Panthers win NRL title

BRISBANE: Once bitten, never shy. Penrith have prevailed in one of the gruelling grand finals, a pivotal Stephen Crichton intercept proving the difference as South Sydney threatened to pinch the ultimate rear-guard premiership.
The Panthers’ 2020 grand final night misery at the hands of Melbourne morphed into a shoot-out, but their 14-12 triumph before 39,000 screaming Suncorp Stadium fans last night typified defence at its finest in a year where points have flown thick and fast.
Redfern favourite Adam Reynolds twice had the toughest of chances — off the tee and with a 40-metre-plus, two-point field goal attempt — to pen his own farewell fairytale.
Nathan Cleary’s own masterclass off the boot forced all five-drops a thrilling contest saw, kicking the Rabbitohs to the kerb.
At 8-8 and having been that way for most all of the second half, Rabbitohs talisman Cody Walker swung left with a long ball in the 66th minute.
Had it hit its mark, Alex Johnston would’ve been on his way.
Instead it was Crichton streaking in the opposite direction, pinching the Steeden on damn near the same blade of grass that Matty Bowen burned Brett Kimmorley in the 2005 State of Origin opener.
“I got hammered from the defensive coach (Cameron Ciraldo) all week,” Crichton said on Nine.
“Having Walker there he is one of the best in the league and eyes for the footy and space to put their players in.
“We did video on that during the week and I was there at the right time.” Walker clashed with Cleary in the try’s aftermath as is his way.
Equally so, he then backed it up with the lead hand when the Rabbitohs next marched downfield, Johnston over in the left-hand corner.
Reynolds’ strike from right on the sideline sailed oh so close, yet oh so far, 14-12 it stayed to the end.
For coach Ivan Cleary, tears couldn’t be contained after his third grand final visit finally yielded the title he has so craved.
Before kick-off cameras caught his son Nathan looking to the heavens. Whether asking for divine protection of a busted shoulder, or charting the aerial assault that caused Souths so much grief, it mattered nought. – NRL

Fans slam NRL over interruption of speech

BRISBANE: The National Rugby League (NRL) has been slammed after the Welcome to Country pre-game address from rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston appeared to be cut off to make way for the National Anthem.
As the Penrith Panthers and Souths Sydney Rabbitohs lined up ahead of the grand final kick-off, NRL legend Thurston took to Suncorp Stadium for the traditional Welcome to Country.
In a historic moment for Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, hosting their first NRL grand final, Thurston welcomed the NRL community for attending the game on Indigenous land.
However, as Thurston was coming to the end of his welcome, the Australian National Anthem started to play.
Thurston was clearly taken aback as he looked startled as the music echoed around the stadium.
The anthem continued to play as Thurston finished.
Fans took to social media to absolutely slam the NRL for the ‘appalling’ blunder during the biggest game of the season.
Fears of a postponement or relocation have been mostly allayed a day out from the historic first at Suncorp Stadium as case numbers remain low with two Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases reported on Saturday with no spread in the community.
While there were reports that Sydney had made a bid for the final to return, the NRL decider went ahead at Suncorp Stadium with pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics for fans. – NRL

Cleary defies shoulder injury to claim Clive Churchill medal

BRISBANE: Nathan Cleary has gone from fearing his National Rugby League (NRL) Telstra Premiership campaign was over in July to Clive Churchill medal winner, instrumental in Penrith’s 14-12 grand final win last night.
Retiring commentator Peter Sterling paid Cleary the ultimate tribute by declaring the halfback produced one of the greatest ever kicking performances as the Panthers broke an 18-year premiership drought to rewrite last year’s defeat.
Cleary was instrumental in the victory, booting three goals but more importantly, set up many of Penrith’s attacking raids as he played through the pain of a shoulder injury he has been carrying in recent months.
He was emotional after the game, embracing his father, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, as they both celebrated their first Telstra Premiership trophy.
The pair are the second father-son Panthers combination behind John Lang and Martin Lang to win a title at the club.
He will undergo surgery on his shoulder in the coming days. – NRL

Bennett leaving Souths with integrity restored

BRISBANE: Wayne Bennett is still the NRL’s super coach but ultimately he has failed to deliver what he was brought to South Sydney to achieve – a premiership.
Last night’s 12-14 grand final defeat to Penrith marks a heartbreaking end to the 71-year-old’s three-year reign at the Rabbitohs.
The harsh reality is, as good as Souths have been under Bennett in the past three seasons, for the past two years Penrith have been the best team.
Souths pushed the Panthers all the way in a thrilling encounter at Suncorp Stadium, nearly snatching a win for the ages despite being under the cosh for long periods of Sunday’s decider.
After such a messy end to his second stint at Brisbane, Bennett may not walk away from the Rabbitohs with an eighth premiership but his reputation is certainly restored.
Having guided the Rabbitohs to back-to-back preliminary finals, Bennett used all of his coaching and motivational tools to get Souths to this year’s grand final.
Thrashings by the Panthers and Melbourne in the space of three weeks and the Origin period left Souths’ season in the balance, but Bennett masterminded a 10-game winning streak to secure yet another top-four finish.
Even the club’s controversial decision to not offer captain and boyhood Souths fan Adam Reynolds a new contract went from potential distraction to motivation.
Bennett showed his faith in Reynolds throughout, making it clear if it was up to him the playmaker would be staying beyond 2021 — a move that surely got his skipper and teammates even more on board with their coach.
Then Latrell Mitchell’s season-ending suspension on the cusp of finals had many believing the superstar’s absence signalled the end of Souths’ premiership hopes.
But Bennett’s faith in Blake Taaffe paid off at No.1. – Seven News