And with that, we should leave the Storm players to their celebrations. And the Panthers to their commiserations. Melbourne won it in the first half; Penrith ensured there was a period of squeaky bum time for the Storm as time ran out, but ultimately, Cam Smith’s team held on and are NRL premiers once again.
Thanks for joining us. Here’s Emma Kemp’s match report:
Updated
The Storm players get up onto the stage and one-by-one receive their premiership rings from Craig Bellamy. Time for Cameron Smith to speak again - plenty of thank yous, respect for Penrith etc. Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo get a mention for getting the competition back up and running. But nothing about his future plans, natch.
He signs off with some words of wisdom for his teammates: “Lastly, fellas, this 2020 season, it’s one like no other and what we’ve been able to achieve tonight, it’s - we’ll never forget it. We’ll remember it for the rest of our lives and a big congratulations to everyone, particularly the boys that are celebrating their first premiership. Hold on to that forever, boys.”
Cue Tina Turner....
The kid looks a bit overwhelmed. “This is unbelievable,” he says. “I’m pretty speechless. I got pretty emotional after the game. It’s been a bloody tough year. We didn’t know where we were going. We were sitting on the tarmac at Bankstown Airport and we didn’t have a clue where we were going. We just stuck together, we overcome and adapted and we got history.
“It’s been a great year. Been able to play with the GOAT and these boys again, thanks, Penrith. You are really good. 17 in a row is an unbelievable achievement. Well done to you guys. Thanks to our fans who stuck strong. Especially our ones back in Victoria. It’s a tough time back in Victoria. It’s a tough time back there at the moment and we wear the V on our jersey proudly. Can’t wait to go back there and celebrate with you guys, so thank you.”
Updated
And your Clive Churchill medal winner is.... Ryan Papenhuyzen!
Clive Churchill medal announcement is on its way...
Josh Addo-Carr and Cam Munster, being nice about Penrith. Here’s JAC:
“We knew the Panthers would come out firing. We got the start that we wanted. You know, full credit to Panthers. They will be a very tough side for many years to come.”
And Munster: “We know what Penrith are like, the best team. Their attack outstanding. That’s the reason why they are the minor premiers. We knew we had to start well. We didn’t off the kick-off, but 50/50 in some tries there, just ended up getting the right bit of green. But full credit to Penrith tonight. It’s been the best team all year like I said.”
And the maestro Cameron Smith: “We did it the hard way there, 11 men in the end. Penrith were coming home with a wet sail and playing the footy they played all year. It’s just been terrific.
“As a club and team and organisation, we’ve admired what Penrith have done this year, to win 17 in a row in this competition, it’s a special effort. On top of what everyone’s been through this year, as I said before the game, it is going to be a great contest. There’s another couple of minutes on the clock, I don’t know what would have happened there. You’ve got to give credit to Penrith. They fought to the end.
“I’m just really proud of this - not just this football team that played tonight, the entire squad. There’s a handful of players there that they trained, they trained hard every year and applied it every day, applied themselves every day to help the 17 going out on the weekend and they didn’t even get a game of football this year. You know, the entire squad has done a fantastic effort. We haven’t been home for about five months. You know, just with the conditions that we’ve been under, I think it’s just a remarkable effort to be here tonight and to get a victory.”
A disappointed Nathan Cleary: “Super disappointing. I thought I let the boys down, but, yeah, hopefully we’ll be back.
“There were a few moments through our intercept and obviously the one at half-time, and, just let in too many ordinary tries. They were too good.
“We’ve got a taste of it now. It’s going to hurt for along time, but it’s fuelled us for next year. Train harder than ever now.”
Melbourne tryscorer Ryan Papenhuyzen: “I’m so emotional.Oh, wow! The whole day was just the unknown. You don’t know what’s going to happen. You’re so confident in the boys, but these guys coming off 17 in a row, the most butterflies I’ve ever had. These boys, we’ve done it so tough this year. We have the V on our jersey because back home they’re doing it a lot tougher than we are. That is unbelievable, so proud of the boys. I didn’t think I would be able to do one of these and we’ve done it.
“Our first half, that’s the best defensive performance I have seen from our side this year. We had confidence after last week that we could start well and done that. They came back strong at the end, but our first half definitely set the platform. That’s unbelievable.”
What a finish to the game! My goodness, the Panthers made you think they could actually pull off a miraculous comeback. In the end, they fell just short, as Melbourne Storm once again prove they’re the best in the business. Stick around for the post-match interviews.
Full-time: Panthers 20-26 Storm
80 mins: Such drama late on but the Storm hang on! Melbourne are NRL premiers!
Try: Panthers 20-26 Storm
80 mins: Cleary scores! He runs at the Storm defence all on his own and goes over! He declines the kick and they’ll have one final chance to score - one play to go the length of the pitch...
79 mins: It’s been one hell of a fight by Penrith, but they’ve simply run out of time. Melbourne look like they’re going to hold on. Meanwhile, Smith is sinbinned for a professional foul and the Panthers will finish with 11 men on the pitch.
77 mins: Time is running out for Penrith. Mansour can’t get on the end of a loose ball in the Storm in-goal following a Kikau kick... it’s not going to be their night.
74 mins: The Storm defence looks slight ragged as Penrith turn up the offensive heat. Lui kicks a high swirling ball forward which Papenhuyzen does really well to hold in the Storm in-goal. It’s now that the nerves will be heightened and errors can be made.
Try: Panthers 16-26 Storm
73 mins: The Panthers are back in this! Incredible scenes in Sydney! Lui throws a brilliant ball over the top to Mansour who’s all alone out wide and touches down! Cleary’s kick is askew, but still, we have a game on our hands here. Are the Panthers about the stage one of the greatest comebacks of all time?
72 mins: The Panthers have the wind in their sails now - they can smell a comeback. They get anther six as the crowd turns up the volume. Clearly jinks forward...
71 mins: Panthers ball. Crichton threatens. Storm repel the attack. But hang on - they’re looking into a professional foul now – Hughes on Kikau as the Panthers man looked to race onto a kick. Cam Smith argues the toss but it’s ruled as a professional foul and Hughes is off! Drama at ANZ Stadium with nine minutes to go in the 2020 grand final!
Try: Panthers 12-26 Storm
69 mins: The crowd erupts as Crichton gives the Panthers a glimmer of hope! Cleary is at the centre of the move, passing to Lee who in turn feed Crichton. The youngster steps inside and out before barrelling across the line and, with 11 minutes remaining, do we have a game on our hands?
67 mins: Papenhuyzen! What an athlete! He leaps yards over the touchline to knock a high kick back into play. Amazingly he keeps it alive - tremendous effort!
65 mins: A brief moment of excitement for the Panthers as they look to break on the left hand side, but Mansour’s unexpected attempted kick is smothered and the move fizzles out. The groan from the stands is audible...
63 mins: The Storm are nearly through again here after a brilliant pass from Kaufusi to Lee, but he is held up. Last tackle is called and the pressure eases.
Updated
61 mins: Melbourne hold a 20-point lead, with 20 minutes to go, and they begin a new set on the 20m line. But they make a mess of it and Penrith come away with the ball.
60 mins: Even if Penrith received a boost from that try, time is rapidly running out for them to capitalise. A quarter of the grand final remains, and the Storm are again pressing forward.
57 mins: Dale Finucane is hit hard by Kikau, and the big man gets up gingerly. In fact, he’ll have to come off for an HIA. It’s a brutal game, rugby league.
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54 mins: Are Penrith back in this one now? Certainly the crowd have been revived by that try - and the slice of luck finally afforded to them.
Try: Panthers 6-26 Storm
53 mins: But hang on, Penrith look to have got one back! Yeo dinks a kick through and Brian To’o races onto it and grounds the ball right in the corner! There’s a degree of controversy over the legality of the kick in the first place, Yeo having taken advantage of running behind one of his own players, but the Bunker isn’t bothered about that. To’o is adjudged to have stayed in play and the try stands! Cleary adds the two, off the post and through.
Updated
52 mins: It looks like the Storm have scored again, as play is switched from left to right. Hughes kicks through and Vunivalu sprints ahead of Mansour to touch down! But replays show it wasn’t a clean touch down, and the try won’t stand. Worrying signs for Penrith, regardless.
51 mins: Here come the Storm, surging down the left hand side of the ANZ Stadium pitch. The passing is slick, the running is hard...
48 mins: Mansour gets dragged back about 10m by three Storm players - not the direction the Panthers need to be going at this stage. Melbourne look in total control - and that feeling doesn’t go away as moments later Kikau is pulled up for touching the ball a second time as he tries to roll it under his boot. Oh dear, these errors are going to be costly for Penrith.
Try: Panthers 0-26 Storm
46 mins: Papenhuyzen scores! Is that it? Brilliant play from the Storm man who spots a hole in the Panthers’ line, puts his head down and hoons off to score what could be a crucial try for the Storm! Smith... misses with the extras! But still, a healthy lead has just got even healthier and the Panthers have it all to do.
45 mins: Moments later Penrith are called for a Leota knock-on. He challenges the call but after a brief break, it’s unsuccessful.
43 mins: Cleary launches a huge kick under pressure that Vunivalu allows to bounce. He recovers and the Storm go again with a fresh six. But Addo-Carr makes a hash of his handling, some confusion follows and there’s a knock on somewhere. Penrith will feed a scrum.
41 mins: And we’re back under way in Sydney. Given what Cleary just said, can the trophy engraver crack on with writing Storm on the premiership trophy as soon as Melbourne score again? Here they come early this second half... Munster kicks at the end of their six - a decent one at that.
Ivan Cleary still believes. “Obviously didn’t go quite to plan in the first half, but I think it’s important we score next. Doesn’t have to be straight away. We can’t concede another point, another try. We can do that. Anything can happen. Get some momentum going. That’s the goal at the moment. They don’t score again and we’re next to score.”
Sterlo on the TV has just said it will be the greatest premiership comeback if the Panthers can get back into this one. He’s not wrong.
Billy Slater, meanwhile, says of his old mate Smith becoming the all-time top points scorer in grand finals (42): “Just another record for Cameron Smith. Boy, didn’t he go to work in that first half. The great No 9, it started with an early kick out of dummy half. He turned the Penrith Panthers around and allowed his aggressive defensive line to get up and apply the pressure on it. He kicked multiple penalty goals and it’s just his true indication in defence, he’s so effective in that middle third of the field. He’s suffocating Penrith Panthers, but picking up the right options and also picking up the first try of his grand final career. So this is his grand final career. So this is his first grand final try. If this is his last game, he’s certainly making it count.”
The first 40 minutes in brief:
- Melbourne took the lead through a penalty try after Tyrone May stuck out a leg on Justin Olam
- Suliasi Vunivalu scored a second after intercepting Nathan Cleary’s pass and running nearly the full length of the pitch
- Cam Smith, who also kicked two penalty goals, took advantage of a loose ball on the stroke of half-time to score Melbourne’s third
- Luckless Panthers have had two tries disallowed - first Josh Mansour and then Stephen Crichton
Half-time: Panthers 0-22 Storm
What a half of NRL football! It’s going to take quite some comeback from the Panthers if they are to catch the Storm after the break. Penrith will feel disappointed to be 22 point down without a reply, but many have found out to their cost that Cameron Smith in this kind of mood is an awful proposition. The irrepressible Smith has been immaculate with his kicking this half, and added that try late on for good measure. If this is going to be his last game, he’s going about making it a memorable personal performance.
There’ll be plenty more twists and turns to come. Time to take a breath for now though. Half-time show coming up...
Panthers 0-22 Storm
40 mins: Smith celebrates a try! The immediate call is “no try”! Koroisau knocks the ball out of Smith’s hands as he tries to pass, but the veteran picks it up quickly, spots an opening and dives over the line. There’s no problem with that and Smith has his try! He adds the extras and the Storm will head into the sheds with a commanding lead!
38 mins: Oof, Asofa-Solomona surges forward as Melbourne threaten the Penrith line again.
36 mins: The intensity-ometer has just been turned up, as a couple of bone-crunching tackles come in from the Storm defence. The ball eventually goes forward and Melbourne will feed a scrum. The challenge for Penrith now is to keep Melbourne out until the half-time siren sounds.
34 mins: Melbourne get another set of six - and another chance inside the Panthers half to trouble the scorekeepers. Smith goes to Munster, who is brought down 5m out from the line before Kaufusi attempts a kick that is smothered. The Panthers survive.
Updated
32 mins: Channel Nine has done the analysis and Vunivalu was travelling at 33kph as he raced off towards the tryline there. Incredible sequence of play, and the Panthers must be feeling like it might not be their night already.
Panthers 0-16 Storm
31 mins: Here come the Panthers, looking to get on the scoreboard for the first time tonight. Martin looks to break through on the right hand side, it comes back inside to Cleary who looks to fling a long high ball back to the left flank... but Vunivalu is there! He plucks the ball out of the air, falls to the ground but springs back up and hares off towards the Panthers’ try line. They’re not going to stop him in a foot race! Vunivalu takes to the air in customary fashion and dives over the line! No bother for Smith with the conversion. Again.
Penalty goal: Panthers 0-10 Storm
27 mins: With the resulting kick, Smith makes no mistake from a very similar position to his last kick and the Storm extend their lead again!
Another penalty goal for Cam Smith and the Storm have hit double figures!
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) October 25, 2020
NRL Grand Final - LIVE and exclusive on Channel 9.#NRLGF #9WWOS #NRL #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/RtWTcXK28Y
Updated
26 mins: Some big hits coming from all angles at the moment. Fisher-Harris is pulled up for a late hit on Brandon Smith, who joins Welch off the pitch for HIA.
24 mins: Smith attempts a kick to touch but it hits Martin in the legs, so it’ll be a Penrith feed in a scrum.
Penalty goal: Panthers 0-8 Storm
22 mins: It’s been quite the opening quarter of this match – hectic to say the least, and filled with plenty of attacking moments. And there’s more drama now as Kikau is called for picking the ball up in an offside position. Smith will have a chance to add another couple for the Storm. He’s deadly accurate and Melbourne edge further ahead.
17 mins: The crowd can sense something here... Martin leaps like a salmon to take an AFL-type mark to the delight of those in the stands, but it comes to nothing. An aside: it’s great to hear real fans and real reactions in a proper sized crowd at a sporting event. There must be plenty looking on from afar with a touch of jealousy that there’s a major sporting event that fans are able to enjoy in person.
16 mins: Now the pressure turns to the other end - Cleary flicks to Kikau, who bursts forward before Crichton gets the ball and tries to dive over the line! The call is no try, and judging from the Panthers’ muted reaction, that’s probably the case. Yes, he doesn’t get it down and we’re stil at 6-0.
14 mins: The Storm had momentum here, but Bromwich is hit hard and loses the ball. With that goes a bit of the pressure on Penrith, who can breathe again and look to build from deep in their own half.
12 mins: Here goes Mansour, making some metres for Penrith. Then Kikau takes up the mantle, but he turns the ball over to Melbourne after playing the ball after his arm hit the ground. Danger looms here.
10 mins: That’s two Bunker decisions that have gone against the Panthers already tonight. Not a great way to start the game for them, but both looked to be correct.
8 mins: Mansour leaps over in the corner to get the Panthers back on level terms! They look to get a little stuck in the middle of field, but some quick hands from Luai to Kikau and then to Mansour on the outside opens things up. But the Panthers are left disappointed by the review system again - this time Crichton is penalised for running into the defensive line and the try won’t stand!
5 mins: Well, that’s a turn-up for the books - penalty tries are a rarity in the grand finals. How will the Panthers respond to that now?
Penalty try: Panthers 0-6 Storm
4 mins: Is this a the first try of the game? No, says the referee, despite Melbourne’s celebrations!. Addo-Carr keeps the ball alive for the Storm, flicking it back inside to Olam, who tries to burrow under May to the line. He doesn’t get the ball over, but on review the call is that May’s leg prevented Olam from scoring and he’s given a penalty try! Smith adds the extras from the sideline, and the Storm lead early!
3 mins: Melbourne hold their line despite the early pressure from the Panthers though, and will now get a first chance to move downfield.
1 min: And we’re off! Cleary boots the Black Hawk-delivered ball down field, where the Storm struggle to pick it up. Hughes let the ball bounce, the Panthers pounce and it’s Penrith ball from a scrum! Great start for the team in black.
National anthem: Chloe Zoule has some pipes! She delivers a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair. And we’re just about ready to go (just the six minutes behind schedule so far, which isn’t too bad).
Here they come! Smith leads the Storm down the tunnel and out into the stadium... to a chorus of boos from the “home” crowd.
The reception as the Panthers arrive could not be more different. The minor premiers burst out of the tunnel to a rock soundtrack and a hearty welcome. 40,000 fans are inside the stadium tonight.
The match ball has been delivered onto the pitch by.... a Black Hawk helicopter. Because, why not? We’re nearly at kick-off. The teams are just getting ready to leave the sheds and enter the arena.
Updated
Ivan Cleary talks: “[This week has been] a little bit less commitments than usual but can still feel the buzz. In Penrith, the community is right into it so it’s been really cool. It’s obviously a difficult season for everybody involved. I just - the fact we have been so consistent’s been probably the thing that’s really pressed me andI’m most proud about.
“[The weather] is definitely a factor, how you control are the ball, kicking game. Defence particularly in their end of the field is going to be key tonight.
“We’ll have some definite things about how we start but you’ve also got to play the game. There are going to be moments out there tonight and you’ve got to be alive and ready to play. We have been able to do it all year and I think we can do it again tonight.”
Craig Bellamy talks: “A bit excited, a bit nervous. You never get sick of coming to a grand final but it has been a lot different this year. Only came down yesterday. Usually you’re down here three or four days before the grand final.The guys have been great all year and they’ve handled what we’ve had to handle and it’s been a great year and hopefully we can finish off in style today.”
Asked what his message was to the Storm players, Bellamy said: “I want them going out and playing their strengths. Back themselves and do what they do well. That’s why they are in the team.They are in the team for a certain reason, what they do well. We need them to go out and do that well today.”
NRLW: In case you missed it earlier, the Broncos underlined their utter dominance of the women’s competition with a 20-10 win over the Roosters. That’s an incredible three straight Brisbane titles since the competition’s inception.
The pre-match entertainment is under way at ANZ – Amy Shark has just wrapped up her set. If you want a view on that, head to Twitter – there are plenty of opinions on that website.
I’ve no intention of labouring the point about what the NRL has been through to get to this point, so will instead point you in the direction of this, by Emma Kemp:
Much like some sports stars, coronavirus does not adhere to regulations, and the line between risk and reward was as fine as they come. The NRL operated at the behest of the pandemic, and just about got away with it.
Read the full piece here:
Channel Nine’s update on the weather has the conditions “wreaking havoc”. Can’t wait.
New South Wales has been issued with a severe weather warning for hail, flash flooding and damaging winds, and Sydney is copping it too with wet conditions expected to wreak havoc for the NRL Grand Final. @hansinclair9 #9News pic.twitter.com/7mHloZ29qj
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) October 25, 2020
Cameron Smith: Will he? Won’t he? The Storm great is still giving nothing away (officially) about his future after tonight’s game. It’s been the talk of the town all week (and for ages before that to be honest), but Smith is not going to be drawn. Earlier Freddie Fittler had a go at getting him to, but with no joy.
“I’ll just try to keep the team with a level head,” Smith said on Channel None. “A result won’t determine my decision past this year. Whatever the result is, I will go away and think about it after this game. Whatever will be, will be.”
Team news: No late changes for the Storm, but Ivan Cleary has sprung one with Tyrone May starting in the centres for the Panthers. Brent Naden will start on the bench. It is just the eighth time utility May has started a game this season
Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Josh Mansour, Tyrone May, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, James Tamou (captain), Apisai Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo. Interchange: Brent Naden , Kurt Capewell, Moses Leota, Zane Tetevano. Reserves: Mitch Kenny, Dean Whare, Matt Burton, Spencer Leniu.
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen, Suliasi Vunivalu, Brenko Lee, Justin Olam, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (captain), Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, Kenneath Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Interchange: Brandon Smith, Tino Faasuamaleaui, Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes. Reserves: Tom Eisenhuth, Paul Momirovski, Tui Kamikamica, Ryley Jacks.
Tonight’s referee is Gerard Sutton.
The toss: This happened earlier – the Panthers won it and will kick off proceedings later tonight.
😆"I had no idea!"😆
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) October 25, 2020
The toss even threw the man who won it!
NRL Grand Final - LIVE and exclusive on Channel 9.#NRLGF #9WWOS #NRL #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/zEYBT34WxO
Weather update: It’s been steadily raining pretty much all day in Sydney – the opening round of the Women’s Big Bash League has already been impacted by the rain – and slippery conditions, both underfoot at ANZ and in terms of ball-handling could well be factors in deciding the NRL grand final. My weather sources (the internet) tell me there’s a lot more rain to come tonight too.
Preamble
Well, here we are then. The final act of an engrossing, unique and plain bonkers season, the likes of which we will surely never see again. Coronavirus did its best to derail the 2020 campaign, but, given we are about to enjoy the spectacle of a grand final at ANZ Stadium, you could say it failed. Sure, the NRL had to demonstrate a degree of agility and deal with a few curveballs along the way, but a mix of stubbornness, determination and a large slice of luck has meant we are in a position where there will be a 2020 premiership winner. You could argue there will be an asterisk by the name of either the Panthers or Storm later this evening, given the disruption to the season, but that’s a discussion for another time. For now, there’s a grand final to be played, some elite rugby league to be enjoyed and a
Kick off is scheduled for 7:30pm AEDT, which is about an hour away. Plenty to talk about before then, so why don’t you drop me a line at mike.hytner@theguardian.com or tweet @mike_hytner. It’s always more fun having others on board.
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