It’s redemption for Ivan’s Panthers
IVAN is no longer so terrible.
Maligned Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has smashed his 10-year title hoodoo as the Panthers withstood a brave Rabbitohs fightback to sink South Sydney 14-12 and claim the club’s third premiership.
On a night of pulsating grand-final drama before 39,322 fans at Suncorp Stadium’s historic maiden decider, Penrith avenged their heartbreak of last year’s loss to Storm to celebrate two years of regular-season dominance.
This grinding, gripping decider exploded in the final quarter, with the Panthers appearing to have sealed a breakthrough title when Stephen Crichton latched on to a Cody Walker intercept for a 14-8 lead with 13 minutes left.
But the Panthers sweated until the final seconds. Souths crossed via winger Alex Johnston with five minutes to play, but Adam Reynolds’ inability to land a sideline conversion broke Rabbitohs hearts and sent Penrith into premiership dreamland.
It was hard to miss the seductive narrative, and outcome, for respective coaches Cleary and Souths counterpart Wayne Bennett.
While Bennett suffered his second consecutive title loss in his record 10th grand-final appearance, Cleary finally broke through. He was labelled the next Brian Smith, but in his 370th game as an NRL coach, Cleary has his maiden premiership ring. Third-time lucky.
It was a fitting result for the Panthers. They were the most consistent team for two seasons and emphatically buried the pain of last year’s 26-20 grand-final loss to Melbourne by holding out the gutsy Rabbitohs.
Penrith were always calm and controlled. Defence has been their bedrock for two years – and it delivered their third premiership after triumphs in 1991 and 2003.
SIX AND OUT
Souths maestro Walker will forever rue his ultimate bitter
sweet performance.
His night began with a bang when the Rabbitohs fiveeighth dangerman scored one of the great grand-final tries to ignite a thrilling Suncorp Stadium decider.
With Souths trailing 6-0 in the 21st minute and Penrith firmly in control, Walker produced a flash of instinctive brilliance, straightening the
attack, fending off Nathan Cleary and streaking 25 metres to level scores at 6-all.
But with the game in the balance at 8-all in the 67th minute, Walker faced his death-or-glory moment.
Seeing some space, he went for broke, throwing a long ball, but he was left heartbroken as Penrith winger Crichton intercepted and raced 45 metres to score. It was a crushing moment for South Sydney.
NO PANIC PANTHERS
From the opening minute, this was a different Penrith side to the nervous Nellies ambushed by Melbourne in last year’s decider.
The Panthers never recovered in the 2020 grand final after trailing 22-0 at halftime against the Storm. This time, Penrith’s start was clinical, controlled and composed.
The Panthers completed at an excellent 90 per cent in the first half.
Matt Burton’s opening try in the 17th minute, spearing through off a Jarome Luai pass, was sweet reward for Penrith’s sustained dominance in the opening quarter.
BRAVEHEART BUNNIES
South Sydney showed enormous defensive courage to trail by only a Cleary penalty goal at the break.
By rights, Penrith should have converted pressure into more points and led by at least 10 points. They had 58 per cent possession in the opening stanza, and enjoyed 13 tackles
in the red zone to Souths’ zero. The Rabbitohs’ resolve was underscored by Cameron Murray, the tireless lock racking up a staggering 30 tackles by halftime.
He finished with 51. Murray was so brave he could barely walk after 60 minutes.
TAAFFE NIGHT OUT
Rookie Souths duo Blake
Taaffe and Jaxson Paulo had mixed nights as Penrith peppered the pair with high balls and bone-jarring defence.
In his maiden grand final and just his eighth NRL game, Taaffe twice spilled the ball, including a Cleary bomb in the 56th minute.
He atoned somewhat on the hour, saving a certain try when he dived on a loose ball in his in-goal after Penrith’s defence jolted the Steeden free from winger Paulo.
It was a night to forget for Souths winger Paulo, who was also tackled into touch late in the game as the Panthers turned the screws.
Now Cleary and his champion son Nathan have buried the hatchet, immortalised as Penrith champions.