CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
A dynasty that was forged in front of cardboard cut-outs at the height of the pandemic, the 2020s Penrith Panthers show no signs of slowing down.
After a grand final loss to the Melbourne Storm in 2020, the boys from out west secured a Premiership three-peat in the years that followed.
While their talent has been slowly bleeding out to big offers from rival teams, it seems their Greater Western Sydney and regional NSW grassroots programs are more than capable of filling any void.
A team of sober church-going Samoans and hardheaded country boys, Sunday night sees the Penrith Panthers make their 5th grand final appearance in as many years. Fans of lesser clubs would feel blood rush to their genitals if the men in pink walked away with nothing.
And once again they will be up against the only side that has been able to stop them thus far. A team that would take great pleasure in ending their streak. Book-ending the three-peat with two purple planks.
For those same four years since 2020, the Melbourne Storm has remained firmly in contention. They have the players that make the difference in winning Origin series. They have a club that operates in darkness, like the All Blacks or Argentinian football.
They are the only club capable of walking away with the silverware against Penrith tomorrow night.
This means there are NO underdogs. No fairytales. Just records to be broken, or hearts to be broken.
It’s one of those two scenarios that serve as the motivating factor for the vast majority of NRL fans this weekend.
The years of the back-to-back drought-breaking Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Sharks premierships are behind us.
In 2024 there’s been no luck of the draw, no dark horses, no moneyball. Just spectacular football from two teams that are always on.
That’s why it comes down to whether or not fans want to see Penrith win a four-peat, or if they would find some sort of sadistic joy in watching them bottle it.
Penrith have silenced the critics. The Paul Kents have been muzzled. They are the best team of the decade, going up against the best team of the century.
What do you, readers, want to come from all this? VOTE BELOW
