Penrith Panthers
14
Match Complete
South Sydney Rabbitohs
12
| 74 |  | A. Johnston | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 68 | ||
| S. Crichton | | 66 | ||
| 44 |  | A. Reynolds | ||
| N. Cleary | | 32 | ||
| 22 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 20 | | C. Walker | ||
| N. Cleary | | 18 | ||
| M. Burton | | 16 |
| 2 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
It’s finally here. The 2021 NRL premiership will be decided tonight when the Penrith Panthers take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
There are so many storylines tonight. Will it be the Panthers’ redemption after last year’s grand final defeat, and Ivan Cleary’s first premiership as coach? Or will it be fitting farewells to Adam Reynolds and Wayne Bennett, plus an ideal path to retirement for Benji Marshall? We will find out shortly.
The 2020 grand Final rematch between the Panthers and the Storm took place a week earlier than most of us thought. It was a defensive masterclass from both teams, but a bit of individual brilliance from Nathan Cleary and a Penrith left edge raid was just enough to get the job done against Melbourne.
Cleary had a big game, but it was the much-improved performance of Jarome Luai which caught the eye. After being quiet for a few weeks, Luai was back to his very best. The Rabbitohs will need to closely watch his combination with Viliame Kikau and Brian To’o.
Tevita Pangai Jnr is out for the Panthers with an MCL injury, replaced by Moses Leota. Injury clouds surround Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o and James Fisher-Harris, but all are expected to play.
If the Panthers’ road to the Grand Final has been bumpy, the Rabbitohs have been travelling on a freeway. After taking down Penrith themselves in a qualifying final upset, they dismantled the Sea Eagles 36-16 in the preliminary final, with the game effectively over at half time.
The South Sydney pack was dominant, allowing Cameron and Murray to get quick the play the balls and put the defence on the back foot. From there, Cody Walker weaved his magic and the Sea Eagles, with no possession, couldn’t find a way back.
For the second game in a row, Wayne Bennett has the added bonus of being able to name an unchanged team.
Prediction:
The Rabbitohs knocked over the Panthers in the first week of the finals, but Penrith has improved since then.
Covered by the surprise of the Rabbitohs victory was the fact that Penrith created enough chances to win but finishing let them down.
I don’t see them making the same mistakes again. It will be tight but the Panthers will win the NRL premiership.
Penrith Panthers by 4
Game information
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Channel Nine
Online: 9Now
Betting: Panthers $1.68, Rabbitohs $2.25 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Stephen Crichton 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Matt Burton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary (c) 8. Moses Leota 9. Api Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 17. Liam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Isaah Yeo (c)
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tyrone May 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 11. Viliame Kikau | 18. Brent Naden 19. Mitch Kenny 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Charlie Staines
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds (c) 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Cameron Murray
Bench/Reserves: 14. Benji Marshall 15. Jacob Host 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Jai Arrow | 18. Taane Milne 19. Patrick Mago 20. Braidon Burns 21. Jed Cartwright
Mitch
Guest
Since when has deserve had anything that do with it? Both teams deserved to win but in the end in was just a penalty goal the difference.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Ahh, I see you didn't quite read all the words I wrote. I said "13 of them were juniors or debuted with the Panthers". Kikau debuted with the Panthers. He played in NSW cup and was developed as a second rower. The club had a plan for him to improve his stamina and mobility. He was played as a prop when in the Cowboys u21 team. Debuting players and improving them so they can become an NRL player on a long term basis, takes coaching and planning. Many clubs don't do it very well hence why so many players debut, play a handful of games and disappear without trace.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Don't like teams who win by
cheaunethically exploiting rules. Especially when they're good enough to win without doing that.baha
Guest
Nope lol. Try again chump
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Are you a Manly supporter (Insider) incognito, old mate? :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
And the Panthers rorting the system to get past the Eels also had a huge impact. :stoked: :thumbup:
Bill
Guest
Nope, it's just fact that they have won the most.
John
Guest
Thank the refs all right, Sutton and Atkins will never have to pay for a beer in Penrith again. There will be statues of them outside bluebet.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Panthers have been reported in many articles across the season as being less than respectful to opposition throughout the season and in finals. Gorden Tallis was quoted as saying if he repeated what the Panthers were saying to the storm last week “he would lose his job”. The telegraph reported they called B Smith a “dog cBomb”. This amongst every other thing you can see while watching the games. Is that baseless? Or Maybe you just didn’t understand the analogy. You can only be something if you believe, think and act like what your trying to be. Otherwise your character is inconsistent.
baha
Guest
'Satanic' hand symbols? :laughing: What is this? The 50s?
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
Fantastic final!!
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
I’m not a car by any means but you obviously didn’t understand the analogy. If you act like a D head and believe you’re a choirboy, this doesn’t make you a choirboy. Thinking, believing and acting a certain way, makes you what you are. Otherwise your character is inconsistent. Multiple reports from many journalists and commentators throughout 2021 about the Panthers on field behaviour towards their opposition. No assumptions, just multiple articles and witnessed accounts. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-ivan-cleary-brisbane-broncos-vs-penrith-panthers-round-6-behaviour-arrogance/news-story/fcf6320701b8c72aa46e529ca06e68f5 Gordon Tallis is quoted below during last weeks game to Brandon Smith copping a spray when he left the field for a HIA in the 16th minute. “If you think there’s feeling on the field, off the field when Brandon Smith walked past the Panthers bench, to a man they were yelling out stuff that I can’t repeat because I’d lose my job,”. The Herald reports Smith was called a “dog c***.” Not all praying players were being rude but some of them who were, probably need to figure out what they stand for. If that’s baseless, then you might need to carry a dictionary onya!
Albo
Roar Rookie
Check the betting sheets !
Onya
Guest
Pretty baseless statement. You’re saying that the players who are praying, are rude to the opposition & give them a spray. Without anything to back that up. As that’s just your assumption. Maybe you are a car, if you truly believe.
mushi
Roar Guru
Cody runs his mouth constantly, if one cannot taketh one should not giveth.
Paul
Guest
Yep. Wouldn’t Parramatta be angry at the result of this years GF. After their exit.
Craigo
Guest
Last night’s #NRLGF was the most watched NRL Grand Final in four years. On 9Now it was the biggest live audience on an Australia BVOD platform ever with 363,000 tuning in. #NRLGF saw a massive national audience of 3.596m tune in across @Channel9 and @9Now (metro: 2.202m reg: 1.031m 9Now: 363,000) to watch the Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney. It was also the no.1 program among 25-54s 16-39s and GS+Child.
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
i cant believe that theres been no discussion on two key points the intercept AND the failed conversion...if souths grab these opportunities they win...thats what premiership winning players do and thats why souths aint premiers...
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
Go the battlers!
Onya.
Guest
Wow! Cleary was carrying a bung shoulder since SOO. Edwards a broken foot , injured ankle for To’o, injury fir Fisher-Harris. Pangai didn’t play because of injury. But let’s go with the injury to Reynolds, that stopped South’s from winning...