Four-peat complete: Penrith beat Melbourne in the 2024 Telstra NRL Grand Final

The Panthers ran out 14-6 winners to claim their fourth premiership cup in-a-row and put themselves into Rugby League immortality.

Two of the best teams of the modern era locked horns for a chance at glory at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday night.

Penrith were looking for their four-straight premiership while this was Melbourne’s first big dance appearance since 2020, where they were victorious.

They were the top-two ranked teams on the ladder with the Storm finishing first and the Panthers right behind them in second.

Both sides had comfortable wins in the first week of finals, meaning a week off and home preliminary finals in the third week.

Melbourne advanced on with a smashing of the Roosters while Penrith handled the Sharks relatively easily a day later.

It was a gritty start with both sides defences’ holding firm.

Star prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was missing in action after being handed a four-game suspension for a careless high tackle in the previous game. On the other side, Scott Sorensen was deemed fit and lined up for the Panthers.

There was no scoring until a quarter of the game had been played as the players were just getting a feel for the game.

Injected into the game off the bench, Alec MacDonald made an error immediately on his run. Giving his opposition good field position, but the Panthers were unable to put any damage on the scoreboard.

Storm captain Harry Grant drew first blood by scrambling from dummy half to crash over in the twenty-third minute.

However, the reigning premiers responded soon after through Sunia Turuva. Who scored in the corner less than five minutes later but Nathan Cleary missed the conversion.

Fatigue for all players was setting in early, with very little stoppages of play.

Cleary made his mark on the cusp of half time, sending Liam Martin through to score to take a 10-6 lead.

The champion Panther was his cool and composed self, and even got involved in the ground game. Recording a game-high 29 runs for over 200 metres.

Penrith continued to press in the second half but Melbourne dug deep and didn’t let up.

Jack Howarth thought he had crossed over in the 49th minute to put his side in front but the bunker ruled otherwise.

The no-try call caused major controversy all over social media thereafter.

Back-rower Liam Martin was among the best on field, and helped set up the next try. Scored by former Bulldog, Paul Alamoti in the 60th minute who finished impressively under pressure.

Some uncharacteristic kicking from Cleary, who missed his second conversion and kept the margin below double digits.

However, the men from the mountains were too well-drilled and held on in the last twenty minutes to secure their fourth consecutive title.

Cameron Munster tried hard, always looking to create opportunities and was immense in defence.

On a sour note, the 30-year-old was involved in a biting allegation late in the game. He was put on report and allowed to play on.

Despite the winning feeling not being unfamiliar to the Panthers, the passion and emotion was sky-high on the full-time siren.

Especially from captain Isaah Yeo, who was sensational through the middle. Making 46 tackles and racking up 233 metres including a couple of important runs in the final forty minutes.

It’s Penrith’s sixth premiership, equalling the Brisbane Broncos, and marks 58 years since a team won four on the bounce.

Martin took home the Clive Churchill Medal for his all-around performance. Recording 96 run metres, 46 tackles and a try.

The Panthers will be looking to repeat for a fifth time in 2025 but will have to do it without two of their best starting players. Five-Eighth Jarome Luai is off to the Wests Tigers while Prop James Fisher-Harris will be suiting up for the Warriors.

Still, anybody who wants to write them off next season do so at your own peril.