Penrith Panthers
26
Match Complete
Brisbane Broncos
24
| N. Cleary |  | 78 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 76 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 68 | ||
| S. Crichton | | 67 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 63 | ||
| M. Leota | | 62 | ||
| 56 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 54 | | E. Mam | ||
| 53 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 52 | | E. Mam | ||
| 45 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 44 | | E. Mam | ||
| 39 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 38 | | T. Flegler | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 29 | ||
| S. Crichton | | 18 | ||
| M. Kenny | | 17 |
| 4 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The NRL premiership gets decided tonight when the Penrith Panthers take on the Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
For once, the NRL finals went roughly to script and we get the Grand Final we have been talking about for months. Penrith and Brisbane have been the standouts in the 2023 season and deserve their place tonight.
The Storm started brightly enough against the Panthers, however once a few errors crept into their game, Penrith pounced. They are a clinical team that punish mistakes. In the end, the 38-4 was a fair indication of the Panthers’ dominance.
The Panthers are relentless. Their game is centred around a hard working back 3, a pinpoint kicking game and stingy defence. When they get field position, that’s when the halves and forward pack get the time to create attacking sets. Over time, oppositions simply break.
Ivan Cleary has named the same 17, with Jarome Luai and Izack Tago better for the run against the Storm. Nathan Cleary seems to have overcome his finger injury and will definitely play.
If there is a team that can match James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Isaah Yeo, it is Brisbane. Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Thomas Flegler all provided the platform in the 42-12 win over the Warriors.
Adam Reynolds kicking game was again on song but it is Reece Walsh who is rightly getting the headlines. He was electric against the Warriors, who failed to contain him the way they had contained Kalyn Ponga the week before.
Kevin Walters also has the luxury of naming an unchanged team. Jesse Arthars has again been confirmed over Corey Oates. The one question mark is over Herbie Farnworth but he is expected to play.
Prediction
The key to this is Walsh. If the Panthers can limit his impact, they will win. The Broncos punched holes in the Warriors defence but they won’t get that luxury tonight.
Penrith will be happy to get into the grind for as long as they need to and I don’t think this will be a high scoring game.
It will be more a war of attrition and the Panthers are the masters in this area. Nathan Cleary is in career best form and he may prove the difference. It will be tight but Penrith will claim their right as one of the best teams in the modern era by claiming 3 in a row. Panthers by 2
Game information
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
TV: Nine, Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Panthers $1.60 Broncos $2.40 – odds via PlayUp
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner 18. Tyrone Peachey 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Zac Hosking 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Thomas Jenkins
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
NQR
Roar Rookie
I have no doubt Nathan is certainly in the best 7 to play the game. No argument he’s probably exceed any halfback by 25. Alf maybe another 7 in that conversation. It my personal thoughts that Crichton was the player that influenced the result most. Diving on that loose ball and changing the momentum, forcing 2 line drop outs and scoring a try he had no right to score. Like I said Cleary dummied and stepped back past a couple of fatigued Broncos desperate to stop Crichton. There was 2 points in it and he kicked a vital conversion when asked.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I think the Broncos must have mixed up their stats when game planning, and got Panthers mixed up with Dragons when it comes to defending short drop outs and kick-offs
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Johnny Raper v Balmain was the full 80. I'll give Cleary equal second with Joey 97
Rossi
Roar Rookie
At least it was consistent for both sides. Either get involved and penalise both or neither. I don't like the let things go for the sake of it like we see in Origin and the players take advantage of it, but this letting petty stuff go and not nit picking is definitely the way to go.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Nathan is on the path to be the best No 7 of my lifetime (well over 40 years at this stage); the kid is 25 and has a better finals record than all the other great (ex Cronk). What he has achieved on the rep stage is also pretty special for a 25 year old.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I know I am a biased fan, but that performance by Nathan and Luke Priddis in 2003 are top of a very short list.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I agree it was fair. I thought the ruck was too slow in the first half and the ref could have quickened it up by penalising. But it went both ways.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Classy. Broncos will be back.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Thanks to you and the rest of the squad for the 2023 call David. Couldn’t have ended any better for this old Panther!!
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Bad luck mate - 4 tries each. Nothing in it, and your team and fans can hold their heads high. What a Season for the Broncos !
The Barry
Roar Guru
It really is the greatest. I’m almost lost for words about how good that game was. The pace and brutality of the first half hour. The momentum swings, Broncos looked gone at 35 minutes, Panthers were at 60 The skills of Mam and Cleary I hate sports snobs and code wars, but I almost fail to conceive how someone from any other sports couldn’t watch that and think it was the best thing they’d seen…
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Yeo came back on. Unbelievable. GF are officiated differently.
Renegade
Roar Guru
With his halves partner (Luai), his lock & captain (Yeo) and 2nd rower off (Sorensen)….. it’s quite sad people aren’t able to give him credit even when it’s impossible to deny
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Ren, it is the GGOAT!
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I’m gutted. Congratulations Penrith.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Nathan found out Ivan’s been sleeping with his mum.
David Holden
Roar Guru
And yet he dusted himself and won the game for Penrith.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Nathan is a legend. Not a knock but I think the Broncos scored a couple through Cleary’s misses. Mam scored a hat trick? If it’s any consolation I probably thought Thurston got overly credited off the back of some excellent work and presence of others. Nathan gets the chocolates and glorious last try but I don’t think they win without Crichton’s repeat set kicks, chase and try either. They probably don’t beat Souths without Crichton’s interception.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Who won the game? Criticize all you want the bloke is a champion!
MUCK
Roar Rookie
If I never see a short drop out again it will be too soon. Its a GF , youre in front. Kick the thing long and hard and bash whoever picks it up