History three-peating: Panthers break Storm to reach fourth straight grand final

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If you’re a diehard or desperate at an NRL venue about two hours before a match, you would know it’s customary for players to wander onto the ground. They might share a joke with the rivals they’re about to play or skylark with a footy alongside teammates.

But the first thing Penrith players do is go to a position on the field they’ll later play. Sunia Turuva has his earphones on standing next to the left corner post. Brian To’o, the right. James Fisher-Harris prowls the in-goal from where he’ll take the first hit-up, Moses Leota the other side of the post. Nothing is left to chance at the Panthers.

Among it all, Jarome Luai sits on the ground, leaning against the goalpost, meditating. Matthew Hayden used to sit at one end of a pitch the day before a Test match and visualise swatting bowlers to all parts.

What could Luai be praying for? A fourth straight grand final appearance? His shoulder to stay in place, so much so the boom box is left behind for a few minutes? Whatever he was visualising, it’s safe to say he’s going to get most of it after a thumping 38-4 win over Melbourne at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

Four weeks after Luai’s season appeared over when he dislocated his shoulder in the penultimate match of the regular season, Penrith’s superstar crouched so low in each tackle it was enough to have teeth gnashing in the stands.

And when the cake needed icing, he danced across the field to help set up Nathan Cleary’s try as the Panthers moved to within 80 minutes of a historic three-peat.

Brian To’o celebrates a try.Credit: Getty

There can be little argument if they beat either the Broncos or Warriors in the grand final next week, Ivan Cleary’s side will be the best of the modern era, and first since Parramatta in 1981-83 to win three straight titles. They might also be the toughest.

Like Cooper Cronk in the 2018 grand final, the Storm never really found a way to attack a half with a dodgy wing. And with the Panthers running riot at 30-4, Ivan Cleary had seen enough and dragged off Luai – for his own preservation – with 20 minutes to go. The way it was heading, there was more chance of him re-injuring his shoulder in one of their stacks-on try celebrations than a meaningful Melbourne run.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona was supposed to create chaos, and yet his biggest mark was being placed on report twice for a late challenge on Nathan Cleary and leading with the knees on Isaah Yeo in a clumsy tackle.

Not that the Storm didn’t have their chances, despite trailing 18-4 at the break. For once, Penrith’s right edge looked a little porous. The other returning Panther, Izack Tago (pectoral), was stood up silly by Justin Olam for the Storm’s first try to cancel out Brian To’o’s opener. They had other chances too, but Olam erred, Nick Meaney shovelled it forward, and to beat Penrith you need to be near perfect, which Melbourne never were in 2023.

Sunia Turuva scores for the Panthers.Credit: Getty

To’o scored again before half-time, the other winger Turuva too when Cleary, always ahead of everyone else, saw a rare chance to swing to the right and stand outside Luai, who had a hand in the next two tries after the break.

It followed the usual Penrith script from the last four years: almost perfect and very predictable. Even Panthers fans seemed to get slightly bored with it, starting a Mexican wave with 15 minutes left. They were treated to one more try from hat-trick hero To’o. Not a second sooner, the PA cranked into gear in tribute to Tina Turner.

“You’re simply the best, better than all the rest.”

And if their five-eighth is any guide, maybe tougher too.

PENRITH PANTHERS 38 (Brian To’o 3, Sunia Turuva, Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards tries; Cleary 7 goals) defeated MELBOURNE STORM 4 (Justin Olam try) at Accor Stadium. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 35,578.

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