Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos are set for an epic showdown in Sydney next weekend after booking their places in the 2023 NRL Grand Final.
The Panthers romped to a 38-4 victory over Melbourne Storm in their preliminary final, while the Broncos eased to a 42-12 win against New Zealand Warriors.
The two sides were widely tipped to progress to the Grand Final after claiming the top two spots in the table during the regular season.
Online bookmakers were unable to split the pair when the play-offs got underway, but now rate the Panthers as the favourites to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy for the third successive season.
The Panthers are a best-priced 4/6 on the top 10 betting apps Australia to win the title after joining an elite group of teams with their victory over Strom.
Head coach Ivan Cleary’s side are just the fourth team in the 70 years of the mandatory grand final era to play in four straight deciders, making them one of the greatest in NRL history.
However, while the oddsmakers were impressed with the Panthers’ performance Storm, Cleary believes the scoreline flattered them a little.
“I felt like we prepared really well and had the advantage of the long preparation, which I think was critical for us,” Cleary said. “When we prepare well, good things happen, so I was confident we would play well.
“The scoreline, I didn’t even feel like it was that big in the second-half until I looked at the scoreboard. For this group and this year and the season we’ve had, to be able to go out and deliver that kind of performance – it wasn’t all perfect by any stretch – but we just worked it out and found a way.
“I’m very proud of everyone at the club, particularly the players, and I’m looking forward to next week.”
The Panthers’ victory never really looked in doubt from the moment Brian To’o bagged the first of his three tries in the fourth minute. Storm hit back to make it 4-4, but the Panthers stepped on the gas to blow the Melbourne side away.
The 34-point winning margin was the biggest by a team in a preliminary final in the NRL era and undoubtedly fired a warning shot in the Broncos’ direction.
The Brisbane side were almost as equally dominant in their preliminary final, with full-back Reece Walsh the star of the show in a 42 -12 demolition of the Warriors.
Walsh was influential throughout the game, setting up endless waves of Broncos attacks against the Warriors’ beleaguered defence. He proved six line break assists and three try assists in another sparkling display.
The Broncos have not won the NRL title since 2006, but their current crop of players undoubtedly have the talent to upset the odds against the Panthers.
The two sides met on the opening weekend of the season, with the Broncos triumphing 13-12 in Penrith. The Panthers gained their revenge in the reverse fixture in May, recording a 15-4 success.
Those results highlighted there is little to choose between the two sides, and the Broncos will head into next week’s game knowing they can give the Panthers a run for their money.
The chance to prevent the Panthers from continuing what many people believe is turning into an NRL dynasty will be a motivating factor for the Broncos in the Grand Final.
The Broncos will not be intimidated by their opponents, with the players having unwavering belief in the free-flowing style they have adopted under head coach Kevin Walters.
That point was hammered home by Broncos’ star Patrick Carrigan after the victory over the Warriors, with the talented lock eager to knock the Panthers off their perch.
“I don’t think we played our best brand of footy tonight, so it gets frustrating, but credit to the boys and the performance they put in,” Carrigan said.
“I am excited to get one more shot. We need to be more clinical next week to match with Penrith. It is exciting – you dream of these things as a kid, and we have an opportunity to go down there and make Brisbane proud.”
