Penrith into NRL grand final after brutal Melbourne flogging
In a stunning display of class, the Penrith roared past the Melbourne Storm with a 38-4 victory in Friday night’s NRL preliminary final, marking their entry into a fourth consecutive NRL Grand Final.
The 34-point win set a new record for the largest margin in a preliminary final in the NRL era and saw the Panthers premiership odds slashed to $1.57 with online bookmakers. They will now play the winner of the Broncos v New Zealand clash being played on Saturday night.
Brian To’o was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick of tries that laid the foundation for the Panthers’ resounding win. The winger’s standout performance was complemented by the strategic brilliance of Panthers captain Nathan Cleary.
Though the Panthers were so dominant they seemed to be cruising at times, they dismantled a Storm side that was noticeably lacking in power and flair.
Melbourne’s hopes were effectively dashed within the first few minutes of the match. Marion Seve committed a crucial penalty that gave Penrith the opening they needed, allowing To’o to find the corner for his first try.
While Justin Olam managed to score for the Storm, he missed a golden opportunity for another, triggering a series of on-field confrontations. Nelson Asofa-Solomona of the Storm found himself in the middle of multiple skirmishes. His hit on Cleary in the 15th minute led to more chaos and a subsequent penalty goal.
Lock Isaah Yeo led the Panthers into advantageous positions, allowing To’o and Sunia Turuva to find the try line, making it 18-4 at half-time. Melbourne’s attempts to claw back in the early part of the second half were undone by their careless ball-handling.
Cleary and Dylan Edwards exploited the Storm’s errors, scoring twice in four minutes and putting the game well out of reach for Melbourne. To’o sealed his second career hat-trick and Cleary added a late penalty to twist the knife even further.
Jarome Luai, making a return from a dislocated shoulder, was pulled early from the field after an uneventful night, ensuring he remains fit for the grand final showdown.
With this win, Penrith joins an elite club, becoming only the fifth NRL side since 1954 to reach four consecutive grand finals.
