As it happened: Storm hold off Panthers in epic GF rematch

Next week: The Panthers will head into a Round 4 clash against Souths without Nathan Cleary, who will enter the concussion protocols. The Storm look set to be missing outside backs Nick Meaney (jaw) and Grant Anderson (leg) when they travel to Sydney to face the Dragons.

Full-time: The Storm and Panthers finish five tries apiece but the home side gets home 30-24 in an enthralling contest. Props Stefano Utoikamanu and Josh King combined for 23 runs and 270 metres while Brian To'o was immense for Penrith with 214 metres from 17 runs. Panthers captain Isaah Yeo did everything in his power to get his team home with 134 run metres, 43 tackles and brilliant ball-playing in the middle.

79 min: With the Panthers mounting one final challenge the ball is lost by Jack Cole and the Storm hang on for a memorable victory.

76 min: Brian To'o powers into the corner to keep the Panthers alive but Paul Alamoti pushes the conversion to the left and the Storm lead 30-24.

73 min: The Panthers pay a heavy price for a mistake by Thomas Jenkins coming out of his own end when the Storm score through Ryan Papenhuyzen courtesy of a pinpoint Cameron Munster grubber. Papenhuyzen converts to make it 30-20.

69 min: On the back of a lost ball by Ryan Papenhuyzen under his own sticks the Panthers hit back again when Brian To'o scores in the left corner after great hands from Isaah Yeo, Lindsay Smith, Jack Cole and Casey McLean. The conversion attempt by Paul Alamoti misses narrowly. Storm 24-20.

63 min: A huge play by Xavier Coates when he regathers a short dropout after Penrith had forced a line dropout with a high kick that bounced into the in goal and was cleaned up by Ryan Papenhuyzen.

59 min: A barnstorming run by Tui Kamikamica puts the Storm on the front foot and Jahrome Hughes puts makeshift winger Tyran Wishart over in the corner with a superb cut-out pass. Ryan Papenhuyzen misses the conversion. Storm 24-16.

54 min: The Storm lose winger Grant Anderson to a knee injury.

48 min: Xavier Coates comes up with a trademark spectacular take to bring down a Cameron Munster bomb and put the Storm back in front. Coates now has 32 tries in 29 games at AAMI Park. Ryan Papenhuyzen takes over the goalkicking duties and adds the extras to make it 20-14 to the Storm.

45 min: On the back of the error by Asofa-Solomona the Panthers score from the scrumbase when Casey McLean explodes into a hole from close range. Paul Alamoti converts and the Panthers have the lead 16-14.

42 min: Jack Howarth puts the ball down with the Storm coming out of their own end and the Panthers get a full set on the line. Nelson Asofa-Solomona tries to clean up a grubber on the last tackle and knocks it on.

Injury report: Storm centre Nick Meaney suffered a suspected fractured jaw in the head clash with Nelson Asofa-Solomona and will not return.

Half-time: A courageous comeback by the Panthers after losing their main man Nathan Cleary inside 10 minutes. The Panthers completed 22 of 24 sets at 91 per cent and showed great composure to work their way back into the game. The Storm completed 16 of 20 sets at 80 per cent and were led up front by Stefano Utoikamanu (six runs for 90 metres).

36 min: A mistake by Nelson Asofa-Solomona gifts the Panthers field position and Jack Cole earns his team a repeat set with a neat grubber into the in goal. The Panthers pepper the line but Jack Howarth brings down a great catch to defuse a bomb and the Storm come away.

35 min: Storm centre Nick Meaney is forced off for a HIA after colliding with teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

33 min: Paul Alamoti makes it a double after Jack Cole, Thomas Jenkins and Izack Tago combine brilliantly to put him over in the right corner for his second try. Alamoti nails the conversion from touch to get the Panthers back within four points at 14-10.

31 min: Nelson Asofa-Solomona enters the game in his return from the five-game suspension that cost him a berth in last year's grand final.

29 min: Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster is placed on report for a hip drop on Liam Martin.

26 min: A mistake from Jahrome Hughes when he puts a kick out on the full gives Penrith another chance to hit back and a sweeping move to the right is finished by Paul Alamoti after Isaah Yeo, Tom Jenkins and Izack Tago all handle. Alamoti has now scored in five straight games but he misses the conversion. Storm 14-4.

23 min: The Panthers get a chance to attack but Blaize Talagi puts the ball down and the opportunity is lost.

20 min: A leg pull penalty against Mitch Kenny hands Nick Meaney an easy shot at two points and the home side go out to a 14-0 lead.

11 min: A second try for the Storm with Eli Katoa scoring off a Cameron Munster chip kick. Nick Meaney converts to make it 12-0.

8 min: A blow for the premiers with Nathan Cleary taken from the field after a collision with Jahrome Hughes as both halfbacks scrambled to clean up a loose ball near the Panthers' line. Cleary has been deemed a Category 1 and will not return to the match.

5 min: Grant Anderson gets the ball rolling for the home side after Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen combine to put the winger over. Nick Meaney converts for a 6-0 lead.

Late Mail: No further changes on game day after Nelson Asofa-Solomona was added to the bench 24 hours out from kick-off in his return from the suspension. Halfback Jahrome Hughes will make his 150th appearance for the Storm and will again link up with Cam Munster in the halves. Kiwi Will Warbrick has been ruled with a concussion and has been replaced by Grant Anderson on the wing.

A late change for the Panthers with Blaize Talagi joining the bench an hour before kick-off to make his club debut. Thomas Jenkins has come into the side at fullback with Dylan Edwards nursing a groin injury and the man originally named to replace him, Daine Laurie, dropping out due to injury on Wednesday. New recruit Isaiah Papali'i is back from a hip injury.

By the numbers

The Storm have won eight from nine against the Panthers at AAMI Park.

Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 31 tries in 28 games at AAMI Park.

Panthers captain Nathan Cleary requires 14 points to break the club’s point scoring record held by Ryan Girdler.