited about what we can do here. … I just hate losing.”
The Panthers are set to pursue their fourth consecutive premiership when they meet the Storm on Sunday, October 6. If successful, they would achieve a feat not accomplished since St. George’s 11 consecutive titles from 1956 to 1966. Penrith also becomes the first team to reach five straight grand finals since South Sydney did so between 1967 and 1971.