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Snapshot of Penrith's grand final win over Melbourne

By AAP Newswire

Oct 6, 2024

Celebrating Penrith players. — Panthers players celebrate their four-peat after beating Melbourne. -AAP Image

SNAPSHOT OF PENRITH'S NRL GRAND FINAL WIN OVER MELBOURNE

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* RESULT: Penrith (14) beat Melbourne (6) in front of 80,156 fans at Accor Stadium.

* THE STORY: Penrith have become the first team to win four consecutive premierships since St George won 11 straight from 1956-1966, cementing their status as one of the greatest side's of the modern era.

* KEY MOMENT: Jack Howarth looked to have levelled the scores when he burrowed over after Xavier Coates batted down a bomb into his arms but video referee Grant Atkins agreed with the on-field decision that the Melbourne centre was held up in a desperate challenge by Dylan Edwards and Izack Tago. The Storm were in the ascendancy at that point and could very well have run away with the game had the try been awarded.

* KEY STAT: Melbourne clearly missed giant forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona as they were out-muscled by Penrith's forward pack, with the Panthers spending two thirds of the game in the Storm half.

* STAR PLAYER: Penrith enforcer Liam Martin singled out Cam Munster ahead of the game and was brutal in defence as he limited the Melbourne halves' ability to play the ball, scored the try that gave his side the lead and leapt above the Storm defence to rake down a Nathan Cleary bomb and set up the game-sealing try for Paul Alamoti.

* INJURIES: Brian To'o (knee)

* JUDICIARY WATCH: Cam Munster (biting)

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press