Penrith have defeated South Sydney 14-12 to claim a third NRL premiership, making amends for last year’s grand final heartbreak and ending coach Ivan Cleary’s long wait for a title.
The Panthers dominated territory but were left scampering in the final minutes of Sunday’s grand final at Suncorp Stadium to ensure Souths didn’t steal a win in captain Adam Reynolds and coach Wayne Bennett’s final game for the club.
Souths had been tackled just once inside Penrith’s 20-metre zone but were hanging on, with the scores locked at 8-8 with 13 minutes to play as Penrith squandered chances.
The wall finally burst though, with star Rabbitohs playmaker Cody Walker’s all-or-nothing cut out pass intercepted by Panthers winger Stephen Crichton who ran 35 metres to score and create a six-point lead.
Souths weren’t flustered though, with Walker setting up Alex Johnston’s 30th try of the season to get within two points.
But Reynolds’ sideline conversion attempt flew just outside the right post.
Walker then threw a pass over the sideline with just over two minutes to go as a possible Johnston match-winner went begging, before Reynold’s two-point field goal attempt fell well short of the uprights.
It was only Bennett’s third loss in his 10th grand final as a coach, his appearances now stretching across five decades with four different clubs.
Penrith’s third title was a breakthrough for Bennett’s Penrith counterpart Cleary in his 370th game as a coach, becoming the only man to win one for the first time after their 250th game.
The Panthers’ victory comes after a 17-game winning streak was brutally snapped by Melbourne in last year’s grand final, the Storm romping to a 22-0 halftime lead in that boilover.
There was no such shellshock on Sunday night, Penrith clean with the ball and playmaker and Clive Churchill medallist Nathan Cleary calmly directing traffic.
“Losing a grand final, it is a different kind of hurt,” Nathan Cleary said of last season.
“You can’t explain it; that is what makes it so much more special.
“It is just special to do it with him (Dad Ivan). That embrace was emotional, but it is the best.”
Penrith simply thundered through Souths in the first half, making 1070 metres to Souths’ 632.
Souths were resolute but Matt Burton finally sliced through, breaking the deadlock after 16 minutes of peppering the line.
Walker’s brilliant individual try was the reply, the Souths five-eighth fending off Cleary as he beat four men to keep his side in the game.
But Penrith kept coming, controlling the ruck to exhaust Souths as they edged ahead 8-6 at the break.
A groggy-looking Dane Gagai had earlier passed a HIA after a tackle gone wrong, while Souths teammate Jai Arrow was eventually ruled out in the second half after he was taken high in the first half.
Souths had won 16 of their past 17 games after a huge defeat to Penrith in May, but the loss of suspended Latrell Mitchell on the eve of the finals eventually caught up with them.
“We hung in there all night,” Reynolds said.
“Obviously, had a chance of getting there.
“They are hard to break down and great defensive system. We found it tough to get down our end. We kept fighting right to the end but they were too good tonight.”
A COVID-19-capped capacity 39,322 were in Suncorp Stadium for Brisbane’s first grand final after the full house was restricted to 75 per cent midweek.
AAP
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