NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened

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Thank you all for joining me tonight for one of the great grand finals, not just in the history of the NRL, or even Australian sport, but of any professional competition you care to mention. The fierceness of the action, the wild swings of fortune, the brilliant skill, and the fortitude of one man to put his team on his back and refuse to accept defeat, making the collective mission an individual quest.

This Penrith side are one for the ages, and they deserve every accolade after this premiership triumph, their third in a row. Who knows how many more will follow?

I will leave others more qualified to speculate. They can also explain how Ezra Mam scored a hat-trick but still finished on the losing side. Or how Dylan Edwards carried the ball nearly 300 metres. Or how Stephen Crichton tackled Reece Walsh to deny Brisbane what would surely have been a sealing try.

Stick around these pages for all of that. But from me, it’s goodnight.

Updated at 07.06 EDT

Here’s Nick Tedeschi’s take on the final whistle.

Then Yeo is joined by Nathan Cleary to accept the massive Provan-Summons trophy from Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys then hoist it aloft as confetti rains down on Accor Stadium. Penrith Panthers are NRL premiers for the third time in a row.

The Panthers record the first three-peat in NRL history. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Updated at 06.58 EDT

All the medals have now been hung around the necks of the Panthers champions. Isaah Yeo takes to the microphone to thank the sponsors and sign off with “Undisputed. Now let’s go party.”

While the medallions continue to be handed out, I’ve found the considered analysis I was looking for.

Updated at 06.50 EDT

Cleary says a few words, then Reynolds on behalf of the beaten Broncos. Now it’s time for the Penrith players to hear their names called out, walk through a guard of honour, and accept their premiership medallions.

“Greatest AFL /NRL Grand Final combo?” asks Robert Speed. Adding: “probably.”

It has been an extraordinary weekend. And such a desperately painful one for the city of Brisbane.

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds feels the disappointment at full-time. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP

Updated at 06.49 EDT

That is Cleary’s second Clive Churchill medal of course, after his victory in 2021.

Nathan Cleary awarded the Clive Churchill medal

There could never have been a more deserving recipient in the history of rugby league. What a final 20 minutes.

Nathan Cleary looks stunned after the comeback and then winning the Clive Churchhill medal again. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Updated at 06.50 EDT

Time for the presentation ceremony.

I can’t wait to read the more considered analysis of what just happened. Trying to keep up in real time has been exhausting.

“Everything you want a grand final to be. The pinnacle of rugby league,” gushes Isaah Yeo. “There was never any panic. Absolute belief the whole time.”

Cleary’s performance at the death will become the stuff of legend, but credit is also due to Crichton, Leota and Fisher-Harris, who also demonstrated an incredible unwillingness to accept defeat.

“Geez, we let that one slip,” bemoans a dejected Adam Reynolds. “Credit to Penrith… I’ve got no words.” The veteran looks shellshocked, staring into the middle distance like he’s haunted.

Asked if it was his best ever performance, Cleary demurred, “not a chance! The start of that second half was awful.”

Nathan Cleary is in disbelief. “It doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream,” he puffs, hands clasped behind his head. “We were down but never out. We keep fighting. That’s the mentality.”

Nathan Cleary hugs former player and commentator Brad Fittler. Photograph: Mark Evans/AAP

Updated at 06.43 EDT

That was elite sport at its most unpredictable, brutal, and brilliant. Brisbane had no right to still be in the contest at half-time. Penrith were drowning after an hour. But that final 20 minutes from Nathan Cleary will go down in Australian sporting history. One of the great individual performances. He put his team on his back and carried them single-handedly from 24-8 behind to win 26-24.

Straight to the pool room.

Full-time: Penrith 26-24 Brisbane

The Panthers make it three in a row in the most extraordinary grand final.

79.02 mins: Brisbane have one set, one minute, and 82 metres to go.

79 mins: Brisbane go short from the restart. After a contest, Penrith claim the footy. How much time can they run down?

Converted TRY! Penrith 26-24 Brisbane (Cleary 78)

Reynolds executes the drop-out this time but only as far as Martin on the burst on the 40m line. There’s a six-again call early in the set as the Panthers swarm all over the Brisbane defence. This is incredible. High speed running, quick play the balls, desperate defence, and NATHAN CLEARY TAKES THE GAME ON HIS BACK STEPS INSIDE REYNOLDS, THEN WALTERS, THEN RIKI, LIKE MOSES PARTING THE RED SEA AND RUNNING UNDERE THE POSTS! This is the greatest individual grand final performance you could imagine – and in just 20 minutes. Nathan Cleary you star!

Of course he goes back and kicks his team back into the lead. Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.

Nathan Cleary scores a try to put his team back level then converts to put them in front. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Updated at 06.53 EDT

76 mins: Penrith know they have to go for it now and send it through hands early in the set to the left. Fisher-Harris straightens up in the middle to create space on the right for Garner. On the last the kick goes up and in the aerial contest the ball comes down Penrith’s way. Crichton keeps his head and dabs another kick to the left corner to force another drop-out!

75 mins: The Broncos begin a slow drive away from their danger zone but they make little ground and Reynolds has to kick from his own 40m. To’o begins the count on his own 30.

74 mins: The Panthers can’t get moving and throw a loose pass backwards on tackle three that stalls all the momentum. They grind to the last and go through hands to the left and in desperation Crichton chips to the corner but Cobbo plucks the ball out of the air. This is breathless. Grand finals don’t get any better than this.

73 mins: Reynolds goes long with the drop-out – but it’s out on the full! Another drop-out catastrophe for the Broncos – their third of the night! It wasn’t clean out, but Cleary marked it with his foot in touch after some quick thinking. Now the Panthers get a full set 10m out!

72 mins: Brisbane need something from someone to change the momentum. Enter Reece Walsh! What a run! He accelerates through the line on an arcing run from the middle to the right, carving through the line and almost evading a second tap tackle before he’s hauled down. The Broncos then seem to forget they’re on the last tackle and handover 20m from the line without attempting a kick. Penrith go down the other end and continuing their kicking resurgence, pinning Walsh to his line and forcing a drop-out.

Reece Walsh of the Broncos is tackled after making an incredible run. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Updated at 06.20 EDT

70 mins: There’s a stoppage on tackle three as Martin catches his breath after being caught by Capewell’s shoulder in a carry. Kenny is furious but Gee keeps his whistle in his pocket. Penrith complete a strong set and Cleary’s kick on the last is a menace for Arthars to defuse.

Converted Try! Penrith 20-24 Brisbane (Crichton 68)

This is almost funny. Penrith have another. Classing Panthers attacking footy. Kenny takes the ball to the line before shifting left to Cleary. He does the same before shifting left to Crichton. Now there’s momentum, 15m from the line, out comes the big stiff arm and an utter desperation to take Brisbane defenders over the line with him. There’s contact, Staggs is there, so is Walsh, and Cobbo – but Crichton will not be denied!

Cleary curls over a beautiful kick from the sideline. What a grand final.

Stephen Crichton of the Panthers scores a try. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Updated at 06.18 EDT

67 mins: Now it’s Brisbane that need to steady the ship – but Carrigan loses the ball in contact on tackle three! At the same time Yeo and Sorensen are confirmed to have passed their HIAs.

66 mins: A full set inside 20m – can Penrith score again? No! Leota looked destined on the last but Hetherington put his body on the line – literally – and forced the handover. This is one heck of a game.

65 mins: AND NOW CLEARY DRILLS A 40/20! What a performance from the scrum-half with Luai and Yeo off the field. Tackle four, nearer 30m than 40 – and he whips a crossfield scud missile that Brisbane were powerless to defend.

Converted Try! Penrith 14-24 Brisbane (Leota 64)

Nathan Cleary take a bow. Just as his side began to regain a foothold he shaped to pass on his right, drew Mam into the tackle on Crichton on the outside, and beat Capewell for pace through the middle. Line broken, he needs support – and Leota is on hand to dab the ball under the posts. Game on again! Superb from Cleary.

And the NSW backs up the try assist with a simple conversion.

63 mins: And now a good defensive set from Penrith, including Fisher-Harris coming in second man to hammer Farnworth in the tackle. After that 20 minute tornado, we’re back to a football match.

61 mins: The Panthers can’t capitalise. It was all too frantic for such a disciplined unit, but it has evened the field position for a couple of sets. Time to take a breath.

59 mins: Brisbane can smell blood. Runners are desperate for the ball, looking to the ringleader Reynolds like chicks desperate for a feed. Walsh breaks the line and offloads, but it sparks chaos, the Broncos unable to regain composure and a loose pass is picked off the ground by the Panthers who turn defence into attack quickly.

58 mins: Now Isaah Yeo is down in back play. He caught Hetherington’s shoulder flush on the jaw as the Brisbane forward drove straight at him. The Panthers are being blown away in a tornado. And now a strip penalty against Smith, as the camera pans to Luai on the bench, and the TV chyron notes Yeo’s HIA. To add insult to injury Penrith rolled the dice with a captain’s challenge on that play – unsuccessful.

Converted Try! Penrith 8-24 Brisbane (Mam, 55)

UN-BE-LEIVABLE! Ezra Mam has a hat-trick! Mam has three, but this one is all about Reece Walsh. Another strong set sent the Broncos in motion but when the ball was slipped out to the left to Walsh in the line there were enough Penrith defenders to take care of business, but Walsh evaded the rush, fended off Tago like a ragdoll and eased into top gear through the line like an F1 car. Is there support? Of course there is. Mam, the only man quick enough to keep up, and he accepts the simple assist to complete the formalities. This is staggering.

Reynolds makes it 24 unanswered points in 17 minutes.

The Broncos get around Ezra Mam after his hat-trick. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Updated at 06.01 EDT

Converted Try! Penrith 8-16 Brisbane (Mam 53)

Mam has a double! This is extraordinary. The Broncos are suddenly irresistible, throwing the ball around at pace like the Harlem Globetrotters, and unlike the first half, Penrith are now rattled and that black wall is rubble. Haas does the hard work, taking contact in midfield, but his offload to Mam catches Yeo napping and that pace is on show again as the No 6 makes it two in quick succession. Brisbane are rampant.

Reynolds makes it 18 unanswered points either side of half-time.

Ezra Mam on his way to scoring his second try. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Updated at 05.59 EDT

52 mins: Still Brisbane come. The Panthers make little ground coming out of defence and the Broncos have Farnworth steaming back into the fray. Reynolds marshals his troops downfield, young tyros with flared nostrils, all brio and testosterone. Penrith stand their ground but it could be at the cost of Luai’s left shoulder. The influential stand-off leaves the ground and Brisbane continue to pour forward.

50 mins: Brisbane have their tails up. Staggs runs hard into contact. Walsh enters the line dangerously on the left. Capewell and Flegler almost smash through. There’s space on the right on the last! Brisbane are rampant… STEPHEN CRICHTON! What a tackle! Walsh had men outside him ready to finish the job but Crichton steps up and takes man and ball with an almighty thump. That was a four point intervention from the centre.

48 mins: Penrith have hardly put a foot wrong, but now they find themselves chasing the game. A regulation set out of defence will no longer do, but that’s what they deliver, and it ends with a penalty against Smith after Coboo was caught late following a towering mark. All the momentum is with the Broncos in Sydney.

Converted Try! Penrith 8-12 Brisbane (Mam 45)

Wow! Penrith only gave Brisbane one sniff in the first half, and the Broncos only need one to open the scoring in the second. And how! That is one of the great grand final tries by Ezra Mam! Just inside his own half the No 6 recognised he had Lindsay Smith marking him, so after accepting possession he shifted his weight one way, then the other, wrongfooting the Penrith forward, then tearing through the gap like a comet, streaking a breakneck speed towards the corner – outpacing the covering Edwards in the process. Absolutely Magnificent.

If Adam Reynolds is injured he doesn’t show it curling over a superb touchline conversion. Brisbane! Blimey.

Ezra Mam of the Broncos makes a break to score a try. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

Updated at 05.47 EDT

44 mins: Brisbane complete another set but Edwards is again perfectly placed to farm Reynolds’ kick on the sideline and push his nightly running metres towards 200. It looks another typical Panthers set but on the fourth tackle Cleary spots Walsh out of position and chips into the vacant space – but can’t catch up to the Steeden before it dribbles out of play.

42 mins: The Broncos make no mistakes with their opening set of the half, one featuring plenty of post-contact metres for Flegler and a strong run from Carrigan. But Walsh undoes all that good work by belting a long kick straight into Edwards’ hands stood in-goal. Penrith enjoy their seven tackles, using Yeo and Martin to straighten up through the middle, before Cleary slings up a Garryowen that Walsh takes in a contest with Tago – but he lands heavily and needs a second to recapture his breath.

41 mins: Penrith have dominated. They don’t lose when they lead at half-time. Can Brisbane create an upset?

Panthers players regroup for the second half. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP

Updated at 05.43 EDT

The teams are back out for another 40. It’s still anyone’s.

Four Broncos all have 20+ tackles, which, in this heat is going to take it’s toll. Only Liam Martin has more than 16 for the Panthers.