Penrith has defeated Cronulla 26-6, securing their fifth consecutive NRL grand final appearance, which will be a rematch against the Melbourne Storm, whom they faced in the 2020 final.
Nathan Cleary was the standout player 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 goal attempts.
However, Cleary’s fitness could be a concern ahead of next Sunday’s match against the Melbourne Storm. He was seen wincing and holding his left shoulder after a late tackle in the game. Despite continuing to defend after the incident, he was substituted off as a precaution with just five minutes remaining.
The 26-year-old had previously missed nine weeks earlier in the season because of recurrent shoulder instability, but he assured ABC Sport after the match that he was feeling fine.
While Cronulla put up a brave fight, they struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon reflected on the match, mentioning that his team learned valuable lessons on pressure application and execution at critical moments.
“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 the post-match press conference. “I’m super excited about what we can do here. … I just hate losing.”
The Panthers will be seeking their fourth consecutive premiership title when they clash with the Storm on Sunday, October 6. Achieving this would be a historic milestone, as no team has accomplished four straight championships since St George’s remarkable eleven in a row from 1956 to 1966. They will also be the first team to reach five consecutive grand finals since South Sydney did so from 1967 to 1971.