This was published 5 months ago
Well, that is all from us today. What a wild afternoon.
Be sure to check back in later tonight and tomorrow morning, as our reporters on the ground bring you the inside stories from the Broncos and Panthers dressing rooms.
Of course, we will be back to blog the grand final on Sunday along with the State Championship and NRLW grand final.
Until then, enjoy.
Bold, brave and simply crazy. Is there any other way the Brisbane Broncos would book their place in the NRL grand final, and at last end the Penrith Panthers’ dynasty?
Based on the first half, this never should have happened. They had butchered several opportunities in the opening 40 minutes, chances the four-time defending champions had gifted them, and headed into the break trailing 14-0.
But this Broncos side, as they showed against the Raiders two weeks ago, just never say die, and after clinching the 16-14 triumph in the most dramatic of circumstances, this Suncorp Stadium crowd could not have appreciated it more.
We’ve had the celebration photos, but now it’s time for Penrith’s heartbreak.
Yes, it’s an end of an era, but what the Panthers have achieved since 2020 is amazing. Will we ever see the likes of it again?
The scary thing is, Penrith will likely be back here next year. For the first time in a long time, the Panthers won’t be losing any of their key players.
One of the great comebacks in NRL finals history has hit pause on the greatest reign in modern rugby league.
Brisbane are through to a grand final against Melbourne next Sunday. For the first time since 2019, Penrith are not.
And only a most remarkable finals’ comeback (hot on the heels of Brisbane’s remarkable finals fightback two weeks earlier against Canberra, and the Panthers’ 2023 grand final heroics, of course) could make it so.
For 40 minutes, Penrith were ruthless. Relentless. Constricting. Suffocating. And perfect. A 14-0 halftime advantage was theirs to enjoy thanks to the near-perfect finals football.
It’s ten years since Ben Hunt played in his last grand final.
Here’s what he had to say after the game.
“I honestly don’t know how to feel at the moment, I really don’t. Ten years on it’s a dream come true.
“The job’s not done yet. Melbourne are an extremely good side, they’ve got a lot of players that have been in grand finals before, they’re experienced. I really think we need to play better out attack wise than we did tonight.”
The Penrith Panthers won’t be in the NRL grand final for the first time since 2020, after the Broncos defeated the reigning premiers 16-14 at Suncorp Stadium.
That’s the end of an era for Penrith. The five peat is gone, and Brisbane will play Melbourne in the 2025 grand final.
Just, wow.
It was veteran halfback Adam Reynolds who delivered when his team needed it most, kicking the match-winning goal kick to give his team a two-point lead in the final four minutes of the match.