Will Melbourne Storm Topple Panthers in the 2024 NRL Grand-Final Rematch?
With a match that many are calling too close to call, the NRL Grand Final is a potential history-making event.
The match is coming up this Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 19:30 AEST, featuring two sides that were far and away superior to the rest of the league throughout the season.
The Penrith Panthers are making their fifth consecutive appearance in one of the sport’s biggest matches, and are looking to make history by notching a record-setting four victories in a row.
The Melbourne Storm will be more than keen to spoil the party, entering the final with the best record for the 2024 NRL season. Their form is certainly worthy of champions, winning their preliminary final by 30 points against the Sydney Roosters.
Head-to-Head Results
The 1-2 teams for the 2024 season have faced each other twice this season, with each match going Melbourne’s way. In their first meeting, the Panthers experienced a rare shutout in an 8-0 loss. Their second matchup was a little bit closer, yet the Melbourne Storm once again managed to walk away with the victory: 24-22 at Penrith Stadium.
Of course, a final is always a little different from a regular season match. Last season saw the Penrith Panthers end Melbourne’s dreams of a title in the preliminary final. In that match, the Storm were unable to challenge the reigning champions, going down 38-4.
The Odds: Details Will Win It
The bookies tend to give the best indication of who is most likely to win a rugby match. Oddsmakers have released the odds for the final, but currently, there’s little to conclude. Some may give the Storm slightly better odds, but it’s still to be decided until Sunday.
That means this final will be decided on the details, as so many of them are. It’s going to be a case of defence vs. attack, with the Storm looking to do what they have been doing all season: score a lot of points.
Yet the Panthers will not be feeling the nerves, despite the two losses so far this season. Much of that will have to do with big match pedigree, with their 2024 squad the most experienced for a final in the NRL era.
Fourteen players have already played in a final previously, with Schneider, Alomoti, and Henry the only squad members still looking to make their debut. The Panthers as a whole have 42 Grand-Final appearances. With Nathan Cleary, they also have a big-match player who has made a difference time and again.
The Melbourne Storm also have some championship pedigree, winning the final in 2020 against the Panthers. But their squad list has changed plenty since then, with only Papenhuyzen, Welch, Hughes, and Munster still part of that championship-winning squad.
Cleary’s Fitness a Major Doubt
The NRL final may come down to a single player: Nathan Cleary. The star man has had an injury-riddled season, making just 12 appearances total so far for the Penrith Panthers.
Will he make the final? He’s been a little cagey in recent interviews, but all signs point to the star halfback starting the match. That does not mean he’s going to be fully fit, however.
The preliminary final gives both good and bad signs. His performance was top quality, involved in 75% of the team’s tries. If he can replicate anything close to his last match, Penrith will be feeling very good indeed.
However, he was also taken off before the final whistle. According to the manager, it was a precautionary measure. Yet it’s still a question mark hanging over Cleary, with his fitness questioned throughout the season.
Storm vs. Panthers: So, Who Will Win?
Most experts, fans, and oddsmakers agree: it’s a coin toss, too close to call. But if pushed to make a prediction, the Penrith Panthers have the slight edge, especially if Nathan Cleary is anywhere close to his top level.
You also cannot discount the sheer level of experience with the Panthers. They have been there and done that, you can’t underestimate that when it comes to the big matches. When the chips are on the line, experience counts.
