Penrith has secured a place in their fifth consecutive NRL grand final by defeating Cronulla 26-6, setting the stage for a rematch with the Melbourne Storm, whom they faced in 2020.
During Saturday’s preliminary final at Stadium Australia, Nathan Cleary was the standout player, contributing significantly to Penrith’s success. He assisted in three of the team’s four tries, executed a crucial 40/20 kick, and successfully converted four out of five goal attempts.
However, Cleary’s fitness is likely to be a focal point ahead of next Sunday’s match against the Storm, as he was seen clutching his left shoulder after a tackle late in the game. Although he continued to play defensively after the incident, he was substituted as a precaution with five minutes remaining.
The 26-year-old had previously missed nine weeks earlier in the season due to recurring shoulder instability but reassured ABC Sport after the match that the shoulder is “all good.”
Cronulla put up a valiant effort but failed to capitalize on the scoring opportunities that came their way. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon remarked that his team learned an important lesson about applying pressure and executing effectively in critical situations.
“They’re a team in the middle of a dynasty and we’re a team in the middle of development; there are levels to it, and we’re not there yet,” he noted during his post-match press conference. “I’m super excited about what we can do here… I just hate losing.”
The Panthers will strive for their fourth consecutive premiership when they face the Storm on Sunday, October 6 — a remarkable achievement that has not been seen since St George’s 11 straight wins from 1956 to 1966. Penrith is also the first team to reach five consecutive grand finals since South Sydney achieved this from 1967 to 1971.