Paul Alamoti of the Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the NRL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Penrith Panthers have won their fourth NRL rugby league grand final title in a row with victory over the Melbourne Storm in Sydney.
The Panthers won 14-6, after leading 10-6 at halftime, in an intense low-scoring match that did not disappoint for excitement.
It also had a huge moment of controversy with Penrith tryscorer Paul Alamoti claiming he was bitten by the Storm's Cameron Munster.
"Nothing in it, I can guarantee you I didn't bite," Munster told Triple M station after the final whistle. But he was placed on report after Alamoti's allegation and the matter will go to the NRL match review committee.
Nathan Cleary stood out in a brilliant display for Penrith, despite playing with a shoulder injury, and with his halves mate Jarome Luai controlled play for long enough to stifle the Storm's chances.
It took 21 minutes to open the scoring with Harry Grant dotting down for the Storm, but the Panthers were starting to dominate in the middle of the field, and struck back with Sunia Turuva sprinting over in the corner after some slick backline passing.
Jarome Luai takes on the Storm defence in the NRL grand final. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Penrith took the lead just before halftime, with a sizzling try to Liam Martin after slick work from Cleary and Luai.
Penrith had dominated the attack, but their defence was pretty hot and they managed to get three players around the Storm's Jack Howarth when he launched himself for a try nine minutes into the second half.
Melbourne gamely tried to get back in front with some full-blooded attacks, but it was Penrith who dealt the decisive blow when Paul Alamoti was on the end of excellent passes from Martin and Moses Leota, finishing it off with an acrobatic dive.
The Storm never gave up, but Cleary and Luai had their game plan ticking over too well in the end.
Cleary reflected on the big change from when they lost the grand final five seasons ago.
"It's honestly mind-blowing. Five years ago we were standing here crying, now we've won four in a row. It's actually unbelievable," he told ABC Sport.
"I honestly don't think we would've won these four in a row if we hadn't lost that one.
"I think that was the hardest game I've ever played. It just went end to end went on and on."
The Storm's Ryan Papenhuyzen succinctly summed up the game.
"Hey just suffocated us," he told ABC Sport.
"It hurts a lot.
"We tried, just wasn't good enough."
Liam Martin was presented with the Clive Churchill Medal at the grand final prizegiving, after being adjudged player of the match, before 80,156 fans at Stadium Australia
In the NRLW women's final, the Sydney Roosters held off a strong comeback from the Cronulla Sharks to win 32-28.
- RNZ Sport / ABC Sport