Another NRL season, another Penrith Panthers premiership. They’ve clocked rugby league and all there is to do is enjoy witnessing greatness.
2024 NRL Grand Final Recap
If you had a drink every time the commentary team mentioned “fatigue,” you wouldn’t have seen the second half of the NRL Grand Final.
The ball-in-play time was off the charts. Referee Ashely Klein swallowed his whistle to let the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm go at it hammer and tong.
It produced an enthralling game, but one that plays right into Penrith’s hands. The Panthers want the ball in play. They want to front-load their defence to pin the opposition in their own end and don’t want to offer them any relief while trying to get out. Where the Storm started the majority of their sets deep inside their own 20-metre line, the Panthers ran the ball from closer to the 30-metre line, if not just short of halfway.
https://twitter.com/JasonNRL/status/1842858135641620528
Melbourne managed to stay in the game and even built some ascendency early in the second half. It felt as though if they could just earn a sustained period on the Penrith line, they’d find points. Harry Grant didn’t need long to manufacture points if given the opportunity. However, when the Storm finally did earn that chance, the Panthers defence stood up.
Ivan Cleary’s side defended five consecutive sets on their line. Turning them away only saw the Panthers grow in confidence as doubt must surely have crept into the Storm.
Paul Alamoti’s try in the 61st minute all but sealed the result. Penrith’s defence seemed impenetrable while Melbourne looked out on their feet.
The Storm were asked to make 49 more tackles than the Panthers throughout the game. Their middle struggled for line speed in defence and to get back behind the ball in attack. The outside backs ran for their lives, but Penrith’s middle defence knows where to put its energy and constantly kept them from crossing halfway.
Penrith finished up with a whopping 66% territory across the 80 minutes.
https://twitter.com/JasonNRL/status/1842876906649407919
Ruthless and relentless.
The Panthers have clocked rugby league. They have the winning formula, and while everybody knows what is coming, nobody has had the answer for four years. Others have won more in a row, but not like this. Not with how rugby league is played now, the salary cap implications and with the sports science that has taken players to another level.
“We’ll never see this again.” – Jarome Luai
He might be right…
Magic Martin
– 1 try
– 16 runs
– 92 running metres
– 1 linebreak
– 46 tackles
In classic Liam Martin fashion, his impact isn’t always reflected in the numbers.
They don’t show him stopping a Storm yardage set in its tracks in defence. We don’t even see him collecting a Nathan Cleary bomb leading to what ended up as the game-sealing try in the numbers.
Thankfully, and they seem to get the Clive Churchill Medal right more often than not, the award is based more on the eye test. It’s decided on by people at the game, feeling it.
Liam Martin has claimed the Clive Churchill Medal as Player of the Match! 🏅#NRLGF pic.twitter.com/h0uMRVNlXv
— NRL (@NRL) October 6, 2024
Plenty can stake a claim on the medal. Nathan Cleary was again fantastic, Dylan Edwards as the numbers, Brian To’o may have been a chance had he been on the field to dot down in the corner instead of Paul Alamoti.
Few will argue with Martin leaving Accor Stadium with it hanging around his neck, though.
A Way Too Early Look At 2025
Once again, we’re considering the players Penrith is losing and thinking, “They can’t do it again, surely.”
There have been valid arguments to doubt them every year of the four-peat – some stronger than others. But every year, they’ve found a way.
Will they in 2025?
This is the year the valid arguments are strongest.
Jarome Luai has proven to be the perfect foil to Nathan Cleary. You can’t understate cohesion and that ability to know what your teammate is going to do before he’s done it. There isn’t a half in the NRL that can slot seamlessly into Luai’s #6 jersey next season.
Meanwhile, James Fisher-Harris is the oil to their engine. He’s the line speed and kick chase. He’s the immovable object in the middle of the field Penrith’s defence is built around, and it will take more than one man to replace him. Liam Henry is an excellent prospect to start at prop next year. Most importantly, he has the motor. But can he do it for 30 weeks and into another NRL Grand Final?
The Storm, on the other hand, are on the up. Jahrome Hughes is in career-best form, Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen finished the season fit, and Harry Grant is the best hooker in the world. With Eli Katoa, Josh King and Shawn Blore all exceeding expectations, and there sure to be another little-heralded forward to arrive next year and do the same, Melbourne are well-positioned for another run. A stronger run.
Can Addin Fonua-Blake take the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to the next level? Can Sam Walker and Brandon Smith return early and fit enough for the Sydney Roosters to fly into the NRL Finals? Will the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs find a finals-ready attack to go with their improved defence? Does Daly Cherry-Evans have another elite season in him for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles? The Cowboys, Knights, Dolphins, Dragons, Warriors and Broncos will all expect to improve and challenge for the finals.
But despite all of that and the players they’re losing, when we head into Round 1 of the 2025 NRL season, it will be difficult to shake the idea of the Panthers winning five on the bounce.
Controversy Corner
It wouldn’t be an NRL Grand Final without controversy.
Especially manufactured controversy.
Plenty saw Jack Howarth’s arm under the ball when attempting to ground it in the second half, but most didn’t.
Arm is clearly under the ball pic.twitter.com/OWHnjSQWnN
— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) October 6, 2024
Despite vision proving as much after the game, a lot still choose not to see Howarth’s own arm stopping the ball from being grounded.
Unfortunately, the conversation in the days after the NRL Grand Final will revolve around a correct call.
Classic Rugby League.