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)

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.