SYDNEY – The Penrith Panthers secured a remarkable 14-6 victory over the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final held at Stadium Australia on Sunday, marking the team’s unprecedented fourth consecutive National Rugby League title.
Guided by the coaching of Ivan Cleary and the leadership of his son, captain Nathan Cleary, the Panthers have established themselves as a dominant force in the NRL, showcasing their resilience throughout the intensely contested match.
“We’ve just won four in a row, it’s mind-blowing,” Nathan Cleary expressed joyfully after celebrating the triumph with his father. “It’s all worth it. It is hard. It’s hard to reach the top, it’s very hard to stay there. But this moment, it’s all worth it. Honestly, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Melbourne, who finished the regular season as minor premiers, took an early lead with a try from hooker Harry Grant after 22 minutes. However, Penrith quickly equalized through Fijian winger Sunia Turuva, who scored in the corner four minutes later.
Just before halftime, edge forward Liam Martin, who later received the Clive Churchill Medal for Player of the Match, teamed up with Nathan Cleary to give the Panthers a 10-6 advantage going into the break.
Despite their efforts, the Storm, who previously triumphed over the Panthers in the 2020 Grand Final, confronted a stoic Penrith defense that held strong throughout.
In the second half, Martin seized a high ball from Melbourne’s defenders, setting up center Paul Alamoti for Penrith’s third try around the hour mark.
“It was a tough game,” admitted Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes, who recently received the Dally M Medal as the league’s best player for the 2024 season. “Obviously, they’re a great team. They’ve been the best for the last couple of years for a reason.”
While the Panthers still have some distance to cover to match the St George Dragons’ record of 11 consecutive New South Wales titles from the 1950s and 1960s, Penrith’s Isaah Yeo emphasized that their four consecutive titles may remain unbeaten in the current NRL era.
“It’s a very special group. To do what we’ve done, I can’t see it being done again, it’s just so tough,” the test lock remarked during the trophy presentation ceremony.