Penrith are the 2023 NRL premiers once again after a grand final for the ages that will long be remembered as one of the greatest deciders ever played. On a steamy in Sydney the Panthers became the first team in 40 years to win three straight premierships after staging a scarcely believable comeback, overcoming a 16-point deficit with 26 minutes to go at Accor Stadium.
Nathan Cleary, who won his second Clive Churchill medal, engineered the revival, setting up two tries and scoring another in one of the great individual performances. In a see-sawing game, Penrith looked all but out when Ezra Mam crossed for his third try and the premiership appeared destined to be heading to Brisbane for the first time in 17 years.
