FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

History was made as the beaten 2020 finalists Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs lined up to contest the first ever NRL Grand Final to be held in Brisbane’s  Suncorp Stadium.

This was the finale of an Australian rugby league season which had moved lock, stock and barrel to Queensland as part of strict Covid protocols, although Minor Premiers Melbourne Storm were notable by their absence from the match between the teams who finished second and third on the competition ladder after 24 regular rounds.

The Panthers had the best of the early exchanges, and successfully challenged a knock-on ruling from referee Gerard Sutton at the end of their second set.

Souths, on the other hand, were finishing too many sets from their own half and were forced to concede the first and second drop-outs of the game after five minutes and six minutes.

But the Bunnies fought their way back into the game after an audacious ball-steal and by the 10th minute the game was looking more even.

In fact it wasn’t until the 17th minute that Matt Burton opened the scoring for the Panthers, running through a gap in the Souths line after a beauty of pass from Jarome  Luai. Nathan Cleary converted from the touchline to give Penrith a 6-0 advantage.

The Rabbitohs struck back through five-eight Cody Walker, beating the Penrith line with a show and go then sprinting free to score by the posts. Adam Reynolds duly converted to level the scores at 6-6 with 21 minutes gone.

The Panthers were the next to score against a visibly tiring Bunnies team, after just 30 minutes, who gave away a penalty at the play-the-ball which was no problem for captain Cleary to kick.

The Rabbitohs managed to hold on until half time without conceding anything more, but the Penrith team were clearly the dominant side going into the break.

Souths looked fresher when play restarted and pressed the Panthers line in an opening set that eventually came to nothing with a pass into touch.

But they soon got a penalty for Penrith shepherding, which Reynolds kicked from 20m out to square the game up at 8-8.

Penrith thought they’d hit back on 46 minutes when Viliame Kikau crossed the line, but the final pass to him from Cleary, out of a tackle, was loose and forward.

They  continued to pressurise the Rabbitohs line but 20 minutes into the half, their only reward was another Souths drop-out.

The relentless Panthers pressure eventually told though when winger Stephen Crichton intercepted an unnecessary pass from Souths centre Dane Gagai and sprinted 40m to ground the ball, just when Souths were finally getting into their attacking game.

Cleary kicked the conversion to put the Panthers in control at 14-8, with less than 12 minutes to go.

As the clock ticked down, Souths rediscovered their attack game. And off the back of a penalty for interference at the ruck, Alex Johnston touched down to make it  14-12 with a kick to come.

But Reynolds pushed it wide.

Souths kept up their own pressure in the final five, pushing for the score that would win the title for them. Their final play was to try for a two-point drop goal from outside the 40m mark, but while Reynold’s kick was on target and had the legs, it didn’t have the height to get over the bar.

And that, as they say, was the ball game. Last year’s losing grand finalists Penrith Panthers were duly crowned Premiers.

Score Progression: 0-0, 4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 8-6. HT. 8-8, 12-8 14-8, 14-12. FT

Half Time: 8-6.

Full Time: 14-12

Penrith Panthers: Edwards, Crichton (T), Momirovski, Burton (T), To’o; Luai, Cleary (2G, P), Leota, Korosau, Fisher-Harris, Capewell, Martin, Yeo. Interchange: Kikau, May, Sorensen, Lenui.

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Taafe, Johnston (T), Gagal, Graham, Paulo; Walker (T), Reynolds (G, P), Cook, Tatola, Koloamatangi, Su’A, Murray. Interchange: Marshall, Host, Burgess, Arrow.

Referee: Gerard Sutton.

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by tb on Sun 3rd Oct 2021 11:32 AM | Views : 29288 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34303
1m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
UllFC
364
1m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
WIZEB
151
1m
Squad for Catalan
rubber ducki
18
1m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
30
1m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
56024
8m
Saints a
WWste
25
9m
The Bulls away
Ckt2487
10
13m
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2868
16m
State of the Nation
UllFC
227
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
32s
Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE
Jason65
1935
38s
State of the Nation
UllFC
227
45s
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2868
49s
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
Deadcowboys1
116
57s
TV Games - Not Hull
UllFC
1386
1m
Huddersfield - Home
jbuzza
7
1m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
rubber ducki
18
1m
York - 14th April
financialtim
15
1m
Ky Rodwell
PopTart
111
1m
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
financialtim
15
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
rubber ducki
18
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
Ckt2487
10
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
WWste
25
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
jbuzza
7
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
30
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
159
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
586
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
705
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
595
Warrington Demolish London For..
697
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
749
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
731
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
969
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
937
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1081
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1051
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1122
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1096
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3883
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1213
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist