Penrith has secured a 26-6 victory over Cronulla, propelling them into their fifth consecutive NRL grand final, where they will face the Melbourne Storm in a rematch of the 2020 final.
Nathan Cleary delivered an outstanding performance in Saturday’s preliminary final at Stadium Australia, contributing to three of Penrith’s four tries, executing a crucial 40/20 kick, and converting four out of five goal attempts.
However, Cleary’s fitness may be a concern ahead of next Sunday’s clash with the Storm, as he left the field late in the game after holding his left shoulder following a tackle. While he completed additional defensive work post-collision, he was substituted as a precaution with just five minutes remaining.
The 26-year-old halfback previously missed nine weeks of the season due to recurring shoulder issues, but he assured ABC Sport after the match that his shoulder felt “all good.”
Though Cronulla fought valiantly throughout the match, they struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon acknowledged that his team learned an important lesson about handling pressure at the highest level.
“They’re a team in the middle of a dynasty while we are still developing; there are levels to it, and we’re not quite there yet,” he remarked in his post-match press conference. “I’m super excited about our potential here… I just hate losing.”
The Panthers are targeting their fourth consecutive premiership title when they take on the Storm on Sunday, October 6, a feat unprecedented since St George achieved 11 straight titles from 1956 to 1966. Additionally, they are the first team to reach five straight grand finals since South Sydney did so from 1967 to 1971.