Penrith Panthers to Face Melbourne Storm in NRL Grand Final after Victory over Cronulla Sharks

The Penrith Panthers have advanced to the NRL grand final following their 26-6 victory over the Cronulla Sharks at Accor Stadium. The Panthers will meet the Melbourne Storm in next week’s showdown after prevailing in a match that saw unforeseen weather conditions affecting play.

Rain at the start of the first half altered the dynamics, with both teams committing basic errors. By halftime, Penrith had made five errors, while Cronulla accounted for seven. Both teams conceded two penalties each, illustrating the high stakes and pressure of the semifinal.

In a closely contested first half, both teams traded penalty goals. Penrith struck first through Nathan Cleary, who capitalized after Sharks forward Toby Rudolf was reported for tripping. Cronulla equalized with a goal from Nicho Hynes following a ‘downtown’ offside penalty against Penrith.

The Panthers’ continued pressure ultimately secured their place in the grand final, positioning them to aim for a historic four successive championships. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary noted the team’s readiness and big-game experience, even though the Panthers faced challenges throughout the season due to injuries.

Meanwhile, Cronulla Sharks, coached by Craig Fitzgibbon, came with determination to defeat the reigning champions. The Sharks had disrupted the Cowboys‘ campaign to secure their spot in the semifinal, displaying resilience and a willingness to confront the challenge of playing against Penrith.

The match also saw a key lineup change for the Sharks, with Siosifa Talakai replacing Jesse Ramien due to an ankle injury, prompting changes in the team’s composition, including Daniel Atkinson joining the interchange.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon expressed the team’s enthusiasm despite acknowledging the challenge posed by the Panthers. “For obvious reasons, they’ll be roaring favourites – and rightly so,” said Fitzgibbon. “But the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity as well for us. We’re just so excited.”

As the match approached, the spotlight was on the halves pairings, with Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall facing off against Penrith’s Cleary and Jarome Luai. Hynes had additional motivation with the game marking his 100th NRL match.

Historically, these teams have rarely met in finals, with their last playoff encounter in 2018. Despite losing to Penrith earlier this season, the Sharks were unfazed, focused solely on disrupting Penrith’s dominant form.

Fans unable to attend the match in person have various options to view the game, including live broadcasts on 9, 9Now, Foxtel, and Kayo.