Fantastic four: Penrith claim historic premiership

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Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers

Penrith Panthers have become the first time in six decades to claim four consecutive first grade rugby league titles, downing Melbourne 14-6 in a gritty 2024 Grand Final at Accor Stadium.

In front of just 80,156 fans on league's biggest day, the Panthers battled hard and won it tough in what was ultimate a game of defence.

After dominating the opening quarter of the match, Penrith ultimately conceded the opening try when Harry Grant burrowed over from dummy half after 22 minutes. Five minutes later departing winger Sunia Turuva was on the end of a solid backline movement to bring the scoreline in and open Penrith's account, the score at that point 6-4.

The Panthers finished the half with 56% of the ball, so it seemed it would be unjust if they didn't go in to the halftime break ahead - and that they did, with Liam Martin crashing through the defence just short of the break. Cleary's conversion had the scores 10-6 at halftime.

Just four points - a solitary Penrith try for Paul Alamoti at the hour mark - would alter that scoreline after halftime, but there were plenty of headline moments to come out of what was a controversial second forty. 

The biggest of these was a Bunker call around the 50 minute mark which went against Melbourne. Jack Howarth crashed over the line despite the attention of plenty of Penrith defenders. With referee Ashley Klein referring the try to the Bunker as 'no try' and Howarth having been held up.

Replays suggested that he likely did ground the ball on one or two angles, but Review Official Grant Atkins judged that there was no evidence to confirm a try, so the decision stayed no try.

Later in the game, with the result just about locked away, Paul Alamoti alleged Cam Munster bit his arm in the 74th minute. The Melbourne five-eighth was placed on report and will no doubt come under Match Review Committee scrutiny overnight.

Melbourne seemed to make metres easier late in the contest but Penrith's well-drilled defence was up to the task - in fact, both teams' defences were incredible in a high-quality contest.

The end result is Penrith creating history, the first team to win three straight in the salary cap era and first since the St George 11-in-a-row of the 50's and 60's of any club. It's also a fitting goodbye for departing players Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva and James Fisher-Harris.