Nathan Cleary joined historical past’s best gamers inspiring an epic comeback because the Panthers gained 26-24 to seal a primary three-peat in 40 years.
Meanwhile, Dylan Edwards outpointed Reece Walsh within the No.1 duel and Ivan Cleary joined the elite coaches.
Read on for the 2023 NRL Grand Final Talking Points.
Kenny strikes off ALL-TIME GF BLUNDER | 00:40
CLEARY STUNS WITH SECOND CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDAL
Nathan Cleary introduced himself as a lock for future NRL Immortality by inspiring one of many best Grand Final comebacks ever.
The Panthers had been down 16 factors with 17 minutes to go earlier than Cleary took over the sport to complete with 66 run metres, 4 sort out busts, two offloads, two linebreaks, a linebreak help, two attempt assists and the match successful attempt in a 12-point haul.
Cooper Cronk believes Cleary made historical past by placing the Panthers on his again.
“Nathan Cleary just etched himself into the history books. Legendary performance,” Cronk stated.
“Down 24-8 with 20 minutes to go. Jarome Luai goes off the field. No Isaah Yeo and Broncos were running down hill. They had that much momentum.
“Cleary throws everything from that team in terms of history on his shoulders. He plays first receiver. He plays second receiver.
“With three minutes to go in the game they need to score a try and Nathan throws it under the arm. Three left foot steps across the field. Finds space and touches down, all done. Greatness arrived.”
Michael Ennis believes Cleary simply stepped up and owned extra moments within the clutch because the Panthers stormed dwelling to a 3rd straight title.
“They talk about the championship moments and Cleary owned them, it was absolutely incredible to start that second half when Ezra Mam ripped the hearts out of the Penrith side,” Ennis stated.
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“Yet as Penrith do, hadn’t always capitalised on the scoreboard, but often come over the top of the opposition in the second half.
“The spotlight just seemed to go so brightly on Nathan Cleary, the pressure gauge would have been absolutely incredible.
“The weight of expectation with everyone looking at Cleary going ‘how does he get his side out of this’.
“You see Jarome Luai leave the field… it was all on Nathan Cleary and he stood up like the great champions do and completely owned the performance and took it away from Brisbane.
“In one of the great performances that coaches, all across sport, will reflect on about a desire to continue to fight even when the game isn’t going your way.
“That the game is never done, and that’s what the champions do and tonight Nathan Cleary has become a rugby league champion.”
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns stated the final 20 minutes put Cleary among the many best halves of soccer by a halfback in a grand ultimate.
“Nathan Cleary has just elevated himself into NRL immortality,” Johns stated.
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Cleary swarmed after Clive Churchill win | 00:40
EDWARDS OUTSHINES WALSH IN NO.1 DUEL
Dylan Edwards gave Reece Walsh a masterclass in easy methods to keep concerned and restrict your errors in one other sensible and constant efficiency from the Panthers fullback.
The battle of the No.1’s was all the time going to show pivotal to the end result and whereas Walsh grew into the competition he was sluggish to get going and responsible of far too many errors.
Edwards completed with 271 run metres to go together with three sort out busts, an offload and 7 tackles, with only one miss.
Walsh completed with 102 metres, 10 sort out busts, an offload, two linebreaks and a attempt help, however he additionally had three errors and a few poor defensive lapses.
Corey Parker believes Edwards gave precisely what he all the time does in a constant show, however was left wanting extra out of Walsh within the greatest recreation of the season.
“He was unbelievable,” Parker stated of Edwards.
“We talk about Nathan Cleary for what he did and rightly so, but for Edwards 25 hit-ups, close to 300 run metres from the No.1.
“We spoke about how Ivan Cleary doesn’t have to worry about what Edwards is going to do. He knows exactly what he is going to turn up with.
“We spoke about Reece Walsh and understanding the enormity of the game that he was in and to be fair he was pretty quiet in the first half.
“He had some moments in that second half where he really opened up and you thought Reece is really going to loosen the game up.
“He set up a beautiful try for Ezra Mam and he came up with a linebreak down the right.
“But he would be sitting there going could I have done something a little bit more?”
Michael Ennis agreed that Walsh was responsible of ball watching at instances after choosing up an damage early and can really feel he missed some assignments in defence, whereas he struggled to get into the sport within the first half.
“You’re right I thought he had some brilliant touches in the second half and really ignited them when they got going and he was a big part of why they did get going,” Ennis stated.
“But I think there will be some moments particularly defensively. He picked up that little leg injury and was caught in back play with Allan Langer on that short dropout that Kenny scooped up and scored.
“He came across when Crichton scored and wasn’t able to get a grasp on Stephen Crichton.
“Then he hesitated for a moment when Cleary found him back on the inside from marker.
“He has had a hell of a year Reece and he is such a superstar but you are right, had they been able to hold on you don’t dwell on those moments.
“The adulation of winning a grand final just erases all the mistakes that you made, but when you lose it and it just seeps into your soul.”
Edwards outshined Walsh on the massive stage | 01:05
‘INCREDIBLE’ IVAN JOINS THE BEST OF THE BEST
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk has declared Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is now on the identical stage as Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson after guiding his facet to the sport’s first three-peat because the early Eighties.
Cleary returned to the foot of the mountains in 2019 for his second stint as head coach and has construct a juggernaut. In the final 5 years, the Panthers have made 4 consecutive grand finals, gained three minor premierships and three NRL premierships.
The newest grand ultimate win comes after shedding among the finest hookers and second-rowers within the recreation in Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau.
And but some would argue Penrith obtained even higher this season.
For years it’s been Bennett, Bellamy and Robinson main the dialog of greatest coaches within the NRL period however Fox League analyst Michael Ennis threw Cleary’s title within the combine.
“The character of the side and what Ivan Cleary’s been able to do – let’s not underestimate what Ivan’s been able to do… Four straight grand finals (and) three straight premierships in this era,” Ennis stated after Sunday’s Grand Final.
“Losing incredible talent each year in his side that played in critical positions and played important roles for the side, he’s been able to transform other players to come into the system and deliver on the biggest stages.
“What Ivan’s provided there should also be spoken about in the highest regard, it’s been incredible.”
Cronk – who gained premierships underneath Bellamy and Robinson – agreed with Ennis.
“Ivan Cleary probably sat below Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson and Wayne Bennett for a period but he’s absolutely got a seat at the table when they catch up for dinner and talk about grand finals because (of) what he’s been able to do,” he stated.
“He deserves a hell of a lot of credit because your coach is your focal point of any team. The most important person is the coach and he’s delivered in spades.”
Clearys embrace following HISTORIC win | 00:43
HAT-TRICK HERO MAM COULD TRIGGER BIDDING FRENZY
Broncos younger gun Ezra Mam has one hand on the Clive Churchill Medal after crossing for a 3rd attempt within the 54th minute.
The 20-year-old, enjoying in his first grand ultimate, scored a ten minute hattrick at hand his facet a 24-8 lead.
The scoreline seemed like too massive a mountain to climb for the Panthers, however Ivan Cleary’s males did the unthinkable and Nathan Cleary surprised to ship a third-straight premiership.
While Mam could not have been capable of break the Broncos’ premiership drought, he’ll now one of many hottest free brokers within the NRL come November 1.
Speaking after being topped the Clive Churchill Medallist, Cleary known as Mam a “freak”.
And this “freak” might be set for an enormous pay day, at present incomes solely $240,000-per-season on his present contract.
The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel beforehand reported Broncos powerbrokers are set to supply Mam and Walsh a $5 million bundle to maintain them at Red Hill till the top of 2027.
That transfer would see Mam earn $700,000-per-season, signing on three extra years.
However, NRL golf equipment be circling with a basic scarcity of high quality halves all through the competitors.
That might see Mam subject affords price doubtlessly north of $800,000-per-season, with the Broncos already feeling the wage cap pinch.
Both Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler have now performed their final recreation for the well-known Brisbane membership, becoming a member of the NRL newcomers, the Dolphins.
Teams such because the Bulldogs, Raiders, Tigers and Dragons, who’re all on the lookout for high quality playmakers, might make a daring play to recruit Mam ought to he hit the open market.
Mam BURNS Panthers with 10min HAT TRICK! | 01:49
GRAND FINAL BRONCOS HAD TO LOSE
The Broncos solely have to look again to 2020 to see the success that may be borne from grand ultimate defeat.
Penrith misplaced the 2020 grand ultimate however on Sunday night time they grew to become the primary membership in 40 years to win three straight titles.
NRL legend Cooper Cronk stated Brisbane should channel the ache of defeat to make sure they be taught from it.
“We’ve all lost grand finals and I still have sleepless nights about moments you could have changed,”
“The cold, hard truth of it is that nobody really remembers the three tries that Ezra Mam scored because Nathan Cleary delivered at the back end.
“I get the Broncos would be absolutely disappointed but they need to take the lessons away from this.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters stated he doesn’t imagine shedding a grand ultimate makes you hungrier, however he additionally by no means misplaced one as a participant with the champion half successful six from six deciders.
“We should have won that game, but we didn’t and hats off to Penrith, they played some good football at the back end and that’s where we’ve got to get better, our starts and our finish,” Walters stated.
“That second half in that period there for 20 minutes, that’s the Broncos I know and we’ll get there, doing that for 80 (minutes).
“We’re not there yet but when we do we’ll win premierships and that’s what it’s about. We’re not far off, we’re getting there, we’re a lot closer now than we were 12 months ago.
“To where the club is now compared to where it was when all these guys got their hands on the club, is just absolutely remarkable.”
Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds additionally misplaced the 2021 grand ultimate to Penrith, happening 14-12, and he vowed the Broncos would return stronger subsequent 12 months.
“Losing in general is tough, it doesn’t matter the result. It’s a big game and you want to win those games and unfortunately I’ve been on the other end of it (twice),”
“We had our moments and were good in patches but just didn’t find a way in the end to get it done.
“You never wanna feel that way again so you can use that as motivation. We’ve got a good group of fellas in there who work hard and they want to get better, every day.
“There are (good times to come) but it’s hard to think about that now after a tough loss but I couldn’t be any prouder of the boys, I wouldn’t want to do it with any other boys and we’ll come back next year stronger.”
‘Let that one slip’: Reynolds opens up | 00:38
FORGOTTEN MOMENT THAT SWUNG THE MATCH
Michael Ennis believes a second of desperation from Stephen Crichton swumg the match again within the Panthers favour.
With the Panthers down 24-8 at th ehour mark and the Broncos sizzling on assault, a unfastened ball hit the deck and with a number of Broncos gamers within the space, Crichton got here from nowhere to dive on the ball.
He then offloaded to Moses Leota and the Panthers went proper up the opposite finish of the sector in an enormous shift of momentum.
If the Broncos scored then it was recreation over, however Crichton’s determined play obtained his facet again within the contest and Nathan Cleary did the remaining.
“It was that moment of desperation when Brisbane were right on top and Stephen Crichton dives on that loose ball,” Ennis stated.
“Then Leota got the ball and went down field and that momentum started to swing back because it was all Brisbane.
“That was a moment where anyone could have dived on that loose ball, but Stephen Crichton who has had some massive moments at Origin and in particular in grand finals.
“He found a way to pick up that footy and that was a huge turning point in the game it really was.”
It may not have been his intercept to win the match in opposition to the Rabbitohs in 2021, however it was simply as pivotal to the end result because the Panthers gained their third straight title in opposition to all odds.
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