NRL 2024, Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, grand final, match report, match highlights, coaches media conferences

Author: Martin Lenehan NRL Senior Journalist
Timestamp: Sun 6 Oct 2024, 09:28 PM

The Penrith Panthers cemented their reputation as the one of greatest teams in the game's history with a clinical 14-6 victory over the Storm in Sunday’s grand final at Accor Stadium.

The Panthers are the first team since the mighty St George side of the 50s and 60s to win four premierships in a row and did it on the back of another masterclass from Nathan Cleary and a barnstorming display by Clive Churchill Medal winner Liam Martin.

A loose offload by Jarome Luai in the 11th minute handed Melbourne an opportunity to go on the attack but Jack Howarth put the ball down and the Panthers came away.

Storm bench forward Alec MacDonald entered the fray in the 18th minute and came up with a dropped ball on his first run, the Panthers making the most of the chance and earning a repeat set courtesy of a neat grubber by Izack Tago.

The Panthers were unable to cash in and the Storm took the ball up the other end to open the scoring through a trademark Harry Grant try out of dummy half in the 18th minute. Nick Meaney's conversion made it 6-0.

Harry Grant Try

A mistake by Will Warbrick from a Luai bomb in the 26th minute invited the premiers back into the game, with Paul Alamoti coming up with a clever pass to Luai who put Sunia Turuva over. Cleary's conversion sailed wide to leave the score at 6-4.

Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen put the kick-off out on the full and the Panthers threatened danger again before Turuva had the ball knocked out of his hands by a desperate cover tackle by Eli Katoa.

Sunia Turuva Try

With half-time just 80 seconds away, the defending champions came up with a huge play when Cleary put his right edge back-rower Martin over with a superb short ball and then converted the try for a 10-6 lead at the break.

An error by Jack Howarth put the Storm under the pump early in the second half and the Panthers continued to dominate possession and field position but a simple error by Dylan Edwards in the 48th minute released the pressure.

The Storm then came within an ace of a try when Xavier Coates soared high to take a bomb and flick it back inside to Howarth who got over the line but the bunker ruled he had been held up.

On the hour mark the Panthers extended their lead when Martin showed great commitment to follow through and catch a bomb before finding Moses Leota who offloaded for Alamoti to dive into the corner to make it 14-6.

Munster on report for biting

The Storm then enjoyed a run of possession deep in Panthers territory but the premiers stood firm and refused to buckle, turning Lazarus Vaalepu away from close range and forcing Howarth into touch on the left side.

With six minutes to go, Cameron Munster went on report for an alleged bite on Alamoti just to add extra spice to an epic showdown but there was simply no way through for the Storm.

The Panthers have become the first team since St George in the last four years of their reign in 1963-66 to win four premierships on the trot.

Grand Final - Grand Final - Sunday 6 Oct

Full Time

Storm

Panthers

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Match Snapshot

Harry Grant and Trent Loiero combined for 51 tackles in the first half as the Storm were asked to do plenty of work in defence. Grant finished the night with 59 tackles.
The Panthers had 57 per cent of possession in the opening 40 minutes.
Panthers winger Brian To'o ran for 162 metres in the first half and had racked up 213 metres when he left the field in the 58th minute.
Nathan Cleary's running game came to the fore as the champion No.7 had 26 runs for 200 metres.
A crowd of 80,156 was on hand at Accor Stadium.
Lazarus Vaalepu entered the game off the bench in the 63rd minute in just his seventh NRL game - the most inexperienced grand final player since Canterbury's Steve Price in 1994.
Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo had 24 runs for 233 metres.

Katoa with a try saver

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy equalled Wayne Bennett’s record of 10 grand finals as coach.
Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes played his 150th NRL game.
The Panthers' back three of Edwards, To'o and Turuva had 73 runs and made 646 metres between them.
The Panthers have won 12 of their past 14 games at Accor Stadium.
Storm wingers Xavier Coates and Will Warbrick combined for 367 metres.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster went on report in the 75th minute for an alleged bite on Paul Alamoti.
The Panthers have conceded an average of nine points in their past 12 finals matches.
Storm forward Alec MacDonald went on report in the 78th minute for late contact on the kicker.
The Panthers made 53 tackle breaks to the Storm's 29.
Ivan Cleary has become the first coach since Immortal Norm Provan at St George to win four premierships in a row.