Summary
Thank you all for joining me tonight for one of the great grand finals, not just in the history of the NRL, or even Australian sport, but of any professional competition you care to mention. The fierceness of the action, the wild swings of fortune, the brilliant skill, and the fortitude of one man to put his team on his back and refuse to accept defeat, making the collective mission an individual quest.
This Penrith side are one for the ages, and they deserve every accolade after this premiership triumph, their third in a row. Who knows how many more will follow?
I will leave others more qualified to speculate. They can also explain how Ezra Mam scored a hat-trick but still finished on the losing side. Or how Dylan Edwards carried the ball nearly 300 metres. Or how Stephen Crichton tackled Reece Walsh to deny Brisbane what would surely have been a sealing try.
Stick around these pages for all of that. But from me, it’s goodnight.
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Here’s Nick Tedeschi’s take on the final whistle.
Most of the best halves and playmakers in the NRL are well into their 30s. Nathan Cleary is 25yo. Let that sink in. Legendary performance tonight. Amazing comeback. #threepeat
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) October 1, 2023
Then Yeo is joined by Nathan Cleary to accept the massive Provan-Summons trophy from Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys then hoist it aloft as confetti rains down on Accor Stadium. Penrith Panthers are NRL premiers for the third time in a row.
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All the medals have now been hung around the necks of the Panthers champions. Isaah Yeo takes to the microphone to thank the sponsors and sign off with “Undisputed. Now let’s go party.”
While the medallions continue to be handed out, I’ve found the considered analysis I was looking for.
Nathan Cleary and the Panthers. #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/VWlJ0N9xJF
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) October 1, 2023
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Cleary says a few words, then Reynolds on behalf of the beaten Broncos. Now it’s time for the Penrith players to hear their names called out, walk through a guard of honour, and accept their premiership medallions.
“Greatest AFL /NRL Grand Final combo?” asks Robert Speed. Adding: “probably.”
It has been an extraordinary weekend. And such a desperately painful one for the city of Brisbane.
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That is Cleary’s second Clive Churchill medal of course, after his victory in 2021.
Nathan Cleary awarded the Clive Churchill medal
There could never have been a more deserving recipient in the history of rugby league. What a final 20 minutes.
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Time for the presentation ceremony.
I can’t wait to read the more considered analysis of what just happened. Trying to keep up in real time has been exhausting.
“Everything you want a grand final to be. The pinnacle of rugby league,” gushes Isaah Yeo. “There was never any panic. Absolute belief the whole time.”
Cleary’s performance at the death will become the stuff of legend, but credit is also due to Crichton, Leota and Fisher-Harris, who also demonstrated an incredible unwillingness to accept defeat.
“Geez, we let that one slip,” bemoans a dejected Adam Reynolds. “Credit to Penrith… I’ve got no words.” The veteran looks shellshocked, staring into the middle distance like he’s haunted.
Asked if it was his best ever performance, Cleary demurred, “not a chance! The start of that second half was awful.”
Nathan Cleary is in disbelief. “It doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream,” he puffs, hands clasped behind his head. “We were down but never out. We keep fighting. That’s the mentality.”
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Best grand final ever?
— John Davidson (@johnnyddavidson) October 1, 2023
Have to be on the podium #NRLGF
That was elite sport at its most unpredictable, brutal, and brilliant. Brisbane had no right to still be in the contest at half-time. Penrith were drowning after an hour. But that final 20 minutes from Nathan Cleary will go down in Australian sporting history. One of the great individual performances. He put his team on his back and carried them single-handedly from 24-8 behind to win 26-24.
Straight to the pool room.
Full-time: Penrith 26-24 Brisbane
The Panthers make it three in a row in the most extraordinary grand final.
79.02 mins: Brisbane have one set, one minute, and 82 metres to go.
79 mins: Brisbane go short from the restart. After a contest, Penrith claim the footy. How much time can they run down?
Converted TRY! Penrith 26-24 Brisbane (Cleary 78)
Reynolds executes the drop-out this time but only as far as Martin on the burst on the 40m line. There’s a six-again call early in the set as the Panthers swarm all over the Brisbane defence. This is incredible. High speed running, quick play the balls, desperate defence, and NATHAN CLEARY TAKES THE GAME ON HIS BACK STEPS INSIDE REYNOLDS, THEN WALTERS, THEN RIKI, LIKE MOSES PARTING THE RED SEA AND RUNNING UNDERE THE POSTS! This is the greatest individual grand final performance you could imagine – and in just 20 minutes. Nathan Cleary you star!
Of course he goes back and kicks his team back into the lead. Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.
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76 mins: Penrith know they have to go for it now and send it through hands early in the set to the left. Fisher-Harris straightens up in the middle to create space on the right for Garner. On the last the kick goes up and in the aerial contest the ball comes down Penrith’s way. Crichton keeps his head and dabs another kick to the left corner to force another drop-out!
75 mins: The Broncos begin a slow drive away from their danger zone but they make little ground and Reynolds has to kick from his own 40m. To’o begins the count on his own 30.
74 mins: The Panthers can’t get moving and throw a loose pass backwards on tackle three that stalls all the momentum. They grind to the last and go through hands to the left and in desperation Crichton chips to the corner but Cobbo plucks the ball out of the air. This is breathless. Grand finals don’t get any better than this.
73 mins: Reynolds goes long with the drop-out – but it’s out on the full! Another drop-out catastrophe for the Broncos – their third of the night! It wasn’t clean out, but Cleary marked it with his foot in touch after some quick thinking. Now the Panthers get a full set 10m out!
72 mins: Brisbane need something from someone to change the momentum. Enter Reece Walsh! What a run! He accelerates through the line on an arcing run from the middle to the right, carving through the line and almost evading a second tap tackle before he’s hauled down. The Broncos then seem to forget they’re on the last tackle and handover 20m from the line without attempting a kick. Penrith go down the other end and continuing their kicking resurgence, pinning Walsh to his line and forcing a drop-out.
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70 mins: There’s a stoppage on tackle three as Martin catches his breath after being caught by Capewell’s shoulder in a carry. Kenny is furious but Gee keeps his whistle in his pocket. Penrith complete a strong set and Cleary’s kick on the last is a menace for Arthars to defuse.
Converted Try! Penrith 20-24 Brisbane (Crichton 68)
This is almost funny. Penrith have another. Classing Panthers attacking footy. Kenny takes the ball to the line before shifting left to Cleary. He does the same before shifting left to Crichton. Now there’s momentum, 15m from the line, out comes the big stiff arm and an utter desperation to take Brisbane defenders over the line with him. There’s contact, Staggs is there, so is Walsh, and Cobbo – but Crichton will not be denied!
Cleary curls over a beautiful kick from the sideline. What a grand final.
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67 mins: Now it’s Brisbane that need to steady the ship – but Carrigan loses the ball in contact on tackle three! At the same time Yeo and Sorensen are confirmed to have passed their HIAs.
66 mins: A full set inside 20m – can Penrith score again? No! Leota looked destined on the last but Hetherington put his body on the line – literally – and forced the handover. This is one heck of a game.
65 mins: AND NOW CLEARY DRILLS A 40/20! What a performance from the scrum-half with Luai and Yeo off the field. Tackle four, nearer 30m than 40 – and he whips a crossfield scud missile that Brisbane were powerless to defend.
Converted Try! Penrith 14-24 Brisbane (Leota 64)
Nathan Cleary take a bow. Just as his side began to regain a foothold he shaped to pass on his right, drew Mam into the tackle on Crichton on the outside, and beat Capewell for pace through the middle. Line broken, he needs support – and Leota is on hand to dab the ball under the posts. Game on again! Superb from Cleary.
And the NSW backs up the try assist with a simple conversion.
63 mins: And now a good defensive set from Penrith, including Fisher-Harris coming in second man to hammer Farnworth in the tackle. After that 20 minute tornado, we’re back to a football match.
61 mins: The Panthers can’t capitalise. It was all too frantic for such a disciplined unit, but it has evened the field position for a couple of sets. Time to take a breath.
59 mins: Brisbane can smell blood. Runners are desperate for the ball, looking to the ringleader Reynolds like chicks desperate for a feed. Walsh breaks the line and offloads, but it sparks chaos, the Broncos unable to regain composure and a loose pass is picked off the ground by the Panthers who turn defence into attack quickly.
58 mins: Now Isaah Yeo is down in back play. He caught Hetherington’s shoulder flush on the jaw as the Brisbane forward drove straight at him. The Panthers are being blown away in a tornado. And now a strip penalty against Smith, as the camera pans to Luai on the bench, and the TV chyron notes Yeo’s HIA. To add insult to injury Penrith rolled the dice with a captain’s challenge on that play – unsuccessful.
Converted Try! Penrith 8-24 Brisbane (Mam, 55)
UN-BE-LEIVABLE! Ezra Mam has a hat-trick! Mam has three, but this one is all about Reece Walsh. Another strong set sent the Broncos in motion but when the ball was slipped out to the left to Walsh in the line there were enough Penrith defenders to take care of business, but Walsh evaded the rush, fended off Tago like a ragdoll and eased into top gear through the line like an F1 car. Is there support? Of course there is. Mam, the only man quick enough to keep up, and he accepts the simple assist to complete the formalities. This is staggering.
Reynolds makes it 24 unanswered points in 17 minutes.
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Converted Try! Penrith 8-16 Brisbane (Mam 53)
Mam has a double! This is extraordinary. The Broncos are suddenly irresistible, throwing the ball around at pace like the Harlem Globetrotters, and unlike the first half, Penrith are now rattled and that black wall is rubble. Haas does the hard work, taking contact in midfield, but his offload to Mam catches Yeo napping and that pace is on show again as the No 6 makes it two in quick succession. Brisbane are rampant.
Reynolds makes it 18 unanswered points either side of half-time.
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52 mins: Still Brisbane come. The Panthers make little ground coming out of defence and the Broncos have Farnworth steaming back into the fray. Reynolds marshals his troops downfield, young tyros with flared nostrils, all brio and testosterone. Penrith stand their ground but it could be at the cost of Luai’s left shoulder. The influential stand-off leaves the ground and Brisbane continue to pour forward.
50 mins: Brisbane have their tails up. Staggs runs hard into contact. Walsh enters the line dangerously on the left. Capewell and Flegler almost smash through. There’s space on the right on the last! Brisbane are rampant… STEPHEN CRICHTON! What a tackle! Walsh had men outside him ready to finish the job but Crichton steps up and takes man and ball with an almighty thump. That was a four point intervention from the centre.
48 mins: Penrith have hardly put a foot wrong, but now they find themselves chasing the game. A regulation set out of defence will no longer do, but that’s what they deliver, and it ends with a penalty against Smith after Coboo was caught late following a towering mark. All the momentum is with the Broncos in Sydney.
Converted Try! Penrith 8-12 Brisbane (Mam 45)
Wow! Penrith only gave Brisbane one sniff in the first half, and the Broncos only need one to open the scoring in the second. And how! That is one of the great grand final tries by Ezra Mam! Just inside his own half the No 6 recognised he had Lindsay Smith marking him, so after accepting possession he shifted his weight one way, then the other, wrongfooting the Penrith forward, then tearing through the gap like a comet, streaking a breakneck speed towards the corner – outpacing the covering Edwards in the process. Absolutely Magnificent.
If Adam Reynolds is injured he doesn’t show it curling over a superb touchline conversion. Brisbane! Blimey.
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44 mins: Brisbane complete another set but Edwards is again perfectly placed to farm Reynolds’ kick on the sideline and push his nightly running metres towards 200. It looks another typical Panthers set but on the fourth tackle Cleary spots Walsh out of position and chips into the vacant space – but can’t catch up to the Steeden before it dribbles out of play.
42 mins: The Broncos make no mistakes with their opening set of the half, one featuring plenty of post-contact metres for Flegler and a strong run from Carrigan. But Walsh undoes all that good work by belting a long kick straight into Edwards’ hands stood in-goal. Penrith enjoy their seven tackles, using Yeo and Martin to straighten up through the middle, before Cleary slings up a Garryowen that Walsh takes in a contest with Tago – but he lands heavily and needs a second to recapture his breath.
41 mins: Penrith have dominated. They don’t lose when they lead at half-time. Can Brisbane create an upset?
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The teams are back out for another 40. It’s still anyone’s.
Four Broncos all have 20+ tackles, which, in this heat is going to take it’s toll. Only Liam Martin has more than 16 for the Panthers.
Penrith completed 18/19 sets, carried the ball 300m more than Brisbane, and literally only made one mistake in defence the entire half (possibly two if you include Walters’ 40/20) but somehow the scoreboard shows just two points between the two grand finalists.
Despite their lack of possession, the Broncos lead the stats sheet in line breaks and tackle breaks demonstrating how dangerous they can be with ball in hand. They are clearly desperate to maximise any opportunity they are offered, but that has also led to no shortage of errors.
Half-time: Penrith 8-6 Brisbane
Penrith dominated 39 minutes of that half, but somehow Brisbane are only two points down. Breathless and brilliant rugby league.
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Converted Try! Penrith 8-6 Brisbane (Flegler 39)
On tackle three Reynolds almost feeds Riki through. Then Farnworth takes an army of black jerseys to stop him from reaching the 10m line. Last tackle … Flegler! Brisbane have done it! With Penrith scrambling to retain their shape and Brisbane offering attacking options left and right, Smoothy goes short to his big forward who batters his way up the guts and touches down – just – only just – next to the left-hand upright. MASSIVE!
Reynolds can’t miss the conversion from bang in front.
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37 mins: Pressure? What pressure? Penrith stick the ball up their jerseys for five tackles and Cleary belts them to Brisbane’s 20. But, hang on – what’s this? PENALTY BRISBANE! The Panthers have finally committed an error in defence. Something happened in the tackle on the left inside Brisbane’s half and the Broncos can finally build a concerted attack.
36 mins: A win – of sorts – for the Broncos as Penrith make a mess of their last tackle, forcing To’o to concede a handover 20m out. Arthars steams onto the first play and punches a hole in that impenetrable black wall. Brisbane try to get rolling behind it and reach the 30m line for the first time in an age – but Edwards is well placed at fullback to cover the kick.
34 mins: To’o and Tago take a couple of powerful hit-ups on the Penrith right as the black machine rolls downfield. Cleary’s eventual grubber is gathered under the posts and the Broncos are gasping for air. The Broncos continue to pull out all the stops with Walsh again in the line – this time on the left – but To’o reads the play superbly and nails a magnificent clutch tackle on Farnworth.
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32 mins: Penrith run to halfway then kick 40m, just like two-time defending champions do from a restart. Brisbane are desperate to make something happen and go through hands on tackle three with Walsh in the line, but Penrith have numbers out wide.
Penalty! Penrith 8-0 Brisbane (Cleary, 30)
Cleary is fit enough to dab over the gifted two points. It’s all going according to script so far for the Panthers.
29 mins: The attempted short line drop-out goes out on the full. Penrith will have a shot for two points.
28 mins: Another Penrith set that risks little and invites a dangerous play on the last. It isn’t clean, but Kenny’s grubber off broken play to Walsh under the posts still ends with a gang tackle and a line drop-out! This Panthers outfit are awesome. It’s like they have 14 or 15 men out there – and they all have ice in their veins.
27 mins: Penrith do what Penrith do best, ignore the noise, grind through an error-free set and hand the ball over 95m from their own line. They are so disciplined. A black hole sucking all the mass out of their orbit.
26 mins: The Panthers couldn’t care less and go through another regulation set. Brisbane don’t know what one of those look like. Their latest set of six begins incredibly with Arthars busting through the line and dashing to the Penrith 40. From the left the Broncos are desperate to send the ball to the right with Walsh in the line, but Reynolds can’t execute the pass under pressure and the chance goes begging. Even worse, in contact, Reynolds looks to have pulled his left groin. He’s staying on for now, but it could well interfere with his performance.
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24 mins: The Broncos need a spark and a couple of big runs from Haas and Carrigan could be just that. Brisbane are desperate to keep the ball alive, throwing risky offloads left and right until there’s a high kick to the right corner on the last. Cobbo looks favoured to win the battle with Turuva but the ball goes out of play. Replays indicate the Panther only had eyes for the Bronco in that duel and was fortunate not to be penalised for obstruction.
22 mins: Finally an error! The try-scorer Kenny was scragged by Reynolds and as he landed a full pelt his weight squeezed the ball loose from his grasp. Brisbane can breathe their first sigh of relief. It is a long sigh too with Flegler extending the stoppage as he is invited to take an HIA on the sideline.
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21 mins: Penrith’s error-free half continues from the restart. 11/11 completed sets. Brisbane manage a fifth – and it almost ends with another Walters 40-20 but Turuva does magnificently to scramble and dive to keep the kick in play.
Conversion! Penrith 6-0 Brisbane (Crichton 19)
Interestingly, Crichton takes the conversion in his final game before departing for the Bulldogs. In back play Cleary is being treated by trainers for a left knee injury. His deputy makes no mistake and the Panthers take a deserved 6-0 lead.
TRY! Penrith 4-0 Brisbane (Kenny 18)
Finally the Panthers open the scoring – but not how they would have expected! Reynolds nails the short drop-out, Farnworth wins the aerial battle and palms the ball backwards – but there’s nobody in a white jersey nearby! Kenny can’t believe his luck as the ball bounces into his path a metre from the line. His first try for the season is in a grand final!
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17 mins: From a 10m scrum on the left the Panthers begin their assault on the Brisbane line. Leota’s repelled, then To’o, and Fisher-Harris. Crichton straightens up on the fourth, but time after time there’s a tackle and cover. How have the Broncos not conceded points? On the last the grubber to the right corner looks threatening but Walsh is across to cover – but at the concession of a line drop-out.
16 mins: Again Penrith fly downfield with Fisher-Harris finding an offload and Martin driving hard. Cleary kicks from 20 but yet again there’s a white jersey plucking it from the sky. It’s Staggs again, but the hara-kiri continues with Staggs and Walsh making a mess of the play-the-ball 10m from his own line! That’s Brisbane’s fifth error. Penrith have yet to transgress.
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14 mins: The Panthers are soon on Brisbane’s 20m line. Luai and Cleary both try to dart through, then the ball goes through Penrith hands like it’s a hot potato with nobody wanting to take responsibility. That same lack of cohesion continues on the last with a kick that comes to nought. The Broncos have defended well so far, but they need to steady the ship.
12 mins: Brisbane go through a safe set – complete with another Haas offload – but Walsh hammers a 60m kick that bobbles through the in-goal and into touch. Another gift for Penrith.
11 mins: Brisbane survive this time, covering five tackles inside 30m and denying Edwards a kick on the last. Superb defence both in the middle and on the flanks. This is fast and exhausting footy though, and in this heat it has to take its toll.
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10 mins: Penrith get to work and grind through the metres from halfway until Cleary breaks the line and gets to the red zone. On the last Luai can’t find room with his grubber and Brisbane survive – but not for long! There’s a turnover almost immediately and the Panthers resume their onslaught. The Broncos cannot continue to gift a side like Penrith easy ball. There will be only one outcome.
9 mins: Penrith deliver a steadying set but Brisbane have the bit between their teeth and hammer straight back at pace. Farnworth sets the tone on the left but then it goes through hands to the right (including those of the fit Walsh) as the Broncos eat up the metres. Haas now does his trademark spin in contact, finds the offload, but it isn’t secured by a white jersey and the attack grinds to a halt. Live by the sword, die by the sword I guess.
7 mins: From the restart Brisbane are all business and on tackle two go quickly to the left. There’s an overlap if they can execute – and they almost do! So close! Unfortunately the final pass to Arthars is too hot and he loses his footing reeling it in. Superb start to this match.
6 mins: In back play Reece Walsh looks proppy, but Walters doesn’t care – he SMASHES A 40-20 to turn defence into attack! What a kick!
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5 mins: Penrith start to open up off the resulting scrum and on the fourth tackle threaten the right corner through Tago. He’s hauled down near the line and from the play the ball Cleary bombs over the posts but Staggs does amazingly to mark then wriggle out of contact and away from the line drop-out zone.
4 mins: Leota pummels Carrigan with a mighty carry, sending the Bronco flying backwards. Those metres gained allow Cleary to launch a testing kick but Coobo is equal to it. Penrith then set about Brisbane in defence, and by tackle four there’s a loose carry on the ground – the Broncos with the first mistake! Martin did the hard work, forcing Farnworth into the error, and he and Leota then stood over their vanquished foe, snarling like two of the heads of Cerberus.
Can the Panthers capitalise?
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2 mins: Luai claims a testing kick-off and Fisher-Harris relishes the first hit-up. The Panthers invite their front five to bulldoze towards halfway before Cleary bombs downfield. The Broncos also make no mistakes with their opening set. Nothing flash from either side early on in the heat.
Kick-off!
The two best teams of 2023 have 80 minutes to decide who will lift the premiership trophy.
Never mind that, it’s time for kick off. Old vs new. Black vs white. NSW vs Queensland. Here we go!
Uncle Allan Madden performs the Welcome to Country, then everyone stands for a pretty ordinary rendition of the national anthem.
And now the Panthers, top to toe in intimidating black, old hands at this grand final lark, led by Isaah Yeo. But in the stands, judging by the noise, Penrith fans are definitely outnumbered.
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The Broncos are first onto the Sydney turf, greeted by a wall of noise, and the sight of many thousands of Queenslanders. Brisbane are in white jerseys, maroon shorts and white socks.
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Can Brisbane snap the streak, or will Penrith make history? The NRL grand final is just moments away.
There’s the son of Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai, shedding a tear in a barber’s chair, waiting for his grandpa to return.
There’s the sporting goods store coach Ivan Cleary used to buy boots for his son, the star halfback Nathan.
There, the restaurant Nathan Cleary named as his favourite, not long after he signed his long-term deal with the Panthers.
The black, yellow, red, and green (and pink) streamers on the shops down Penrith’s High Street. Signs above the door when you walk into the library. More adorning council fences. Decals on car after car.
Adam Gee will referee his first Premiership decider, supported by touch judges Chris Sutton and David Munro, with the heavily scrutinised Ashley Klein in the bunker. Klein refereed last year’s decider, and all three matches in this year’s State of Origin series, but along with fellow veteran Gerard Sutton, has faced criticism over a number of major decisions in recent weeks.
And about that Brisbane flair - they will have to do something miraculous to fashion a winning score against the incredible Penrith defence. The Panthers have shipped an average of just 8.25 points per game in their last eight finals, and conceded just four and 13 points to the Broncos in their two previous clashes this season.
For all the talk around Penrith’s halves and Brisbane’s flair, like every big game the battle up front is likely to be the most significant determining factor. And what a battle we have in store.
The Panthers’ pack have dominated for three seasons in a row with the menace of James Fisher-Harris, the nous of Isaah Yeo, and the drive of Liam Martin – one of my personal favourites.
But if there’s a mob with the brawn and endeavour to match them it’s the Broncos. Thomas Flegler, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell, and another personal favourite – Patrick Carrigan – have proven themselves time and again at Origin level and will not be overawed by the occasion.
With the Kangaroos in Pacific Cup action later this month, today’s 80 minutes could be effectively a forward pack international trial.
Final prep 🔥#pantherpride 🐾 #huntinghistory pic.twitter.com/3LhPRAP34M
— Penrith Panthers 🏆🏆 (@PenrithPanthers) October 1, 2023
I love this!
— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) September 27, 2023
Billy Walters helping his Dad carry the trophy in 2000.. hope they both get the chance on Sunday to do it again!
Go @brisbanebroncos #NRLGF
📷 The Rude Gentleman pic.twitter.com/jng1gLwMAC
Remember when nepo babies were all over the news? They missed a trick by not focussing on rugby league. Last year we had Brad Arthur and son Jake for the Eels taking on Ivan and Nathan Cleary of the Panthers. This time around the Clearys face another father-son combo in Kevin and Billy Walters.
Anyway, back to the business at hand.
Bring back the Channel Ten Sports Action Dancers#nrlgf #bronxnation pic.twitter.com/XD0PoF7G9n
— australian kitsch 🦘 (@OzKitsch) September 30, 2023
Let’s just pretend what we’re watching right now is this:
Up next is the pregame headline act – someone pretending to be Tina Turner. The press release from the NRL reads:
A very special performance from TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL will headline the entertainment at this year’s NRL and NRLW Telstra Premiership Grand Final. Marking 30 years since Tina Turner’s iconic performance at the 1993 Grand Final and celebrating her unique association with the game, the cast of the smash hit musical is bringing Turner’s music back to the game’s biggest stage.
Featuring iconic songs including “Simply The Best”, “Nutbush” and “Proud Mary”, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL tells the story of Tina Turner’s life and has received 37 prestigious award nominations including Best Musical (Tony Awards) and Best New Musical (Olivier Awards).
The entertainment line-up on Grand Final day also includes two performances from Australian rock band, King Stingray. The five-piece from the Northern Territory, who perform in both English and Yolŋu Matha languages, will deliver the NRLW Grand Final pre-game show before returning to the stage in the build up to the NRL Grand Final.
I’m keeping my eyes peeled for Limmy.
The prematch entertainment has kicked off with a splendid rendition of Down Under by King Stingray.
Dale Finnucane. Speaks like Darren Lockyer, sings like James Taylor #NRLGF
— John Davidson (@johnnyddavidson) October 1, 2023
That was unexpected, and really quite good.
To remember the rugby league figures that have died this year Channel Nine’s In Memoriam segment was accompanied by Dale Finucane (yes, the 100kg Cronulla forward) singing tenderly and playing an acoustic guitar. He did a great job.
The list of names that appeared behind Finucane included rugby league legends Lionel Morgan, John Sattler, and Tina Turner.
It’s been a big weekend for Brisbane football. Broncos fans will hope to enjoy their day out more than their Lions counterparts did yesterday. They will definitely be better represented in Sydney than they were in Melbourne, with the balance of support in Accor Stadium possibly even leaning their way by kick-off.
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Penrith are bidding to become first team in 40 years to win three in a row, but how much has rugby league changed in that time?
Words about the all-conquering Penrith Panthers have hardly been exchanged this week without referencing those Eels: the last team to go three in a row. The Panthers are tipped by many to replicate the feat this Sunday. That would bookend rugby league’s era of radical change, as the game’s protagonists describe it.
Fans of all persuasions have descended on Accor Stadium for today’s celebration of league. Despite a push for a PNG team, Gethin wants a side from the WA back in the NRL. “It’s a national comp, it makes sense to fill out the states in Australia before expanding elsewhere.” pic.twitter.com/iBz17Robvd
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 1, 2023
Fiancés Katie and Joel drove down from the Sunshine Coast for the match. They head back tonight, to get Katie to work at 2pm tomorrow. “Today it’s slowly peaking anxiety,” Panthers fan Joel says. Katie believes it’s the Broncos time. “They’ve had enough, they can share.” pic.twitter.com/7QoOsJV2Wr
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 1, 2023
Mostafa Rachwani explores the culture that has made Penrith so special.
The Panthers have become the epitome of a local success story. Key players have come through their youth setup based in the Penrith region.
Today’s grand final caps a rapid turnaround for the Broncos after the competition powerhouses risked becoming a byword for mismanagement.
It has been a remarkable return from such dark days. Three very different men – Walters, Reynolds, Walsh – have brought three very different elements that have led Brisbane back to the promised land. Clubs often talk about rebuilds but rarely do they have any true plan about rebuilding a culture. Credit must go to the Broncos, who had a plan. It worked and they are now 80 minutes away from premiership glory.
From the NRL:
The list of players who will attend on grand final day to be acknowledged includes 300-game players Andrew McCullough (St George-Illawarra Dragons), James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys) and Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders).
Others who will take part in the tribute include Brad Takairangi and Mitch Rein (Parramatta Eels), Josh Reynolds (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Korbin Sims, Daniel Alvaro and Renee Targett (St George Illawarra Dragons), Lachlan Coote (North Queensland Cowboys), Sam Williams (Canberra Raiders), and Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks).
Additional players to be acknowledged through the tribute are Josh Hodgson (Parramatta Eels), Tevita Pangai-Junior (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) and Sam Bremner (Sydney Roosters).
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said:
We will never take for granted what the players and their families contribute to the game, which is why today’s celebration of their rugby league careers is so important.
The retiring players tribute is an opportunity for the rugby league community to say thank you. The players have made significant contributions to the game during their careers, and we wish them well in their careers going forward.
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It’s time for Wade Graham to narrate a send-off to this year’s notable retirees.
Retiring or departing players: class of 2023 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PrRPp27MEa
— NRL (@NRL) September 30, 2023
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Brisbane XVII
The Broncos are also unchanged, which means veteran Corey Oates – the only survivor from Brisbane’s last grand final – misses out.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Interchange: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia
Reserves: 18. Corey Oates
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Penrith XVII
No late changes from the two-time defending champions who go in unchanged from their preliminary final demolition of the Storm. From one to 17, this is a well-oiled machine that will be hard to shift. Nine Panthers are taking the field for their fourth grand final in a row.
There remain doubts over the fitness of Jarome Luai who dislocated his left shoulder a month ago, but he’s already proven he can play through pain.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Jack Cogger 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner
Reserve: 18. Tyrone Peachey
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One thing you should know (or are probably already enjoying / dealing with) is that it is hot!
Too hot for 1 October. According to data from the Bureau of Meteorology, two years had tied for Sydney’s hottest 1 October on record: 33.1C was recorded at Observatory Hill weather station in both 1961 and 2009. However, the station recorded 35.6C at 3.02pm, smashing the previous record. Sydney Airport’s mercury got up to 36.9C and Penrith’s peaked at 37.3C at 3.07pm.
It will still be pushing 30C at kick-off, and clearly the heat will be a factor with both teams having to carefully manage their interchange.
If that wasn’t difficult enough for players to contend with, the hot weather has been accompanied by a stiff northwesterly breeze that will shift to a southwesterly during the night. The coin toss for the choice of end may prove to be a factor.
The NRL grand final is the third match of a busy day at Accord Stadium. Already we have seen the Rabbitohs defeat the Tigers in the NRL State Championship and the Knights power home late to down the Titans in the NRLW grand final. Tamika Upton was at her brilliant best.
Nick Tedeschi sets the scene:
The old saying goes that defence wins premierships; it has without question been a fair guide for the better part of two decades. Since 2006, the year the Melbourne Storm changed rugby league by making winning the tackle the centrepiece of success, only four teams with a worse defensive record than their grand final opponent have won.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the NRL grand final between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos. Kick-off at Accor Stadium in Sydney is scheduled for 7.30pm AEDT.
On a baking hot October evening at the Olympic Stadium, this is the premiership decider the 2023 season has long been building towards: the relentless Penrith juggernaut against Brisbane’s effervescent scene-stealers.
Since round three of the home and away season the Panthers spent 14 weeks on top of the ladder, the Broncos 10. The duopoly was interrupted only briefly, at the end of round 11 by the Rabbitohs, before order was restored swiftly.
This pair won the most games and lost the fewest, scored the most points and conceded the least. Simply the best.
For the Panthers, tonight is all about history. They stand 80 minutes away from becoming the first side in 40 years to win three grand finals in a row, and the first of the NRL era.
For the Broncos it’s about redemption. Absent from the showpiece since 2015, and without a premiership since 2006, the mighty Queensland organisation have plumbed uncharacteristically low depths in recent times, but they have risen from the ashes with one of the most exciting groups in modern footy, led by arguably the most dynamic young player of his generation in Reece Walsh.
Let’s settle in, enjoy all the sights and sounds from Sydney, and savour the two best sides in the competition slugging it out for the NRL’s biggest prize.
