Penrith Panthers Beat Melbourne Storm to Win Fourth Consecutive Premiership

Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
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Penrith Panthers Beat Melbourne Storm to Win Fourth Consecutive Premiership

Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

The Penrith Panthers claimed their fourth straight premiership with a 14-6 win over the Melbourne Storm in Australia's National Rugby League grand final on Sunday.

Penrith dominated possession and territory throughout the match but needed a late try to center Paul Alamoti to see off a resilient Melbourne outfit, which had finished the regulation season as the top-ranked team, The AP reported.

The latest triumph makes them just the third team to win four consecutive premierships in the competition's 116-year history, and the first since the St. George Dragons won 11 in a row from 1956 and 1966.

Melbourne scored the first try of the match through hooker Harry Grant, but Penrith responded with two tries — to Sunia Turuva and man-of-the-match Liam Martin — to take a 10-6 lead at half time.

Alamoti's try late in the second period, which came from a kick from star halfback Nathan Cleary, sealed the victory in front of 80,000 fans at Sydney's Olympic stadium.



Ousmane Dembélé Back in PSG Squad to Take on Nice in French League

PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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Ousmane Dembélé Back in PSG Squad to Take on Nice in French League

PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, center, duels for the ball with Rennes’ Christopher Wooh during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ousmane Dembélé is back with Paris Saint-Germain after he was left out from the squad that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.

PSG coach Luis Enrique was criticized after the loss for not selecting Dembélé, one of the most creative players in the team following the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.

Dembélé was selected in a group of 21 players named by Enrique traveling to Nice on Sunday night. PSG can move back to the top of the French league standings with a win, The AP reported.

Enrique had blamed Dembélé for a perceived lack of commitment from the France forward but did not give more details. He denied he had a personal argument with him after L’Equipe reported the duo verbally clashed following PSG’s 3-1 win against Rennes in the French league last weekend. Dembélé had an assist in the match.

“There is just a problem of commitment toward the team, it’s not a problem between the player and the coach,” Enrique said through a translator.

PSG traveled to London with 22 players but without Dembélé, who has been a key element in PSG’s unbeaten start to the season. In six Ligue 1 matches, Dembélé has scored four goals and added three assists.

“I took the best possible decision,” Enrique said, adding he was supported in his choice by the club director.

Enrique’s other options up front to cover Dembélé include Randal Kolo Muani and Désiré Doué.

“Other players will be able to take over,” PSG right back Achraf Hakimi said. “The most important thing in the team is the group, and our group is united.”