Penrith’s dynasty took another leap as they won their fourth NRL premiership in a row against the Melbourne Storm on Sunday night. The Panthers were in rapture at Accor Stadium and scored a 14-6 victory that assured the team that they have control of the league. It was one heck of a show with a whole lot of drama, big roles and plenty of heart-stopping drama and suspense.
The Grand Final was everything you could dream of, including footy from end to end, great players, decisions and a suitable epitaph for club legends Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris for the end of the season. This was one of the most exciting and thrilling Grand Finals in NRL history and it will live on for a long time to come. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights and the key notes from the game.
An uncertain start to the first half
It was a gruelling, physical battle for the first half. It wasn’t long before Penrith sat on their laurels, with the second-phase routine giving Melbourne headaches. Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary had their hands full dribbling between Melbourne’s defence and keeping them on their toes.
It was not all good news for Penrith though. When the captain’s objection failed, the Storm took their chances. Harry Grant ran over the try line with his head, bringing Melbourne within 14-0 and their support going nuts. For a while it looked like Melbourne was ahead, but Penrith powered back up quickly.
Sunia Turuva added a second Penrith try and levelled things. The Storm’s fury was further aggravated when Melbourne forward Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked the third half into the sideline to open up Penrith for the game-winner. The Panthers dominated in the paint, leading 10-6 at halftime on an unselfish switch play by Luai and Cleary less than two minutes into the second half.
Controversy in the second half
The second half was an attrition game with neither side taking any crumbs. The Storm had taken the lead just after the interval when young centre Jack Howarth appeared to have netted. The stadium was rocked by the Bunker’s refusal to call up the try as Howarth had been thwarted by Penrith’s backs.
Caller Andrew Johns, the NRL great and former captain of the Newcastle Knights, was floored by the decision. “It’s down, it hit the ground”, he said during the broadcast in shock that was shared by Storm followers across the globe. Melbourne’s work didn’t stall because of controversy, but Penrith’s wall didn’t waver.
To make matters even worse, the Panthers’ defence was also in the hands of Melbourne, who had to battle through a reshaped Penrith backline after Brian To’o came off the field with a knee injury. The Panthers sailed right through this loss. Paul Alamoti moved up the wing for To’o and he got his try, providing a stunning finish to extend Penrith’s lead to 14-6 and put Melbourne in a hole.
The Storm’s hopes went further downhill as a late captain’s tackle left Penrith with a seven-tackle package that gave the Panthers a bit of breathing space in the final minute. Melbourne kept chasing even as the game entered the final seconds, but Penrith’s lead was too much.
Extravaganza and scandal
A rough moment arose when Melbourne star forward Cameron Munster was reported for an alleged bite on Paul Alamoti. Alamoti reported it to the referee Ashley Klein who stopped play and watched the video. Although pending trial, the bite charge added drama to an already charged grand finale.
Even though it was late in the game, the Panthers stood their ground and ended the game with a solid defensive effort to pull away with the 14-6 victory. Melbourne couldn’t stop and was even ready to go to the wire, but Penrith’s heart and mind prevailed.
The Penrith Panthers made history with their fourth straight NRL premiership and sweet revenge for their grand final loss to the Storm in 2020. For the Panthers, this victory marks the culmination of years of commitment, skill and uncompromising will. It isn’t very often we get to see moments like this happen in real time and there are very few NRL teams that have managed to reach this level of success and consistency.
Best mobile sports betting apps
If you are interested in sports betting and want to bet on mobile sites when placing bets on the NRL, there are some factors to consider. Picking the right sports betting app can significantly help improve your experience, especially if you are betting on events like the NRL Grand Final. There are some important points you should consider before choosing a betting platform.
If you ask me, ease of use should come first. The app needs to be easy to use and allow you to quickly get around the different markets and make a bet. This is even more crucial when you are placing bets live, because a game can change quickly, and you must be able to make a move fast.
Next, consider the array of betting markets available. The best apps include sports as big as rugby, football and cricket as well as smaller sports or leagues such as non-league football or the international tournaments. Also, betting on a range of moneylines, spreads and prop bets makes it more fun.
Live betting is another feature that must be available. In-play betting users need real-time updates, and the odds shifts, so the app needs to deliver fast updates without any lagging.
No one wants to sacrifice security or reliability. You don’t want your personal and financial data to get into the wrong hands, so always require encryption technology and gambling licences from licensed gambling organisations.
Finally, look at the bonuses and promotions, but don’t just look at the headline. Pay attention to the terms and conditions to make sure the wagering requirement is manageable and that the bonus is worth it. Some apps will lure you in with tempting offers but will prevent you from cashing out with wagering requirements that are too high. With this information in mind, you should have a much easier, more enjoyable betting experience.
Conclusion
Penrith’s win over the Storm in this grand final will be one of the most exciting NRL matches ever. It was a brutal game, with controversy and sparks of genius from both parties. However, it was really Penrith’s fantastic defence, playmaking and ability to exploit key moments that got them the win.
The Panthers will have to celebrate this victory as they capture their fourth premiership in succession as Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris leave on the best possible note. That will hurt Melbourne as they face the bitter end but they’ll definitely be in better shape next season. For now, it’s Penrith who gets to savour the latest and perhaps best Grand Final victory.
